  When it comes to Jeep-to-Jeep communications, most of us rely on our (somewhat) trusty CB's, right? But we eventually get tired of wading from channel to channel, looking for one that is clear, or one that does not have someone yelling profanity on it.
 Recently a new license-free radio has reached the market with a frequency range (UHF-FM, 462.5625-467.7125 MHz) that is not only clearer than that of the CB's AM range, but also travels farther than a hand-held CB - which can make a great difference if you get stranded while Jeeping, or even if you just want to get out and look around.
 We are going to take a look at and compare the two most popular of these Family Service Radios: The Cobra microTALK and the Motorola TalkAbout.
**=Retail pricing provided by Field Trips @ 800/500-9266 Motorola TalkAbout: 
On the shelf at the store, the Motorola TalkAbout immediately caught our eye. It is sporty
and rugged looking, and even the packaging itself is appealing. Once we got it home, however,
we were in for a big surprise. The battery compartment does not seal well (there are
no rubber gaskets), and the antenna does not fold or retract in any way. Another minus
is that the push-to-talk botton is located directly on the face of the radio, making it so you
have to hold your thumb in front of your mouth while talking. We found this to be very
uncomfortable.The TalkAbout is available in yellow, blue, anthracite (black), and for an additional charge, camoflauge. The box contains one radio with belt-clip, instruction booklet, and warranty card.
View a close-up of the Motorola's LCD display here.
Cobra microTALK: Luckily for us, Cobra did think to include a plethora of electronic bells and whistles that make this radio even more of a bargain. Unlike the TalkAbout, which can only scan the primary channels, the microTALK can scan either the primary or secondary channels. This can come in handy during large gatherings, where you never know which channel a fellow Jeeper may be using. And Cobra has added "Private Call" voice scrambling to keep conversations private. It even has an alert mode to get your attention when someone is trying to contact you. You can select from an audible tone, VibrAlert (like a vibrating pager), or a combination of the two. The microTALK is available in yellow or black (a camoflauged fabric case is also available). The packaging contains one radio with belt-clip, wrist-strap, instruction booklet, and warranty card. For safety's sake, there is also a voice-activated headset available for hands-free use while driving or hiking. What else do you get? Built-in charging pads for use with the optional NiMH battery packs, a talk confirmation tone, and enough available accessories to customize your microTALK 'til the cows come home!
View a close-up of the Cobra's LCD display here.  According to the packaging (highlights):
Motorola TalkAbout - "The Serious 'Walkie-Talkie'"
Cobra microTALK - "The High Performance 'Walkie-Talkie'"
What it boils down to:
Go to Motorola's TalkAbout 250 page Channel Frequencies
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