Rugged GMR2 PLUS - GMRS / FRS Two Way Handheld Radio

The safety orange radios really stand out and make it easy to find in the cockpit!

I own several handheld radios from Rugged. And they just keep outdoing themselves! I love these high-vis units. They are easy to find and easy to use.

I like the size and obvious quality of the radios, however, the manual lacks guidance for novices, and instructions on how to switch up the DCS codes is criptic, at best. I was still not able to connect to my area repeaters, so I was not able to utilize these functions. Also, the range dropped at just under a mile, leaving my family to resort to the use of cell phones instead.

Radio is functional but just another low quality chinese radio. It DOES work and you can communicate with it. BUT... In an improvement from most chinese radios you CAN program the needed functions from the keyboard but it isnt intuitive. Down load the instructions and keep them with you until you get proficient with the radio. USB charging is a great feature but it does not quite fully charge the battery the same way as the drop in charger does. The XL battery does not last nearly as it should. I have a similar radio made by Icom with the same size battery pack. Under the same usage pattern (mostly receive) the Icom battery will last for WEEKS. The XL battery on the GMR2 is lucky to go 3 days. There is no way that battery is what it is advertised to be - which is not unusual for chinese communication products. Either that, or the radio is hugely inefficient and draws a ton of current - which would be a terrible design for a handheld radio. Doing some testing with other people, the "Long Range" antenna doesnt seem to work any better than the standard antenna. Physically is is very similar so there is also no electrical reason it would be longer range. The mag mount antenna is disappointing. It has tiny diameter cheap feedline which at GMRS frequencies probably has a ton of loss - meaning you loose a lot of transmit power in the coax - probably enough to negate the advantage of having the antenna on the outside of the car. Testing confirms, not much different than just using a standard antenna. I use mag mount antennas on other services and they should make a big difference. This one does not. On the upside, the radio does have some nice features. The Weather, FM Radio, and VHF receiver functions work pretty well. Inspite of the less than optimum charging, the USB C charging feature enables you to charge pretty well and keep going when you cant use the drop in charger - thats a feature that all handheld radios should have even if it isnt perfect. EXTREMELY usefull charging feature. Being able to get the radio in high visibility colors is great. The external speaker mic works well and is handy. Ive gotten good audio reports with it. I dont believe it will be weather proof and Im not going to test that. The price point of course is a plus. Its simplicity is also a plus. While its not exactly intuitive, it also isnt laden with a million useless features to wade through and program which keeps the programming menu system short and limited to only necessary things. If you are not already familiar with radio communication technology and terminology there will be a learning curve due to the poor instruction manual and non intuitive programming. As I said at the beginning, it does work and I get good reports from people I have talked to. Its just that the radio and accessories need some polish. The radio has a standard / common SMA antenna connector on it so you can easily replace the junky antennas with better options from other vendors with zero difficulty and not a lot of money, which should make a big difference in range. GMRS frequencies are not ideal for long range communications so antenna improvements can have a big payback. Bottom line - would I buy it again? Yes. Its not perfect but has good functional features, and at the core it works pretty well and its not a technological nightmare to master. It just does its job.

I’ve been using the Rugged GMR2 PLUS for both climbing and off-roading, and honestly, it’s become one of those pieces of gear I don’t leave home without. Whether I’m hiking into a crag or heading out on a trail run with my Jeep, I clip it onto my pack and I’m good to go. The range is solid, even in canyon terrain or remote areas where cell service doesn’t exist. I love being able to radio my belayer instead of yelling down from the top of a wall. It’s way clearer and makes everything feel safer and more dialed in. On the trail, it’s perfect for spotting, coordinating with other rigs, or even just finding someone at camp. It’s simple to use, feels tough in the hand, and works every time I need it to.

Have not had time to really evaluate product. Looks good product feels good. Got them both charged and programmed. I think they’re great looking radios otherwise I wouldn’t have purchased it.

Again, I think it’s cool looking radio. I like the fact that it comes with a built-in belt clip.