I had been using a Puxing 888 that my buddy left with me when he went out of town for work.

It's a solid radio. Good range, good functions and features. One down side I've noticed is that if you leave the battery attached it will drain over the period of several days. (i.e. chuck it, off, into your kit bag after a game...and by the next game it'll be dead or pretty much dead).

I liked it enough I bought another for myself...and several others bought them as well.

Re. programming....I found it very, very confusing to program in a channel (i.e. it's not dummy proof). BUT...once I figured out the push button sequence I had mine programmed in minutes (all FRS/GRMS channels). Same with the others I had picked up at the same time. In the end...it is as simple as as it gets and takes seconds per channel.

I programmed what I needed from the keypad. I have the software...I have the cable...I don't have an old computer with a serial port to program it, so never bothered.

The 888 feature that I really like is being able to listen to 2 channels at once...and selecting which one to speak on.

For example I can have Channel A on 7 and Channel B on 1...and select A to speak on. Or, with a button push I can jump over to speak on Channel B. Really handy to hear command stuff or game org stuff while still doing regular team/squad/unit stuff.

They are Kenwood (2pin) compatible. DO NOT cheap out on the headset/mic setup....it'll drive you nuts. You'll see guys with a good radio...and then wonder why their electrical taped, "hold it in a certain position" mic/headset keeps flaking out on them. Comtrex Communications sells solid stuff.

The High power setting is sometimes too powerful. It'll blast through other channels and other guys will just receive static. Low power setting seems to be just fine for most fields. It's a 1 button-turn knob-button push to change power settings.

With any of these radios (they're all kind of the same kenwood clone)...10 min with someone who knows how to use one is worth 2 hours of pounding your head against the table trying to decipher the somewhat incomplete not-dummy proof instructions.

I still don't know how to set some of the features (i.e. subchannels, encryption keys, etc...) but it's good enough for what we do.

I'd buy another one...I'd definitely get the extended battery. On the fence as to whether or not the extended radio antenna is needed. I'd get a simple hand mic (plam mic) and an ear tube. Simple setup and no extra wires/bits dangling all over.

Techseller (Frank) is very, very good to deal with. I'm not sure about the last hand mic and ear tube setup I got from him though...might just be a wonky one off, he's waiting on me to see what's the status of it so no fault on his end.

How does that radio compare to the Motorola Saber?

I've got a Motorola Saber (1E) I think. They work very well too. Never had issues with range and comms with it.

1. Mine definitely needed software and cable to program...it doesn't have a keypad on the front (for manual programming). So can't comment further on how easy/hard it is to program.

2. Controls were solid, positive and easy to use

3. Built like a brick

4. Battery life is very good

5. Need HiRose adaptor to attache headsets/PTT...not every HiRose adaptor works with every radio (even if the appear to be the same shape/etc...).

I recently purchased a Px-777 from TDC and this thing is great. There is no way I would use anything else than a headset with a PTT.
I programmed it without any computer software. from recieving the box at home, it took me about 1 hour to 1-figure out wtf is all this about 2-program the 22 channels
To answer a previously asked question, when the px777 is locked, you can still change the volume/turn it off and switch channels.

well, hope someone will have 777 on May 8 Flag Raiders game... Thanks everybody for info!

I have the Wouxun KG-UVD1P and its been going strong for two years. Most of my friends use them. You can listen to two different frequencies, HQ and team frequency. That way you can talk to your team without being interfered by other players. It's got great range and will not be jammed by other radios like the runabouts used to do in our big games. You can program gprs frequencies and I was told by a friend that he programmed CB frequencies into is Wouxun. You can use any headset that works with a Kenwood two pin. The first one is hard to program but with the cable it takes to minutes to clone another radio.

I programmed my Puxxing 777 with a USB cable purchased from TechSeller. There's a .dat file that Conker made floating around here somewhere. Easy as pie. Great little radio. Same goes for the 888. I purchased a 17cm whip antenna and promptly broke the tip off during my first game. Oops. You might want to buy the shorter antenna (stock height replacement) specifically tuned for FRS/GMRS frequencies. It'll get you a bit more range, but the antenna it comes with is also perfect sufficient.

Ivanatom, I see you are in Etobicoke. Drop by the showroom sometime and I can go over the different radio options and accessories with you.

And to those that have posted here, your support is appreciated as always :)

Cheers!

Frank

Thanks, tech. That what I was planning to do anyway. Will see, maybe today or tomorrow.

Best type of radio for airsoft
 

the ones that people actually use...

a wack load of people wearing radios at the last game I was at, but not a lot of people knowing how to use them :)

Ditto. I second Linton as a good option. I've had my 6288 and it works like a charm. Although I did forget to turn it off once for about a month between games and the battery drained completely and wouldn't hold a charge for very long after, so I had to get a new battery at the end of last summer.

+1 for Wouxun UVD-1p you get VHF/UHF, computer program interface, choise of 1watt or 4 watts output
Dual frequecy monitoring... but to efficiently use that on the field you listen to both frequency on the wouxun BUT contact HQ using a second radio with the speaker volume turned off ((too much trouble switching back and forth in a fire fight))

Cheers

CB!!! Isnt that 26.965 to 27.405 MHz? A smidgeon low for the UVD-1p

If you have a PX888, if left sitting on the bench for a week, it will discharge the battery down. I since placed a thin plastic sheet between the battery contacts and the radio until I need it and it works great. No premature battery discharge during storage. This method will also reduce the number of unnecessary battery recharges to extend the battery life cycle.

Do this simple test. Remove the battery and reattach it to the radio. Carefully listen to the speaker and you will hear a slight click come from it as if was turned on. That is an indication once the battery is connected, somehow there is some circuit connected that begins the battery drain.

As for an antenna upgrade, I am using the NAGOYA ( NA-771 SMA Female ) DUAL BAND ANTENNA PX-888 picked up on Ebay. Little longer than the stock but it has a 2.15 db gain and really boosts the radio performance when running on 1 watt.