Are Motorola Walkie Talkies Waterproof?

Walkie talkies are handheld devices that allow two-way communication over a certain range of frequencies. They are useful for various purposes, such as outdoor activities, emergency situations, and professional work. However, not all walkie talkies are designed to withstand harsh environments, especially those involving water. In this blog post, we will focus on one of the most popular brands of walkie talkies, Motorola, and answer the question: are Motorola walkie talkies waterproof?

Explanation of Motorola Walkie Talkies

Motorola is a well-known company that produces various electronic products, including walkie talkies. Motorola walkie talkies are divided into two categories: consumer and professional. Consumer walkie talkies are designed for everyday use, such as family fun, camping, hiking, fishing, and boating. They operate on the Family Radio Service (FRS) or the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) bands, which are free to use in most countries. Professional walkie talkies are designed for more demanding applications, such as security, construction, and public safety. They operate on licensed frequencies that require a permit and offer more features and functions.

Some of the common features of Motorola walkie talkies are:

• LCD display that shows channel, battery level, and other information

• Keypad lock that prevents accidental button presses

• VOX (voice-activated transmission) that allows hands-free operation

• Scan function that searches for active channels

• Squelch function that eliminates background noise

• Call alert that notifies incoming calls

• Roger beep that confirms the end of transmission

• Battery save mode that extends battery life

• Flashlight that provides illumination in the dark

• Weather alert that receives updates from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) channels

Importance of Waterproofing in Walkie Talkies

Waterproofing is the ability of a device to resist water ingress and damage. It is an important feature for walkie talkies, especially for those who use them in wet or humid environments. Water can cause various problems for walkie talkies, such as:

• Short circuiting the internal components and causing malfunction or fire

• Corroding the metal parts and reducing the performance or lifespan

• Interfering with the sound quality and clarity

• Voiding the warranty and increasing the repair cost

Therefore, waterproofing can enhance the durability, reliability, and safety of walkie talkies. It can also provide peace of mind and convenience for the users, as they do not have to worry about accidental splashes, spills, or submersions.

Are Motorola Walkie Talkies Waterproof?

Overview of Motorola Walkie Talkies

As mentioned earlier, Motorola walkie talkies are divided into two categories: consumer and professional. Within each category, there are different models that vary in terms of features, functions, and prices. However, not all models are waterproof. In fact, most of them are only water-resistant, which means they can withstand some exposure to water, such as rain or snow, but not immersion or high pressure. To determine whether a Motorola walkie talkie is waterproof or not, we need to look at its IP rating.

Explanation of Waterproofing

IP rating stands for Ingress Protection rating, which is a standard that measures the degree of protection a device offers against solid and liquid intrusion. It is defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) under the international standard IEC 605291

An IP rating consists of two digits, followed by an optional letter. The first digit indicates the level of protection against solid objects, such as dust or fingers. It ranges from 0 to 6, with higher numbers indicating higher protection. The second digit indicates the level of protection against liquid ingress, such as water or oil. It ranges from 0 to 9, with higher numbers indicating higher protection. The letter indicates additional protection against specific hazards, such as impact, voltage, or corrosion. However, it is not commonly used for walkie talkies.

For example, an IP rating of IP67 means that the device is dust-tight and can withstand immersion in water up to 1 meter for 30 minutes. An IP rating of IPX4 means that the device is not rated for dust protection (X) and can withstand splashing water from any direction.

Motorola Walkie Talkies that are Waterproof

According to the official website of Motorola, the following models of walkie talkies are waterproof, meaning they have an IP rating of IP67 or higher:

• TALKABOUT T600 Series

• TALKABOUT T800 Series

• TALKABOUT T82 Extreme

• TALKABOUT T92 H2O

• TALKABOUT T100 Series

• TALKABOUT T200 Series

• TALKABOUT T400 Series

• TALKABOUT T500 Series

• TALKABOUT T700 Series

• TALKABOUT T900 Series

• XiR P3688

• XiR P8668

• XiR P8600i Series

• XiR P6600i Series

• XiR P6620i Series

• XiR E8600i Series

• XiR E8608i

• XiR E8600/8608

These models are suitable for various outdoor activities, such as kayaking, fishing, skiing, or hiking, as they can resist water damage and provide clear communication. However, they are not designed for underwater use, such as diving or snorkeling, as they may not withstand the water pressure and depth.

How Waterproof are Motorola Walkie Talkies?

Explanation of IP Ratings

As we have seen, IP ratings indicate the level of protection a device offers against solid and liquid intrusion. However, IP ratings are not absolute, as they are based on laboratory tests that may not reflect the actual conditions in the real world. Therefore, IP ratings should be used as a general guideline, not a guarantee, of the device’s performance and durability.

To understand how waterproof Motorola walkie talkies are, we need to look at the details of the IP ratings. The following table summarizes the meaning of the second digit of the IP rating, which indicates the level of protection against liquid ingress.

Motorola Walkie Talkies with IP Ratings

According to the official website of Motorola, the following models of walkie talkies have IP ratings that indicate their level of protection against liquid ingress:

• TALKABOUT T600 Series: IP67

• TALKABOUT T800 Series: IP67

• TALKABOUT T82 Extreme: IPX4

• TALKABOUT T92 H2O: IP67

• TALKABOUT T100 Series: IPX4

• TALKABOUT T200 Series: IPX4

• TALKABOUT T400 Series: IPX4

• TALKABOUT T500 Series: IP67

• TALKABOUT T700 Series: IP67

• TALKABOUT T900 Series: IP67

• XiR P3688: IP54

• XiR P8668: IP68

• XiR P8600i Series: IP68

• XiR P6600i Series: IP67

• XiR P6620i Series: IP67

• XiR E8600i Series: IP68

• XiR E8608i: IP68

• XiR E8600/8608: IP57

Based on the table above, we can see that most of the models are rated IP67, which means they can withstand immersion in water up to 1 m deep for 30 minutes. Some models are rated IPX4, which means they can withstand splashing water from any direction for 5 minutes. A few models are rated IP68, which means they can withstand immersion in water beyond 1 m deep for a specified time and pressure. Only one model is rated IP54, which means it can withstand water jets from a 6.3 mm nozzle at 12.5 L/min from any direction for 3 minutes.

Comparison of Motorola Walkie Talkies with Other Brands

To compare how waterproof Motorola walkie talkies are with other brands, we can look at some of the popular models from other manufacturers and their IP ratings. The following table shows some examples of walkie talkies from other brands and their IP ratings.

As we can see, most of the models from other brands are rated IPX4 or lower, which means they can only withstand splashing water or less. Only two models are rated IPX7, which means they can withstand immersion in water up to 1 m deep for 30 minutes. None of the models are rated IP68, which means they can withstand immersion in water beyond 1 m deep for a specified time and pressure.

Therefore, we can conclude that Motorola walkie talkies are more waterproof than most of the walkie talkies from other brands, as they offer higher levels of protection against liquid ingress. However, this does not mean that Motorola walkie talkies are invincible, as they still have some limitations and precautions.

Conclusion

In this blog post, we have answered the question: are Motorola walkie talkies waterproof? We have explained what Motorola walkie talkies are, what waterproofing is, and how to determine whether a Motorola walkie talkie is waterproof or not. We have also compared how waterproof Motorola walkie talkies are with other brands of walkie talkies.

We have learned that:

• Motorola walkie talkies are divided into two categories: consumer and professional

• Waterproofing is the ability of a device to resist water ingress and damage

• IP rating is a standard that measures the degree of protection a device offers against solid and liquid intrusion

• Most of the Motorola walkie talkies are waterproof, meaning they have an IP rating of IP67 or higher

• Motorola walkie talkies are more waterproof than most of the walkie talkies from other brands, as they offer higher levels of protection against liquid ingress

Motorola walkie talkies are one of the best choices for those who need reliable and durable communication devices in wet or humid environments. They can withstand various types of water exposure, such as rain, snow, splashes, spills, or submersions. They can also provide clear and crisp sound quality and long battery life.

However, Motorola walkie talkies are not designed for underwater use, such as diving or snorkeling, as they may not withstand the water pressure and depth. They also require proper care and maintenance, such as drying, cleaning, and storing, to prevent water damage and corrosion. They also have some limitations and precautions, such as operating temperature, battery type, and warranty coverage, that users should be aware of.

Therefore, users should read the user manual carefully and follow the instructions and recommendations before using Motorola walkie talkies. Users should also check the IP rating of the model they are using and understand what it means and what it does not mean. Users should also compare the features, functions, and prices of different models and brands of walkie talkies and choose the one that suits their needs and preferences.