Keeping in contact over vast areas is something Australians are good at. We have great telcos, but signal isn’t always an option, and that’s where a good UHF radio comes in. 

Uniden are a leader in UHF radios and their XTRAK 50 Waterproof Handheld Radios have literally everything you need to keep in contact in a busy, or remote environment. 

Uniden sells the XTRAK 50 as a single unit for $299.95 RRP with XTRAK 50-2TP two-pack priced at $569.95 RRP.

I got to test the XTRAK 50-2TP two-pack out over the last two months. I have over 60 acres of remote bush land and keeping in contact with people on the block with no mobile service was getting to be a problem. We tried a 3-pack of 0.5W radios, but got almost nowhere in the dense bush and long distances.

So let’s have a look.

What’s in the box? 

The XTRAK 50-2TP two-pack is a great place to start for anyone needing to keep in contact. 

It starts off with the hard-shell storage case which comes with pre-cut foam designed to fit your gear to keep it stowed when not in use. 

Inside the case you get everything you need to use it. The two XTRAK 50 UHF Radios, including detachable antennas as well as a standalone magnetic mount antenna. There’s also 2700mAh batteries and belt clips for each unit. 

There’s a charging dock to charge both radios, with a 12W (1000ma @ 12V) AC adapter, as well as a car charging kit with a DC (Cig-lead) connector. 

While you can use the radios with the push to talk button, Uniden also includes two Speaker Mics, as well as two earpiece mics. 

Design

The XTRAK 50 looks just like a Walkie Talkie, something we’re all pretty familiar with. It’s rugged, and comes with an IP67 rating once the battery, antenna and accessory jack cap are closed.  

In the front there’s a few buttons – Menu, to access the menu or select options, an Up and Down arrow that can be used in Menu, or to select channels, and the Scan button. There’s also a large OLED Display which has an Anti-Glare coating, and has brightness adjust so you can dim it. 

The display has all the information you can need, ranging from the UHF radio channel front and centre. It’s surrounded by things like battery, key lock and Bluetooth status in the top right, Power Level and Smart Key status on the top left, with Signal strength running down the side. While the OLED display can be hard to photograph with the rolling shutter and refresh rate, it’s a fantastic screen that’s fully visible even in bright sunlight.

You can also tell the transmit status, and check the scan mode, Priority Watch and loads more. 

I was pretty impressed with the display in bright sunlight. It’s easy to read, and you can pick out all the information you need quite easily.

On the left hand side you get the usual Push-to-Talk button, as well as the Programmable SMART Key – and my Favourite, the Instant Replay key. 

The Instant Replay key can play back audio from previous transmissions, with the unit capturing up to 4 minutes of the last received audio automatically. The SMART Key is an equally neat feature, giving you easy access to one-touch controls for four functions with the mode you’re currently on shown on the display, 

The key is set to Instant channel by default. This setting lets you switch instantly between a priority and alternate channel. You can switch function to CALL, which lets you send a call tone, or enter Monitor Mode so you don’t get the squelch when you’re listening for signals, or equaliser mode which gives you some surprisingly good control over the audio quality – with four options (Normal, Bass, Midrange and High) to choose from. 

The right hand side is where you find your accessory port, basically the place you can plug in the Speaker or Earpiece Mics. The dual-port setup has one thin and one thick pin, meaning you can’t plug in an aircraft adapter.

The detachable antenna screws into the top of the unit. You also find an LED at the top of the radio which can be used as a torch (or an SOS Strobe in emergencies) and a rotary knob for power and volume control. Lastly on the base you’ll find the clip to keep the battery locked in. 

Battery and Charging

Before using the radios you’ll need to charge them. There’s a large 2700mAh Lithium-ion Battery included with each radio, which can get you up to 30 hours of standby time. 

There’s both the dual AC-powered charging dock, or the car kit to charge the radios, though you can only charge one radio at a time using the car kit. 

The 2700mAh battery takes up to four hours to charge from flat to use. 0It’s easy to see when it’s charged on both chargers, with the red/green indicator LEDs, and it’s easy to see battery status at any time with a battery indicator on the OLED display.

Transmit/Receive and General use. 

The XTRAK 50 can deliver up to 5 Watts of power – the maximum transmission power you can use without applying for a license in Australia. The signal is strong, sending signals up to 17km. 

Uniden has included the ability to scale the power you use, from 1W to 5W. The more powerful 5W is obviously better when you have obstacles like hills and thick trees between radios, but the extra juice will drain your battery faster, while the 1W option offers greater battery life at the cost of range and penetration of signal.

If you’re in a busy area, they have 80 UHF channels to choose from to ensure you get a clear channel.  

There are some limitations on which channel you can use, but Uniden have put together a handy guide on which channels you can use, and which you should definitely avoid. 

Using the radio is quite straightforward. First you need to agree on a channel with your crew. Once you choose a channel and set it with your crew, all you need to do is hit that Push-To-Talk button and you’re off and racing.

The 2W speaker in the radio is loud enough for most anyone to hear, and at full volume can be quite loud – making you glad for the volume knob on top.

For convenience though, the Speaker and Earpiece mics give you a lot more versatility. The Speaker Mic can clip onto the straps on a pack, or your work vest, while the Earpiece mic fits easily into the ear, while a mic clips to your shirt.

It’s a very personal preference as to which you use. I personally found the Speaker Mic great to use when walking with a pack, the mic on the shoulder strap, the radio clipped to my belt. 

My son on the other hand swears by the earpiece mic, saying it’s far more comfortable. Again, personal preference.It does sit nicely in the ear, and has a mic you clip to your shirt for easy access. 

All three options work well, and when walking in a group I found it good to just leave the speaker open for everyone to hear.

Final Thoughts

The Uniden XTRAK50-2TP two-pack makes for a great bundle. At $569.95 RRP, the pack is a solid investment, simply for being a complete bundle with everything you need to get under way. 

Bundling two radios alongside a rugged carry case, dual charging dock, vehicle charger, magnetic mount antenna, and both speaker and earpiece mics means you get a complete, field-ready setup without needing to buy extra accessories – and the case makes it easy to keep in one place, protected. 

Whether managing an off-grid acreage, heading out on a 4WD trip, or keeping a crew connected on site, the XTRAK 50-2TP is an easy kit to recommend.