Waterproof walkie-talkies: IP ratings, floating radios and rugged models

Waterproof walkie-talkies: what the IP rating tells you

Look for the IP code on the box. The IP Code comes from the international standard IEC 60529.1 It rates how well a case keeps out solid objects and water.2

The first digit is for dust and runs from 0 to 6. The second digit is for water and runs from 0 to 9, where 9 is kept for special equipment.3 A higher water digit means a harder test: dripping, then splashing, then jets of water, then immersion.4

An X takes the place of a digit the maker does not rate. IPX4 gives only a water rating, and the dust digit is left open.

"Waterproof" on a box without a code says little. Midland calls the XT50 PRO "waterproof IPX2", the lowest water rating among the radios in our data.5

Waterproof walkie-talkies for home use, by IP rating

The table lists the home radios in our data that carry an IP rating, from the highest rating down. Ratings, range and prices come from the makers' pages and our price checks.

Six of them are rated IP67. In the US the license-free FRS choices are the Motorola T600 H2O and the Retevis RB48. The 5 W GMRS choices are the Midland GXT67 PRO and the Rocky Talkie Expedition Radio. Rocky Talkie says the Expedition Radio's battery is waterproof too, and that water drains out of the speaker fast.14

In Europe and the UK the IP67 choices are the PMR446 Motorola T92 H2O and Retevis RB648.1516 Which radio service fits your country is on FRS and GMRS walkie-talkies and PMR446 walkie-talkies.

The splash-rated radios suit rain, snow and spray. Rocky Talkie built the IP56 Mountain Radio for wet alpine days, and it is not made to go under water.9 In very wet weather Rocky Talkie suggests keeping the radio in your pack and talking through its waterproof hand mic.9 Its pros and cons are in the Rocky Talkie Mountain Radio review.

Floating walkie-talkies for kayaks and boats

A floating radio is the one to pick for a kayak, a canoe or a boat deck. Two radios in our data float: the Motorola Talkabout T600 H2O in the US and the T92 H2O in Europe.1315

Both float face up with the NiMH battery pack they come with. Motorola says they may not float with some AA batteries, so keep the pack in on the water.1315 A flashlight on both turns on by itself when it touches water, which helps you find the radio.1315

Motorola says the headset should be used in dry places only.13 An IP67 rating means the radio survives a fall into the water. Floating is a separate feature, listed on its own on Motorola's sheet.13

Waterproof walkie-talkies with weather radio

On a boat or a long hike, weather alerts matter as much as the seal. In the US the T600 H2O receives 11 weather channels, 7 of them NOAA, with an alert feature.13 The IP67 Midland GXT67 PRO also scans NOAA weather radio and sounds weather alerts.17

With Weather Alert set to on, the GXT67 PRO sounds an alert even while it sits on your GMRS channel.17 Check that setting before you leave the dock.

Which waterproof rating you need

Pick the rating by the worst thing that can happen to the radio. Start from the row that matches your day.

Airbus, a maker of professional radios, points out that IP65 and IP67 are two different tests. IP67 is not tested against jets of water, so a radio for both jets and dunking should list both ratings.3 Motorola lists IP66 and IP68 for the R7, and Sepura lists IP65 to IP68 for its SC20.1110

Keep a waterproof walkie-talkie waterproof

The rating holds only when every cover is shut. Motorola says the T600 H2O is IP67 only with the battery cover and headset port sealed.18 Cobra says the same for the IP54 RX680 and its battery, headset and USB covers.8

1. Close every cover before you go out. Midland says the GXT67 PRO's accessory jack cover must be tight to keep its IP67 rating.17
2. Open covers only when the radio is dry. Motorola asks you to fit batteries and accessories in a dry place.18
3. Unplug accessories in the wet. Midland rates the GXT1000 JIS4, which it describes as protection against light rain and splashing water. The radio loses that rating while an accessory is plugged in.19
4. Shake out the speaker after a dunk. Motorola says a brisk shake clears water from the speaker grille and microphone.18
5. Rinse after salt water. Motorola recommends rinsing the radio in fresh water after the sea.18
6. Dry it before storage. Rocky Talkie asks you to let the radio dry at room temperature after a wet day.9

Treat the rating as a safety margin, not as permission to swim with the radio. Midland's manual for the IP67 GXT67 PRO still says not to immerse the radio, and its warranty excludes water damage.17

Rugged walkie-talkies: drops, dust and MIL-STD-810

A rugged walkie-talkie needs more than an IP rating. IEC 60529 leaves out knocks and drops, as well as corrosion, ice and condensation inside the case.2 Those are tested to other standards.

The standard makers quote is MIL-STD-810, a US military standard for environmental engineering and laboratory tests.20 In our data 39 of the 42 work radios name it. It includes drop, shock and vibration tests, along with rain, immersion, salt fog, dust and temperature tests.20

Read the wording. Motorola says the R7 is "rugged to MIL-STD 810" and lists the test methods it meets.11 For the XT400 series Motorola says "designed to meet" MIL-STD-810. It adds its own lab test, which simulates up to 5 years of field use.21

Waterproof work radios with IP67 and IP68

Work radios reach the highest ratings. The table lists the IP67 and IP68 work radios in our data.

IP68 has no single depth, so compare the maker's figures. Motorola gives the R7 2 m for 2 hours.11 Hytera says the HP785 is submersible to 2 m for 4 hours.22 Sepura gives its SC20 2 m for 1 hour, in salt water too.10

The full R7 spec sheet is on the Motorola R7 page, and more work radios are in business two-way radios. Work radios on long shifts also need a big battery, ranked in longest battery life walkie-talkies.

Questions

Sources

1. IEC 60529:1989+AMD1:1999+AMD2:2013 CSV, degrees of protection provided by enclosures (IP Code) · IEC
2. IEC 60529 edition 2.1, contents and scope (preview) · IEC, via VDE Verlag
3. Do you have this wrong idea about IP protection ratings for mobile devices? · Airbus
4. IP XX testing, liquid intrusion protection up to IP X8 · Kiwa
5. XT50 PRO user's manual, dual band PMR446/LPD · Midland Europe
6. Talkabout T800 data sheet · Motorola Solutions
7. Talkabout T82 Extreme data sheet · Motorola Solutions
8. RX680 owner's manual · Cobra Electronics
9. Mountain Radio user manual · Rocky Talkie
10. SC20 series data sheet · Sepura