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Cobra

Cobra Two Way Radios in South Africa

Cobra is an American brand that has been making consumer two way radios for decades, and the range here is entirely twin packs. That is the sensible way to buy them, since a single radio is not much use, and it means one purchase covers a pair of vehicles, a farm gate and a house, or two people on a hike. NeonSales carries 4 Cobra products, from R1,060 for an AM255 pair up to R3,538 for an AM1055 pair.

What Cobra products does NeonSales stock?

  • AM255: entry twin pack
  • AM655: rated to 8km, twin pack
  • AM855: rated to 10km, twin pack
  • AM1055: rated to 12km, twin pack

Be realistic about the range figures

Model Rated range What that means in practice
AM655 8km Achievable across open water or between hilltops, considerably less elsewhere
AM855 10km Same conditions apply, the higher figure reflects better output and antenna
AM1055 12km The top rating in the range, still line of sight dependent

These figures are measured under ideal line of sight conditions with nothing in between. Handheld radios do not bend around hills or through buildings. In suburban terrain expect a fraction of the rated distance, and on a farm with rolling ground expect somewhere in between. The higher-rated models genuinely do reach further than the lower ones, so the comparison between them holds even though the absolute numbers do not.

Where the extra money goes

Moving up the range buys transmit power, better antenna performance and usually more features such as weather alerts, more channels and longer battery life. If you are covering a smallholding, the AM255 or AM655 is likely enough. If you are covering distance across a farm or between vehicles on a trail, the AM855 or AM1055 earns the difference.

Common questions

Do these work with other brands? Radios on the same frequencies and channel spacing can generally communicate regardless of brand. Matching channel and any privacy code is what matters.

Do I need a licence? Requirements around radio frequency use vary by band and by circumstance. Confirm your own position before transmitting rather than relying on general guidance.

Why buy Cobra over a cheaper radio? Build quality, battery life and range under real conditions. If you need a pair of radios for an occasional event, budget options exist. For regular use, the difference shows.

Can I buy a single radio? This range is stocked as twin packs only.

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