The Best Two-Way Radios for Large Farms
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your large farm, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for large farms?
Field 7’s irrigation system burst an hour ago, and no one noticed until a worker happened to drive by.
The tractor near the south orchard ran out of fuel, and the operator’s been sitting idle, trying to flag someone down. Meanwhile, the harvest crew at the west end finished early and could’ve helped in both spots—but no one knew.
Everyone’s working, but they’re disconnected.
These are all common issues in a large farm - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios.
Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your farm, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
Larger Farms require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt VHF range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
For unlimited coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for Large Farms:
- Irrigation lets the water management team stay in constant contact about schedules, leaks, or broken lines.
- Harvest Crew keeps combine operators, haulers, and field supervisors coordinated without outside noise.
- Maintenance gives mechanics and techs a direct line to equipment operators needing urgent repairs.
- Logistics/Trucking helps manage the movement of product, whether it's loading at the barn or directing trucks to the right field.
- Central Operations or Supervisor ties it all together—used for cross-team coordination and emergencies.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great large farm radio?
- Long Range Communication Farms often stretch over miles, so you’ll need radios with enough range to cover wide open fields, barns, and remote areas without dropping signal.
- Durability & Weather Resistance Radios should be rugged, dustproof, and water-resistant (look for IP54 or higher). These things will get dropped, rained on, and coated in dirt—it’s just part of the job.
- Clear Audio Quality With tractors running and wind howling, you need powerful speakers and noise-canceling mics so messages don’t get lost in the background noise.
- Battery Life for Full-Day Shifts Look for radios that last 12+ hours on a single charge, with swappable battery options for long harvest days or emergencies.
- Hands-Free or VOX Capability When both hands are on the wheel or busy with equipment, voice-activated (VOX) communication or headset compatibility keeps you talking without stopping.
- Multiple Channels & Privacy Codes Helps organize teams (harvest, irrigation, maintenance, etc.) and reduce interference from other radios in the area.
- Emergency Alerts Radios with a built-in emergency button or man-down feature can be a literal lifesaver when someone’s injured or in trouble in the field.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Large Farms
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for _ of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Given the structural (physical and team) nature of a large farm, we recommend high watt radios with a rugged build.
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Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)
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Ideal for operations across multiple locations, cities or states.
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your large farm – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!