Gear & Tech Blog: Walkie Talkies, Radar, Night Vision, GPS & VR

Long-Range Walkie Talkie Guides 11 articles ▼

Supporting our Best Long-Range Walkie Talkies buying guide.

Best FRS/GMRS Walkie Talkies 2026: Expert Picks

Complete buying guide to the best long-range walkie talkies for 2026.

Best Channels for Long-Range Communication

Which GMRS/FRS channels perform best for distance and clarity.

Best Walkie Talkies for Mountains: What Worked

Top radios for steep terrain when cell service disappears.

Do Walkie Talkies Work Off-Grid? 2026 Guide

Beginner guide to off-grid communication without towers or Wi-Fi.

GMRS vs FRS: Real-World Range Differences

Plain-English comparison of power, range, and when to get a license.

How to Boost Walkie Talkie Range (Real Tips)

Practical tweaks: antenna, elevation, channel selection, GMRS power.

How to Choose a GMRS Radio for Camping

Cost, coverage, how to apply, and whether it's worth it.

How Far Do Walkie Talkies Really Work? Range Guide

True range vs claims, plus how terrain, trees, and buildings change performance.

Best Long-Range Walkie Talkies for Hiking, Hunting & Safety

What works in mountains and woods, with setup tips for clearer off-grid comms.

Walkie Talkie Privacy Codes: CTCSS/DCS Setup & Tips

What privacy codes do, how to set tones, and how to fix mismatched chatter.

GMRS Repeaters for Beginners (2026): How They Work & How to Use Them

Repeater basics, tones, programming steps, and etiquette for clearer GMRS communication.

View Walkie Talkie Buying Guide →

Radar Guns & Speed Training 19 articles ▼

Supporting our Radar Guns & Speed Sensors buying guide.

Best Radar Guns & Speed Sensors 2026: Top Picks

Complete buying guide for sports speed measurement.

Best Radar Gun for Baseball: What to Look For

Honest parent's guide to choosing the right radar gun.

Golf Swing Sensors: Range Test Day

Testing swing sensors at the driving range.

Hockey Shot Speed Radar: Rink Test Day

Measuring slap shot speeds on ice.

How Radar Guns Work (Doppler) for Sports

The science behind speed measurement in baseball, golf, and hockey.

Indoor Baseball Radar Gun: Test Day

Testing results in indoor facilities.

Launch Monitor Tech: Radar vs Camera

Spin, launch angle, and which tech works best for your sport.

Pocket Radar vs Stalker: Which is Better?

Side-by-side comparison on accuracy, features, and budget.

Speed Sensor Accuracy: Calibration & Setup

Get reliable readings every time.

Swing Analyzer Metrics: Bat Speed & More

Understanding the numbers that matter for hitters.

Best Budget Baseball Radar Guns Under $150 (2026)

What accuracy to expect under $150, setup tips, and when to upgrade.

Radar Gun History: MLB Timeline & Modern Picks

A quick history of radar guns and how modern options compare for practice.

Radar Gun Story: Backyard Practice to 52 MPH

A backyard challenge, simple setup tips, and how he climbed to 52 MPH.

How to Use a Radar Gun in Baseball Practice the Right Way

Placement, drills, and routines that build velocity without bad mechanics.

Most Accurate Baseball Radar Guns 2026: Coach Picks

Coach picks, specs that matter, and when to upgrade from budget speed guns.

Radar Gun Buying Guide for Coaches & Scouts (2026)

Accuracy specs, side-angle performance, app logging, and durability tips.

How to Calibrate a Baseball Radar Gun for Accurate Speeds

Positioning, distance, and quick checks to keep readings trustworthy.

Radar Gun Drills to Build Pitching Velocity (Safely)

Warmups, bullpen structure, and safe targets for youth and high school arms.

Radar Gun Placement & Angle (2026): Get Accurate Pitch Speeds

Cosine error explained, plus the simplest placements that give repeatable speeds.

View Radar Gun Buying Guide →

Handheld GPS Guides & How-Tos 8 articles ▼

Supporting our Best Handheld GPS buying guide.

Best Handheld GPS 2026: Expert-Reviewed Picks

Complete buying guide for handheld GPS units.

Best Handheld GPS Settings for Tracking

Track intervals, WAAS, and map fields tuned per trip.

How to Load GPX Files on a Handheld GPS

USB folder paths for offline navigation.

When to Use GPS vs Phone Maps Outdoors

When to trust each for battery, accuracy, SOS.

Handheld GPS Battery Life in Cold Weather

Freezing tests, AA vs Li-ion results, and power tips for winter hikes.

inReach SOS Setup: Prep Your Handheld GPS

A pre-trip checklist for messaging tests, contacts, presets, and power.

Multi-Band vs Single-Band Handheld GPS Accuracy

Field accuracy tests under tree cover and when multi-band is worth it.

GPS Datums & Coordinate Formats: Lat/Long vs UTM

The two settings that prevent “wrong spot” navigation: position format and map datum.

View Handheld GPS Buying Guide →

Fish Finder Guides & How-Tos 7 articles ▼

Supporting our Best Fish Finders buying guide.

Best Fish Finders (2026): Castable, Portable & Boat-Mounted

Our complete fish finder buying guide with boat-mounted picks, castable sonars, ice units, and comparison table.

CHIRP vs. Traditional Sonar: Complete Fish Finder Technology Guide

CHIRP vs traditional sonar, plus Side/Down Imaging and forward-facing live sonar explained.

Best Fish Finders for Kayak Fishing (2026)

Kayak-friendly picks, mounting patterns, and power planning that keeps your setup reliable.

Ice Fishing Electronics: Fish Finders, Flashers & Underwater Cameras

What to use on the ice (and why), plus cold-weather setup and battery tips.

DIY Fish Finder Installation: Transducer Mounting Tips

Transom, trolling motor, and in-hull options, cable routing basics, and troubleshooting bad sonar.

How to Read a Fish Finder Screen: Beginner's Guide

Arches, bait vs structure, bottom hardness, and beginner-friendly settings for a clean screen.

Fish Finder Arches, Bait Balls & Thermoclines: What You’re Seeing

How arches form, how bait looks across sonar views, and how to spot thermoclines without guessing.

View Fish Finder Buying Guide →

Night Vision & Thermal Imaging 9 articles ▼

Supporting our Night Vision & Thermal Imaging buying guide.

Best Night Vision & Thermal Imaging 2026: Top Picks

Complete buying guide for NV and thermal devices.

Battery & Cold Weather Tips for Night Vision & Thermal

Battery choices and warming tricks for winter.

IR Illuminators & Night Vision Safety: What to Know

Safe, effective IR wavelengths and beam patterns.

Night Vision vs Thermal Imaging: Which You Need

NV for detail vs thermal for detection in wildlife and security.

Thermal Sensor Resolution & Refresh Rate Explained

Resolution, NETD, and refresh rates explained.

Night Vision Adventure: Exploring the Outdoors After Dark

What we saw after dark, beginner gear that worked, and family safety tips.

Night Vision: Helmet Mount vs Handheld (When to Choose Each)

Pros, cons, and best use cases for navigation, scanning, and wildlife.

Night Vision & Thermal History: Generations Explained

Key generations, how each works, and what to buy for your use case.

Night Vision Focus & Setup: Diopter, Gain & IR Checklist

Get a sharper image fast with the correct focus order and simple gain/IR tuning.

View Night Vision Buying Guide →

Gaming PC Build & Tuning 8 articles ▼

Supporting our Best Gaming Computers buying guide.

Best Gaming Computers 2026: Top Desktops & Laptops

Complete buying guide for gaming PCs.

Air vs AIO Cooling for Gaming PCs

Temps, noise, and reliability comparison.

Best GPU/CPU Pairings for 1080p, 1440p & 4K

Bottleneck-safe pairings with PSU guidance.

My Son's First Gaming PC

How a 10-year-old got into gaming, hardware, and coding.

Safe BIOS Tweaks Before Overclocking

XMP/EXPO, power limits, and fan curves.

Cable Management & Airflow Guide for Gaming PCs

Cleaner routing, fan layout basics, and dust control to cut temps and noise.

Power Supply Sizing for Modern GPUs (2026 Guide)

ATX 3.0/12VHPWR basics and wattage headroom for stable GPU builds.

Gaming PC Monitor Guide (2026): Refresh Rate vs Resolution

How to match a monitor to your GPU with VRR, panel type, and realistic targets.

View Gaming PC Buying Guide →

VR Headsets & Setup Guides 8 articles ▼

Supporting our Best VR Headsets buying guide.

Best VR Headsets for 2026: Standalone, Console & PCVR Picks

Our ranked list and comparison table for the best VR headsets this year.

My Son’s VR Journey: Oculus Quest → Quest 2 → Quest 3

What changed in real life (clarity, comfort, mixed reality) and what we’d buy today.

Meta Quest 3 vs Quest 3S: Which One Should You Buy?

Clarity and mixed reality vs budget value—simple decision guide.

PSVR2 vs Meta Quest 3: What to Buy (and Why)

Console premium vs wireless freedom—choose based on your platform and habits.

PCVR vs Standalone VR: What to Choose (and Why)

Fidelity vs freedom, costs, and the easiest path for most people.

VR Motion Sickness Tips: How We Built “VR Legs”

Comfort settings, game choices, and a step-by-step plan that works.

VR Room Setup: Play Space Safety Checklist

Prevent broken TVs and bruised knuckles with a simple family checklist.

How to Get a Sharp Image in VR: IPD, Fit & Lens Care

Fix blur fast with the right IPD, sweet spot fit, fog prevention, and lens care.

View VR Headset Buying Guide →

Digital Notebooks & Smart Writing 7 articles ▼

Supporting our Digital Notebooks & Smart Tablets buying guide.

Best Digital Notebooks 2026: E-Ink & Smart Tablets

Complete buying guide for digital notebooks.

Best Stylus Tips for Smart Writing Tablets

Nibs, palm rejection, and grip for better writing.

E-Ink vs LCD Digital Notebooks (What's Better?)

Battery life, eye comfort, and latency differences.

How to Organize Notes on a Digital Notebook

Naming, tags, and cloud sync habits.

Handwriting to Text: Best Smart Notebook Conversion Tips

Improve recognition with the right apps, pen settings, and cleanup steps.

PDF Annotation Workflow on Digital Notebooks

Faster markup with pen tools, layers, and export settings for clean PDFs.

Digital Notebook Backup & Sync (2026): Notes, PDFs & Privacy

Simple backups and exports so your notes stay portable and protected.

View Digital Notebook Buying Guide →

Portable Power Stations & Solar Generators 8 articles ▼

Supporting our Best Portable Power Stations buying guide.

Best Portable Power Stations 2026: Top Picks

Ranked picks for camping, outages, and off-grid use with clear tradeoffs.

Tent Camping With a Portable Power Station (Jackery 300 Plus Story)

A true story about switching from a camper to tents—and the one power luxury we keep.

Portable Power Station Sizing Guide: Watts vs Watt‑Hours

Simple sizing math, inverter limits, and a realistic runtime method.

Solar Charging a Portable Power Station: Panel Size & MPPT

How to plan solar input with real-world output expectations (not marketing numbers).

Cold Weather Portable Power Station Tips

What cold does to lithium batteries—and how to protect runtime and charging.

Portable Power Station for Power Outages: Checklist

What to run first, what to skip, and how to stretch runtime during outages.

Portable Power Station Safety: Storage & Ventilation

Simple safety practices for ventilation, charging habits, storage, and travel.

Pure Sine vs Modified Sine Inverters: What It Means

Which devices care about inverter waveform and how to avoid buzzing or shutdowns.

View Power Station Buying Guide →

Baby & Newborn Essentials 9 articles ▼

Supporting our Baby Essentials Guide.

Best Baby Essentials 2026: Cradle Cap & Warmers

Complete buying guide for baby essentials.

Cradle Cap vs Eczema vs Dry Scalp: How to Tell

How to tell the difference between scalp conditions.

Warm Breastmilk Safely for Night Feeds

Thawing tips, gentle warming, and fast routines.

Why I Built the Baby Essentials Guide

How we test and keep it honest.

Best Bottle Warmer: Breastmilk vs Formula Guide

A simple decision guide for night feeds, daycare prep, and travel.

Bottle Warmer Safety: Avoid Hot Spots & Overheating

Avoid hot spots, hit safe temps, and warm breastmilk or formula correctly.

Cradle Cap 101: Safe Newborn Scalp Care

A safe, simple scalp routine, what to avoid, and when to call the pediatrician.

Cradle Cap Tools: Brush vs Comb vs Foam

What to use, in what order, and how to avoid irritation for stubborn flakes.

Newborn Bottle Feeding Station Setup: Cleaning & Warming

A simple station workflow for safe warming, faster cleaning, and easier night feeds.

View Baby Essentials Guide →

Smart Water Shutoffs & Leak Detection 9 articles ▼

Supporting our Smart Water Shutoff Valves buying guide.

Best Smart Water Shutoff Valves & Leak Detectors 2026: Top Picks

Complete buying guide for smart shutoff valves and leak detectors.

How Smart Water Shutoff Valves Detect Leaks (Flow vs Pressure vs Ultrasonic)

How flow monitoring, pressure tests, and ultrasonic sensing work.

Micro‑Leaks & Silent Water Waste

DIY ways to find micro-leaks and how smart shutoffs catch them early.

Smart Water Shutoff Installation Checklist

Pipe sizing, placement, bypass loops, power, Wi‑Fi, and app setup.

Smart Water Shutoff ROI (Insurance + Payback)

How to think about water-damage risk, discounts, and payback.

Where to Place Water Leak Sensors (Room‑by‑Room)

Room-by-room sensor placement and how to pair sensors with shutoffs.

Why I Reviewed Smart Water Shutoffs

The story that kicked off our research into whole-home shutoffs.

Wi‑Fi vs Z‑Wave vs LoRa for Smart Water Shutoffs

Range, reliability, and automation tradeoffs for your smart home.

Smart Water Shutoff Maintenance: Monthly Test Checklist

Valve exercise, sensor batteries, alert testing, and false-alarm prevention.

View Smart Water Buying Guide →

Outdoor Adventure & Tech Kits 2 articles ▼

Trip stories, gear lists, and practical packing advice for the outdoors.

Beyond the Map's Edge 2026 Guide: Clues & Gear

Clue strategy, trail reality, and a practical packing list with safety tips.

Outdoor Tech Kit 2026: Night Vision, Walkie Talkies, Power

Build a field-ready kit with tested picks for comms, optics, power, and productivity.

Featured Guides

All Articles by Category