Tracking innovations in the ski industry one trusted gear review at a time. From skis to underwear, if it makes your skiing better or worse, we want to know. Exposing the over-hyped gear and directing the love to where it belongs is the intention of these real gear reviews.
MEET THE GEAR REVIEWER
NAME: Riley Leboe
YEARS SKIING: Most
PRODUCT: BCA BC Link 2 Radio
CONDITIONS TESTED IN: Inclement
NUMBER OF DAYS TESTED: 100+
THE SHORT VERSION: BC LINK 2.0 RADIO
“My go-to radio for communication within my backcountry ski group and film crew. Simple to use, minimal design, good range, long battery life, low profile, makes the BC Link 2.0 a great choice for backcountry group communication.” – Riley Leboe
THE LONG VERSION: BC LINK 2.0 RADIO
The best thing about your BC Link 2.0?
The external microphone clips into the shoulder strap of your backpack providing easy use and clear sound when you are ready to drop into your line or communicate important information within your group.
Best use for?
Backcountry, slack-country, hiking, road trip convoys.
Downfalls?
Antenna placement in your backpack is important. Having it at the top of your bag provides the best range and quality. If it is buried at the bottom of your bag, under a bunch of gear the range can be reduced.
Don’t use in these circumstances:
If you need direct communication to helicopters, emergency response, I would recommend a handheld VHF with the appropriate frequencies or an emergency satellite messenger. I carry an emergency satellite messenger and the BCA BC Link 2 Radio with me in the backcountry to cover my bases.
Favorite feature?
You can unclip the base from the mic to easily charge the unit without disrupting your mic routing to your shoulder mount. Long battery life for multi-day trips.
Would you recommend?
Yes, would highly recommend!
SPECS: BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS BC LINK 2.0
WEIGHT: 12 oz. / 340 g
FREQUENCY: 22 FRS GMRS channels + 121 sub-channels ensures minimal interference
BATTERY LIFE: up to 40 hours in standby mode
POWER: 2 Watt (FRS) conforming to new FCC rules 0.5 Watt (FRS)
USEABLE RANGE: Approx 6 mi / 9.5 km line of sight
MAXIMUM RANGE: Approx 40 mi / 64 km line of sight
BATTERY: Integrated 2300mAh lithium-ion battery (Built-in – Non-removable)
TECH: Includes options for pre-set channel selections. Glove-friendly controls, optimized for easy handling. Smart Mic Unit provides push-to-talk button, on/off switch, volume control, battery indicator, loudspeaker, channel selection, and an earphone jack.
BASE UNIT: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery Optional channel preset selections Compatible with all standard FRS/GMRS radios Waterproof to IP56 standards 110-Volt charger adapter connects to mini USB port on the base unit
