Two way radios

Anyone have experience, recommendations in the area of radio communication on the homestead? Seems to me that even with only ten acres, it's easy to be too far away to just holler to whomever you need to talk to, and that cell phone service can be unreliable - especially in more rural areas or if infrastructure really starts to break down. then there's the ongoing cost of a cell account.

Anyway, for various reasons it seems to me that a few handhelds and maybe a base station would make sense on the homestead.

Thoughts?

My wife and I really appreciate our Motorolla Talkabout two way radios on our 12 acre farm. They cost maybe $50 for the pair with a charging station. We use them everyday, they make communication so much easier! We dont have (or want) cellphones, so these little walkie-talkies are perfect for coordinating a fencing project across a field, or checking in on how things are going during milking.
Get a pair, you wont regret it.

This new open source computer software "Commotion Wireless" may be the most frugal way to solve the problem.

Commotion website - https://commotionwireless.net/about

Interview and explanation of Commotion Wireless - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKnO9UgrWtI&feature=em-uploademail