Businesses have significantly gained from two-way radios. These are simple and cost-effective ways to enhance their communication systems. Efficiency is an added benefit as business expenses continue to fall. Businesses can interact more easily between departments with the help of these tools. These radios play an essential role in communication between office and field executives.
When choosing the best radio, operating environments differ greatly from one customer to another. While they might be expensive, two-way radios are a valuable and cost-effective piece of communication device to have.
Things to Consider When Purchasing Two-Way Radios
Acquiring two-way radios for personal or business use can be a wise investment for anyone seeking a reliable, affordable communication system. However, choosing which radio is best for you needs careful study. Here are the things you should consider before you purchase one:
1. Frequency: UHF or VHF?
Understanding the frequency differences available is important for communication to be trusted and as interference-free as possible, depending on the radios’ surroundings. VHF (Very High Frequency) radios operate on frequencies between 136 and 174 MHz and are best used outside on the open ground or rolling hills with few trees.
UHF (Ultra High Frequencies) operate on frequencies between 450 and 470 MHz and are more popular than VHF since they provide a better range within steel or concrete structures and crowded cities. Check this if you’re looking for a signal booster.
2. Licensed or Licensed-Free?
Budget, operational environment, and security all play a role in identifying whether to invest in licensed or license-free radios. License-free (PMR-446) radios use the same frequencies as conventional PMR-446 radios and operate on 8 general channels.
The only drawback is that anyone within range of you who is using a PMR446 radio might listen to your discussion or disrupt your signal. However, license-free radios do not need a license, a network, call charges, or a contract. As a result, they’re great entry-level radios for anyone wanting to operate within line of sight up to a range of about 3 kilometers. Check out your toughbook right here to learn more.
3. Analog or Digital?
The way a radio signal is transmitted and received is determined by whether it is digital or analog. Analog radios are less complicated than digital radios, and they can communicate more effectively when the received signal is weak or loud. However, on each channel, the analog operation just allows for one conversation at a time.
Enhanced speech quality, more security, direct calling, more channels, greater range, text messaging, and longer battery life benefits digital radios. However, digital radios are more complicated, need the same design and programming to be suitable, and are more expensive.
4. Required Channels
Each design of two-way radio has a different number of channels. One channel works great if all of your employees need to speak with one another. However, if you own a business like a hotel, you’ll need many channels. Your kitchen, housekeeping, and valet service can then communicate with security and hotel management over one channel. Two-way radios are the best solutions for any business requiring instant, reliable communications.
5. Environment
You need to consider the environment in which the radio will be used. ATEX radios must be considered if radio communication is required in potentially dangerous situations (such as oil refineries, chemical factories, and flour mills), where flammable gases or explosive dust pose a danger to standard radio or electrical devices. High electric fields, intermittent electrical connections, and other factors can cause sparks. Thus ATEX-approved or Intrinsically Safe (IS) radios are designed to prevent this.
Conclusion
The best radio for you is determined by a number of factors. Many features, such as Man Down, GPS, Lone Worker, Voice Activation (VOX), and others, must be addressed in addition to the reasons noted above.
It is very simple to identify the type of radio required, but it is more difficult to pinpoint the most ideal make and model for your needs without testing in the field. Many radio companies provide free on-site demos and testing, as well as radios that can be rented.
