How To Choose A Two-Way Radio For Your Business

In this age of digital connectivity and mobile phones, two-way radios are often dismissed as outdated technology, sometimes even considered a relic of the past, reserved for truckers using CB radios or as children's toys.

However, two-way radios remain a reliable and popular choice for organizations with mission-critical needs. They are widely used across diverse industries, including manufacturing, education, construction, transportation, and first responders. They are essential tools for organizations that require rapid and dependable communication with their teams.

When purchasing two-way radios, your communication requirements will determine which radio type is best suited for your organization. Different frequency ranges are better suited to specific industries or business types. Very High Frequency (VHF) refers to radio frequencies between 136-174 Mega Hertz (MHz), while Ultra High Frequency (UHF) refers to frequencies between 400-527 MHz.

Very High Frequency (VHF) radios are ideal for outdoor use and well-suited to industries such as agriculture and recreation or any situation where you must communicate across a vast area. VHF radios have longer wavelengths that can travel longer distances than Ultra High-Frequency Radios.

Ultra High-Frequency two-way radios are an excellent option for manufacturing, logistics, retail, education, hospitality, healthcare, and construction industries. This is because UHF frequencies perform better when penetrating walls, concrete, steel, and other barriers that may block or degrade your radio signal. They are also more effective at penetrating densely populated areas such as retail stores or large crowds.

Although both two-way radios and cell phones provide communication solutions, they are separate options. Cell phones are designed for one-to-one communication, while two-way radios are for one-to-many communication. Due to the ability to broadcast messages to multiple individuals simultaneously, two-way radios are the preferred option for industries such as public safety, public and private utilities, construction, retail, hospitality, and healthcare.

However, cell phones have an advantage because their range is unlimited - communication is possible as long as there is a cell signal. To communicate over large distances with two-way radios, you will need to extend your range using a radio repeater or trunking system.

Radio waves travel in a straight line and struggle to transmit through obstacles or over the horizon - this is known as sight-line propagation. A radio repeater can send signals over longer distances and improve penetration through buildings and obstacles.

By combining a receiver and transmitter into one unit, radio repeaters receive the signal from a two-way radio on one frequency and transmit it on another so that it's picked up by a two-way radio that would otherwise be too far away or blocked from receiving the signal. Repeaters can also link with solutions such as MOTOTRBO IP Site connect to expand the signal further.

Motorola Solutions’ MOTOTRBO radio systems consist of repeaters that extend the range of your signal while intelligently switching between channels to ensure that your work groups always receive mission-critical voice messages. MOTOTRBO systems use a control channel to transmit data packets that enable the members of a specific talk group to know which frequency they need to be on.

For example, in a MOTOTRBO radio system, emergency responders such as police and fire departments responding to an emergency can communicate with each other on a designated frequency without interference from other radios.

For decades, two-way radios were analog systems. However, as our digital age continues to evolve, so are two-way radios. Digital two-way radios offer several advantages of their analog counterparts, including:

• Better Voice Quality
• Eliminate Overly Crowded Channels
• Stronger Coverage at the Edge
• Longer Battery Life

If you need radios that will enable your business or organization to connect over other devices, at other locations, or across distances, Amerizon Wireless will walk you through the process of obtaining the radios and equipment, along with Nationwide PTT coverage.