Here at Wall to Wall Communications, we have over 40 years of experience in the field, offering the latest technology, including body cameras, two-way radios and training on how to use it.
For this article, we looked further into the costing of a body camera and what to consider when purchasing or hiring one out.
A body camera can come by many different names, including a bodycam, body worn video or a body-worn camera. No matter what they are called, a body camera is a wearable device that records audio and video.
Our team is here to help you decipher the technological jargon and get you fitted with a piece of equipment you can comfortably use and get the most out of.
All About The Budget
When looking to purchase a body camera, you need to firstly think about your budget.
These pieces of kit can range in price, so setting yourself a limit on how much you are willing to spend will allow you to narrow down your choices.
Spending over your budget, doesn’t guarantee you a better, more suited product. So, having a top monetary goal in mind, will ensure you don’t go over your allocated allowance.
If your budget is down the lower-end, or you are unsure of how much you would like to spend, hiring out your body cameras could be the best option.
When it comes to purchasing a body camera, our starting price is around £250 and goes up to around £500, depending on the specs and the memory capacity the device holds.
What do you need from your Body Camera?
The next prospect to consider is what you need your camera for. In our blog post Body Cameras: Which One is Right For you?, we discussed the difference between the cameras in our range.
Knowing how you’re going to use your equipment is imperative when it comes to purchasing a piece long-term. Under our product page, we go into detail about each body camera we carry, including information about the video quality, the lens they have and which applications the model is compatible with.
Asking yourself key questions such as, what storage capacity do I need? Do I need motion detection or night vision features on my body camera? What applications will I be using alongside this technology, do I need it to be connected via Bluetooth or WiFi?
By researching further into these topics, you will be able to narrow down what type of body camera you will be looking for.
Our team is also happy to help if you have any further questions or need any help picking out what equipment is best suited for your and your team’s needs.
What Are The Additional Costs of Your Body Camera?
Finally, are the additional costs to consider when it comes to purchasing your body camera.
At the time of buying equipment for your team, having a firm understanding of how much you’re willing to spend on pieces of kit is essential, but what an added consideration should be is the future costs.
For example, does your team know how to use body cameras? This could be an additional cost which you could need to incorporate into your budgeting plan.
Here at Wall to Wall, our team offers training on all our products, including our radios, body cameras, our mobiles and repeaters. If your team does need more information surrounding this, feel free to contact us and we can walk you through your new equipment.
At Wall to Wall Communications we are determined to meet your every two way radio communication needs, including ATEX radios. An ATEX radio stands for ATmosphere EXplosibles. They are radios that meet a higher standard of safety so they can be used in explosive environments without an increased risk of explosions.
For more information you can read our blog on ATEX radios here.
What industries are ATEX radios suitable for?
ATEX radios can be used in industries such as engine rooms, factories, coal mines, gas mines, airports, chemical plants, oil refineries, timber sawmills and emergency scenes attended by the ambulance, fire and police services, and any other industry that involves explosive materials.
Specialised features of an ATEX radio
To make sure our ATEX radios are safe for use around explosive materials they come with specialised safety features. These include…
Waterproof
Dustproof
Shockproof
Aside from these features, the ATEX radios importantly features a battery which produces a stable output of power, with a long battery life, whilst still maintaining a low temperature. This limits the risk of the radio producing a flame or a spark which could create an explosion. A key feature for ATEX radios.
ATEX radios at Wall to Wall Communications
At Wall to Wall we know that each business has individual needs. Whilst one of the main criteria of ATEX radios is an increased level of safety, they must also serve the normal functioning purposes of ordinary two way radios. Currently we stock a total of 6 ATEX radios so you can find the perfect one for you.
Complying with the world’s strictest safety standards, this Hytera ATEX radio offers key features such as built in man-down and lone-worker functions, GPS, dedicated emergency button, high audio quality, long battery life, large push to talk button and tuning knobs, highly reliable and software upgradable.
Also complying with the world’s strictest safety standards, this Hytera ATEX radio has the capability to withstand some of the toughest conditions. This radio comes with the added benefits of a 1.8 inch colour LCD display and qwerty keypad, which can also help during emergency situations and at night time. Other features include GPS, up to 1024 channels, upgradeable software, digital and analogue capabilities and strong vibrations for alerts which can be useful if you are working in a loud environment.
The Motorola ATEX radio is recommended for any industries that are working with explosive materials or gases, including mines, oil rigs and petrol stations. This is an easy to use radio with up to 32 channels available. Other key features include an emergency button, integrated GPS, multisite connectivity, durable design, automatically adjusting radio volume, man down and lone worker functions.
Kenwood’s ATEX radios have been subject to years of testing in demanding and harsh operating conditions. This Kenwood ATEX radio also has a wealth of features in addition to the expected ones. These include STAFF SAFE Functions, advanced motion detection, emergency key, 5-tone signalling, priority scan and voting, programmable function keys, key lock, VOX read and an adjustable microphone amongst others.
The ICOM ATEX radio is particularly recommended for companies working around water. This radio is a waterproof transceiver that is equivalent to the marine handheld models. In addition, this model is tough, reliable and small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. The Lithium-Ion battery pack also offers a 13 hour working battery life that provides stable output power. A key feature of this radio is the keypad is lit with LED’s, making it suitable for night time work or in dark conditions such as mines.
This Motorola ATEX radio comes with a wealth of features to ensure communication is swift, easy and efficient. This radio comes fully equipped with text messaging feature, GPS, day/night mod, full colour display, Intelligent Audio Feature, built-in scrambling, waterproof and IP Site Connect. This radio is particularly recommended for use around explosive gases with its low powered battery.
At Wall to Wall Communications we know that the safety of your staff and visitors is of the utmost importance to you and your business. The technology you use on site must therefore maintain and enhance these high levels of safety, particularly if you are working in a hazardous environment. Two way radios enhance communication, efficiency and therefore safety. However, if the environment is particularly hazardous and potentially explosive such as an oil rig or petrol tanker, your two way radio must meet increased safety standards. This is where ATEX radios come in…
What is an ATEX radio?
ATEX stands for Atmosphere Explosibles which were first introduced in 2003. An ATEX radio is a radio that is built to meet the world’s strictest safety standards. ATEX radios are made to withstand and keep working reliably in the toughest environments where explosives are involved, whilst still maintaining the highest level of safety.
What features make ATEX radios so safe?
ATEX radios are classed as ‘intrinsically safe’. This means that this technology is safe to use around explosive material as there is a reduced risk of the radio generating a flame or even the tiniest spark that could trigger an explosion. ATEX radios also ensure that minimal heat is produced when the device is in use for the same reason.
Waterproof– These radios can withstand submersion into water and still function after a period of time
Shockproof– These radios are encased in a tough shell with a compact body designed to last and withstand explosions
Dustproof– The shell of these radios are sealed to ensure no material can penetrate the body
Lithium-ion battery pack– This battery produces stable output power without overheating to minimise the risk of a flame or a spark being produced.
In addition to all of the safety features, these radios also come equipped with all of the functions you would expect from a regular digital radio such as man-down function, lone worker, text messaging, GPS, emergency button, built in scrambling and site connect.
What businesses are ATEX radios designed for?
Many businesses can benefit from the use of ATEX radios including chemical plants, airports, timber sawmills, oil rigs, oil refineries, emergency scenes attended by police, fire and ambulance services, engine rooms, coal mines, gas mines, factories, and engine mines.
Here at Wall to Wall Communications, we have over 40 years of experience in the field, offering the latest technology, including body cameras, two-way radios and training on how to use it. 
The next prospect to consider is what you need your camera for. In our blog post Body Cameras: Which One is Right For you?, we discussed the difference between the cameras in our range. 
