When starting your research into whether adding two-way radios to your team’s equipment is a good idea, there are many things to consider. This can include your location of your working environment, the wifi capabilities, the battery type and even the size of the hand-held radio.
One of the main questions we get asked is about how powerful two-way radios are and if they differ when it comes to this specification. In this article, we look at the power of both licenced and unlicensed radios.
What you need to know about Two-Way Radios
Two-way radios are ideal for job roles in which staying in constant contact with your team is essential. Roles such as emergency services, security services, the military, transportation industries and retail.
Walkie talkies can also be imperative for roles where individuals are working underground or on the open ocean. With these jobs, it’s a regular occurrence that workers will be unable to have access to Cellular signals or be in ‘dead call’ zones, where they will not be able to reach another’s mobile phone. Two-way radios are ideal for this situation as they offer clear communication and have no need to connect to signal towers, unlike a mobile phone.
In addition, two-way radios can also be used in a survival situation. Similar to more remote job roles, when in a dangerous situation, finding that you have no signal could be detrimental. A walkie talkie can be life-saving in events such as these and usually, as these pieces of equipment are fairly small, they can be taken with you on most occasions.
How Powerful Are Two-Way Radios?
When it comes to the power of a two-way radio, there is a difference between licensed handheld walkie talkies and non licensed models.
According to Ofcom, a licenced two-way radio can have up to 5 watts of power output whereas a ‘licence-free’ PMR446 radio can only have ½ watt power output. This means that overall, licenced radios will have a better range and be more powerful when in use.
Additionally, the licenced equipment will have a better signal penetration, which can help job roles such as security, as you may be communicating with your team from far away positions.
Looking at licensed radios in comparison to unlicensed ones is definitely one of the things you have to consider when purchasing or renting out this piece of equipment for your business.
What Else To Consider When Choosing a Two-Way Radio?
Range and power come in hand in hand when discussing two-way radios. The more ‘power’ a radio has, the further a field it can reach, within Ofcom’s guidelines of course.
When looking into range, there are many things to consider before purchasing your two-way radio. Firstly, is your environment in which you will be using your radio in. The range can vary by a few hundred metres up to a number of miles. Depending on your working environment, it could really affect how far your radio range is. For example, communicating through dense or solid objects can dramatically reduce the reachability of your two-way radio.
As well as power and range, you have to consider other factors such as whether your equipment needs to be shock proof. If you work in the construction industry, you could find that your job environment is not fit for a mobile phone, as you could risk getting it dirty or broken. Having a shock-proof radio will prevent the equipment being broken when it’s knocked or dropped. This is particularly good for more dangerous or more hands-on working environments.
Emergency calling can be another additional thing to consider. If you know that emergency calling may be necessary in a job role, it’s always best to be safe than sorry. Check that the model you are looking at can dial for emergency services, or even automatically dial in a dangerous situation.
There are many things to consider other than the power of your radio when purchasing this equipment for your business. Here at Wall To Wall Communications, our team can help you decide which model is best for you. WIth our services, you can try the equipment before purchasing it or even renting out our two-way radios. In addition, we also offer training which helps yourself and your team use your new pieces of technology to the best of its ability.