Why You Should Use Two Way Radio

There are many choices for wireless communications these days. Why then should you consider two-way radios? We admit that two-way radios have not changed a lot since they were first invented, but that is because nobody has yet figured out how to change the laws of physics.

Advantages of two-way radio

The reason radio still has a place in this technological world is:

  1. It does not need infrastructure to operate. You are not reliant on cell towers or satellites.
  2. It is dead simple. One button: push it to talk, release it to listen.
  3. It is the simplest way to reach more than one person immediately. No setup, no dialing: instantly reach someone, or be ready for when that someone needs to reach you.
  4. Keeping it simple makes it that much easier to train your staff or volunteers, and that makes it easy for you.

Just because two-way radios are simple to the end user does not mean they have no features. Radios have come a long way in 60-plus years. Modern radios are a lot smaller and can have advanced features like digital displays, built-in GPS receivers, text messaging, paging, caller ID and lone worker.

Radio coverage range

How far can I expect my radio to communicate? This is a common question with a very convoluted answer. Most commercial radios have 4-5 watts of output power but differ in how far apart they will communicate. More expensive radios have better filters and decoders, allowing clearer reception in fringe areas and better rejection of unwanted interference. Digital radios such as the Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR7550 extend this usable range even further. It is also important to note that bigger radios transmit farther, thanks to more efficient antenna systems, especially in VHF models. Longer antennas also perform better than stubby antennas.

Portable to portable coverage can be extended by installing a repeater. This is common in larger buildings such as shopping malls and hotels, as well as on towers or mountain tops for fleet vehicles working across cities, campuses or plants. Coverage can now be extended easily and relatively inexpensively from city to city or building to building over Voice over IP, using technology such as Motorola's IP Site Connect.

Features

Most people choose radio because it is simple. They do not need all the bells and whistles, and that keeps the unit price and training costs lower. There are still some features worth considering.

  • Size: Most people want the smallest package possible, which is why Motorola designed radios like the SL series, but bigger radios are sometimes more appropriate.
  • Number of talk groups: Most models have at least 4, and some up to 1,000.
  • Audio accessories: A flush mount connector jack is more robust than an audio jack where the connector is inserted.
  • Battery system: Batteries can be a source of trouble. See our guide to troubleshooting battery problems. Motorola IMPRES battery technology addresses this.
  • Signalling features: Caller ID, paging, GPS tracking, telephone patch, telemetry, email and text, emergency button and lone worker can add safety, efficiency and functionality to your operation. Signalling is available in digital radios, although some signalling features are also found in analogue.
  • Audio volume: If you are using your radio in a noisy environment you likely want a louder radio. Larger radios have bigger speakers, which generally sound better at full volume.
  • Display: Display radios are nice, but they are generally a bit more expensive and less rugged. If you do not have a lot of talk groups or advanced features, stick to a non-display model.
  • Ruggedness: Are you operating outside in the rain? You may want a submersible radio. Are staff rough with your equipment? You will be glad you chose Motorola.
  • Intrinsic safety: Will your radio operate in the presence of combustible gases or dust? You may need an intrinsically safe model.
  • Trunking: Will you need extended coverage? You may need trunking capability.
  • Fleet management: Will you have a large fleet? You may want fleet management options such as engraving and caller ID.
  • Warranty: Motorola radio models vary in their standard warranty offer, and a five-year warranty is standard for professional tier radios. Motorola's warranty is the best in the business, especially for accessories, but it still does not cover a radio that was run over by a forklift or borrowed for a hunting trip.

Who benefits most

Two-way radios are ideal for industries where simplicity is paramount and a reliable, cost-effective communications device is required. Radio remains the most cost effective solution there is. The departments that benefit most are:

  • Security: so you do not need to dial for help when someone is chasing you, or you are chasing them
  • Maintenance: so you can reach the nearest person, not necessarily anyone specific
  • Events: so everyone is in the loop on what is going on
  • Fleet vehicles: because it is illegal to operate a cell phone while driving, but not a two-way radio, so accident information can be broadcast to all drivers at once
  • First aid: easy to coordinate help quickly and immediately
  • Public safety: for all the same reasons
  • Emergency operations centres: so municipalities are not reliant on third party communication networks

Two-way radios last a long time. Many of our customers have had their Motorola radios in service for more than 10 years, which makes them a very cost effective solution compared with other technologies.

Price

What you really need to evaluate is long-term cost of ownership, not unit cost. Many people neglect to calculate what their time is worth in the equation. If you are constantly dealing with battery issues, broken radios, coverage problems and unhappy employees, are you really saving your company money?

Many people choose radio because it is the lowest cost solution. We try to help buyers understand the long-term costs of what they are buying, because lower up-front costs may end up costing more. Radios often last many years, often more than 10, so calculate the cost per radio per year based on how long you expect the system to last. An entry level radio may last three years, whereas a professional radio will last 10 with far less trouble and more features.

Another important consideration is that the lower the radio cost, the higher the probability the model will have a short production life. That matters if you want to buy the same model later to augment your fleet, because new models usually have new batteries and chargers that are incompatible with older ones. Motorola has the longest production runs in the industry: the HT1000, for example, was introduced in 1993 and discontinued in 2006. Can you think of any other electronic device with a 13-year production run?

Other cost considerations are annual radio licence fees, accessories, radio infrastructure or repeater access fees where necessary, and ongoing service. These costs typically amount to only a few dollars a month per radio.

Ready to look at models? Browse portable two-way radios, or contact us and we will help you work out what fits.

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