Walkie-talkies, or two way radios as they are also known, are valuable assets in many industries. From the military to construction, from law enforcement to emergency services, walkie talkies enable people to communicate instantly no matter the situation or environment. There are various different models of walkie talkie, some with far better specifications and features than others. When choosing a product for professional walkie talkie use, it is vital to identify your needs and match them to the right model. With so many factors to consider, however, this is not always easy, particularly if you are not used to two way radio technology.
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What are the Two Main Types of Professional Two-way Radio?
Ofcom Licensed Walkie-Talkies
These types of devices will usually be more expensive to initially buy, but they do provide users with better quality communication because the signal is far less likely to suffer from interference. They also allow you to use many different frequencies without any signal problems which can often occur when using unlicensed radios that only have a very limited number of frequencies available. Although Ofcom licensed radios may cost you more money when you first purchase them, they may save your company in the long run due to increased efficiency and productivity.Â
Unlicensed Walkie-Talkies
These types of devices are usually much cheaper to initially buy, but they do come with some disadvantages. For instance, unlicensed walkie talkies only allow users to use a limited amount of frequencies so this can cause problems if there are too many radio stations or other electronic equipment using the same frequency as your walkie talkies. This can result in poor quality communication and ultimately wasted time where people have to keep on trying different channels until finding one that works correctly. Also because these types of walkie-talkies only provide you with low-quality signals, it often results in difficulty communicating over long distances (approximately more than 500 metres) unless high powered antennas. However, this is usually not cost-effective, especially when compared to Ofcom licensed radios which also have the ability to use higher power antennas which allow communication across long distances.
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Most Important Features
Knowing what features are available before purchasing them over others can to ensure that your employees will have everything they need from a communication device.
Here are some of the top features that you should look out for:
- Range - A bigger range is one of the most important features to look out for when purchasing your radios because your staff members will be able to communicate with each other no matter the area of operations. Ofcom licensed two way radios have a much greater range than standard unlicensed devices because they provide users with access to better antennas and their frequency bands are not as prone to interference
- Battery Life - a very important feature for professional use as your employees need to be able to do their jobs without constantly needing to replace the batteries. The best professional radios come equipped with rechargeable lithium-ion batteries which once fully charged can be used constantly without employees ever having to worry about the batteries running out. All they need to do is plug their radio into an outlet socket every night before going home. These types of devices tend to cost more money than those which run on standard batteries but they are usually far more convenient.
- Talk Time - The length of operational time until batteries need to be recharged or replaced is also very important. This is called "talk time" and devices with a longer talk time are usually more expensive. However, these devices are much better for jobs in which charging the device may not be possible during a long shift.Â
- Channel Capacity - Most Ofcom Licensed professional radios come fully equipped with around 30 different channels which are pre-programmed into the device itself. This means that all you need to do is select the appropriate channels for your employees that should not overlap or interfere with other radio signals being used in the area. This means that if, for example, you or your employees work on a site where there are large vehicles driving past, they could potentially cause interference. If this happens, you will need to choose a different channel to avoid frequency disruptions. Depending on the size of your company and where you operate, you will need to decide how many channels you need. Some two way radios come with around 20 channels while others have upwards of forty. Generally speaking, walkie-talkies with a higher number of channels are better suited for larger work areas.
- Privacy - Not everyone within an organization wants every staff member to be able to hear what is going on over their walkie talkies, particularly when discussing sensitive information such as salaries and personal matters. For this reason, many radios allow users to activate a privacy mode feature which means that only those who have been granted permission can hear what is being said. It's also very common for these types of devices to be fitted with an automatic silencing control so whenever the device stops receiving any audio from its primary speaker it will automatically mute thus preventing users from being interrupted by static or background noise.
- Types of Communication-Â There are two types of communication available:Â
- Analog - This is the most common type of radio communication technology used by walkie-talkies. Analog technology has been around for decades so its reliability is well-tested meaning that analogue devices are used in many different industries worldwide.
- Digital- Walkie-talkies which use digital communication technology have become increasingly popular in recent times because they offer greater levels of privacy between users through encryption facilities. They also provide higher sound quality thanks to better compression algorithms, as well as quicker transmissions when data needs to be sent (especially useful in security situations where information may need to be transferred quickly). The downside can be that certain digital signals work much alongside other wireless technologies such as Bluetooth and WiFi which can cause interference if they are in close enough range to a walkie talkie.
Need help choosing the right product?Â
Call us on 0151 263 9993 or send an enquiry.
Which Industries Need A Professional Walkie Talkie?
There are many different industries where two way radios have become an essential part of businesses' communications systems. Here are three very different industries which need a professional use walkie talkie / two way radio to demonstrate how adaptive and versatile they are:
Construction
This is one industry that cannot function without reliable radio communications. Without quality walkie-talkies, it would be next to impossible for employees working on-site who need to be able to communicate with colleagues at the other end of the construction site to synchronise with each other. Synchronised construction sites need everyone to receive regular updates about their work schedule, and also needs them to be able to contact foremen and other workmen quickly should there ever be any problems with equipment, vehicles, generators and so on. For these reasons, most building companies invest heavily in top of the radios for construction sites, as the cost of not having them can often mean losing significant time and money.
Security
In times when security is a hot topic, it has become increasingly important to have professional two-way radios due to their encryption facilities and their ability for users to quickly communicate with each other should anything ever happen. Security communication systems need to be reliable first and foremost because there will be various risks depending on who or what is being protected. For example, if a terrorist attack were to take place at a major event, then being able to contact other security members and event coordinators without delay will be imperative for saving lives. They will enable the first security guard who recognises a problem to communicate it instantly with others who aren't aware of what is going on so that there can be a synchronised response.Â
Theme Parks
Theme parks are very busy places which is why this type of radio are such an essential part of security and synching park operations because they allow staff members in different areas to communicate and stay up-to-date with what's going on. This is very important, especially when it comes to looking after the park guests who may experience various health issues as a result of the rides or being outside in hot or cold weather. Theme park walkie-talkies require large coverage zones meaning that range is particularly important.
The DigiX Halo Keypad is jam-packed with everything that you would expect from a high-end device: excellent audio quality, impressive battery life, impressive range, and decent water and dust protection. It has multiple channels, an analogue/digital dual-mode, an emergency alarm, and comes with a two-year warranty to ensure there are no issues.
The DigiX Halo comes with multiple channels so users can have one conversation while simultaneously monitoring another channel for emergency calls from other team members. It is easy to use, even in bad weather conditions and it has top-notch battery life. An ideal no-frills choice.
The Digix Neo is one of the most powerful walkie-talkies available and definitely has all of the features required for professional use. It has an impressive range, is highly dustproof and waterproof, and is dual mode. It also has an impressive battery life which makes it ideal for outdoor use where there are no charging outlets.
