8 Things to Look for in a Professional Two-Way Radio

Searching for a two-way radio for your agency can leave you uncertain of which will be the right choice for your team. While we won&#;t come out and tell you which radio make and model you should choose, we&#;ll show you things to consider when buying a professional two-way radio.

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By professional radio, we mean radios used by police officers, fire departments, TSA agents, Border Patrol agents, and government agencies.

We&#;ll discuss 8 things to look for in a professional two-way radio to make sure you&#;re getting everything you need to communicate efficiently.

• Battery Life
• Intrinsically Safe
• Water-Resistant
• Durability
• UHF or VHF Frequency
• GPS and Location Tracking
• Encryption
• P25

Battery Life

Long battery life is essential to keeping you connected longer, especially during long shifts. Look for a radio that will promise 8 hours or more of battery life.

Intrinsically Safe

Intrinsically safe means the equipment is safe to use near fires and won&#;t cause a spark that can ignite a fire or explosion. This is incredibly important for firefighters and miners who work in hazardous environments where this spark can be disastrous.

If you require your radio to be intrinsically safe, look for SGS Group or FM Approval, these are accredited laboratories that test equipment and approve them to be Intrinsically Safe.

Water-Resistant

If you&#;re using your two-way radio outdoors where it is susceptible to rain, snow, or water, look for radios with an IP rating. IP ratings show you how well the radio is protected against rain and dust. To put it shortly, the rating will be 2 numbers. The first number resembles how well it's protected against dust particles, and the second number resembles how well it's protected against water.

For the most protection, your radio should be rated IP68. This means its dust-tight for 2 to 8 hours and protected against water immersion for long periods.

Learn more about what an IP rating is and what each rating means.

Durability

Working in public safety, you can be put through some tough environments. Your two-way radio should be durable enough to handle these environments.

Look for radios that meet MIL-STD (Military Standard). This means the radio has been tested and designed to meet the requirements for environmental stress.

The radio undergoes tests for mechanical shock, vibration, temperature, low pressure, humility, and explosive environments.

If your radio meets Mil-STD, you can be sure your radio is cable enough to handle any environment you put it through.

UHF or VHF Frequencies

Radios need to be on the same frequency to communicate. This is usually UHF, VHF, or 700/800 frequency. For example, if you operate on a UHF frequency your radio needs to have a UHF operating mode, and vice versa.

If your existing radios operate on UHF, your radios need to be UHF to communicate across them.

Make sure your two-way radio is on the same frequency as which you operate to ensure compatibility.

GPS and Location Tracking

Larger fleets of radios use GPS and Location tracking to find others and improve safety. If a member on your team is lost, hurt, or requires additional help, GPS location services can display the location so you can see where your team member is.

Encryption

Does your radio need to be encrypted, meaning all conversations need to be protected against eavesdropping? Police officers usually have encrypted radios to keep people from listening in on secure information.

If you need secure communication, look for radios that can be encrypted.

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P25

P25 was introduced by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) to ensure two-way radios are interoperable across agencies regardless of what radios are being used.

Today, more radios have P25 interoperability to ensure everyone is connected during emergency events.

Recap

To recap, here are the main things to look for when buying a professional two-way radio.

• Battery life is longer than 8 hours
• Meets MIL-STD testing for durability
• Has an IP Rating so it&#;s protected against submersion and weather.
• Has GPS and Location Tracking to find others on your team quickly and safely.
• P25 compatible for interoperability.
• Intrinsically safe for use in hazardous environments
• Encryption capabilities
• You&#;re operating on the same frequencies.

Update: This blog post was originally posted on May . It has since been updated and republished.

Are you thinking about purchasing two-way radios to improve communication in your workplace? Before making your decision, consider these six questions to ensure you choose the right equipment for your needs.

1. What is the current communication system in place?

The most common methods of communication in the workplace are landline phones, cellphones, , and face-to-face, but each comes with their own set of limitations:

• Landlines are stationery, rendering them useless for employees who are on the go.
• Cellphones are typically not very durable (especially in harsh conditions), and the signal can be unreliable. While smartphones are commonplace, businesses are still opting for two-way radios. Read 5 Reasons Businesses Choose 2-Way Radios over Smartphones.
• Emails require typing so efficiency is only as good as the person typing, response times can be slow and sometimes emails get lost (it&#;s happened to all of us).
• Face-to-face communication isn&#;t always possible, and it can be time consuming to track down the person you need. With COVID, more people are trying to maintain social distance so face-to-face is even less commonplace than what it once was. Ski resorts demand durable two way radio accessories to help workers keep their social distance and communicate effectively.

In comparison, two-way radios are portable, rugged, and allow for instant communication. If you&#;re experiencing issues with your current communication system, radios are a great option to consider.

2. Is my competition using two-way radios with success?

Think about your competitors &#; are they already using two-way radios to improve their productivity or customer experience? If so, you may be at a disadvantage.

Many industries rely on two-way radios to communicate quickly and effectively including public safety, construction, hospitality, entertainment and events, healthcare, transportation and more.

3. What are the conditions of the work environment?

Depending on your industry, there may be environmental hazards to consider. Fortunately, many two-way radios are designed for heavy-duty use.

For example, if your employees are working outside or in conditions that are wet or dusty, choose a radio with the appropriate IP rating for the work environment. Read our blog What IP Numbers Really Mean for waterproof and dust protection details.

4. Are there any safety concerns associated with the job?

Many radios have features that help to ensure the user&#;s safety. For instance, people working in remote locations will benefit from a radio that has an emergency signal to call for help.

Public safety employees also need to be able to discreetly call for backup&#;a major advantage that two-way radios have over other forms of communication.

Radios are also effective in loud work environments as users can still communicate while protecting their hearing. Radios help users protect their voice (less yelling) and their ears while reducing hearing loss OH&S claims. Read the Importance of Noise-Cancelling Headphones for Occupational Health and Safety.

5. What kind of features do I need in a radio?

Once you&#;ve decided that two-way radios are an effective communication strategy for your workplace, consider the unique needs of your team. Different industries will have different requirements&#;retail workers need simple, lightweight communication devices, whereas construction workers will need heavy-duty equipment that can withstand harsh conditions. Why Two-Way Radios are Ideal for Construction.

6. What accessories do I need with my radio?

While radios themselves are essential to radio communications, radio accessories are important too.

Every radio user has varying needs for the type of accessories they need. Some users may need waterproof accessories (watch how Team USA put Impact&#;s waterproof mics to the test on the ORACLE), others may need situational awareness earpieces, noise blocking or cancelling earpieces.

Sometimes specialty radio accessories are required such as Bone Conduction. With bone conduction, vibration in a user&#;s jawbones and cheekbones allow them to hear sound as soundwaves bypass the eardrum completely, and sound is conducted to the inner ear through the bones of the skull. Bone conduction is ideal for police and tactical applications and users with hearing loss as it&#;s compatible with hearing protection.

Make Your Investment in 2-Way Radios Worthwhile

Investing in two-way radios and their associated accessories can significantly improve efficiency, productivity, and safety in your workplace. By asking yourself these questions, you can ensure that you and your team will get the most out of your purchase.

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About Impact Radio Accessories

Impact Radio Accessories is your #1 source for two-way radio accessories. We are a world leader in the design and manufacture of communication products including surveillance kits, speaker mics, radio battery chargers, headsets, and adapters. Impact&#;s accessories are trusted by demanding industries and applications such as public safety, security, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, hospitality, and beyond. OEM quality radio accessories at aftermarket prices.

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