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When getting started with two-way radio, some terms may seem too deep to understand. Actually, you don’t need to become a expert physic to understand how commercial two-way radio works in today’s world. By explaining some terms in this post, we hope you can grasp what you could need more in this moment: Have a general idea about how they work and what you should get for your company. General terms about two-way radios Let’s get started with the basic. So, here are some widely accepted definitions about two-way radio systems. Radio Wave: Are radio signal waves that flow up and down and can alter in how high they peak. They are invisible to our eyes but are the cornerstone of radio communications. Wavelength: It is the space between one peak and the next one in a radio wave. Using this measure wavelengths can be short or long, depending on how close are their peaks. Cycle: Like the waves of the ocean, radio waves follow a pattern that repeat itself over and over and is known as cycle. Range: The maximum number of miles (or kilometers) that a specific two-way radio device would work fine, under normal circumstances. RX (Receive): The reproduction of an audio signal coming from another radio. TX (Transmit): To send over a radio signal, a message to another radio. Channel: A frequency on which two-way radio devices can communicate and send messages to each other, according with its technical capabilities. Type and technology of two-way radios To get a little deeper, is now the time for explain more about the different existing devices, so you could have a better idea of what you need. Two-Way Radio: Is a device (portable or mobile, analog or digital) that transmits and receives voice communication. Portable Radio: Is a two-way radio hand held device, also known as walkie talkie that allow people on-the-go to send and receive radio messages. Mobile Radio: Is a two-way radio device mounted in a vehicle or a station, able to send and receive messages. Analog or Conventional: Are radio systems that may communicate a single condition. In this devices information is sent by changing the frequency, amplitude or phase of the radio signal. Digital: Are radio systems that, beside send voice messages, may communicate text from computer-aided dispatch (CAD). By using FDMA, TDMA or voice, information send for this devices is converted to true data bits and applied directly to the radio transmitter. FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access): It gives users an individual channel allocation. TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access): Allows multiple users to share a single frequency. Push-to-talk: Is the button included in all portable radios. Its function is, when pressed, to open the channel for transmission. Repeater: Is the combination of a radio receiver and a radio transmitter whose function is to receive a weak or low-level signal and retransmit it at a higher level or power in order to that signal can reach longer distances without degradation. About the Frequency Frequency is a constant topic when we talk about two-way radio. As can become a very extensive matter, here is just a summary of what this is about. The frequency is the number of cycles (radio wave that repeat itself over and over) that occur every second. Is it measured in hertz (Hz) and is correct also refer to them as “cycles per second”. Since generally radio cycles repeat thousands of times each second, expressions like kilohertz (KHz, 1,000 cycles per second), megahertz (MHz, 1 million cycles per second) and gigahertz (GHz, 1 billion cycles per second) are pretty common. There is a direct relationship between frequencies and wavelengths. The higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength, and visa-versa. In order to group frequencies, radio engineers divided them into ranges and created bands. This bands are known as: VLF or Very Low Frequency: 3 KHz to 30 KHz LF or Low Frequency: 30 KHz to 300 KHz MF or Medium Frequency: 300 KHz to 3 MHz HF or High Frequency: 3 MHz to 30 MHz VHF or Very High Frequency: 30 Mhz to 300 Mhz UHF or Ultra High Frequency: 300 Mhz to 3 GHz SF or Super High Frequency: 3 GHz to 30 GHz EHF or Extremely High Frequency: 30 GHz to 300 GHz Common expressions used when using two-way radios Finally, when you start to use two-way radios, you need to get to know the jargon used in this field. To that end here you can find some common expressions utilized in a daily basis for two-way radio users. Radio check: It is used to check if the other party can hear you clean and strong. Read you loud and clear: It would be the response to the previous question. It mean you can hear fine the other party. Come in: To ask the other party if they can hear you fine. Go ahead: It means you are ready to receive a message. Say all after/before: You want part of the message be repeated before or after some keyword. Say again: You need all the last transmission be repeated. Affirmative: Is what you say when the answer to something they ask is yes. Negative: Is what you say when the answer to something they ask is no. Roger that: The same than Ten Four or Copy That. It means you have received and understand completely the message. Roger so far: It is a confirmation you are receiving well parts of a long message. Over: Your last message is finished and now the other party is invited to answer. Stand by: You ask the other party to wait for a short period to receive your answer. Wait out: It means the waiting time you asked by “stand by” can be longer than expected, so you will retake the conversation later. Break, break: It is used when you need to interrupt all conversations to to transmit an urgent message that cannot wait. Emergency, emergency: This is also a distress call, but in this case there is a imminent or potential danger to life, so assistance is required and urgent. Wilco: It is a short word that mean “I will comply”. I spell: You say this as a warning for the other party to know that you are going to spell the next word, using the phonetic alphabet. Out: The conversation is completely finished and no other answer is needed, expected or required. As well as this codes, may be necessary your company set some situations to codes. That way you can say “blue code” or “yellow code or even “red code” and everybody and the radio system will know what is that about. You do not need to know all Getting started with two-way radio system can become an overwhelming task. Feel free to reach us by email at sales@portable-repair.com or calling us at (844-989-6929 We have over 30 years working with two-way radios and, after knowing your needs, we can get you up and running in no time.

Any growing company at some point must face new ways on how to improve overall staff communication and coordination for production efficiency. The implementation of two-way radio communications for its staff is a quick, inexpensive and very effective way of doing so. Let’s name just some examples: Security guard coordination, at Hotels, Shopping Malls and Private Business Retail staff member, to communicate with the warehouse or other workmate A valet parking worker, who need to know what car to bring back Hotel & Motel Housekeeping An usher in a movie theater Why set up two-way radio communications for the company It is a fact that using two-way radios for business instead of regular phones, or even smartphones, increases productivity. Its is a cheaper, quicker response and raises productivity In first place, you would be able to broadcast a verbal message to your whole staff instantly, instead of having to call each one of them individually. Some companies have group communications based in applications through smartphones, but even in those cases, the message may not always be delivered at the same time to everybody, or not of them all are able to see immediately. Using two-way radios, everybody who is having one of the company two-way radios will be able to hear the message, at the same time. Finally, using two-way radios help staff to focus in their work at hand, instead of be flipping to others work-unrelated apps, like social networks. How to get started There are many options that can be helpful for your company operations, but instead of starting by looking for devices, think in what your needs are. If you have any experience with two-way radios, some of the following terms may sound familiar, but even if you do not have experience at all, it is easy to get what they mean. So, to get started, you can answer these 5 questions: 1) Define what you need The first step would be to decide what your needs are. You could ask yourself the following questions: Do you need two-way radio devices in places, like offices or cars, or is needed for people to go around? How fancy should be the devices? This is about who are going to be the users. May be a different need if the two-way radios are going to be used by executives or by maintenance workers Do you need a “man down” alert? Do you need every device to have a display, to show information, because otherwise, some people may no get it? Do you need the devices be able to send text messages? So, put together a list of what is for your company an absolute must and also what you would like, if possible. 2) Define type of devices There are mobile and portable two-way radio devices. Mobile two-way radios are units that are installed in vehicles, like boats, buses, etc. Portable two-way radios are units that can be carried around. Some people know them as “walkie-talkie”. Knowing this, define where do you need to use your two-way radios. Is it for people on-the-go? Is it to communicate from one office to another, or one car to another? In many cases the whole two-way radio system for your company may have a mix of both types. 3) Define type of frequency There are two frequencies options for radio comms: UHF and VHF. UHF stands for Ultra High Frequency (403-512 MHz) and is suited mainly for indoor applications where there may be some obstacles. VHF are the initials of Very High Frequency (136-174 MHz) and is intended in first place for outdoor applications without much interference. You may now understand how different should be the two-way radio devices used inside a manufacturing plant than the ones used in a field, by farmers. 4) Define users and channels You need to think carefully how many people in your organization is going to be using the two-way radio system. This is what tell you how many devices and channels you could need. When consider this, think not only in the usual use, but also in emergencies. To that end, you may need private channels, like for management, security, etc. Of course, you should as well leave some room for growth. 5) Define locations Finally, think about where the two-way radios are going to be used. For example, do you have only one big facility with office and warehouse or do you have several small different locations that should be connected? Is a good idea to set a range where your staff is going to be using the two-way radio system, in a normal operation. And where defining where, take a look also to the type of terrain you are located in. It is your city mainly plain, like Miami, or are you located in an area with several hills? This very fact can impact tremendously in how your two-way radio system should be set up. You do not need to know all Planning a complete two-way radio system for your company can become an overwhelming task. Feel free to reach us by email at sales@portable-repair.com or calling us at 844-989-6929. We have over 30 years working with two-way radios and, after knowing your needs, we can get you up and running in no time.