How to buy a Two-way Radio

Two-way communication can help you quickly and efficiently coordinate your
employees' activities and respond to emergencies. To choose the right system
for you, first consider the following questions.

Having this defined will help determine both the amount of transmitting power
you'll need in your radios and what additional equipment may be necessary.

A radio's power rating is represented in watts and determines the strength
of the radio's signal and its range. That power rating also affects the radio's
battery life. For example, a Four-way radio may have a stronger signal and
transmit farther than a Two-way radio, but it will also draw more power and
drain the battery more quickly. Plus, Four-way may be more power than you
need. Because it's more important to have an efficient system than a powerful
one, it's best to have a system designed to use the lowest power rating possible
for the size of the operation.

Other components can be added to the system to increase its efficiency. For
example, many systems are outfitted with repeaters, which receive and relay
signals. This allows you to use a radio with a lower power rating to transmit
and receive over a larger area.

Will use be mostly inside, outside, or both?

Today's business radios use either very high frequency (VHF) or ultra high
frequency (UHF) bands. UHF is more effective when transmitting and receiving
within buildings or to and from buildings. VHF frequencies are most effective
when used outdoors. General mobile radio service (GMRS) radios work for
some limited applications, but they are not recommended for situations in which
private, or secure, communications are needed. UHF and VHF frequencies are
leased; the user buys rights to specific frequencies guaranteeing others will not
use them. GMRS frequencies, on the other hand, are public, and anyone with a
GMRS radio would be able to hear potentially sensitive information.

How many people will use the system?

If a small number of people will be using the radios, a conventional system,
where each party hears all the conversations, is probably sufficient.