Acom Wholesale Communications

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.

What areas of my operation do I want to cover?

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 watt radio may have a stronger signal and transmit farther than a two watt radio, but it will also draw more power and drain the battery more quickly. Plus, a four watt radio 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.

To discuss your two-way communications needs, please call an Acom Wholesale representative today at 888-838-ACOM(2266) or email us at info@acomwholesale.com.