www.IntercomsOnline.com Two-Way Radio Success How to Choose Two-Way Radios and Other Wireless Communication Devices. By David Onslow Copyright 2012, IntercomsOnline.com, all rights reserved 3rd Edition v3.1 For assistance in choosing the right two-way radio or communication product for you, visit www.intercomsonline.com or email us at the following address: 2 www.IntercomsOnline.com Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 5 Types of Two-Way Radios ....................................................................................................... 5 2-Way Radio Range: How Far Can Two-Way Radios Communicate? ..................................... 6 Two-Way Radio Power ........................................................................................................ 7 Radio Frequencies ............................................................................................................... 7 UHF Radio ..........................................................................................................................10 VHF Radio ..........................................................................................................................11 Commercial Digital Two-Way Radios ..................................................................................12 Antennas ................................................................................................................................13 Channel Usage .......................................................................................................................14 Accessories ............................................................................................................................15 Audio Accessories ..............................................................................................................15 Cases, Holsters, and Belt Clips ...........................................................................................16 Battery Technology .............................................................................................................16 Battery Chargers .................................................................................................................16 FCC Licensing ........................................................................................................................17 Feature Guide .........................................................................................................................19 Voice Activated Transmit (VOX)..........................................................................................19 Squelch /Auto Squelch ........................................................................................................19 Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) ...........................................................19 Digital Coded Squelch (DCS) ..............................................................................................20 Privacy Codes .....................................................................................................................20 Timeout Timer (TOT) and Penalty Timer .............................................................................21 Noise Filtering .....................................................................................................................21 Call Tones - Unique Call Tones ..........................................................................................21 Voice Scramble ...................................................................................................................22 Encryption ...........................................................................................................................22 Direct Call ...........................................................................................................................22 Selcall (Selective Calling) ...................................................................................................23 DTMF .................................................................................................................................23 2-Tone and 5-Tone Codes ..................................................................................................23 Scan Channel Delete/Nuisance Channel Delete .................................................................24 Priority Channel Scan .........................................................................................................24 Power Output ......................................................................................................................25 Power Selectable ................................................................................................................25 Military Specification Standards ..........................................................................................25 Ingress Protection (IP) ........................................................................................................26 Submersible Two Way Radio ..............................................................................................26 Intrinsically Safe ..................................................................................................................27 Two-Way Radio Battery Saver Mode ..................................................................................27 Low Battery Alert ................................................................................................................27 Push-to-Talk (PTT) .............................................................................................................27 Two-Way Radio Keypad Lock .............................................................................................28 Silent or Audible Ring Alerts ...............................................................................................28 Lone Worker Mode .............................................................................................................28 Emergency Alert .................................................................................................................28 Stun/Kill/Revive ...................................................................................................................29 Companding .......................................................................................................................29 3 www.IntercomsOnline.com 900MHz ..............................................................................................................................30 Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) .....................................................................30 Spread Spectrum ................................................................................................................30 GMRS and FRS Two-Way Radios ......................................................................................32 Vibrate Alert ........................................................................................................................32 Adjustable Gain ..................................................................................................................32 Audio Accessory Connector ................................................................................................32 Cloning Capable .................................................................................................................33 Channel Announcement .....................................................................................................33 NOAA Weather Alerts .........................................................................................................33 Weather Alert Radio ............................................................................................................34 Contacts List .......................................................................................................................34 Out-of-Range Alert ..............................................................................................................34 PC Configurable in Two Way Radio ....................................................................................34 Programmable Buttons in Two Way Radio ..........................................................................34 Text Messaging ..................................................................................................................35 Repeater Capable Two Way Radio .....................................................................................35 Two-way Radio Products and Applications .............................................................................35 Commercial Intercom Systems ...........................................................................................35 MURS Wireless Intercom ....................................................................................................36 Wireless Call Box ................................................................................................................37 Stationary Two-Way Radios ................................................................................................39 Wireless PA System ...........................................................................................................40 Long Range Wireless Motion Detector with Two-Way Voice ...............................................41