Two-way radios: would they benefit your company?

• Author: Hull, Brian
• Position: Advice: communications

WHILE TWO-WAY RADIOS have been around for a long time, the technology and features have advanced significantly. Yet two-way radios are the simplest, most durable and effective choice for business communications. Why? For the simple fact that two-way radios have unlimited airtime while cellular phones and combination phone/radios charge businesses for airtime. Cellular and cellular phone/ radio carriers charge for all calls, including the two-way radio usage. If the entire user group/fleet is participating, each unit is deducted airtime. Many carriers bill per minute, while some bill per second.

It doesn't take long before airtime fees start taking away from business profits. In all actuality, not every employee needs a cell phone. Perhaps sales representatives and upper management, but for employees that stay at the facility or deliver locally for a business, a two-way radio would suffice. Two-way radios are durable, have great local coverage range and cost very little compared to cellular. The initial cost of a basic two-way radio can be as little as $250.

If a business only needs on-site coverage, simply paying for the radios and getting an FCC license is the only expense involved. If a business needs a little stronger coverage, for example, a very large building may have the need for a repeater or two. A repeater simply amplifies the radio signal and again, is quite affordable. No monthly fees. The business has the radios, licensed frequencies for its uses, and unlimited airtime at no additional or recurring cost.

No picture phones, but ... Although two-way radios are not yet capable of taking photos, they do have many features available, such as:

* Programmable buttons: Immediate access to your favorite features

* System/All Group/ Auto Group Selective Scanning: Define the frequency and type of transmissions your radio scans

* Conventional Talk Around: Unit-to-unit communication, bypassing the repeater

* Home Channel Revert: Automatic, one-button return to a preferred channel

* User-Defined Lists: Change scan, phone and call lists on the fly

* Telephone Interconnect: Place and receive phone calls using the radio

* Voice Storage with Answering Machine Mode: Answers incoming calls with a personalized greeting when you're unable to answer your call, and records voice messages from other users

* Up to 160...