There are many questions surrounding two-way radios – or walkie talkies – so we’ve compiled the answers to our most frequently asked questions all in one handy article for your easy access and understanding. If there are any questions that you cannot find answers for on our website or this article, please do get in touch and we will do our best to help you out!
Jump to Questions
Which radio will give me the biggest range?
Range is effected by many factors so it is therefore very difficult to determine exactly how far a radio will transmit a signal.
Radio waves travel on straight lines so obstacles such as buildings and woodlands can effect the range. The same two radios that can transmit and communicate beautifully across several miles in open space may really struggle to communicate once in a town surrounded by buildings.
Licenced radios emit 4 watts of power compared to the un-licenced model which is restricted to 0.5 watts. This allows licenced radios to have a better range and a better chance at transmitting or receiving radio waves.
Analogue VS Digital?
Ahhh, the age old questions comparing digital and analogue!
There are some key differences between the two types of radios. The answer can be explained quite well in this video comparing the two.
As for which one to choose, that does depend on personal preference. Whilst the sound quality is largely considered clearer on digital radios, people who have made the swap have remarked that the voice sound on digital sounds almost robotic, where others haven’t had an issue.
The easiest way if you are new to two-way radios, is to take advantage of our demo option. You can try the radio before you purchase them to ensure that it is the right model for you and your requirements.
How do I get a licence?
Maximon Solutions can manage the licence for you to ensure that all the paper work to apply for it is correctly filled out, and assist you with any questions you may have about licences. We will also manage the renewals when they are due to ensure that they do not fall between the gaps. Some business are extremely busy and it is understandable that the renewals can be forgotten. If the licence is not renewed, it will be revoked and Ofcom are within their rights to remove your radio systems.
Ofcom are the UK’s regulator for communication services. There are two main licences that are used for two-way radios. A Simple UK (SUK) licence or a Technically Assigned (TA) licence.
To briefly explain the difference, a SUK is a 5 year generalised licence that allows you to use radios of higher power. A TA licence is a 1 year licence, but you are provided with a frequency that no-one else in the surrounding area has access to. It is site specific and provides secure communications that no-one else could accidentally hear.
What is the difference between UHF and VHF?
UHF stands for Ultra High Frequency and operates at the higher end of the frequency scale. Radios in this mode are much better at penetrating obstacles. They are a good choice for in-door activities and built up areas such as construction sites and schools.
VHF stands for Very High Frequency. They have a longer wave length so are able to travel further, however they don’t penetrate buildings as well as the UHF. They are better suited for out-doors use like golf clubs, or marine communications.
What is an IP rating?
An IP rating is a classification system that determines dust and waterproof levels of a radio.
The first number is the dust proof, measured 0-6 and the second is the water proof level, measured 0-9.
For example: IP67 is considered fully dust-proof, and waterproof for up to 30 minutes submersed in 1 meter of water.
If you’d like to understand more, check out this guide to IP ratings.
What is ATEX?
An ATEX radio is a radio that has been specifically designed to work in hazardous environments.
Everything has been designed so there is minimal risk of creating a spark.
This is incredibly important in places such as oil rigs where safety is paramount due to the nature of the work.
What can I do if my radios won’t talk on the edges of my site?
This is one of those questions that appear quite often. There are a few things that can be tried to improve the range, although it may seem like trial and error, this is often the best way to resolve the issue.
- Digital radios will have a better range than analogue radios. Maximon Solutions can provide a demo radio for you to try before switching your system over.
- If you are currently operating on an unlicenced system switching to licenced radios will up the power output from 0.5 watts to 4 watts. The more powerful the radios, the better the range.
- A repeater can be installed at your site. A repeater will sit in the middle of the area that you would like to be covered by radios and acts like a middle man to extend the range of your radios.
- If you already have a repeater installed, moving the location of it may help if since it being installed, the environment has changed, ie new buildings or foliage growth surrounding the repeater.
- Alternatively, additional repeaters could be an option if your site is exceptionally larger. They will act like a daisy chain of passing information along.
All questions are good questions, so if there is anything you had been wondering about, get in touch!
