2-Way Radio Systems

A two way radio is a radio that can both receive and transmit radio waves, unlike a conventional broadcast receiver that only receives audio. It is essentially an audio transceiver, a transmitter and receiver pair in a single unit, being used mostly for bidirectional personal voice communication to other wireless users with like radios. With the advent of 2-way radios, users are able to carry hands-free conversation wherever they go, be it at home, work or even while going for a jog or shopping. With its ease of use, more people are buying them.

When buying 2-way radio equipment, you first need to decide whether it will be for personal use or for professional usage. Personal usage refers to use by the general public. You can walk into any coffee shop and immediately begin talking on your walkie talkie, without taking your eyes off the road. Professional usage, on the other hand, involves a business or work areas, where the radio equipment is to be used by members of the organization. Some types of this kind of radio equipment include walkie talkies, hand held headsets and portable device radios.

The basic function of a two-way radio as it comes with the manufacturer is to allow its user to transmit radio waves towards an antenna, which in turn will receive them. The two transmitter and receivers, in the case of a walkie talkie, are fitted into the user’s hands. As soon as the user moves his/her arms, the conversation goes live, automatically adjusting to the speed and frequency of transmission. This feature has made these devices very popular among certain groups, such as hikers and hunters. In fact, when outdoors, these two pieces of equipment are probably the most important items, next to your mobile phone. They allow you to keep communicating with people far away, while protecting your own position from elements such as fog, rain and other natural disturbances.

These radio devices, which also come with repeater, are very simple devices. They usually operate on a single frequency. Some examples of simplex channels are CB radio, simplex, scanner, ISD (International Subscriber Dialing Network), ISDN (International Subscriber Dialing Server), PCMCIA (Personal Digital Assistant), ATM (Amateur Radio), WAX (Women’s Radio) and VHF (Vega-HF). In simplex mode, the radio can transmit as either an analog signal or a digital signal.

There is another type of two-way radio systems, which is in essence, a software solution. This kind of device has a number of single radio channels and repeaters connected to one main control unit. It allows users to easily adjust their transmission channels without needing physical access to the control panel itself. A typical example of this type of single radio channel software solution is the AutoScan MP3 Player. It allows the user to scan any CD, DVB or DVD disc and play it using only one channel.

With an antenna and simplex enabled receiver, you can pick up an analog signal from anywhere, up to five miles. These devices are able to detect weak signals from a distance of up to three miles. This means that you will be able to scan through all the channels in your area, even those out of service. A lot of these types of radios have a database in which they keep information about public safety systems, fire alarms, police and other emergency channels. This enables you to make sure you are always on the correct channel.