A two-way radio, sometimes called a walkie-talkie is a radio that can both receive and transmit radio waves, rather than just receiving content, like a conventional broadcast receiver. It is essentially a radio, a transmitter and a receiver all in one unit, suitable for use for bidirectional voice communication by another user with similar radios present. Unlike the traditional style of walkie-talkies, which has a fixed number of channels and a power source feeding into a base unit, these devices have a larger range, with each radio controlled by a different frequency. In this way, they are more flexible and can operate in a wider area than their conventional counterparts.
A two-way radio works by being turned on either by a key a turn signal or any other external source of power. Once it is turned on, it begins to transmit radio waves from its antenna to a base unit through its radio channels. The number of radio channels will vary depending on the radio’s wattage, which determines its range. When the unit is turned on, the antenna of the device transmits its radio waves and this creates a signal that the base unit can pick up and then send back to the user. In short, two-way radios allow users to communicate long distances over a commonality of their base stations and channels.
As previously mentioned, two-way radios are used for communication purposes and not just for personal conversations. They are also used by emergency rescue workers to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings or on the ground, where regular ham radios cannot reach. They are also used by military personnel and people involved in various emergencies in order to reach the victims of a disaster as soon as possible. Because they are much smaller and have a much greater range than their conventional counterparts, they are also more suitable for use in restricted spaces.