2way radio

Understanding 2-Way Radio Communications

A two way radio is a basic radio which can both receive and transmit radio waves, rather than a purely broadcast receiver which just receives data. Basically it is an electronic transceiver, a sender and receiver in a single unit, used chiefly for bidirectional personal voice communication to other users having similar devices. These days more compact two way radios are available which are very small in size and do not require tuning like older models. They have become a popular means of communication among private individuals as well as organizations.

Two-Way radios are classified in two major groups namely personal use and professional use. The smaller personal use varieties fit into the hand-held personal area communications (PACE) category, which includes such devices as walkie-talkies and lap top computers. PACE radios however are of the low power variety and lack the ability to emit carrier identification signals or digital audio transmissions. The second major type of two-way radio is the PIR /IBSS device, which is the most robust and modern form having a full range of PIR /IBSS functions including auto scanning, personal auto scan, hold lock/unlock, hold station alert, lock/unlock on/off and auto scan keytone notification.

The best way to communicate with someone using a two way radio is to have them talk on a simplex mode, where each station will have a single radio channel for transmission and reception. In this simplex communication scenario each station will be transmitting their own “song” in addition to their control signals. This process makes two-way communications by simplex quite secure, easy to work with and allows for a greater degree of mobility in the environment.

There are four main types of PIR /IBSS devices currently on the market. These include push-to-talk (PTC), single line data exchange (SLIC), ISD (ISS), and bi-line data exchange (BLD). Each of these devices has its own set of benefits and drawbacks. PTC devices are best suited to communications where there is little to no obstacle in receiving a signal and a PTC device will require little to no software experience to use.

The final form of two way communication you might encounter is BLD (bi-line) radio communication. BLD is used to exchange information between two or more mobile devices, and can be used with any handset that has access to the same frequency. The drawback to BLD is that there is a reduced range for the data transfer. With most modern mobile phones coming onto the market nowadays, this disadvantage has been greatly reduced with the usage of software that has made the operation of BLD much simpler. In addition, most mobile service providers in the U.S. have come to use a modified version of the POTS system for their cell phone users, which is also available at an affordable price.

As previously mentioned, these radios all operate by using a single channel. Which channel you select to communicate on depends entirely on the frequency and range available for your area. There are some common channels that most people tend to select for their communication needs, although there are a number of other channels as well.