Discount Two-Way Radio. We know radios, so you don't have to! Discount Two-Way Radio. We know radios, so you don't have to!
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Narrowband Two-Way Radio Requirements for 2013
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UHF vs VHF frequencies? Which radio should I buy?
If you are using your two way radios inside buildings or in a city environment you should always buy UHF since its signal penetrate through walls far better than VHF. More...
If the radio is smaller and lighter does it mean that it is less durable?
No it doesn't. Most of the weight of a two way radio is in the battery. Most new radios come with or have the option for Lithium Ion batteries which are very light. The radios are still very durable. More...
Can my new two way radios talk with my existing radios?
In most cases, yes. If they operate on the same frequency range it is no problem. We match new radios to customer's existing radios all the time. We take care of this for you. The initial programming, when you buy the radios from Discount Two Way Radio is free of charge. You can either fax or e-mail us your frequencies and PL Tones or in case that you do not know them you can send us one of your old radios and we will match it with the new ones. We will send your radio back to you together with your order same day we receive it. More...
Can I find the frequencies in my User Manual?
No, you will not be able to, because they are programmed in the radio from your two-way radio dealer. More...
What are PL Tones / PL Codes?
A PL Tone (Private Line Tone or Private Line Code) is a sub-frequency that filters out other radio user's transmissions on the same frequency in the area.
It can be though of as lanes on a highway - people share the same highway (frequency) and the lanes (PL tones) prevent them from running into each other (hearing each other). More...
What is the difference between a long and a stubby antenna?
The only one difference is that the stubby or short antenna cuts your range by approximately 30%. The short antenna is very convenient and it is perfect for locations like small hotels, schools, small construction sites and warehouses, libraries, etc. More...
What does Intrinsically Safe mean?
Intrinsic safety (IS) is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in environments with explosive gases present. The intrinsically safe radios are built in order to ensure that the available electrical and thermal energy in the system is always low enough that ignition of the hazardous atmosphere cannot occur. More...
What is encryption?
Encryption scrambles the voice signal so that only your radios can hear each other. This prevents other people from listening in on your conversations.
Radios that offer encryption are usually more expensive so this only important if you are transmitting sensitive information. More...
Can I rent two way radios?
Discount Two-Way Radio does not rent radios. Our prices are so low that even if you are only using radios two or three times a year it will usually save you money to buy your own radios. More...
Do you sell used / refurbished equipment?
No, we do not! Discount Two Way Radio provides only brand new Two-Way Radio equipment and megaphones to ensure best quality and customer's satisfaction. More...
Why can the police and fire departments talk all over town?
They have their own repeater systems, linked together and located in different places around the city. It is very similar to the service your cell phone company provides you and the way your cell phone works.
Their individual radios cannot talk very far by themselves. It is their repeater systems that allow the radios to have such a long range. More...
How far can I talk with my two-way radio?
Can I talk to someone many miles away with my two way radios? No, you cannot expect to talk over long distances with your Two-Way Radios. Regardless of the brand or model the range mainly depends on the output power and the environment you are going to use them in. For example, in a city environment the most powerful UHF radio (usually 4 watts of power) will give you approximately a range of 2 city blocks. This is because the buildings cut down the radio signal. Out in the open with no obstacles you can expect more distance.
Mobile radios that are used in vehicles or base stations that are permanently mounted have much more power than handheld radios so you can expect more range with these types of radios.
You can also expect larger range if you are using a repeater. The repeater helps you to cover larger areas or really tall buildings in cases that you have dead spots or even problems to cover the desired area. More...
Do the digital radios penetrate better through floors, concrete and steel without a repeater?
We have not seen digital radios outperform traditional conventional analog radios. They have same power - 4 Watts for UHF and 5 Watts for VHF and they will give you same distance as any analog Two-Way Radio.
Additionally, the specification for digital radios has not been finalized yet. Buying a digital two way radio now is similar to buying HD-DVD / BLU-RAY or Beta/VHS, you may end up with obsolete equipment in a couple years.
We only recommend digital two way radios for government agencies that are required to buy digital radios. More...
What does P25 or Project 25 mean?
Project 25 (P25) or APCO-25 refer to a suite of standards for digital radio communications for use by federal, state/province and local public safety agencies in North America to enable them to communicate with other agencies and mutual aid response teams in case of emergencies.
These radios are only meant for public safety agencies and not for businesses or individuals. More...
What is the best way to protect my radio?
Use an accessory! The vast majority of radios are damaged from being dropped all the time. More...
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