As the name suggests, a 2 way radio is a device that can both transmit and receive radio waves. A 2 way radio can come in three main guises: mobile, hand-held and stationary base. Mobile phones are also classed as a kind of 2 way radio as they use two separate radio bands to transmit and receive communications.
Maybe you want to keep in contact with your skiing group on a mountainside, or keep track of your mountaineering partners, or even, in a more short-range situation, stay in constant communication with your employees; a transceiver that has been designed for that purpose is the only suitable option.
It can be difficult knowing exactly what you need from a transceiver and even more difficult knowing how to find one suitable. The information below should go some way to help you make you choice.
The first thing you must decide is what kind of transceiver you need. Do you want a short-range FRS band (Family Radio Service) 2 way radio that runs on a low power output of around half a watt, or do you need a long range device that runs on power outputs of two to three watts on a GMRS (General Mobile Radio Service) band.
When it comes to range ability claims, remember to bear in mind that manufacturers will advertise only the range ability in optimal conditions. Radio transceivers work better at higher altitudes where is it possible in some circumstances, to transmit and receive radio signals for twenty-five miles or more. Generally speaking, the average range ability for most 2 way radios, in real-world situations is around two to three miles.
Looking at the packaging of a 2 way radio, all the marketing information that manufacturers use can easily confuse most people. So what specific information should you try to identify? The best way to identify a high performing transceiver is to compare the effective radiated power of devices. Simply put, this is the amount of power that the devices antenna is emitting.
The reason radio masts are so large is that, with the average radio wave being around twelve inches in length, the larger the antenna is, the better it is at capturing radio waves. Though this presents a problem for manufacturers as a huge antenna is going to mean less portability; it is not easy trying to fit a meter long aerial into a rucksack! A unit with an antenna the same length as the device body would be a good compromise.
Something that people fail to realize is that with a GMRS band radio, users must have a paid subscription as the GMRS band was first developed for commercial use, though subscriptions are not expensive and easily obtainable. The FRS band sparked the 2 way radio popularity explosion as it is free and offers seven channels, though because of the lower power used, range is limited to around six miles in perfect conditions.
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