Two Way Radios Can Add Profit to Your Business
Saturday, September 22nd, 2007Looking for a way to add big bucks to your business bottom line? Adding profit to your business is music to any business owners ears. With all of the cost cutting plans available to business owners looking to save a buck, there is a new alternative to cutting corners. Two way radios are a proven method to save five to nine percent in labor time management. This alone can add thousands of dollars to your bottom line in just the first year alone. In order to do this you will need to make sure you select the right two way radio for your business.
Primitive walkie talkie style radios were first introduced into typical business practices decades ago. Technology and battery engineering made them awkward and difficult to use in everyday business applications. However, 2-way radios were recently made super-affordable, more portable and were given a much improved battery life. Combine these advancements with the ability to save countless labor-hours, cost-free talk time and you have one of the most promising bottom-line tools for just about any business.
The answer to getting the most out of your two-way radios is to make absolutely sure you choose the correct radio the first time you buy. Many small businesses make the mistake by starting off using Family-FRS radios. On average, these will work out great for the first month. Generally these radios will begin to loose their battery charge, the clips will break off, and speakers will cease to function after a few drops or slight abuse. The entire radio will need to be replaced within a relatively short period of time. These FRS radios were simply not designed for regular or business use. They were manufactured almost as toys, and are meant to be used gently a few times per year. In addition to this, FCC guidelines state it is a violation to use FRS radios in a business application.
Selecting the correct two way radio will make all the difference in the world. For the most part, any small to upper-medium sized company can benefit from the use of today’s two way radios. The cost will typically range from $200 to about $350 per radio. Improvements in battery design will get a full day use after an overnight charge for as much as 2-3 years of daily use. Plus, the durability of the radios has improved so much that it is not unheard of for some radios to still work great after 10 years. Vast improvements have also been seen in the new two way radios ability to take drops and abuse.
There are five basic elements to consider in choosing the right radio for your job:
VHF vs. UHF - The difference between UHF and VHF can be explained with frequency penetration. VHF waves travel about twice the distance of UHF waves on open ground, rolling hills or through foliage. However, VHF waves are very poor at penetrating walls, buildings and rugged landscape. So, if you are working completely outdoors with open land, rolling hills or heavy trees, VHF radios are the best. In any other situation, including indoor to outdoor use, UHF radios will be the choice. Also keep in mind that UHF and VHF radios will not communicate with each other.
Power - If the radios will be used within a single building, or outdoors in less than about 1 mile, then a 1-watt radio will be sufficient. If the 2-way radios will be used to communicate between multiple buildings or for up to 2 miles, then a 2-watt radio should be used. There are 4 and 5 watt radios that will communicate consistently at further distances, but there is a limitation to any radio-to-radio communication. Once exceeded, the only way to proceed is through the use of a repeater.
Channels - If your entire group will always be speaking on the same channel at the same time, no matter how many radios you have, you will only need a 1-channel radio. However if you manage a hotel and you want the valets to be on one channel and the cleaning crew to be on another channel, then you will want a multiple channel capable radio system. This will allow each group to communicate individually, but not talk over each other. For you as the manager to be able to communicate with both of the groups, you will want a radio that “scans”. This will allow you to speak with either group by switching to the appropriate channel automatically.
Range - Handheld radios will generally communicate up to 2 miles. Once you start putting obstacles in between the radios you will shorten the range. Even the body fluid of the person wearing the radio on their hip will absorb some of the radios range. Higher wattage radios will have a slight increase in range and a major increase in clarity of transmission on the outer fringes of a radios range. Mobile radios, such as those mounted in vehicles, will generally talk “radio-to-radio” 8-10 miles depending upon the obstacles and the terrain. Base stations will generally talk approximately 8-12 miles. Contrary to popular belief, wattage does not determine distance. Antenna height and placement will determine the range of a two-way radio.
Durability - Business radios range anywhere from units that are designed for restaurant and hotel use, to radios for heavy-duty military operations. It is best to review the specifications of each radio to determine if it fits you particular business application. When in doubt be sure to contact a qualified two way radio sales person to help you.
By selecting the proper two way radio, you will be certain to start off on the right foot for your business. You will gain all of the benefits of having two-way radio communication, but will avoid the common pitfall of having to replace junk radios that are not designed for business use.
MyRadioMall.com has helped thousands of business owners choose the proper two-way radios for their needs and can help you choose the correct radio to help your business excel. Add to profit to your business by visiting MyRadioMall.com.
