What
is a two-way radio?
A basic two-way radio is comprised of a receiver to pick up
signals and a transmitter to send signals.
How does it work?
Radio systems can be composed of
portable handheld style radios, mobile or truck mounted radios,
and/or a base station located at your office/home.
How much does it
cost?
While the cost varies widely depending on the type of
system needed or purchased, on the average a good programmable portable
will cost approx. $300-500, a good mobile will cost approx. $400-800,
and a good base station will cost approximately $700-1500. After answering
a few questions, our technicians can provide you with a complete quote
including options to lease.
Will it
save me money?
Most Definately! Two-way radios can save any company
money, especially if you are using cell phones as your present form
of communications. While the initial costs are higher than cellular or
ESMR systems, the payback is realized in the lower flat-rate airtime
commonly found in wide area two-way radio systems. Two-way radios can
eliminate wasted employee time and fuel/vehicle expenses. They can
increase employees' billable hours and raise revenues.
What kind of range can I
expect?
Systems can range from in-building coverage only to wide
area coverage trunking systems capable of reaching multiple states. While
direct unit to unit range is dependent on local topography, portable units
can expect 1-2 mile direct range, and mobiles can expect 10-25 miles
direct. The addition of a base station will enable increased
mobile/portable range to the base station depending on location and
antenna height.
Why do some companies advertise 5-10 mile range on their
portables?
While it is possible to obtain this range with some types
of portables such as Low-Band radios, radio waves work within line of
sight, and are easily bent by hills, buildings and other obstructions.
Generally portables will only give these falsely advertised claims when
they are out in the open, such as in a field, or hill to hill, where
obstructions are minimized. Many dealers will state these claims to make
you think they have a better product than someone else, when in fact they
don't!
Do I need a base for wide area
coverage?
No, you do not need to have a base station for the most
range on a trunked repeater type of system, you can have just
portables/mobiles or a mixture. A base station can be added at any time to
a system.
What is a repeater?
Repeaters are automatic relay
stations positioned at high spots on towers, hills, mountains, and/or
buildings. They pick up the weaker signals from portables and mobiles and
re-transmit them at a higher transmitter power simultaneously for better
communications range. General Communications and Electronics, LLC. has 3
towers strategically located in the Grand Rapids, Michigan
area.
Why do I need a base station if portables are
cheaper?
While portables are generally less expensive than a base
station, in most cases they do not fit the application properly. Portable
radios operate from batteries, and also are lower power then a mobile or
base. Experience dictates that your battery will die half-way through the
day, or an important piece of information will not be passed because you
walked into a "dead area". In a wide area coverage type system, portables
are meant to supplement the operation of mobile units, not replace
them.
Do you sell those multi-functioning
radios with pager and phone
capabilities?
No, we do not. These are a proprietary system, and in most
cases across the country, there isn't any competition to these type of
systems, so once you buy them, you are locked into that company for
Air-time, Service, and Equipment. These systems also have a higher per
month cost associated with them. The average monthly cost per unit is
$65.00 plus airtime, versus our $26.00 per unit with unlimited airtime. In
one year alone, just in the different cost of airtime alone, you could
save the cost of a TRUE dispatch radio system.
Can I use a mobile in more than one
vehicle?
Yes, with the addition of a "slide bracket" onto the radio,
and a vehicle bracket in each vehicle, you can move the radio anytime into
other vehicles. For some businesses, this can eliminate purchasing
additonal units.
Do I have to share a channel with another
company?
While some direct type systems operate on shared type
channels, the programming of a "private line" into the radios eliminates
hearing other users on these type channels. You still share the channels,
but the Private Line eliminates hearing the other users. Repeater or
trunked type systems eliminate this altogether, and you have a completely
"private" channel.
What happens if I'm out of my vehicle when
someone calls?
Some radio systems contain a "call light" feature which
lights when a signal is received from your company, there-by showing
activity on the radio system in your absence. Some systems also have a
horn honk feature available that briefly honks the vehicle horn when a
call is received. We have also engineered many custom systems with both a
brief horn honk and a constant audio beep that cannot be disabled until
the operator re-enters the vehicle.
Do two-way radios require FCC
licensing?
Most but not all systems require FCC
licensing. As an added service to our local customers, we assist in filing
the proper forms needed with the FCC. Licenses are not expensive and are
renewed every 5 years.
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