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Monthly Archives: March 2012

  • TWRS-31 - Farming With Radios

    We discuss how two way radios are used for farming. We also review the Icom IC-F5021 and IC-F6021 Base Station Radios.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:17

    Topic Discussion 1:32
    We talk about two way radios for farmers. We'll learn how two way radios are used on farms, some of the advantages of using two way radios over cell phones, and recommend some radios for farms. Radios discussed include the Motorola RDU2020 and Motorola RDV2020, Icom IC-F50V and Icom IC-F60V, and Vertex Standard Business Radios.

    Commercial Break 16:04
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 17:03
    Today we review the Icom IC-F5021 and Icom IC-F6021 Base Station radios.

    Questions and Answers 22:01
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

    Wrap up and Close 29:02
    Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show(at)buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

    © 2012 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.


  • Two Way Radios For Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

    Nursing homes are one environment where efficient communication is especially important. The ability to have instant communication between nurses, administrators, physicians and maintenance staff is key. It will help create a much safer environment by allowing staff to respond quickly to any accidents or emergencies.

    Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are usually relatively small, so when it comes to two-way radio use, range is not necessarily a big concern. Most of our nursing home customers tend to choose a small, lightweight radio. Some facilities like to use single channel radios, where everyone with a radio will hear all transmissions between staff. Others prefer multi-channel radios so they can keep different departments on separate channels (nurses on channel 1, maintenance on channel 2, etc.) This will keep your multiple groups on their own line of communication, but can still always be accessed by a simple turn of the channel knob.

    Because of the fact that range is not usually a factor, some assisted living facilities often consider using less expensive, consumer-grade radios. However, we recommend using business grade radios as they are designed to withstand everyday use in a caregiving environment and they use more exclusive business frequencies that will help eliminate interference.

    Here are some radios that are popular within nursing homes:

    Kenwood ProTalk XLS (TK-3230) - A very small, very lightweight UHF business radio. Offers 1.5 watts of power, 6 channels and 56 selectable business frequencies. This radio is built to military specs for durability and comes standard with an 18 hour lithium-ion battery, as well as a 2 year manufacturer warranty from Kenwood. Also gives you the capability to use an earpiece or speaker microphone for hands-free use.

    Motorola CLS1110 - This is the smallest business radio that we carry. Offers 1 watt of power, 1 channel and 56 selectable business frequencies. Also comes with a 12 hour lithium-ion battery, is built to military specs for durability, and comes with a 1 year manufacturer warranty from Motorola. Hands-free capable. This radio also comes in a 4 channel model, the CLS1410.

    Vertex Standard VX-231-AG7B - This radio is a bit bigger than the previous two that were listed, but will also give you much better range. The VX-231 would be ideal for bigger properties where more coverage is needed. Offers 5 watts of power and 16 different channels. This is one of the most durable radios that we carry, and even comes with a 3 year warranty from Vertex Standard. Still fairly small and lightweight, this radio offers excellent battery life and maximum range. It also offers hands-free capability with the use of an earpiece or speaker microphone.

    As nursing homes struggle to find ways to improve efficiency and safety within their facilities, many are finding two way radios to be the ideal tool. We have many other options for you to choose from as well. Please feel free to contact our sales staff at 1-800-584-1445 if you have any questions!

  • TWRS-30 - New Products For 2012

    We preview some new products coming out this year in the world of two way radio technology. We also review the Uniden Bearcat 880 CB radio.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:16

    Topic Discussion 1:30
    We talk about new two way radios launching in 2012. We'll look at a new lineup of consumer FRS/GMRS radios, some of the latest business radios, and find out what's new in CB and marine radios. For a sneak peek at the new line of Midland consumer radios read Midland's 2012 FRS/GMRS Two Way Radio Lineup.

    Commercial Break 28:26
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 29:24
    Today we review the Uniden Bearcat 880 CB radio.

    Questions and Answers 37:49
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum. Q&A Note:To find repeaters in your area visit mygmrs.com.

    Wrap up and Close 42:06
    Send in your comments and questions for Danny, Anthony and Rick to show(at)buytwowayradios.com. Feedback on this and other topics will be read by the hosts and included in future episodes of the show. Visit us at www.twowayradioshow.com!

    © 2012 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.

  • Weather Radio Buyer's Guide

    With all of the unpredictable weather we have been experiencing lately, particularly the destructive tornados from last week, we have been receiving an uptick in interest in our weather radios. We thought it might be helpful to put together a quick guide to make it a little easier for those shopping for their first weather radio.

    What Is A Weather Radio?
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a federal agency that, among other things, is tasked with monitoring the weather (through the National Weather Service). NOAA has transmitting stations spread throughout the United States that constantly broadcast the current weather conditions for the surrounding area. Each station transmits a message on one of seven VHF frequencies (162.400, 162.425, 162.450, 162.475, 162.500, 162.525, and 162.550). A looped recording is constantly played over these frequencies describing the current weather.

    A basic weather radio allows you to tune into these frequencies and instantly hear a weather report at any time. Very simple models are super easy to use, only requiring that you choose your local channel and press a button to start listening. Choosing a channel is often as simple as scrolling through stations 1-7 and listening for the one that is the clearest, but NOAA has a page on their web site that will allow you to find the station that is designated for your area.

    While a basic weather radio can be useful, a more advanced radio is really recommended.

    Proactive Alerts
    More advanced weather radios take things a step further, proactively alerting you when an emergency or dangerous weather situation occurs. When an emergency arises, a special tone is transmitted by the NOAA stations. Many weather radios can constantly monitor for these tones and turn themselves on when the tone is heard. This is critical, as it allows your weather radio to now alert you proactively to an emergency.

    One drawback of the weather radios that proactively alert is that a NOAA transmitting station covers a very large area, and you may find yourself being alerted to events that do not necessarily apply to your city or county. If this happens enough, you may find yourself paying less attention to the radio when it sounds an alert. The most advanced weather radios support "Specific Area Message Encoding," or SAME, which solves this problem. Weather radios using SAME technology allow you to enter a code that will focus the alerts on roughly a zip code sized area, ensuring that only warnings in your designated area will be alerted to you.

    Who Needs A Weather Radio?
    As a retailer, it is a little cliché to say that everyone needs our product. In the case of a weather radio, however, I offer no apologies. Year after year we see news stories about people who die in emergencies in which they just didn't have time to get to safety. Weather radios save lives year after year by waking people in the middle of the night or providing enough warning time for them to get to shelter. This is a product that sells for a range of $20-$60 that could make the all the difference in the world when an emergency occurs, so there is really no reason not to have one.

    Fortunately, it seems like weather radios are catching on in a big way. Local news channels have gotten the word out about the importance of having one and we see many businesses purchasing them to help keep their employees safe. Weather radios are also in use by almost all of the schools in the nation now, with the Midland WR-120 being the most popular model.

    What Is The Best Weather Radio?
    As with most products, the best weather radio really depends upon how you plan to use it and even how much you want to spend. Here I'll outline a few of our best sellers and give the pros and cons of each.

    Midland WR-120 Weather Radio - The Midland WR-120 is possibly the most popular weather radio in the world. It is a full featured desktop weather radio, supporting SAME technology and even allowing for the connection of (optional) external accessories such as a strobe light or antenna.

    Midland WR-400 Weather Radio - More advanced than the WR-120, the WR-400 also includes features such as an AM/FM radio, alarm clock, selectable alert settings, and color coded alert lights.

    Midland ER310 Emergency Hand Crank Weather Radio with Flashlight - This is a full featured portable combo weather radio and flashlight with multiple power options, AM/FM radio, SOS signaling in Morse Code, a built-in USB charging port and even a dog whistle to alert rescue animals. The ER210 is the base model.

    Midland XT-511 Emergency Crank Radio - This is more of an all-around emergency device than simply a weather radio. It can be powered by AC, DC, battery, or by crank. It has a flashlight, AM/FM radio, weather radio, GMRS two way radio and USB port. It would be nice to have during a power outage or on a camping trip. Does not support SAME.

    Midland HH50B Weather Radio - This is a very small and inexpensive hand held All Hazards Alert radio. Does not support SAME.

    Weather Radio Accessories
    Midland 18-STR Strobe Light - This accessory is made to go with your Midland Weather Radios. This strobe light will plug directly into many weather radio models, giving you a visual alert in case of an alert. This would be great if you had a family member with hearing problems or simply wanted to keep the volume on your weather radio at a minimum.

    Midland 18-259W Weather Antenna - This antenna is will help if you are in an area or in a building where it is difficult to receive a strong signal. Great for cars, vans, homes, boats, RVs, and is specially designed to use for steel buildings and manufactured homes with metallic siding or construction.

    Whether you live in a region with unpredictable weather or you just want to be prepared in an emergency situation, we here at www.BuyTwoWayRadios.com have the tools to keep you and your loved ones safe and prepared. If you have any questions about anything, please feel free to contact our sales staff at 1-800-584-1445!

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