We just received word that Kenwood is planning to launch a 2 watt version of their NX-340U16P and NX-240V16P digital two way radios. The current radios are 5 watts, 16 channels, and operate using Nexedge FDMA digital technology, or conventional analog.
The new models will be the NX-340U16P2 (UHF) and NX-240V16P (VHF), and are expected to be identical to the current models other than the difference in wattage. The new radios are expected to sell for $299, which will make it a definite consideration for current TK-3400 and TK-2400 users who are looking to go digital.
Is it worth the extra cost to get a digital radio? Over the past few years there has been a significant price drop in digital radios. At this point, the benefits clearly outweigh the extra cost. While there are many benefits, the improvement in audio quality alone is worth the price of admission. With analog radios, the audio quality gets worse as the radios get further apart. With digital, the audio is always crystal clear. No more static, no more choppy audio.
So who is the right customer for these two new models? Based on the performance of Kenwood's current 2-watt radios, the range is sufficient for most short to mid range applications. We have customers using the TK-3400 for applications such as warehouses, manufacturing, schools, retail stores and more.
When can you purchase the new models? We expect to have them in stock in mid July.
This post was updated on 6/28/2017.
