Two Way Radios

This video tutorial shows how to use the Man Down feature on Vertex Standard VX-450 Series two way radios.

We discuss how two way radios are used in the retail industry. We also review the BlackBox Plus business two way radio.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:11

Topic Discussion 1:27
We talk about two way radios in retail. We discuss how they are used in the retail industry, the types of radios used and recommend some specific makes and models of two way radios for retailers. Radios discussed include the Motorola CLS1110, Motorola CLS1410, Motorola RDU2020, Kenwood TK-3230, Kenwood TK-3300 and Icom IC-F4011 business two way radios. For more information about two way radios for retail use read Two Way Radios For Retail.

Commercial Break 15:00
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 15:58
Today we review the BlackBox Plus Two Way Radio.

Questions and Answers 20:54
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 27:30
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.

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We discuss JIS and IP specification ratings on two way radios and what they mean. We also review the Midland WR-300 emergency weather radio.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:15

Topic Discussion 1:29
We talk about JIS and IP specification ratings on two way radios and what they mean. We'll discuss what they are, what tests are performed on the radios to meet these specifications and how to read the rating designations. Radios discussed include the Midland GXT1000, Motorola Talkabout MS350R, Icom IC-F60, and Vertex Standard VX-231 two way radios. For more information and a complete reference chart for JIS and IP Specifications read The IP and JIS Specification for Water/Dust Resistance.

Commercial Break 22:51
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 23:49
Today we review the Midland WR-300 Weather Radio.

Questions and Answers 32:33
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 43:31
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.

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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.

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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!

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.

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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!

We talk about taking two way radios on camping trips. We also review the Garmin Rino 655t two way radio with GPS.

Intro :00
Billboard 1:16

Topic Discussion 1:30
We talk about using two way radios while camping. We'll identify what features are important to have in a two way radio when out camping and make a few recommendations on the best radios for use on camping trips. Radios discussed include the Midland GXT1000VP4, Midland GXT5000, Cobra microTALK CXR925, Motorola TALKABOUT MR350R VP, Motorola TALKABOUT T9680R-SAME, Uniden GMR3689-2CK, Garmin Rino Two Way Radios with GPS, and the Midland XT511 Base Camp Two Way / Emergency Crank Radio. For more information about using two way radios on camping trips, read Two Way Radios For Camping and listen to The Two Way Radio Show Episode 3 - Radios In The Woods.

Commercial Break 22:59
buytwowayradios.com 1:00

Product Review 23:57
Today we review the Garmin Rino 655t Two Way Radio With GPS.

Questions and Answers 33:25
Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

Wrap up and Close 36:02
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.

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The National Geographic Channel has a new show called 'Doomsday Preppers' that airs on Tuesdays at 9:00pm EST. This show takes a closer look at people who are going to great lengths to prepare for hard times. Each episode features several 'preppers', and shows you how each is preparing for a specific crisis scenario. The show doesn't look at the more common disasters, but instead focuses on major to catastrophic events, as unlikely as they may be to occur. Examples of such events include an EMP detonation, a major oil crisis, hyperinflation, financial collapse, and more.

In this past Tuesday's episode one segment focuses on Jason Charles, a New York City fireman, and details his preparations for a supervolcano eruption. As he was demonstrating how he would prepare himself to go from his apartment to a storage facility for more supplies, he was shown carrying a Midland GXT1050VP4 two way radio. Is this radio a good choice for a crisis scenario?

Advantages of the Midland GXT1050VP4
There is no doubt that the Midland GXT1050 is a fantastic consumer grade GMRS radio. It has a lot of power and great range (typically 1-2 miles), is somewhat waterproof, (meets JIS4 specifications), will operate on standard AA batteries if you aren't able to recharge the included NiMH battery pack, and it will allow you to listen to NOAA weather channels. This is essentially the same radio as the very popular and very well reviewed Midland GXT1000VP4, only in camo.

As you can see the GXT1050VP4 offers a lot of what a 'prepper' may be looking for, and it would be tough to make a case that it is a bad choice. As always seems to be the case, however, there is not a product that is completely perfect for this scenario so I'll point out a few other things that could be considered.

Other Things To Consider
First, while the GXT1050VP4 is packed with features, durability isn't really one of them. At $80/pair you really can't expect it to be, and this is going to be the case for any consumer grade radios. A business grade radio is going to be considerably more expensive, but far more durable. In a true disaster scenario, it would be difficult to find replacement radios so this has to be a consideration. Another option would be to purchase a backup set of the same or even lower cost consumer radios. This would provide a backup option and would still cost less than a typical single business radio.

The Midland GXT-1050 operates on FRS and GMRS frequencies, which are very popular and are used by most consumer grade radios. A high powered GMRS radio can usually be counted on for a mile or so of communication range. GMRS, however, also allows for the use of repeaters. Repeaters are high powered devices that essentially re-broadcast a transmission at a much higher power and over a great distance. In a crisis situation it may be helpful to be able to communicate with others that are more than a mile from you, but to do this you would need a repeater in your area as well as a radio that supports the GMRS repeater frequencies.

Unfortunately the GXT1050 does not support repeater frequencies. If you decide that you need this ability, Motorola has a couple of good options. The Motorola MR355R and MR356R are priced similarly to the Midland, but are repeater capable. The Motorola MS350R is repeater capable as well as fully waterproof. The Garmin Rino series is also repeater capable, but these devices are far more than just two way radios and that is reflective in the cost.

Basic Emergency Kits
Remember that we also offer some basic emergency kits. While these kits will get you nowhere close to the level of preparedness of those featured on the show, they are a small start and could make a big difference if you find yourself without power or clean water during a bad storm or other emergency.

It is no secret that two way radios are essential tools in the manufacturing industry. Whether you have a small warehouse or a huge manufacturing plant, two way radio communication will help your company operate more efficiently.

Two way radios will give your employees a direct line of communication with other co-workers and/or supervisors. This will eliminate the need to leave a station unmanned to go find a fellow employee when something is needed. Studies have shown that two way radios typically pay for themselves with time savings in just a matter of months. In a manufacturing or assembly plant where an employee leaving a station could stop production, these savings are realized even more quickly.

Recommended Radios
We almost exclusively recommend UHF radios to manufacturers. UHF radios will tend to work better in most situations, as the radios will typically be used indoors. UHF frequencies penetrate thru solid objects such as steel and concrete better than VHF frequencies.

Here are a couple of basic UHF business radios that would be ideal in smaller warehouses or plants:

Motorola RDX RDU2020 (UHF) - One of our most popular models, the RDU2020 is a 2 watt, 2 channel UHF radio. It is built tough and is very durable. Comes standard with a lithium-ion battery, belt clip, and has a fixed antenna. As with all Motorola products, the RDU2020 has outstanding voice clarity. Also has the capability for accessories such as earpieces or speaker microphones for hands-free use. 1 year warranty from Motorola included.

Kenwood TK-3300-U4P (UHF) - Another one of our popular business radios. As with the Motorola model, the TK3300 delivers 2 watts of output power, but with 4 channels. This would be the better choice, say, if you had multiple departments and wanted each department on a specific channel. Also comes with lithium-ion battery and belt clip. The antenna for this model will be quite a bit longer than the Motorola model, but since it is removable, you can switch it over to a stubby antenna if you prefer (this would reduce range). Also earpiece/speaker microphone capable. 2 year warranty from Kenwood included.

For bigger warehouses or plants, you may want to go with a radio that has a little more "juice". Here are some more powerful radios:

Motorola RDX RDU4100 (UHF) - This radio is in the same family as the RDX RDU2020, but will offer 4 watts of output power and 10 different channel selections. This model has a removable antenna and lithium-ion battery that come standard. Very tough, durable radio but still offers exceptional sound quality. The RDU4100 can be programmed to work with a repeater if even more range is needed. A 1 year warranty from Motorola is included.

Vertex VX-351-AG (UHF) - The VX-351 will get you the maximum business radio output power of 5 watts with 16 channels. For exceptionally large buildings, this model would be a good choice. It is built to military standards for water, dust, and shock resistance and comes standard with a long lasting lithium-ion battery. An industry leading 3 year warranty from Vertex is included.

Callboxes and Intercoms
We also carry call boxes and intercom systems that will definitely come in handy for large warehouses that do a lot of shipping and receiving. These call boxes will mount on the outside of your building and are programmed to match the frequencies of your handheld radios, allowing the driver for any incoming shipments to press a button to alert someone inside the warehouse that they have arrived.

This type of communication is necessary for many manufacturing facilities, but could also come in handy during those cold winter months and hot summer months when it may not be ideal to leave the warehouse bay doors open. Some Ritron callboxes even have options to automatically open a gate or activate other devices! Here are a couple of the call boxes that we suggest:

Ritron RQX-451-XT Outpost 1 Series Callbox (UHF) - The 1 Series XT Callbox is built in a fiberglass and stainless steel case that is built to withstand outdoor conditions. Comes with tamper-resistant fasteners to ensure that no one will be able to access the callbox when your business is closed. Has the capability to run wirelessly with D batteries, or you can hook up an external wired AC power source. Ideal for most situations.

Ritron RQX-451 Outpost 1 Series Basic Callbox (UHF) - This is the RQX-451-XT's little brother. Built in a weather resistant housing, this model can also run off of D batteries wirelessly or be connected to an AC power source. Can't be used exclusively outdoors in the weather without additional weatherproofing of the antenna.

Intrinsically Safe Two Way Radios
With manufacturing, we understand that sometimes there are special needs for two way radios. We run across quite a few facilities that work with chemicals or explosive gasses and need a radio that will never produce a spark that could ignite them. In these cases, an intrinsically-safe radio will be key. Intrinsically safe (IS) is a protection technique for safe operation of electronic equipment in explosive atmospheres. These radios will limit energy to prevent fire or explosions in areas with hazardous chemicals or gases. Here are a couple of intrinsically safe radios that we stock:

Vertex VX-427 Intrinsically Safe (UHF) - The VX-427 delivers the full 5 watts of power, and would be ideal in large chemical plants or any other environment where intrinsically safe radios are needed. Also comes standard with an intrinsically safe lithium-ion battery, belt clip, removable antenna and rapid charger. As with all Vertex radios, it is built to military standards and is very durable. Also comes with the industry leading 3 year Vertex warranty.

Icom IC-F60-81-DTC Intrinsically Safe (UHF) - Small but heavy duty radio that offers 4 watts of output power. Intrinsically safe radio as well as intrinsically safe lithium-ion battery. Comes with belt clip, removable whip antenna and direct trickle charger. Built to military standards and comes with the 2 year Icom warranty.

No matter what your manufacturing plant produces, two way radios are excellent communication tools that can be used to help your company run more smoothly. If you have any questions about the radios listed above or any of our other products, please do not hesitate to contact us!