radios

It's been a busy year so far for new product announcements. Jumping into the mix now is Kenwood, who has released six new walkie talkies to "freshen up" their ProTalk lineup!

Kenwood refers to these new models as the 400 series (because all of the models start with 2400 or 3400). Each new radio will replace an older 300 series model. Check out the following chart for a quick summary of what's new and what's going away.

As you can see, each new model matches up very well with the model that it's replacing. The number of channels, output power and frequency range are the primary ways to differentiate between Kenwood ProTalk models and, with the exception of the TK-3402 moving from 4 watts to 5, nothing is changing with these features in the new series. The default supported frequencies and channel assignments are the same as well, so a TK-2400 and TK-3400 will talk right out of the box to the TK-2300 and TK-3300, respectively. The same goes for the TK-2402 and TK-3402 talking with the TK-2302 and TK-3302. This is welcome news! When the "300 series" was released a few years ago, the 2 watt VHF models had different default frequencies than the previous series. I'm sure you can imagine the chaos that ensued.

So, what is changing? Honestly not much. I called this a "freshening up" of the product line and I think that is a good way to put it - the 300 series was released in 2009 so it was probably time for an update. However, there's a reason Kenwood is number two in 2 way radio sales (behind only Motorola) - their products work exceptionally well and there is little need for major changes. That said, let's take a closer look at what is different.

Audio Quality and Loudness
The biggest and most noticeable change with the new Kenwood 400 series two way radios is the 1000mW speaker. These models are clearly louder than their predecessors and because of that will be better and more comfortable to use in noisy environments. This is a clear improvement over the 500mW speaker from the 300 series and now ranks Kenwood among the loudest radios available. Of the radios that we carry, only the Motorola RDX series (with a 2000mW speaker) eclipses them.

Increased Output Power
As I mentioned above, the TK3402 has a full 5 watts of output power, compared to 4 watts with the TK3302. While Vertex Standard has a number of 5 watt UHF models and Icom has a few, 4 watts is still the norm. It's nice to see Kenwood make this improvement. Don't expect the extra watt to significantly improve range, but it can make a difference.

Changes to the Look and Feel
Kenwood has made changes to the design of the radio with the 400 series. The speaker area on the front blends better into the body of the radio - gone are the rounded contours that "lifted" the speaker openings. The microphone has moved from the middle of the radio, below the speaker, to the area above the speaker. While the dimensions are identical to the 300 series, the front of the radio slopes into the sides more gradually, giving it a slimmer feel.

The logos and markings have changed a little. The ProTalk sticker has moved from the middle of the radio to the bottom. Most significantly, the 400 series models are clearly marked on the right side with their exact model number - "TK-3400U16P" for example. Previously you had to remove the battery to find this information.

The accessory cover has also undergone a transformation. Previously, accessories like port covers or locking brackets had to be attached with a screw. Now they slide down and clip into place via a plastic clip. This sounds like a good idea as screws are easy to lose or misplace, but I found the clip-on cover to be difficult to remove. I had to actually wedge a screwdriver between the cover and the radio to pry it off. While that worked out just fine for me, I have to wonder how many people will break a clip or scratch their radio attempting the same trick.

The Push-To-Talk button and the two side buttons have changed slightly. The texture of the PTT is a little different and all three buttons are much easier to press. The force required to press the push to talk button is considerably less than before.

Compatibility with Previous Series
Perhaps the best news is that businesses that are already using 300 series two way radios can seamlessly move to the new 400 series. The channel frequency assignment is identical, so the radios will talk right out of the box. If you have changed your radio to frequencies other than the default, the same process will let you change the new radios.

Worried about your batteries or headsets? Don't be. There were no changes there, either. The new models use the same KNB-45L battery and KSC-35S charger as before. The earpiece/headset connector is also identical, so all audio accessories are 100% compatible.

Price
So what about the price? Is Kenwood using this refresh as an opportunity to raise prices? Nope. At least not for now. The prices for the new 400 series models are identical to their 300 series counterparts.

Bottom Line
So what does this all boil down to? Kenwood has released some new, ever slightly improved walkie talkies. If you've never used Kenwood radios before, you're going to love them! If you've been buying Kenwood radios, chances are you aren't going to be able to find your old model anymore the next time you need one. However, Kenwood did make it super easy to find your replacement radio and they maintained 100% compatibility, so you don't have to think twice about making the switch.

Kenwood ProTalk radios have a very nice and unique feature built right in - wireless cloning. This allows the settings of one radio to be wirelessly cloned to all other radios within range. In the event that a setting or feature mistakenly gets changed on one of your radios, this can be a quick and easy way to get your radio back to the setup you need to communicate effectively. Many other brands offer the ability to clone from radio to radio, but it usually requires a special cloning cable or a multi-charger. Kenwood makes this extremely simple - just follow the step-by-step instructions below for the radio that you have.

Cloning Kenwood ProTalk 200, 300, and 400 Series Radios
The following instructions apply to all ProTalk radios in what Kenwood calls the 200, 300 and 400 series, EXCEPT the TK-3230. This includes the following models: TK-2200, TK-2202, TK-2300, TK-2302, TK-2400, TK-2402, TK-3200, TK-3202, TK-3300, TK-3302, TK-3400, and TK-3402.

Step 1: You will first need to determine which of your radios is going to be your master unit. This will be the one radio to which all of your other radios will match up to. Your other radios will be known as your slave units. Once you have determined which radio is your master unit and which radios are your slave units, be sure to separate them to avoid confusion.

Step 2: On your master unit, be sure the radio is OFF. Hold down the PTT button AND the Side 2 Key (bottom side button) at the same time while turning the radio ON. Keep holding the 2 buttons simultaneously until the LED turns orange and you hear the radio announce "Clone". The radio is now in Clone Mode.

Step 3: On your slave units, be sure the radio is OFF. Hold down the PTT button AND the Side 2 Key (bottom side button) at the same time while turning the radio ON. Keep holding the 2 buttons simultaneously until the LED turns orange and you hear the radio announce "Clone". The slave radios are now in Clone Mode.

Step 4: Press the PTT button on the master unit to begin the cloning process. While cloning, the LED on the master unit will blink in red, while the LED on the slave unit(s) will turn green. When the cloning process completes, the master LED will once again turn orange and the LED will turn off completely on the slave units.

Step 5: The cloning is complete! Turn the master unit off and back on to resume normal usage.

Cloning Kenwood TK-3230 Radios
The Kenwood TK-3230 is a small, lightweight radio with a display. It supports wireless cloning, but works a little differently than the models above. To clone the TK3230, perform the following steps.

Step 1: All of the slave units will need to be put into the "cloning" mode. To do this, first make sure that the slave units are turned OFF. Take each slave unit and press the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button AND the Monitor (MON) button at the same time. While both buttons are being pressed, turn the radio ON. If done correctly, you will hear a short beep and your screen will show that you have entered clone mode. If you have more than one slave unit, repeat this process for each radio.

Step 2: Locate your master unit and repeat the process above to place this radio into the cloning mode.

Step 3: Once all radios are in cloning mode, press the Push-to-Talk (PTT) button on the master unit ONLY. At this point, the slave units should turn green and display the letters "PROG" for programming. The master unit will display the letters "CLON" for cloning. Once complete, the master unit will display "END" and all other slave units will return to their normal setting.

Step 4: The cloning is complete! Turn the master unit off and back on to resume normal usage.

If you notice any of the slave units with a blinking orange LED, this means that it was not done correctly and cloning was not complete, in which case you should start the process again. Once complete, be sure to check that each slave unit communicates with your master unit, and voila! You're back in business!

Believe it or not, there is a right and a wrong way to hold a two way radio. How you hold it can even affect its range! In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony from Buy Two Way Radios shows you how to hold a radio properly for the best transmission and reception possible.

The new year is here and the new product announcements are starting to roll in! We recently received information on some additions to the Motorola Talkabout line of FRS and GMRS walkie talkies that will be available later in the year and thought our loyal blog readers might be interested in the details.

There are only four new radios this year and two of them are basic, entry level models. They more than make up for it though with the MU350R - the first consumer grade FRS/GMRS radio with built-in Bluetooth support! Read on for more details.

What is Going Away
Usually when something new is released, something old is discontinued. Before I get into the new stuff, let's cover what's going away. First on the list is the Motorola T9680R-SAME. Even though this model has been around since 2008, I really hate to see it go. While it was never really a big seller, it is the only GMRS radio available that supports S.A.M.E. technology for proactive area-based weather alerts. Also going away is the MB140R, which is a very low cost radio with little range and just the basic features.

New Entry Level Models
Replacing the MB140R are two models, the MG160A and the MG167A. Like their predecessor, these are very basic entry level radios that will have an MSRP of $29.99 for a set of two. Unlike the MB140R, however, both of these models will ship absent rechargeable batteries and a charger. They will operate using standard AAA batteries, which are not included.

The most interesting thing about these new models is the color. The MG167A is hot pink from the bottom of the radio to the tip of the antenna! This is very unique and I wouldn't be surprised if it makes this set of radios a hot seller! The MG160A is identical to the MG167A except it is dark blue. Both of these models are expected to start shipping in May, 2013.

Expanding the MD Series
Last year Motorola introduced the MD200R. This radio is black with almost-obnoxious green buttons and a large PTT, but people seem to love the look. It's a low priced radio with a basic feature set, but with decent range/performance.

This year, Motorola is introducing the MD207R. They're keeping the same look as the MD200 except they're switching the obnoxious-green buttons with obnoxious-orange ones. More importantly, they're adding two of the most popular features: privacy codes and weather channels! I expect that the addition of these features will quickly make the Motorola MD207R one of the most popular radios in the line. The MSRP is $54.99 and they are expected to launch in June, 2013.

Bluetooth Support in a Consumer Grade Radio
I have saved the best for last! The Motorola MU350R will be the new flagship radio in the Talkabout line and adds several new features over current models. I'll be doing a special post taking an in-depth look at the Motorola MU350R, so we're just going to scratch the surface here.

This model will not ship with Bluetooth headsets, but will be able to pair with the same type of headsets that you use with your cell phone. This is a big deal and is something people have requested for a long time. You see this type of functionality on a business radio like the Motorola CLP1060 for 5 times the cost.

The MU350R also adds the ability to scan NOAA weather radio channels and claims to have achieved improved audio performance by adding a Class D amplifier and DSP filter. It also adds Dual Watch, which is the ability to monitor two channels at once. This model also comes with two high capacity rechargeable battery packs (NiMH), charges through a mini-USB port, and has "fast charge capabilities". The MU350R has an MSRP of $149.99 and is currently expected to ship in July, 2013.

Removing or swapping a faceplate on a Motorola Talkabout two way radio is very easy if you know the trick. In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony at Buy Two Way Radios shows you how to do it in two simple steps.

There is a fundamental difference between UHF and VHF two way radios and choosing the right one for your particular consumer or business radio application is very important. In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony at Buy Two Way Radios explains the difference between UHF and VHF so you can determine which is best for you.

Are you narrowband compliant? If not, the FCC deadline for narrowbanding is almost upon us and you are almost out of time.

What is the narrowband requirement? The FCC mandated that all manufacturers of business two way radios must cease the manufacture and import of radios that include a 25 kHz mode and all VHF/UHF industrial, business and Public Safety Radio Pool licensees must operate on 12.5 kHz (11.25 kHz occupied bandwidth) or narrower channels By January 1, 2013. At that time, all business land mobile radios and licensees operating in the 150-174 MHz VHF and 421-512 MHz UHF bands must be at 12.5 KHz or narrower.

The good news is that most business class radios sold in the United States within the last eight to ten years are already narrowband capable or compliant. If you are currently operating on wideband, you may simply need to re-program your radios for narrowband. However, if your radios are older, they may need to be upgraded. Fortunately, Kenwood and Motorola are both offering special rebate offers on new UHF and VHF business radios that are narrowband ready. Motorola is currently offering a trade-in promotion as well, in which you can trade in your old wideband radios for newer narroband-compliant models. These promotions end December 31, 2012, so if you need to upgrade, now is the time.

In addition to the radios themselves, business operators must also be licensed for narrowband frequencies. If you are already licensed for narrowband, you're all set. If your license covers wideband only you will need to update your license by December 31, 2012. If you need assistance, give us a call. We can help.

For more information about the new FCC narrowband requirements there are several resources available at Buy Two Way Radios.

The final countdown to narrowband compliance has begun - are you ready?
The Two Way Radio Show TWRS-12 - The Migration to Narrowband
Existing License Narrowband Update
FCC Public Notice DA 12-12

You can also give us a call at 1-800-584-1445 or enter our live chat weekdays from 10 AM to 6 PM ET.

Are you receiving garbled or unintelligible transmissions on your Kenwood TK-3230 radios? Privacy Talk may be enabled. In this episode of Radio 101, Anthony at Buy Two Way Radios shows you how to fix the problem quickly and easily and get your Kenwood radios to talk clearly again.