(888) 569-9499CONTACT US
0Item(s)

You have no items in your shopping cart.

Product was successfully added to your shopping cart.

two

  • TWRS-36 - Common Features of FRS / GMRS Radios

    We talk about some of the standard features found on a typical consumer two way radio and what they do. We also review the Midland LXT118 two way radio.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:13

    Topic Discussion 1:32
    We'll talk about some common features found on FRS and GMRS two way radios. We'll discuss what some of these features are, what they do and discover some special features found on some higher end models. For more information about the basic operation of consumer two way radios, listen to TWRS-01 - An Introduction to Consumer Radios Radios and TWRS-08 - Talking Publicly About Privacy Codes. For more information about specific common features of two way radios, check out our Two Way Radio Feature Guide.

    Commercial Break 25:39
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 26:37
    Today we review the Midland LXT118 Two Way Radio and Midland LXT118VP Two Way Radios With Dual AC Wall Charger.

    Questions and Answers 32:08
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

    Wrap up and Close 43:44
    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.

  • How to Clone a Motorola RDX Two Way Radio

    If you find yourself having to change radio settings every time a new radio is added to your fleet, you can probably save yourself a lot of time by learning how to clone your Motorola RDX radios. The cloning process simply copies the settings from one two way radio to another, and can be done in 3 ways.

    NOTE: For cloning to work successfully, the radios must be the same model number.

    Cloning Using a Multi-Charger
    If you already have a Motorola RLN6309 RDX multi-charger, then you're in great shape! The RLN6309 has built-in support for cloning, and the process couldn't be simpler.

    1. Be sure both the Source and Target radios have charged batteries. The multi-charger does not need to be connected to a power source.
    2. Place the Target radio (the radio that needs to have settings updated) in Pocket 1 on the charger and turn the radio ON. (Pocket 1 is on the far left when you are facing the Motorola logo).
    3. On the Source radio (the radio to copy from), hold down the PTT and SB2 buttons while turning on the radio. Continue to hold these buttons down until a tone is heard (around 3 seconds). (SB2 is the bottom button on the left side of the radio.)
    4. Place the Source radio in Pocket 2 of the multi-charger.
    5. Press and release SB1 on the Source radio to initiate cloning. A chirp sound confirms cloning was successful, a bonk sound is heard if cloning was not successful.
    6. Turn both radios OFF and then ON to exit cloning mode.

    Radio to Radio Cloning Using a Cloning Cable
    You can also clone two Motorola RDX series radios by purchasing a Motorola RLN6303 Cloning Cable. The RLN6303 allows you to connect two chargers together, and allows for radio to radio cloning.

    Before getting started, be sure that you have a fully charged battery in each radio. Also, please note that the chargers will not need to be connected to a power outlet.

    1. Unplug any power or USB cables from the chargers and connect them using the cloning cable.
    2. Place the Target radio (the radio that needs to have settings updated) in one of the chargers and turn the radio ON.
    3. On the Source radio (the radio to copy from), hold down the PTT and SB2 buttons while turning on the radio. Continue to hold these buttons down until a tone is heard (around 3 seconds). (SB2 is the bottom button on the left side of the radio.)
    4. Place the Source radio in the empty charger.
    5. Press and release SB1 on the Source radio to initiate cloning. A chirp sound confirms cloning was successful, a bonk sound is heard if cloning was not successful.
    6. Turn both radios OFF and then ON to exit cloning mode.

    Radio Cloning Using Programming Software
    You can also use the Motorola RDX programming software to essentially copy the settings from one radio to another.

    1. Download the Motorola CPS software and purchase a programming cable (instructions here).
    2. Connect a radio charger to the PC using the programming cable and launch the software.
    3. Turn Source radio (the radio to copy from) ON and place it in the charger.
    4. In the software, click the "Read Radio" button on the toolbar. This downloads the configuration from the radio.
    5. Turn Target radio (the radio that needs to have settings updated) ON and place it in the charger.
    6. In the software, click the "Write Radio" button on the toolbar. This uploads the configuration that was previously read to the new radio.

    These instructions apply to all two way radios that are part of the Motorola RDX series. Models include RDU2020, RDV2020, RDU2080d, RDV2080d, RDU4100, RDV5100, and the RDU4160d.

  • Motorola RDX Two Way Radio Programming Software

    If your business has a large fleet of Motorola RDX two way radios or has to adjust the radio settings every time a new radio is added, you can save a considerable amount of time by using the RDX series programming software. This software makes it incredibly easy to adjust the settings of a radio. You can also save a profile, and when you add a new two way radio you simply need to open the saved profile and click a toolbar button to write the profile to the new radio. Much simpler than using the radio's menu, especially on models without a display (such as the RDU2020, RDV2020, RDU4100, and RDV5100)! Even if your radio has a display (RDU2080d, RDV2080d, RDU4160d), the programming software still makes the process quicker and saves time.

    The software itself is free and the latest version can always be downloaded directly from Motorola's web site at http://www.motorolasolutions.com/rdx. You will, however, need a programming cable: the Motorola RKN4155. This cable connects to the port on the back of the radio charger, and then into a USB port on your PC. Unfortunately, this cable is proprietary, meaning a standard USB cable will not work.

  • 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 the Manufacturing Industry

    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!

  • Two Way Radios for Schools and Universities

    Looking for ways to use two-way radio communication in your educational setting? Equipping your faculty with two-way radios can make your school much more efficient in a number of ways.

    Effective communication between administrators, teachers, security and custodial staff is very important to keep your school running smoothly. Two-way radios are an excellent alternative to cell phones, loud speaker systems, or trying to track down an individual in such a large building.

    Here are a number of ways that two-way radio communication can help you be effective:

    1. Two-way radios will ensure good communication between the front office and teachers within the classroom, or administrators within the school.

    2. Two-way radios can be used to help security and/or administrators communicate during the arrival and dismissal process. This can be one of the most hectic parts of the day for any school. Late buses, parents looking for their children, or any emergencies can be quickly and effectively communicated.

    3. Two-way radios can be used to alert custodial staff of any spills or maintenance issues so that they can be taken care of immediately.

    4. Two-way radios can be used to alert school security officers in case of any emergency situations, keeping the students and rest of the faculty safe.

    Typically, a high powered UHF radio will be ideal in a school setting. Since most schools are fairly large buildings made up of brick, steel and concrete, UHF frequencies will be your best bet because they will penetrate through these solid objects much better than VHF frequencies.

    The radios that we usually suggest to our customers looking for radio communication in a school setting are:

    The Kenwood ProTalk XLS (TK-3230) (UHF) - Offers 1.5 watts of power, which would be ideal for a smaller campus. A very small, very lightweight business grade radio. This radio comes standard with a lithium-ion battery, and a 2 year manufacturer warranty from Kenwood. Gives you a nice professional look without being very big and bulky. Also comes with the capability to use accessories such as an earpiece or speaker microphone for hands-free use.

    The Icom IC-F4011-41-RC (UHF)- Offers 4 watts of output power, which will equal great range within the building, as well as outside around the campus. This radio is also built to military specs for shock, dust and water resistance, and will be able withstand a pretty good beating without breaking. It also comes with a 2 year manufacturer warranty from Icom. This radio comes standard with a lithium-ion battery that should make it thru a school day on a single charge with no problems. This radio has the capability to use accessories such as an earpiece or speaker microphone for hands-free use. Also gives you that professional radio look.

    The Vertex VX-231-AG7B (UHF) - Offers 5 watts of output power, which might be the better option if you have an exceptionally large campus that you need to cover. Built to the same military specs as the Icom model for shock, dust and water resistance. It also comes with a 3 year manufacturer warranty from Vertex. This radio has the capability to use accessories such as an earpiece or speaker microphone for hands-free use. Also comes standard with the lithium-ion battery and nice professional look to it.

    Any and every school can benefit by having better communication within their staff, and there is no better way to do that than with a two-way radio system. If you have any questions about these radios, or any of our other products, please feel free to contact our sales staff and they will be glad to help you!

  • The final countdown to narrowband compliance has begun - are you ready?

    Still using your two way radios on wideband? If so, you need to prepare your migration to narrowband as soon as possible, before the end of this year.

    The FCC issued a public notice January 5 to remind everyone that the deadline to transition to narrowband is January 1, 2013. This includes private business class land mobile radios and licensees in the 150-174 MHz VHF and 421-512 MHz UHF bands. After January 1, all business radios that operate within these bands must do so using narrowband technology at 12.5 KHz or narrower.

    According to the FCC, 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 and all two way radio manufacturers must cease the manufacture and import of radios that include a 25 kHz mode. This applies to all radios purchased after December 31, 2012.

    As long as you are licensed for narrowband and your radios support narrowbanding (most radios sold within the last decade do) they should be in compliance. All you may need to do is simply re-program your radios for narrowband if you are still using wideband frequencies. However, if you are licensed for wideband only you will need to update your license for narrowband. In addition, if you are still using older radios that operate in wideband mode only, you will need to upgrade them to support narrowband as well - and you will need to do this by December 31, 2012.

    Although a bill has been introduced to delay the transition, our sources have told us that the chances of it actually passing are very low. As such, waiting until the eleventh hour for a possible extension of the deadline may be a risky proposition.

    For more information, read the FCC Public Notice DA 12-12 or visit the FCC for full details.

    If you need to upgrade your licenses and/or business two way radios, we can help. Give us a call at 1-800-584-1445 today. Don't wait until the last minute to become narrowband compliant. The time to prepare is now.

  • What is an Intrinsically Safe Radio?

    If you spend a lot of time shopping around for two way radios, at some point you may have come across the term "intrinsically safe". If you're somewhat new to the world of walkie-talkies, you probably have a few questions. What is an intrinsically safe radio? What does it do? What makes an "intrinsically safe" radio different from any other radio? Why would I want one? Why would I need one? Why would I even care?

    The word intrinsic refers to the essential or real nature or value of something. In electronics it refers to the very nature of an electronic device as being electrical; an item that operates using electricity. Any electronic device, by its very nature, carries and electrical current or charge, therefore the chance of an electrical spark or heat eminating from the device is inherently present or a possibility at all times.

    Intrinsically Safe means the device is safe to use in hazardous environments where the presence of a potential spark, heat or flame could potentially create a safety hazard. In the case of two way radios, this is especially important. Since radios are electrical, they do have the potential to generate sparks and heat, and there are many situations in which a radio may need to be used in potentially hazardous or explosive environments.

    Such environments include oil rigs and refineries, gas mains, coal mines, engine rooms of seafaring vessels, chemical plants, factories, emergency scenes involving First Responders, and other environments where there are potentially explosive or hazardous materials.

    Hazardous environments fall into different divisions and classifications. The details are outside the scope of this discussion, but essentially they fall into three basic classifications:

    • Class 1: flammable vapors and gases
    • Class 2: flammable dust
    • Class 3: flammable fibers

    In such environments, two way radio communication can be very important and even critical to operations, yet standard two way radios should not be used because they can make a potentially hazardous situation even more dangerous.

    These situations require the use of Intrinsically Safe radios.

    In order to be designated Intrinsically Safe, radios must be designed and housed in such a way as to prevent or eliminate the possibility of generating even the tiniest little spark. They must also limit the amount of heat produced by the radio. The batteries used in the radios must also be specially designed to prevent sparks and eliminate short circuiting. Even the radio housing itself must be designed and constructed of materials to prevent or eliminate friction, which can create static electricity and generate sparks.

    In addition to the radios, any accessories used, such as microphones and headsets, need to be intrinsically safe.

    Intrinsically safe two way radios are manufactured according to strict codes and regulations set by the National Fire Protection Association. The manufacturing facilities and processes are supervised by Factory Mutual, an insurance and loss prevention company approved by the US government to oversee enforcement of the NFPA codes.

    Due to these more stringent manufacturing requirements, Intrinsically Safe radios are considerably more expensive than their standard counterparts. However, the safety considerations built into these radios are worth far more than that. After all, you can't put a price on safety.

    Radios manufactured as Intrinsically Safe carry the FM (Factory Mutual) Approved certification mark. Icom, Motorola, and Vertex are major brands with one or more models of intrinsically safe two way radios.

    This chart lists popular makes and models of intrinsically safe radios currently available from Buy Two Way Radios.

    Intrinsically Safe Radios
    Manufacturer Model Band Mode
    Icom F4161/F3161 UHF or VHF Analog or Digital
    Kenwood TK-2360IS/3360IS UHF or VHF Analog
    Motorola VX-451 UHF or VHF Analog
    Motorola VX-454 UHF or VHF Analog
    Motorola VX-459 UHF or VHF Analog

    Questions? Leave us a comment below. You can also give us a call, e-mail us or enter our live chat from 8 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday!

  • TWRS-15 - An Introduction to CB Radios

    In this episode we discuss the basics of using CB Radios. We also compare the Cobra 148 GTL SSB with the Uniden PRO510XL CB radio.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:14

    Topic Discussion 1:29
    We talk about CB radios. We learn the basics of the CB Radio Service, The FCC rules for using CB and the types of CB radios available. Download our FREE list of CB 10 Codes and Q Signals. For more information on CB radios read A Beginner's Guide to CB Radio on the Two Way Radio blog.

    Commercial Break 18:22
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 19:20
    Today we will compare the Cobra 148 GTL SSB CB Radio with the Uniden PRO510XL CB Radio.

    Questions and Answers 25:48
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

    Wrap up and Close 29:36
    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!

    © 2011 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.


  • TWRS-14 - Care and Maintenance of Two Way Radios

    In this episode we discuss the proper care and maintenance of two way radios. We also review the Motorola RDU2020 business two way radio.

    Intro :00
    Billboard 1:12

    Topic Discussion 1:27
    We talk about the care and maintenance of two way radios. We'll discuss how to keep your radio in top condition and give you some important tips to avoid damage to your radio equipment. Download our FREE Two Way Radio Care and Maintenance Guide. A durable, laminated version of our Care and Maintenance Guide is also available for purchase.

    Commercial Break 17:28
    buytwowayradios.com 1:00

    Product Review 18:27
    Today we will review the Motorola RDU2020 business two way radio.

    Questions and Answers 24:01
    Questions from readers of our Two Way Radio Blog and members of the Two Way Radio Forum.

    Wrap up and Close 28:58
    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!

    © 2011 Cricket Ventures, LLC. All rights reserved.


Items 1 to 10 of 12 total

  1. 1
  2. 2

CUSTOMER REVIEWS