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Chicomm Blog

Two-Way Radios to Watch in 2017

Posted by Lisa MacGillivray on Thursday, December 22, 2016

Two-way radios are continuing to evolve in exciting ways as more industries and agencies discover their superiority over cell phones – yes, even smartphones – for both everyday use and emergencies. When it comes to durability, reliability and clarity, two-way radios are better than cell phones on all counts.

We’ve had our eye on a few trends for two-way radios over the last year, particularly expanded offerings in terms of size, use cases and even color. So here are some predictions for two-way radios to watch in 2017:

Motorola’s APX 8000XEAPX8000XE_Family.jpg

Motorola developed the APX 8000XE in conjunction with firefighters around the world to ensure that they’re rugged, reliable and ergonomically designed to meet their incredibly specific needs.

In response to firefighter feedback, Motorola gave the radios a larger display, bigger controls and an all-band radio solution. Users can talk into either side of the radios and count on Motorola’s trusted noise-cancelling technology to ensure they can always hear and be heard.

The APX 8000XE is available in a color described as High Impact Green, a bright shade that makes the radios unmistakable, regardless of the conditions.

One recommended accessory is the APX XE500 Remote Speaker Microphone, also available in High Impact Green. The microphone’s unique shape means firefighters can find the controls without even having to look and while wearing their gloves.

Motorola's APX 8500 

The APX 8500 is an all-band mobile radio with a host of new features aimed at reducing interruptions. Motorola Solutions rolled out the new radio at the 2016 Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) conference in Orlando, Fla.

As part of the interruption reduction technology, when the APX 8500 mobile radio is connected to the Motorola Solutions VML750 LTE vehicle modem, the radio can offload data communications such as GPS to broadband to free up availability. The data will go to whatever the modem is connected to, either public safety LTE or commercial LTE.

Vertex Standard's EVX 261 

Vertex introduced the EVX-261 in the middle of 2016 as a solution for users who want to gradually – and affordably – migrate from analog to digital.

The radios are both analog and digital, so when it comes time to make the switch, there won’t be any need to swap out equipment or provide additional training.

The radios are built to withstand harsh conditions, and they have a range of interoperability features, such as the Universal Battery System.

Vertex Standard's EVX-S24EVX-S24.png

The EVX-S24 is the smallest EVX series radio manufactured by Vertex Standard, and the company says it’s intended for the retail, education and hospitality markets. It’s also a good option for making the switch from analog to digital and can be used with any existing analog two-way radios. 

The slim profile will likely be surprising to people who expect two-way radios to be both bulky and hefty. But don’t let the small size fool you, it’s still built to be sturdy: The EVX-S24 meets international standards for water submersibility and is dust proof.

It’s available in both basic black and bright yellow, with the latter option offered for settings in which an obvious radio can act as a deterrent to bad behavior.

To learn more about creating and maintaining a successful two-way radios system, contact Chicago Communications to set up a free consultation.

try a two-way radio