Chicomm Blog

Let's be honest, cell phones are a wonderful tool for personal communications; but when it comes to cell phones or two‑way radios for work or public safety, the fact is that no phone, no matter how smart, can compete.

People who work in education, manufacturing, healthcare or public safety simply can’t rely on cell phone technology, and two‑way radio communications offer so many more relevant benefits for nearly every situation.

From longer battery life to lower cost of ownership, here are 10 benefits to consider when deciding between cell phones or two‑way radios.

Cell phone security, once an issue that few consumers or professionals ever had to consider, is now a real threat as more of us use phones for everything from personal banking to accessing work email and information.

Cell phones and other personal devices account for an outsized number of workplace security breaches, a vulnerability that can be avoided by switching to two-way radios.

Cell phone security issues that don't exist with two-way radios are yet another reason to make the switch.

Two way radios are a natural fit for mastering secure school communications because they’re built with safety in mind.

Radios, particularly digital two way radios, have an endless array of features, functionality and applications that can be tailored for safety in any school setting, from K-12 to college campuses.

Keep reading for the key benefits that two way radios deliver in mastering secure school communications.

Investing in digital two-way radios is an important step forward for any team or organization, and to unlock even more of the technology’s benefits, Radio over IP (RoIP) is an effective, low-cost boost that leverages networks you already have in place – the internet or VPN.

As the name suggests, RoIP works the same as Voice over IP (VoIP) and adds some key radio-specific functionality and controls, such as Push-to-Talk (PTT), radio identification and frequency change.

If you’re looking to extend your reach and lower your costs – and who isn’t? – here’s a look at what Radio over IP is and how it can help.

To earn the designation mission critical, a mobile radio for public safety must deliver the same robust functionality and innovative safety features as its handheld counterparts, and be easy to install and use.

Motorola has set the gold standard for land mobile radio technology for law enforcement, firefighters and emergency first responders, and the company has an estimated 80 percent market share in the United States, according to Morningstar.

It’s no wonder then that the top four mobile radios for public safety are powered by Motorola. Below we'll take a quick look at each one. To make the right selections for your department, make sure to work with two-way radio service providers who specialize in public safety.  

What are the best two-way radios for hospitality? 

Selecting the right radio in this business needs to be informed by specific job responsibilities: Sleek handhelds are often best for front desk staff, whereas ruggedized products are needed for facilities management. Security staff often need discreet devices to do their job best.

For each staff role, there are radios, accessories and applications available that offer a full range of features and functionality to keep operations running smoothly and guests happy.

With guest satisfaction in mind, below are the specific two-way radio models that are best for three major staff roles in hospitality. Experienced two-way radio service providers can also provide helpful specifications and advice when making a selection.

With two new additions to the MOTOTRBO portfolio, Motorola Solutions is delivering the future of professional two-way radios and repeater technology today.

The new SL3500e portable radio is a study in contrasts that’s been designed for business users: It’s small but powerful, sleek yet durable. The SLR 1000 repeater also packs range-extending punch in a compact design.

Let’s take a look at both products that represent the future of professional two-way radios and repeaters.

Like other forms of radio lingo such as 10 codes, the police phonetic alphabet grew out of a need for users to communicate quickly, clearly and without ambiguity.

The alphabet endures today not only because of its utility but because of its significant role in public safety culture – it’s hard to imagine officers communicating without it.

Let’s take a quick look at the history of the police phonetic alphabet and its role in public safety.

It’s almost impossible to imagine a successful disaster response operation without two-way radios. Radios are the lifeline of emergency communications, ensuring seamless connections, instant updates and collaboration, as well as unmatched reliability during times when cell phone towers can become overloaded.

Two-way radios, through both internal features and functionality as well as applications and accessories, bolster first responder communications for everyday use and during disasters.

Let’s take a closer look at the critical role of two-way radios in disaster response with an overview of the attributes that make them indispensable.

The phonetic alphabet, or spelling alphabet, is one of the most universally recognized pieces of two-way radio lingo, and its history reveals a lot about the evolution of wireless technology and international cooperation.

If you’ve ever had to spell, then respell, then spell again a series of letters over a phone or two-way radio, you can understand why the spelling alphabet was developed. Many letters sound the same, and rather than risk miscommunication during mission critical transmissions and wartime broadcasts, officials adopted a universal set of words to represent letters.

For those of you curious about the history and usage over time, here’s a rundown of the Alpha Bravo Charlies (ABCs) of the two-way radio alphabet.

NATO Alphabet

In general, when people talk about spelling alphabets, they’re referring to the NATO alphabet, considered the international phonetic alphabet, that took effect starting in 1956. Because NATO allies led the effort for one universal standard, the alphabet was nicknamed after the organization.