UHF/VHF walkie-talkies, known as "licensed", are distinct from unlicensed devices (PMR446) which are the most common on the market. Their costs are significantly higher. So what are the benefits for a professional choosing a licensed radio over a consumer radio?
• 100% Secure Communications: To use a licensed walkie-talkie, the user must apply and pay for a subscription - often annual. Annually subscription, he not only gets the right to use the device but also other advantages: in return, you will be assigned a unique frequency in particular. You are then the only one using this frequency (unlike PMR446 talkies), no one can overhear you. Your exchanges are confidential, which is ideal if you work in a profession where information is considered sensitive, e.g. B. in the field of security, police, or industry.
• A longer range: While the range of an unlicensed device is limited to a few kilometers, the range of a VHF-UHF radio is much greater due to its transmitting power. The unlicensed walkie-talkie is actually "flanged" to 0.5 watts, while a licensed radio is rated at up to 4W in UHF and 5W in VHF. The range, moreover, does not depend on its model but on the license to which you have subscribed if you have indicated the area that you must cover. This type of device is therefore often referred to as a "Long Range Walkie-Talkie".
• Highly professional features: protection of the isolated worker, patrol control, receiving live alarms, intercom, answering a switchboard... Here are some of the functionalities offered by these walkie-talkies that will make your daily work easier.
• A great robustness: licensed radios are much more durable than unlicensed models, making them ideal for demanding work environments. You are e.g. B. Resistant to bumps and falls, dust, and liquids (rain, water jets, temporary or prolonged immersion). To prove their robustness, the different models are certified according to military standards and a protection index that indicates the level of water resistance of the device.
• UHF: for places with obstructions: A UHF radio occupies a larger frequency spectrum (from 300 MHz to 3 GHz) than a VHF radio (from 30 MHz to 300 MHz), where UHF stands for "Ultra High Frequency". What does that mean in concrete terms? Its powerful waves penetrate more easily in areas with many obstacles, such as B. in cities, and there is less risk of interference when other devices are present. On the other hand, UHF waves are shorter, so they are less suitable for long distances. Their cost is higher because the manufacturing process is more complex and the UHF components are more expensive.
• VHF: for open communication areas: The VHF (Very High Frequency) walkie-talkie, on the other hand, enables communication over longer distances in open fields or, for example on a lake or at sea. Its battery life is usually longer, which saves money. For this reason, for large installations, it's best to switch to VHF radios instead, as they're cheaper and usually perform well.
Traditionally, analog radios have provided reliable communication between team members, but digital radio has far expanded the capabilities of two-way voice communications. Digital radios provide superior voice quality at the reaches of coverage areas, double the capacity of an existing 12.5 kHz channel, and up to 40% longer battery life on a single charge.
Digital Radios offer many benefits vs. analog radios. Here are a few: