If you’re looking to find the best two-way radios for your team, you’ve come to the right place. Allow us to break down the most important factors that influence 2-way radio selection by offering a list of questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down your needs. After all, there are many different types of radios that offer various features. Ultimately, the best option for you depends on application, environment, and budget.

8 Questions That’ll Help You Identify the Ideal Two-Way Radio for Your Needs

There are a wide variety of two-way radios out there—the goal is to find one that best fits your needs. So, what are your needs? We recommend starting by jotting down a list of the features you need a two-way radio to offer—such as Bluetooth, GPS, intrinsically safe, etc. The following questions are intended to help you narrow down your list of must-have features.

#1. Are two-way radio needs short term or long term?

If you only need radios for a specific window of time, say for instance one season, or over the weekend for a concert, you may want to consider renting radios instead of buying them. This may offer a more cost-effective option. Especially considering we offer affordable Kenwood and Motorola two-way radio rentals that include chargers and all other necessary accessories.

#2. Do radios need to be intrinsically safe?

A radio that is Certified Intrinsically Safe can be used in hazardous environments. It is designed to withstand a wide range of elements, from water to fire, while still remaining functional. Intrinsically safe radios are required in certain settings, such as onboard ships, as well as for Marine and Fire Team communication. In fact, recent updates to the law require two intrinsically certified radios onboard every ship.

#3. What tier of communication platform do you require (for ships)?

There are three tiers of communication levels:

• Mission Critical Tier System (best)
• Professional Tier System (better)
• Commercial Tier System (good)

The ideal system for your fleet can be determined by three different factors: available budget, vessel size, and functionality requirements. Learn more about the three different systems and what they offer here.

#4. Will radios be used in a rough environment where durability is crucial?

There are water-proof radios, dust-proof radios, and radios built tough enough to withstand a pretty steep fall. In addition, there are radios that get the job done but are not intended for high risk environments. It all depends on what you need situationally. It’s worth investing in a more durable and rugged radio if you need it, but if you don’t, you might save money by going with a less hardy model.

#5. Are you going to be discussing confidential information over two-way radios?

Certain two-way radios offer advanced features to heighten security when communicating across the network to one or multiple people at once.   

#6. How long will radios be in use for each day before retiring to their charger?

If radios require long-term usage, you may want to consider adding a battery extender. Not to mention, Motorola is known for their long-lasting IMPRES^TM battery technology. 

#7. Do you require communication across UHF or VHF frequency bands?

Are you communicating on VHF/Very High Frequency [low band—49 to 108 MHz, or high-band—169 to 216 MHz]? Or, UHF/Ultra High Frequency [low band—450 to 806 MHz or high-band—900 to 952 MHz]? Some radios are equipped to handle both, but not all radios are. It’s important to know what frequency band you’ll be communicating across when picking the best two-way radio for your fleet.

#8. Do you require advanced features?

From basic two-way radios to more technically advanced radios, you have a good deal of options based upon your needs. Some advanced features available for two-way radios that may be of interest to you include:

• Bluetooth
• GPS & tracking
• LCD color screen
• Hands-free
• Voice activated
• Full keyboard
• Submersible
• Intrinsically safe
• IMPRES^TM battery technology (offered on Motorola radios)

The job of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is to improve wireless signals in an indoor or outdoor space, essentially anywhere with an obstructed signal. Some of the most common issues related to designing a DAS include budget and time restraints, the inability to remove certain interferences, and planning for future expansion—just to name a few.

Solutions to 4 Common DAS Design Challenges

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for DAS. Buildings and venues are unique in many ways, and therefore, the appropriate system must be custom made to fit the needs of each space. The following challenges are commonly faced during the design phase. Luckily, there are solutions to help work around each issue.

DAS Challenge #1: Budget & Time Restraints

There are a variety of factors that influence the cost and time frame it takes to develop a DAS. For instance, what frequency range does the system require—Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra High Frequency (UHF), or 700 to 800 MHz public safety? The latter is the easiest and most cost effective to construct, while VHF and UHF are costlier and more complex. No matter what, it takes time and money to install custom cabling, fiber optics, and other equipment.

The best solution is to plan for costs ahead of time by getting a free upfront quote from Highland Wireless. We offer free pre-testing of signal strength levels and a site survey. Even if your building is in pre-construction, we still offer a quote based on floor plans. Contact us today to learn more.

DAS Challenge #2: Near-Far

The near-far issue relates to a device that is operating on the DAS coverage zone, while it is serviced by a microcell tower that is not nearby. As a result, the DAS is affected because it must work overtime to transport data as the mobile device communicates with the macro network. Therefore, this creates interferences and performance issues with the DAS.

The solution is to design the DAS with this in mind, taking into consideration how much macro signal bleeding occurs in a building or at a venue. Then, create a DAS signal that is powerful enough to keep the mobile device operating on the DAS as opposed to switching back and forth between the macro system and the DAS.

DAS Challenge #3: Inability to Remove Certain Interferences

During the DAS design phase, all potential interferences must be identified and addressed. These interferences may include surrounding buildings, noise, fortified construction, and so forth. When possible, some interferences can be removed, but most of the time, the goal is to work around interferences. After all, realistically, not all interferences can be removed.

The practical solution to the problem is to detect all causes of interference. If a certain source cannot be removed or identified, the use of automatic detection and mitigation helps ensure the effectiveness of the DAS.

DAS Challenge #4: Looking Towards the Future

As technology continues to evolve and the use of mobile data increases, it’s important to look towards the future when designing a DAS so that it remains efficient over the long haul. One way to ensure this happens is to share the roadmap for growth with the designer and engineer of the DAS. This may include plans to expand, obtain more traffic flow, or increase current subscriber data. It is crucial to take the right steps towards ensuring future traffic and wireless network demands can be met by the system.

Learn more about our advanced DAS Design and Engineering services

Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are specially designed to improve wireless coverage throughout a building or outdoor venue, basically just about anywhere where wireless signals are obstructed. Some important considerations to make during the DAS design phase include identifying interferences, assessing performance, and addressing potential issues like near-far disturbances.

5 Things to Consider When Designing DAS

The design phase is crucial to developing a successful DAS. Before any work begins, there is an RF analysis focused on performance outcome. The engineer and design team generally take the following things into consideration during this process. 

#1. Overall Efficiency of Signal Propagation

A large percentage of industry engineers will tell you that signal propagation is easily one of the more important elements of a well-designed DAS. Signal propagation relates to the transmission of the radio signal from the station’s antenna to the receiver’s antenna.  To install a successful system, it’s crucial to assess the ways in which signals are propagated. It’s important to consider this early on in the design process, deciding upon the addition of macrocells and microcells. Microcells institute larger volume areas when there are many wireless users in a given space. 

#2. Aim for Optimal Performance

To achieve optimal performance, it’s important to minimize undesired factors like interference and background noise. On the other hand, you want to maximize desired factors. One of the biggest factors that negatively impacts performance is interference, which can be caused by signals in other circuits, or even the same circuit, such as ID card readers, two-way wireless communications systems, and other types of electronics.

Large buildings, especially high-rise buildings with 15+ floors, can imitate an RF shield, promoting the likelihood of interference and poor coverage. There are some unpredictable types of co-channel interference with the potential to obstruct DAS, thus impacting overall performance.

It’s important to take into consideration all potential interferences during the design process, including below grade floors, surrounding buildings that may block out signals, and so forth.  Of course, you cannot remove all interferences—say for instance the large building to your left. So, instead, the goal is to work with the surrounding space to improve performance as best as possible.

#3. Designing DAS for the Future

There are many factors that might not matter today but they will matter in the near future. After all, technology and data usage continue to grow and advance at unprecedented rates. The DAS design phase entails addressing issues that’ll arise in the future, not just today.

#4. The Near-Far Issue

Engineers typically address the near-far issue during the DAS design phase. Near-far is the reduction in performance a device suffers when it is operating within the area of a DAS while being serviced by a distant macrocell tower. As a result, it must work double-time. Transmitting at a higher power to reach the macro network can cause the rest of the DAS to downgrade in performance. For the most part, DAS does not address the near-far issue. Although, it’s still important for designers and engineers to work out these issues in the design phase for the best possible results.

#5. Integrate Small Cells

While DAS does not require small cells, many see it as part of the future of DAS development. Research has shown the ability for small cells to assist the system in high volume areas or venues. While DAS is the better option for reliable high-density wireless capacity traffic venues, small cells complement these systems well. Plus, small cells are rather efficient. It is becoming more common to integrate small cells with DAS. Therefore, this is something else to consider during the design phase.