Waterproof walkie-talkies offer a lot of convenience and reduce your risk for communication disasters. Certain job sites and events require waterproof radios due to heightened risk of water exposure.  Some radios are backed by greater moisture protection than others. To prevent confusion there’s an IP Code, or International Protection Rating, listed for each radio. This code number is used to define how much protection against water and solids a device is equipped with.

How to Read IP Ratings for Waterproof Walkie-Talkies

IP stands for Ingress Protection, or the level of protection provided by radio enclosures.  The first number after the letter P stands for “Solids Protection,” and the second digit stands for “Liquid Protection.” “Solids” include things like fingers, hands and dust. While “liquids” define moisture of many kinds. These standards are intended to provide more clarity than simply deeming every two-way radio waterproof. Otherwise, devices that can only withstand some water for short periods of time get lumped together with devices that can be submerged in water for 30 minutes or more.

Even electrical sockets get an IP rating. IP22 is the minimum requirement for interior electrical accessories. This number means outlets will not be damaged if someone tries to stick a finger inside, and they remain safe even if water drips over the outlet. Although, IP22 would be considered a low rating for two-way radios.

The most waterproof protection you can get is a number 8. While the most solid protection you can get is a 6. That means the highest level of protection against liquids and solids comes from a rating of IP68. This specific rating indicates a device is completely protected against dust ingress, as well as long term immersion up to a certain pressure.

Using the term “waterproof” suggests that no amount of water can damage a two-way radio. It’s important to note that electronics are more water resistant than waterproof. Just about any device will eventually incur damages if left submerged in water for too long or under too great of pressure.

3 Great Water Resistant Walkie-Talkies by Motorola & Kenwood

The Motorola XPR-7550

https://www.highlandwireless.com/portfolio/xpr-7550/

This rugged two-way radio offers just about everything you could ever want or need, starting with the fact it is Submersible (IP57). That means this device is protected against most dust and would have to encounter severe quantities to provoke issue. The second number represents liquid protection and a number 7 is the second to highest available level of water protection, offering immersion up to 1 m.

The Motorola SL 300

https://www.highlandwireless.com/portfolio/sl-300/#1499958900047-d13b59ed-73de6bca-26e3

This multi-purpose waterproof walkie-talkie offers a compact radio with a lot of power for an affordable price. This conveniently svelte two-way radio measures less than one-inch in thickness. It is rated IP54, making it slightly less tolerant to water than the Motorola XPR-7550, but just as hardy in terms of protection against solids.

The Kenwood NX-300 UHG NexEdge Radio

https://www.highlandwireless.com/portfolio/nx-300/#1499958900133-e6812103-0d0a

This Kenwood water resistant two-way radio has a nice screen, offers the option to add programmable features, and comes with substantial internal memory that can handle many frequencies and channels.

It is rated IP54/55, which means it can handle splashing water. It might survive a quick dip, but it’s not guaranteed to survive too much water exposure. Yet, for certain industries or purposes all you need is enough moisture protection for rain or some water splash-back.

The best walkie-talkie rental option may vary based upon the type and size of your event, as well as where it is located, inside or outside. We have a variety of Kenwood and Motorola walkie-talkie rentals to suit all your needs, regardless if you’re planning a large-scale concert, a big wedding, or outfitting security personnel at a shopping center.

Here are some important considerations to help you decide on the best radio for your event. Need additional help finding exactly what you need? Contact us today

1. Is the event scheduled to take place indoors or outdoors?

Indoor events require two-way radio signals capable of penetrating walls, and UHF radios are better at this than VHF radios. On the other hand, outdoor events are better suited by VHF radios because they offer optimal obstruction-free range. UHF is generally the best option if you need a walkie-talkie system that efficiently operates both inside and out.   

2. Do you need walkie-talkie rentals for long term or temporary use?

Do you need two-way radios that’ll keep going strong all day and night? Some two-way radios offer better battery life than others. While the average consumer radios offer around 8 hours of power, high-powered commercial radios can offer 12 or more hours of continuous battery life. Keeping the right accessories on hand, such as multi-unit charges, helps ensure there are always radios charged and ready to go.

3. How tough is the terrain?

How much wear and tear do radios need to withstand? For instance, the US military relies on rugged radios that can withstand extreme heat and water. You may or may not need waterproof, dustproof, or heat-proof walkie-talkies for your event, but we have them if you do!

Shop Motorola Two-Way Radios

4. Do you need Emergency Alert features?

An Emergency Alert feature is included with some radios. It allows users to press one button to send out a distress call to receiving radios. This alert may also prompt the device to become hands-free for a few seconds to allow the user to get a message across without touching anything by hand. This is an ideal feature for construction sites or other sites with potential dangers.

5. What kind of accessories do you need for two-way radios?

There are a wide range of two-way radio accessories available such as battery extenders, multi-unit chargers, as well as different headsets and earpieces. Hands-free features can be added via accessories; some radios come with built-in hands-free settings. This is convenient for employees tasked with juggling multiple tasks at once. 

Shop Kenwood Two-Way Radios

6. Do you need an On-Site Radio System?

On-site radios and network systems can be used to amplify signals clear across a campus or throughout a large building. On-Site Radio Systems by Highland Wireless facilitate seamless and sophisticated communication. We have many large-scale on-site installation projects under our belts, and are equipped to take care of everything from consulting to engineering, as well as installation and maintenance.  Learn more

7. Do you need Bluetooth or GPS?

Many of the best walkie-talkies for events come with advanced features like Bluetooth and GPS. Identify what you need to successfully operate your event. There’s no need to pay extra for these amenities if you don’t need them, but if you do, they can make all the difference.

Transmitters, receivers and antennas play important roles in the functionality of two-way radios, including base, mobiles and handheld radios. The radio is referred to as the transceiver, as it both sends and receives messages.

What is a Two-Way Radio Transmitter?

A transmitter is responsible for generating a radio signal or wave. The oscillator is a component of the transmitter tasked with generating frequency. Then, frequency multipliers go to work increasing frequency to final output. Power amplifiers are used to increase signal power so that adequate power output reaches the antenna.

The output frequency is called the carrier, or a continuous wave (CW). The frequency of the carrier can change based on the amplitude of the carrier or phase modulation. Amplitude (AM) and frequency modulation (FM) vary in several ways, but most notably FM modulation is less likely to encounter interference from RF noise.

What is a Two-Way Radio Receiver?

Think of the receiver as the transmitter’s polar opposite. The receiver is tasked with receiving the modulated carrier, processing it and sending it off to a detector station. From there, the modulation signal produced by the carrier is stripped off and original information is restored.

Most radio systems are designed to work with AM or FM. A microphone is used to input the information and a loud speaker is used to output the receiver. For the most part, signals are typically analog signals.

Binary signals are used to transmit data and at the simplest form this takes place using frequency shift keying (FSK). Most systems in place today rely on more complex schemes for transmitting data to maximize efficiency.

Most digital signals are virtually impossible for humans to unravel. That’s because we live in an analog world with audio frequencies. One exception is the use of Morse Code, which relies on a system of ones and zeros to transmit messages. If you are skilled at Morse Code, you know how to translate the dashes and dots so they equate to letters and numbers. When using digital radio, a digital-to-analog converter is essential to communicate with other humans.

Communication receivers almost always have “squelch circuits” that turn the output off when no signal is coming through. This prevents continuous noise from playing over the speaker. When a properly coded signal is detected, it allows it to pass through. Two common squelch schemes include continuous digital-coded squelch system (CDCSS) and continuous tone-coded squelch system (CTCSS).

What About Two-Way Radio Antennas?

The antenna plays an important role in the process, it takes the radio transmitter and sends it into space so that the receiver can pick up the energy. Lower frequency channels require a larger antenna for better communication. In most cases, the higher the antenna is from the ground, the greater the radio signal and overall coverage it offers.

A dipole is a crucial component of the antenna that includes a wire or rigid metal rod. The length of a dipole is based on ½ the wavelength of the carrier frequency. An example provided by the FCC states, “Thus, a 300 MHz carrier, with a wavelength of 1 meter, would need to use a dipole that is 1⁄2 meter long. Similarly, the dipole for a 900- MHz carrier, whose wavelength is 1/3 meter, would be 1/6 meter long.”

Antennas that sit vertical to the surface of earth give off vertical polarization. While antennas that sit horizontal to earth’s electric field are classified as horizontal polarization. Most mobile systems rely on vertical polarization.

The transmitter, receiver and antenna all play a vital role in the functionality of two-way radios. Without one, the whole system cannot operate properly.

Radio wave, wavelength, frequency—you’re sure to hear these terms tossed around when discussing two-way radios, but do you know what they mean? The following two-way radio terminology can help you better understand how two-way radios operate. After all, discussing two-way radios can start to feel like a lesson straight out of your college physics book. To simplify things, here’s an introduction to some of the basic terminology behind two-way radio systems.

1. Radio Wave

Radio communication is all about radio waves. Similar to ocean waves, radio waves flow up and down and can alter in how high they peak. But unlike ocean waves they are not visible to the human eye.

2. Wavelength

Radio waves are measured by the distance between one peak to the next—the space in between is known as the wavelength. A short wavelength relates to closely packed peaks, while long wavelengths are used to describe peak waves that are farther apart.

3. Cycle

Radio waves follow a specific pattern known as a ‘cycle.’ The pattern or cycle continues to repeat itself over and over.

4. Frequency

The number of cycles that occur every second is defined as the frequency. Radio engineers refer to “cycles per second” in “hertz,” or Hz for short. If someone says the wave frequency is 12 Hertz, that means there are 12 cycles occurring every second. Radio cycles generally repeat thousands of times each second. Engineers use kilohertz (KHz) to represent 1,000 cycles per second, and megahertz (MHz) to represent 1 million cycles per second. Additionally, gigahertz (GHz) translates to 1 billion cycles per second.

The higher the frequency the shorter the wavelength, and visa-versa. Interestingly, the wavelengths between super high frequencies (over 30 GHz) are so small that not even a single drop of water could fit in between the invisible peaks. Better coverage usually relates to lower frequency. VHF low band is credited with the most “effective radiated power” (ERP). 

Larger antennas are often required on lower frequency radios to improve communication.

5. Spectrum

Spectrum is used to define any range of frequencies that could potentially be used for radio communication purposes. Audible frequency range is typically somewhere between 20 and 18,00 cycles per second.

6. Bands

To make frequencies easier to comprehend, radio engineers group them into different categories or ranges, known as bands. Examples of bands include High Frequency (HF), Very High Frequency (VHF), Ultra-High Frequency (UHF), Superhigh Frequency (SF), Extremely High Frequency (EHF), and infrared.

7. Channels

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created their own categories to group frequencies, these are known as channels. The FCC is tasked with licensing out channels, and the specific center frequency or carrier frequency of that channel is identified. Radio communication is transmitted over multiple frequencies contained within one channel. The more frequencies contained within one channel, the larger its bandwidth and the more information it can transmit at one time.

The FCC provides an excellent example of this by comparing it to a highway. The wider a highway is, the more vehicles it can transmit at the same time. Think of larger bandwidth like a wider freeway—it can transmit more messages because it has a larger channel to work with. This is slowly changing though as technology advances; the latest microprocessors and software techniques require less bandwidth to transmit the same number of messages compared to 10-years ago. The FCC compares this concept to carpooling.

8. Building Penetration

UHF frequencies that have shorter wavelengths, generally in the 200 to 2,000 MHz range, provide better communication behind closed doors. That’s because they are better at penetrating building openings, like doors or windows, as opposed to VHF frequencies under 200 MHz. Low band VHF offers poor building penetration, while High Band VHF is slightly better.

Motorola two-way radios are used by police, businesses, military and government agencies, and even families. These highly dependable walky-talkies come in a variety of makes and models suited to just about every need imaginable.

You can buy or rent Motorola two-way radios, but some benefits to renting include:

• Lower cost option for short-term usage or big events 
• You don’t have to buy batteries, accessories, or chargers—we supply it all with your rental

Leave maintenance and repairs to us since you don’t own the radios

• We can program radios to work with existing radio systems
• We make it easy to set up and use radios and we pick them up when you’re done.

Why Motorola Two-Way Radios?

Motorola isn’t the only excellent option for two-way radios, but it does offer some promising benefits that are worth mentioning. As a certified dealer of Motorola radios, we’ve seen firsthand how handy they truly are.

• Innovation that Surpasses the Test of Time

Motorola has long-standing name power. They were behind the earliest car radios, the moon landing and the first cell phone. One thing is for certain, Motorola has continued to grow, change and evolve with technology, hence how they’ve managed to stay in the game for so long. Millions of businesses, individuals, and organizations rely on Motorola radios to this day, just as they have for almost a century.

• Full-Service Solutions

Motorola is more than just a two-radio company, they have so much more to offer from applications to accessories to specialized software. You tell us your needs and we can set you up with the appropriate Motorola solutions.

• Rugged Durability

Motorola radios are built tough to last in all kinds of environments. There are models designed to surpass explosions, severe heat, water damage and so forth. That’s why such a wide variety of industries rely on these radios, from construction sites to first responder missions.

Types of Two-Way Motorola Radios

APX Series P25 Two-Way Radios

This line of mission-critical radios was specially designed to be used by First Responders and other professionals that cannot risk safety. The APX series is designed to offer high-tech features with unmatched durability and “precise ergonomic controls.”

MOTOTRBO Professional Two-Way Radios

This line of Motorola two-way radios is designed especially for operations-critical industries including professional and commercial communications. There are a lot of different models in the MOTOTRBO family including sleek handhelds, rugged portables and high-tech radios.

On-Site Two-Way Business Radios

These radios are intended to be used for short-range communication. They are commonly used by smaller businesses and organizations who need to communicate non-critical messages across shorter distances. These handheld radios come in analog or digital options.

Analog Two-Way Business Radios

This option is catered to businesses or organizations who have not made the switch to digital technology. Options include basic handhelds to rugged and durable models, all of which are focused on keeping your business connected at all times.

Consumer Two-Way Radios

Motorola also designs two-way radios for personal consumer usage. Families may rely on two-way radios to stay connected during an extensive camping trip or other adventure. They can also be used around the home or to supplement traditional communication systems during an emergency. 

Motorola Accessories

Motorola offers numerous accessories you can hook up with two-radios to enjoy added features and technology. They offer smart batteries, noise-canceling headsets, subtle security ear pieces and so forth. 

Rent Two-Way Motorola Radios from Highland Wireless

As a certified two-way radio dealer for Motorola, we can help your business, organization, or team stay connected for the weekend or however long you need. We are more than happy to discuss all your options with you to find the best fit for your business, organization, or event.