Kenwood Vs. Motorola Two Way Radios: Which Is Best For Your Business?

Uncovering the best two way radio system for your business can be a bit of a process. This process often whittles down to a comparison of a few different models. If you are trying to decide between Kenwood and Motorola, both make excellent options. It’s very difficult to compare Kenwood and Motorola as a whole; instead it makes more sense to break down comparisons by individual models. This is because there is such a wide variety in features and quality within each brand. Plus, both brands tend to earn similar star ratings from customers, making them highly comparable. Here we break down the differences in two way radios to help you make an informed decision.

Comparing Two Way Radio Models Side By Side

With many different model options, it’s important to fully understand what each device is capable of providing. Just like cell phones, some radios are ‘smarter’ than others. Not everyone needs a smart radio, but if your business does it’s important to address that need or else you may end up unsatisfied. Here is a closer look at advanced, middle-grade, and basic two way radio options from both Motorola and Kenwood.

A Look At What Motorola Has To Offer

Motorola advanced option:

The Motorola XPR-7550 is one of the most powerful radios Motorola has to offer, and includes added features, such as an LCD full color display screen with the latest digital radio systems and GPS. The XPR-75550 is the radio most comparable to a smartphone. While this device looks beautiful and offers a lovely display screen, it also remains incredibly durable. Plus, this two way radio can perform for a very long time thanks to IMPRES battery technology.

Motorola middle-grade option:

The Motorola XPR-6550 is incredible flexible and functional. It does include Bluetooth capabilities, IMPRES battery technology, and GPS. The XPR-6550 does include a screen, although it does not have the same stunning full color screen as the XPR-7550.

Motorola basic model option:

The Motorola CP-200 is incredibly popular but does not have a screen or Bluetooth capabilities. Still, this is one of the most highly regarded and popularly used radios in the industry. Due to the notoriety of the CP-200, the latest model has been upgraded for improved results. The Motorola CP-200 includes press-to-talk, selective calls, and other features that make this radio among the easiest to operate.

A Comparable Look At What Kenwood Two Way Radios Offer

Kenwood has a wide range of two way radios, very similar to Motorola, but of course with their own unique traits.

Kenwood advanced option:

The Kenwood NX-300 UHF is a more advanced radio, although it does not have the same full color screen or Bluetooth technologies as the high end Motorola XPR-7550. Still, it has a larger screen than other Kenwood models; in fact the NX-300 displays twice as many characters as other Kenwood radios with a screen. If accessing a large number of channels is important, this radio is capable of doing so with a large internal memory and many programmable features.  The audio quality associated with this radio is also ranked very highly. Plus, the radio is resistant to water and dirt.

Kenwood middle-grade option:

The Kenwood NX-320 is very comparable to the NX-300, with hardcore durability and reliable communication across many different channels. The main difference in this model is the smaller screen size.

Kenwood basic options:

The Kenwood PKT-23K is a compact model for easy use and an out of the way approach. At only 3.9 ounces, this little radio offers a lot of cool perks, including a 3.5mm audio jack, Micro USB port, and 15 hours of guaranteed battery life.

The Kenwood TK-2400 is a popular radio model that is comparable to Motorola’s CP-200. The durable radio provides reliable communication, but does not have the fancy bells and whistles like Bluetooth or full-colored screen. Just like the CP-200 by Motorola, the Kenwood TK-2400 does not have a user screen.

Kenwood Vs. Motorola, Is One Better Than The Other?

Now that we have taken a look at a few different models from both Kenwood and Motorola, can you identify which offers the best two way radios? Clearly, the answer isn’t so easy to pinpoint.

The needs of your business are going to differ drastically from the needs of another business, for this reason radio features are highly subjective. If GPS capabilities and full color screen are of utmost importance to your business, the Motorola XPR-7550 may be the best option for you. If instead a durable and lightweight option is more important, the Kenwood PKT-23K might be the winning radio.

How To Avoid The Biggest Complaint About All Two Way Radios

When purchasing a two way radio system it is so important that you make sure the radios you purchase are strong enough to service your area. The biggest complaint people have about Kenwood, Motorola, and all types of two way radios can actually be avoided no matter which radio you select. If you do not get a radio powerful enough to sufficiently connect at all necessary points, you will have an inefficient communication system. Without proper planning, and professional help, this can happen with any brand radio. Knowledge is power here; after all there is a radio capable of providing your business with the power necessary to remain reliable from all locations.

Need assistance finding the best two way radio system for your business? Contact Highland Wireless today!

Here at Highland we use repeaters, or transmitter stations, to send out radio signals on two-ways. This is how our Wide Area Network functions. These stations receive and send radio waves, and can increase the distance that these waves are sent by many miles. Hundreds of miles in most cases. Whereas family radios can mostly only travel short distances, a two-way that works with a repeater can send and receive messages from many miles away, making communication on different work sites quick and clear.

Transmitter stations are large spires or masts that can be constructed by themselves or on top of tall buildings. They are used to transmit radio waves for cell phones, two-ways, AM/FM radio, and microwaves. Their locations are selected based on a number of things. Line of sight and power are always considered. In regards to electro-magnetic radiation, line of sight refers to waves traveling in a straight line. These waves, without obstructions, can typically travel from the origin, to the horizon, but not past it. In many instances, waves do not travel to the horizon due to objects such as hills, buildings, trees or even the atmosphere. These obstructions can bend, reflect or absorb the waves and render them useless past the point of the obstruction. By raising stations and masts, the line of sight of waves are increased, making the waves receivable for longer distances. Most stations are high above the ground to meet line of sight criteria. Many towers or masts are also set far away from inhabited places depending on government regulations.

To give you an example, picture two people standing on opposites sides of a hill. They each have a two-way radio, but cannot talk to one another because the hill is obstructing the waves being transmitted from and to each radio. Now imagine a large tower standing on the top of the hill, with a large antenna sitting on top of it. Now, when one of the people sends a message to the other, the radio wave first goes to the station, and is sent back out to the other two-way. This happens both ways, and makes it possible for the two people to communicate even though there is a large obstruction between them. The tower sitting on top of the hill also increases the line of sight of the antenna as compared to an antenna that is sitting at ground level.

In addition, masts are located in city versus rural areas based on their power. Higher powered stations are typically in rural areas, whereas lower powered stations are in cities, where radio waves do not need to travel as far. High powered stations are also mainly set up very high, so that their signal can be reached many miles away. TV and FM stations are typically built on top of hills as well. Often the stations have more than one antenna, but depending on how many stations are being transmitted, multiple antenna can be used. By using a diplexer that splits the signals, one antenna can be used for many transmitters. AM radio transmitters are high-powered and low-frequency, and because of this are often set lower to the ground. The lower frequency waves travel as ground waves, which allows them to be received well past the point of horizon for that particular antenna. AM stations can transmit long, medium and short waves and are assigned to frequencies for long distance communication.

At each station, an antenna is what is doing all the work; sending and receiving radio signals. Each station is usually nothing more than a base for the antenna. Sometimes there is only one antenna, other times there are many. The mast can be a supporting structure for each antenna, or the antenna itself. Each station uses electricity to send and receive transmissions. They often also have back-up generators in case of power failures.

In rural or remote areas, these stations are often not manned. Operations can be controlled from off-base computers and any problems that arise have to be dealt with when personnel can get to it. In more populated areas, some stations have full time crew, others part-time. In most cases someone is available at most hours to resolve any issues that come up.

For many two-way radio users, simply having two radios to receive and transmit signals is suitable. If you are a crew working together on a small job site, or just a couple of friends hunting in the woods, a transmitter station is not necessary. In contrast, a project manager who is responsible for many job sites that are separated by many miles reap the benefits of area wide stations (read more). Their messages are sent and received in approximately the same time as simple two-way radios, but can cover vast distances. Communication between sender and receiver is instant and clear, even when there are large obstructions and miles between them.

2-way emergency radios can both send and receive messages, allowing radios that operate on the same frequency to communicate back and forth. 2-way emergency radios have come a long way in the last few years, and are no longer the basic push-to-talk accessories they once were. The advancement of technology has added a vast array of features to modern 2-way emergency radios, all of which help businesses operate on a day-to-day basis, as well as during a time of emergency.

Adding a 2-way emergency radio system to your business or organization can drastically help improve communication and reaction capabilities. Here we explain some of the added benefits a 2-way radio can provide during an emergency.

 

Prevent & Control Emergency Situations: Added Benefits Of 2-Way Emergency Radios

Digital 2-way emergency radios add a whole world of power at your fingertips. They can reach a number of different channels for access to practically unlimited talk groups. You can communicate with one person, or multiple people at once. Plus, 2-way emergency radios are smart enough to know when they are in and out of the programed coverage region. The moment someone steps out of these access regions, the radio can be programed to turn off and disable. This feature could potentially prevent information from getting into the wrong hands, among many other things.

In simplicity, two-way radios give employees, security, and whoever else uses them, the opportunity to react accordingly during an emergency. As technology continues to improve so do the features 2-way radios are equipped with. The latest digital 2-way emergency radios have a lot of added benefits people don’t often realize, many of which are especially useful to prevent a chaotic situation, as well as react to an emergency.

6 ways 2-way emergency radios can help you maintain a situation include:

1. Communication Remains Possible Even In Chaotic Situations
The latest 2-way emergency radios include noise-filtering applications. During an emergency it’s known to get noisy, but when things get too loud it can be hard to communicate through any device. 2-way emergency radios help filter out background noise so that it’s easier for personnel to talk back and forth, even when things get crazy.

2. Track Employees To Improve Safety
In any emergency it is important to know where all employees or team member are located at any given moment. The latest 2-way emergency radios come complete with GPS trackers so that anyone with a handheld radio can be instantly identified and tracked on a map. This also prevents employees from wandering to spots they shouldn’t be, after all it’s all too easy to track and contact them all in a matter of seconds.

3. Protect Your Radios (And Privacy) From Thieves & Intruders
2-way emergency radios give you the chance to stop intruders with the click of a button. If an unauthorized individual gains possession of a 2-way radio it is very easy to switch off and disable the device without gaining physical possession of it.

4. Multiple Ways To Communicate
2-way emergency radios do come with data capabilities that allow text messaging if necessary; say for instance if in an emergency personnel needs to distribute a message without making much sound. (Learn more about 2 way radios that can send text messages)

5. Enhanced Surveillance
If you need to keep a close eye on something or someone, managerial staff can actually listen in to conversations taking place around radios, even when the radios are not in use.

6. Communication Lines Open At All Times
During an emergency communication is more important than ever. Cell towers and networks are often overloaded and go down during an emergency, but 2-way emergency radios will continue to work even in complete disarray. Since your radio system is your very own network, you are not at risk for losing the ability to broadcast or receive messages through the system.

 

2-Way Emergency Radios Succeed Where Others Fall Short

Depending on the needs of your industry, wireless radios come with a wide range of capabilities and functions. For instance, the Kenwood NX-300 UHF NexEdge Radio is dust-proof and waterproof, meaning if you work somewhere wet or dusty, you can still count on this radio to keep communicating day after day.  In an emergency, when factors are uncontrollable, a flood could debilitate other communication systems, but 2-way emergency radios are built to withstand these elements will still work efficiently.

Doesn’t it seem that one emergency often dominoes into another? When an emergency strikes the number one thing you want is reliability. No matter how hectic an emergency becomes, you can rely on 2-way radio communication systems to handle the situation.

At Highland Wireless we offer the latest and greatest 2-way radios for emergencies, as well as everyday use. Check out our incredible selection today, we’d love to help you prepare for all of life’s emergencies, both big and small!

What sort of communication tools does your business utilize? 2-way radios provide a communication system businesses can rely on, often above mobile devices. In fact, according to a VDC survey, 45% of businesses are unsatisfied with their mobile phone plans, mostly because of “dead zones,” or areas that have poor to zero coverage.

Radio used to be the only option for instant communication, but today there are other options, such as the cell phone. Thanks to new and improved technology though, 2-way radios remain a strong competitor in the industry, as they provide an affordable solution many different types of businesses depend on.

All that being said, will a 2-way radio system benefit your business? Everyday 2-way radios help businesses communicate smoothly so that jobs are completed safely and accurately. A wide variety of businesses benefit from a radio communication system, including construction sites, security guards, traffic controllers, and taxi drivers. Any business on a budget should check out the efficiency offered by radios—and really, what business is not on a budget?

Benefits Of 2-Way Radios For Construction Site 

If you are in the construction industry, a 2-way radio can be very beneficial to the productivity and overall safety of any project. When building anything, big or small, large groups of people work together, each on their own little piece of the larger puzzle. In order for everything to end up fitting together nicely, communication is mandatory. 2-way radios make alerting team members of an issue, or just keeping up with progress as simple as clicking a button.

Road construction requires careful attention to detail and lots of communication, as motorists are driving through and around the sight of construction. 2-way radios help construction workers remain safe, along with all of the other motorists out on the road.

2-way radios for construction sites can help decrease associated safety risks. As constant contact ensures less possibility of error or injury, and in the case something does go wrong, immediate assistance can be called upon (Find out more).

 

Benefits Of 2-Way Radios For Security Guards

Businesses often hire some form of security to keep employees and commodities safe, but if your security crew is not equipped with the tools necessary to properly communicate, your protection might be in jeopardy.

As security guards don’t usually patrol together, they need a fast way to always be able to connect with one another. Sometimes a message is for one other guard, while other times all guards on duty need to be informed at once. To initiate a 4-way call on a cell phone takes much longer than to press one button and start talking on a radio.

Also, in an emergency when too many people are trying to use their cell phones at once, service can stop working all together. In the instance of a local emergency, security guards need to be more connected than ever, but if guards rely on the same cell towers as the general community, they could easily lose their ability to communicate. In this scenario, and many others, security guards benefit from using 2-way radios, helping them keep the public safe, as well as themselves (More information).

Benefits Of 2-Way Radios For Traffic Coordinator

When too many people are trying to use the same road at once things can quickly get out of hand. Traffic coordinators keep drivers and pedestrians safe while helping the traffic flow as smoothly as possible, all of this requires a great deal of communication. Traffic coordinators are often spread out, separated by curves in the road or space in general, 2-way radios allow seamless communication for a job well done. With a new wave of cars coming through every few minutes, consistency is key, which is why radios are a great tool for conducting traffic efficiently.

2-Way Radios For Business On A Budget

So many other businesses can benefit from a radio system, including hotels, taxi drivers, and college campuses. No matter what type of business you operate, if your team needs to communicate on a regular basis it takes money out of your budget.

In order to save money but keep communication strong, 2-way radios are a go-to solution. Research shows that implementing a 2-way radio system pays for itself in less than a few years when compared to the regular expenses associated with cell phones. 2-way radios also take away the distractions offered by cell phones, while providing consistently fast access to necessary coworkers.

Construction workers, security guards, and traffic controllers all benefit from 2-way radios, but they are not the only ones. Your business could see amazing changes too, perhaps in ways you never expected. To find out more about seamlessly integrating radio communication systems into your business, contact Highland Wireless today!