Two Way Radio Basics

In this article, we will be discussing some of the basic features and functions of two way radios. Two way radios are tools for communicating, similar to telephones, and can come in handy for many situations. Whether it be for personal use, for your business or for emergency purposes, 2 way radios are an excellent and reliable form of communication.
Two way radios (also called walkie talkies), allowing for a few exceptions, all work essentially the same way. There is a battery that powers the unit which is typically rechargeable. Volume can often be controlled with the use of a knob or button on the unit itself. When using the radio to communicate, the transmission is activated with the use of a Push-To-Talk or “PTT” button. Simply press the PTT button and speak into the microphone and your voice is sent over the air! When the PTT button is released, the receiver becomes active, allowing other radios to communicate back.
A two way radio, in its most basic description, is a “transceiver”. This means that it is a device that can both transmit and receive content. Radios communicate with one another using certain frequencies. The radios can “speak” to each other only when they are set to the same frequency. The two most popular frequency ranges that 2 way radios use are called “VHF – Very High Frequency” and “UHF – Ultra High Frequency”. VHF frequencies are best for exclusive outdoor use, as these frequencies will hug the ground and travel further in open areas. UHF frequencies, the more popular of the two, tend to penetrate obstructions and will work well both indoors and out.