Two-way radios
for consumer use are an inexpensive alternative to cell phones for people who need to communicate regularly over short distances. Once you buy the radios, which are far more sophisticated and powerful than the walkie talkies you played with as a kid, you have no additional costs except for replacing or recharging the batteries. Follow these strategies to use two-way radios.
Setting the channels and codes
Turn on the two-way radios and set both units to the same channel using the channel selector knob usually found on top of each radio near the antenna. If your radios are equipped with a security feature, enter the numeric code using the keypad. You can then adjust the volume to a comfortable listening level or plug in a set of earphones or headphones for added privacy.
Range, line of sight
Bear in mind that two-way radios operate on a UHF band (Ultra High Frequency), which is a microwave that sends signals over a limited range. Unlike cell phones, which bounce radio signals off cell towers so two people can talk over great distances, two-way radios send signals directly between each other. Most radios available for consumer use have an effective communication range of 5-10 miles, which can vary with weather conditions.
You'll also enjoy better reception if there are no major physical obstacles between the radios. Outdoor reception between two radios 500 feet apart will be superior to indoor reception between a radio on the first floor of a skyscraper and a radio on the 40th floor of the same building.
Communicating over the air
If your radio uses a push-to-talk transmitter, you'll need to depress and hold the button when you wish to communicate with another person. It is helpful to use a verbal code that lets the other person know when you are finished transmitting. The standard code is to say the word "over," which is short for "over to you," to let the other person know you are finished speaking and he should respond. "Over and out" is an acknowledgment that the communication is finished and you are signing off the radio.
More expensive two-way radios come with two radio transmitters and are known as full-duplex radios. These allow the users to talk and listen at the same time without pushing and holding transmitter buttons since two separate transmitters are employed in each radio. This technology is similar to cell phone transmissions.
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