A 900 MHz Digital Radio Primer: The Next Generation of Two-Way Radios

Harness the power of digital technology and put it to work for your personal or business communications. Digital two-way radio devices that operate on the 900 MHz frequency band offer advantages over analog radios. They combine the power of digital communication with the convenience of cell phones. Spend a few minutes to learn why they're far superior to analog two-way radios and cell phones.

More Power with Less Energy Usage Using just a single watt, a digital two-way radio has the signal strength and range of a 4-watt analog radio. In addition to being eco-friendly and energy efficient, a charged battery will last up to 14.5 hours. This is based on the specifications for the Motorola DTR410, one of their high performance digital radios.

Talk Farther and Clearer with No Interference Digital audio technology provides a much clearer static-free signal than analog, and certain models can cover up to 300,000 square feet or 30 floors. Unlike analog radios, digital radios will give you a perfectly clear signal up to the very edge of your coverage area. Audio clarity is especially important in noisy environments. With the Motorola digital radios, interference from other nearby radios is virtually non-existent due to the 10,000 available privacy codes.

The 900 MHz Frequency Band - For Indoor and Outdoor Use, with No License Required To understand the revolutionary nature of 900 MHz digital technology, keep in mind that the VHF (very high frequency) radio band operates between 30 MHz to 300 MHz, while the UHF (ultra-high frequency) radio band occupies the 300 MHz to 3 GHz range. This places digital radios within the UHF frequency band, but with its own unique frequency. What this means is that 900 MHz digital walkie-talkies will have a range similar to a UHF radio. As with UHF radios, they're highly recommended for indoor use, since the higher frequency radio waves can penetrate concrete, metal and wood. They're also recommended as the best overall indoor and outdoor two-way radio, though they typically won't have as great of a range outdoors. One of the most enticing features of digital 900 MHz radios is that they do not require an FCC license to operate. This saves you both time and money, as you'll be able to get up and running immediately with no additional fees.

Private, Secure Conversations With a digital two-way radio, Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) technology lets the radio skip between frequencies, creating a random sequence of different sub-channels. This creates a very secure and private communication environment.

Speak to Everyone or Just One A tremendous advantage of digital radios over analog is that in addition to their superior technology, they offer many of the same features as cell phones. This includes direct calling, the ability to speak to individuals in addition to groups. With a digital radio, you can address the entire team, and then if someone has a question, they can contact you privately. This gives you far more flexibility than other types of two-way radios.

Cell Phone Features Without Monthly Service Fees Digital radio offer other cell phone features that make them convenient and instantly familiar for all users, such as text messaging, caller ID and data cloning. It's the best of both worlds.

Longer Battery Life than Cell Phones Many smartphones don't have such impressive battery life, and they aren't able to last for an entire work shift. However, certain digital two-way radios, because of their energy efficiency, can last up to 14.5 hours on a single charge.

Rugged and Reliable In general two way radios are designed to be more rugged than cell phones. There are specific models (such as Motorola's DLR Series and DTR Series radios) which are built to military specifications. These heavy duty radios can withstand vibration, shock, dust, moisture and extreme temperatures. They are also designed with durable polycarbonate housings.

Discover the digital two-way radio difference and be on the leading edge of wireless radio communications.