The Best Two-Way Radios for Museums
If you go out and buy the first radio that you see for your team, you might be in for a rude awakening. Static, poor battery life, messages that sound like a drive-through speaker...
That’s why you need a quality radio tailored to your museum, and we’ve got you covered!
We don't want you to buy any radio just because you like the name or the price. We want you to make an educated decision and purchase the perfect radio within the scope of your needs, staff, and location.
We’ve sold thousands of radios and have compiled all that knowledge right here in this brief guide.
What do you need in a walkie talkie for a museum?
The security guard at the front entrance just waved in a group of 40 students—no warning, no heads-up…
Meanwhile, a guest in the contemporary wing flagged down a staff member to report a child touching an exhibit—again…
And maintenance still hasn’t shown up to clean the spill in the lobby from 20 minutes ago…
Everyone’s trying to manage it all, but without a quick way to communicate, the team is stretched thin and scrambling.
These are all common issues in a museum - and they can easily be solved with clear, quality two-way radios.
Let's walk through some important components when comparing radios....
Coverage Considerations
When choosing two-way radios for your museum, it is important to match radio power and coverage of your building size and layout.
Selecting a radio that is too powerful for your needs can lead to overpaying, while choosing one with insufficient coverage may result in poor quality and dead zones.
For small museums, 1 to 2 watts of power will do the trick - you can get from 100k - 200k sqft of coverage.
Larger museums (or multiple buildings), covering up to 350,000 square feet, require more powerful radios in the 3-4 watt range on analog (or 1 watt on digital) that can transmit clearly through walls and across larger distances.
You also need to take obstructions and building materials into account. If you have thick concrete walls, it may be necessary to go 1-watt stronger.
For unlimited coverage, across multiple locations, consider radios that use LTE and Wi-Fi, like the Motorola WAVE PTX series.
Number of Channels Needed
Channels help segment team conversations, to simplify radio chatter.
Recommended groups for Museums:
- Security: Handles entry points, suspicious activity, lost items, and emergency response coordination.
- Guest Services: Covers front desk staff, ticketing, coat check, and general visitor assistance.
- Education & Tours: Used by docents, tour guides, and program coordinators to stay synced on schedules, group movements, and timing.
- Exhibit Operations: For curators, conservators, and staff managing climate controls or exhibit conditions.
- Facilities & Maintenance: Deals with cleaning, repairs, restocking restrooms, and responding to spills or other hazards.
- Events & Private Rentals: Dedicated to coordinating special events, rentals, and after-hours functions without disrupting daily operations.
Easy breezy. That’s concise and direct communication.
Channels can also be used to set up private conversations: “Sarah, call Tom on channel two.”
Sarah and Tom can then have an in-depth conversation over the radio without bothering the rest of the staff.
Quality Brands Make a Difference
You need a radio that is not going to fall apart within a year. You need one that will last so you’re not throwing away money.
Motorola and Kenwood two-way Radios are the most quality brands on the market because they are purpose-built for reliable communication with a durable build.
Designed to be easy to use and intuitive their radio series are affordable, cost-effective and eliminate monthly cell phone plans.
Tested for 5 years of field use, Motorola and Kenwood make sure you see a return on your investment.
Not to mention the included manufacturer warranty (1-3 years depending on model).
What features make a great museum radio?
- Clear Audio Quality - Museums can be quiet in some areas and loud in others—like during school field trips or events. Radios need to deliver crisp, clear sound without static or distortion.
- Discreet Design - Compact radios with earpieces or surveillance-style headsets let staff communicate without drawing attention or disrupting the guest experience.
- Long Battery Life - Staff often work full-day shifts, so radios should last 10+ hours on a single charge without needing to be swapped or recharged mid-day.
- Multiple Channels - To keep departments separate (security, maintenance, guest services, etc.), radios should support multiple channels with easy switching between them.
- Durable and Lightweight - Radios should be tough enough to withstand drops and daily use, but light enough to wear comfortably throughout a shift.
- Hands-Free Options - VOX (voice-activated transmission) or push-to-talk headsets allow staff to communicate while multitasking or moving displays.
- Range That Matches the Building - Museums vary in size and construction, so the radio should offer solid indoor coverage—even through thick walls or across multiple floors.
- Privacy Codes / Interference Protection - CTCSS/DCS codes help prevent interference from other nearby radio users, keeping internal communication secure and uninterrupted.
- Emergency Alert Features - Some radios include an emergency button that can alert security or supervisors if there’s a medical issue, lost child, or other urgent situation.
Our Top Two-Way Radio Picks for Museums
To help you with your selection, we've highlighted several different models below that are perfect for museums of every size.
These recommendations come from our own experience working with thousands of these radios. Each one has a rock-solid history and great reputation.
Small Museums
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The Motorola RMU2040 would be a perfect radio for your museum if you...
- Have users who are rough with their radios
- Work in an area less than 250,000 square feet
- Need to send a signal around steel and concrete
- Require hands-free operation
This is a UHF radio with four channels. You can segment your staff into four different groups for more effective communication.
The RMU2040 is a machine that pushes out the sound with two watts of power and an outdoor range of up to two miles.
It also has an indoor range of 20 floors or up to 250,000 square feet.
The device uses lithium-ion batteries. So you’re going to have power throughout the day. It also comes with a standing charging tray, a wall charger that plugs into power outlets, and a belt clip.
This is a radio that performs under harsh or stressful conditions with a strength of signal which easily gets around concrete and steel.
Make no mistake about it; this is one sturdy radio.
Its military-grade hardware is composed of materials that meet the MIL-STD 810 and IP-55 standards. That means it can take a licking and keep on ticking.
It comes with 219 different privacy codes that protect against interference and crosstalk. You won’t have to worry about hobbyists or any competitors interfering with your signal.
The customized channel announcement feature also allows you to operate the device hands-free.
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Advanced digital technology for clear audio and extended coverage.
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The Motorola Curve is another popular option among the medical offices we have served. That's because it is the most HIPAA compliant radio on the market.
This is a radio that will work well with a larger staff. It has 10 channels to choose from.
The Curve will also save you money in the long run. Because it operates on a digital band, you won't have to worry about paying any pesky FCC licensing fees.
While larger than the CLPe series, this device is still lightweight at only 4.2 ounces. It covers up to 20 floors or 300,000 square feet of range.
The Call Button compatibility can improve customer service with quick response times.
When it comes to protecting confidential information, the Curve has you covered with Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum technology and 10,000 different privacy codes.
Another great and beneficial feature of this device is its Page All and Call All Available functions. This allows you to reach out to the entire staff at once, and it is ideal in an emergency.
On the other side of the coin, there is also a Direct Call feature that allows you to contact just one person with sensitive information.
This device is going to be able to handle even the longest shift with a 14-Hour battery life. That's all thanks to the rechargeable lithium-ion battery that it comes with.
This is another two-way radio that has an anti-microbial coating to curb the spread of bacteria.
Honorable Mention
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Compact and powerful. Easy to use and great battery life.
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Larger Museums - Multiple Buildings
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This digital beauty is the closest thing you’ll get to a cell phone without the monthly bill.
The DTR700 runs on a 900 MHz ISM band which means no FCC licenses apply to the use of this radio.
With up to 200 contacts and 50 groups for all the flexibility you need in your communication.
The Motorola DTR700 covers three miles, making it ideal for most museums.
This device can communicate up to 350,000 square feet using a long whip antenna.
Honorable Mention
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Best Nationwide Coverage (LTE & Wi-Fi Enabled)
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Ideal for operations across multiple locations, cities or states.
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Request a Quote for Bulk Purchases
Need to equip your team? We want to help!
Make sure to request a quote for our best possible pricing.
We are here for you!
If you have any questions on which radio is right for your museum – do not hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We have a very knowledgeable staff with over 25 years of experience in the two-way radio industry that can answer all your questions.
You can’t get rid of us that easily after purchase - we include lifetime tech support to be there for you every step of the way!