Education

Two Way Radios in Education

Two way radios in education

Two Way Radios are a great source of communication for the Education industry. They provide an instant connection and immediately deliver crucial information that needs to be passed between staff or students. Another main reason for their popularity is that they are tough and durable so can survive an action-packed day in the classroom. On the current wide market, there is a model to suit any budget and requirements for any Nursery, School, College, and University.

More and more schools, colleges and universities are turning to two-way radios to protect their institutions against potential threats outside and also inside the classroom walls. It is a simple form of communication and is accessible instantly to all users.

Benefits of Two Way Radios for Education:

• Staff can immediately be reached anywhere on campus
• Security can be alerted to attend any dangers
• Sharing critical first-hand information
• Unsafe situations are resolved quicker
• Two-way radio systems are available in case of any unpredictable situation (poor weather conditions, power cut, safety threats, etc.)
• School radio systems can be directly connected to emergency services to

Types of Two Way Radios for Education:

A low powered radio may be sufficient for short-range communications, such as directing traffic, but for communications within a school building, a higher-powered radio is highly recommended. Older schools use thick concrete for walls, which is difficult for the signals of weaker radios to penetrate. Due to growing concerns over security multi-channel radios are recommended as you may need to switch between channels.

Unique features of Two Way Radios for Education:

With the current concerns surrounding security, having a licensed radio would offer a secure line of communication should any incident occur. Furthermore, Two Way Radios are rugged devices and are protected against drops and falls and come with powerful speakers. Hosting of large events whether its parents evening or a student night at university. Two Way Radios will ease the pain of communications and make any event run smoother and better.

Licensed or Licensed Free in Education:

Licence Free

When you purchase your license-free radios you are all ready to use them. However, before you start using your license-free Two Way Radios please follow the instructions in the manual, also you usually need to charge the battery first. The pairing of these devices is simple, please see radio manual.

Licensed

What is a radio licence? A Radio licence provides you with a unique frequency on which you can operate your radios legally and securely. This licence is obtained from Ofcom in the UK. The basic and most common Ofcom licence starts from £75 for 5 years. However, different types of licenses are available. For instance, there is a special nationwide licence to ensure that large systems or premises throughout the UK operate on legal frequencies.

When you obtain your licence Ofcom will provide you with the unique frequency on which your radios will transmit. With a Site-Specific Licence, there are no legal ways other parties can listen to your conversations and all critical information is safe. With UK general licence you may have shared frequencies but the tones can be configured to ensure minimal interference occurs. Apex can provide this service at a small admin fee, please contact us for more details.

Education

Digital or Analogue in Education

Analogue

These have been in the market for some time now (according to BearCom paper from 2010: “Analogue two-way radios have been used for business applications as far back as 1933, and they were originally placed into service by the U.S. military 20 years before then” ). So it is clear that this product has a strong history and position on the market and is widely used around the world. Analogue radios are traditional walkie talkies operating on analogue modes and using frequency modulation. They are transmitting natural voice. Mostly, only one conversation can take place while using analogue radio. They also require hardware receivers and transmitters. Furthermore, while using analogue radio in the broader area, the voice might get lower and signal lost completely when the user is further away from the transmitter.

Digital

Digital radios, on the other hand, are operating in digital mode, which means they are using a mathematic system represented by binary numbers 1 or 0 to transmit the voice, which becomes digital. Therefore, the transmitted voice is much clearer. Furthermore, digital radios can recognise the background noise and simply not transmit it. Using digital radios in the broader area is more efficient and if users stay within limits of the coverage, the voice will stay the same and clear. Digital radios may also come with applications such as GPS, data tracking, more conversations at the same time, text messaging, emergency alarm and many more.

Accessories

earpiece

Audio

Audio accessories such as earpieces for radios are specifically designed for radio communications to complement your radios and their function. We supply a wide range of Two Way Radio audio accessories available to fit your requirements and to enhance your radio performance. For instance for loud environments such as construction, ships, airports etc. we provide 3M Peltor and Sordin noise-cancelling Two Way Radio headsets

Bodycam

Body worn camera

Communication continues to become more and more vital in allowing organisations to operate efficiently and safely; however, there has been a significant shift towards the importance of deterring crime and collecting evidence. Until recently, the lack of suitable products in the PMR market has left a gap which many end-users have been unable to fill. However, body-worn cameras can be set to help deter crime and record important details which can either be used to help to identify criminals or help to prevent further criminal activity in the future.

carry case

Carry Case

Apex Radio Systems holds a large stock of carry cases and belt clips suitable for a wide range of Two Way Radio models including our best selling Motorola radio cases. Walkie talkie cases which we offer are predominantly made of leather to ensure the best quality. We recommend them with your radio equipment as they offer additional protection to your radios in cases of drops and falls. Cases can be used with a belt clip, carry strap or can be provided with a belt loop for extra security. For quick release, there is the Klick Fast system of cases which works in a similar way to a press stud. Klick Fast system fastens cases to overalls and outerwear and allows for quick access and release of the radio. If you require hands-free operation carry cases are perfect for you. Many different options exist to suit your needs, requirements, and comfort. We also sell ATEX approved carry cases for your intrinsically safe radio equipment.

batteries

Batteries

We hold a very large stock of most manufacturers’ walkie talkie batteries including Icom and Motorola Radio Batteries. Our stock includes accessories for brand new radios as well as discontinued models. There are generally two types of batteries available for two way radios: NiMH (nickel-metal hydride battery) and Li-ion battery which is a lithium-ion battery. Li-ion battery has a longer lifespan and provides longer operation, however, it is slightly more expensive than traditional NiMH.We hold a stock of genuine batteries which are made by the radio manufacturer and the more cost-effective type-approved 3rd party versions. We can also environmentally dispose of your old battery in lines with WEEE Regulations.