Question |
Recommendation |
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1. Will the radio be for personal or business use? ► |
Select Radio TYPE |
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Personal Use: |
Personal Use: |
• Personal use on land - no license, minimum range |
FRS |
• Personal use on land - a license, greater range |
GMRS, MURS, or CB |
• Personal use on land - a license, greater range - must pass an exam |
Ham (Amateur Radio) |
• Personal use boating |
Marine Radio * |
• Personal use in the air (flying or ballooning) |
Airband Radio * |
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* Marine & Airband radios have specific channel setups designed by the FCC. |
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Business or Government Use: |
Business or Government Use: |
• Business use – will be used with current radios |
Check compatibility |
• Business use - will be used: |
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• Indoors only |
UHF |
• Both indoors and outdoors |
UHF or CB * |
• Mostly Outdoors, with clear line-of-sight (golf course, boating, hiking, etc.) |
VHF or CB * |
• Mostly Outdoors, with obstacles (forests, buildings, hills, etc.) - may require a repeater |
UHF |
• Outdoors on the waterways |
Marine Radio
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• Outdoors both on the waterways & on land |
Marine Radio with Land Channels
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* CB radio channels may have more interference since they are not regulated thru licensing. |
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2. How many separate groups of people will regularly communicate? ► |
# of CHANNELS |
• 1 - 8 groups |
16 or more channels |
• 9 - 15 groups |
32 or more channels |
• 16 – 30 groups |
128 or more channels |
• more than 30 groups |
512 channels & up |
• large number of groups – need flexibility to change configuration quickly |
Dynamic group configuration |
• large number of groups – need to maximize the use of your licensed channels |
Trunking capable |
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3. The location where the radio will be used can best be described as: ► |
Select POWER |
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Indoors: |
Indoors: |
• within 1 building less than 200,000sq ft, single story¹ |
1.5 - 2 watts |
• within 1 building, that has 1-9 floors ¹ |
2 watts |
• within 1 building, that has 10-24 floors ¹ |
4 - 5 watts |
• within 1 building, that has 25 or more floors ¹ |
4 - 5 watts, may require repeater |
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Both Indoors & Outdoors: |
Both Indoors & Outdoors: |
• within & between 2 - 4 structures in close proximity¹ |
1.5 - 2 watts |
• within & between 5 - 10 buildings in close proximity¹ |
4 - 5 watts |
• within & between 10 or more buildings¹ & over 1 mile |
4 - 5 watts, may require repeater |
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Outdoors: |
Outdoors: |
• within a range of < 1 mile (clear line-of-sight)¹ |
1 - 2 watts |
• within a range of < 1 mile (obstacles)¹ |
4 - 5 watts |
• within a range of < 2 miles (clear line-of-sight)¹ |
2 watts |
• within a range of < 2 miles (obstacles)¹ |
4 - 5 watts |
• within a range of < 4 miles (clear line-of-sight)¹ |
4 - 5 watts |
• within a range of < 4 miles (obstacles)¹ |
4 - 5 watts, may require repeater |
• within a range of > 4 or more miles¹ |
4 - 5 watts, may require repeater |
• Boating |
Marine Radio
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¹ There is no guarantee of coverage and range.
• These are guidelines only, every location is different.
• Concrete & steel create 'dead spots'. The more concrete & steel in a structure the greater possibility repeaters will be needed.
• Where more than one choice applies (example: 4-6 buildings, one building has more than 10 floors) choose the higher wattage.
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4. Is there combustible gas or materials where the radio will be used? ► |
Select a radio that is: |
• Yes |
Intrinsically Safe
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5. Will the radio be used in very noisy locations? ► |
Select a radio that has: |
• Yes |
700mW or Louder Audio Output
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6. Will the radio be used in very quiet locations? ► |
Select a radio that has: |
• Yes |
Whisper Mode |
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7. Is security an issue? ► |
Look for these features: |
• Yes |
Man Down |
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Emergency Mode |
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Surveillance mode |
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Siren or Alarm Alert |
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Stun / Kill / Revive Radio |
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Encryption / Voice Scrambler |
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8. Will the radio be used in locations with water or dust? ► |
Select a radio that is rated: |
• Yes |
IP57, IP67 or IP68 |
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9. How many functions do you want to preprogram into keys? ► |
Select a radio that has: |
• few or none |
2 programmable keys |
• 6 or Less |
6 or more programmable keys |
• more than 6 |
9 or more programmable keys |
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10. Will the user need hands-free operation or change channels without looking? ► |
Select a radio that has: |
• Yes – hands-free |
VOX Ready with a VOX Headset |
• Yes – without looking |
Channel Announce |
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