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Which Walkie-Talkies Are Best for Schools?

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Walkie-talkies can be a vital tool for communication in schools. These easy-to-use devices can establish uniform communication methods and inform everyone of important information in real time.

Radio Communications of Virginia has been providing walkie-talkies for schools across Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, Virginia, for decades. Our team can help you find the right walkie-talkie for your school and any necessary accessories.

Why Walkie-Talkies Can Help Make Schools Safer

high schoolWalkie-talkies can be part of a school safety plan that helps children and staff stay safe. Since these radios allow for consistent and real-time communication, staff can report incidents or security concerns as they happen. This will enable administrators to contact first responders or provide additional support for the incident.

Students are often coming and going at the beginning and end of school days. This means cars and buses are on the roads nearby while students head home.

Staff equipped with walkie-talkies can report when buses arrive, so younger students can be led to the correct bus safely. If something unexpected happens, an incident, like a car accident, can be reported immediately.

What To Consider When Selecting Walkie-Talkies for Your School

Walkie-talkies can do more than provide push-to-talk communications. Many come with additional features to help make the school day easier and safer.

Long-lasting batteries can be another important consideration. The radio your staff uses should last throughout the school day to ensure they always have a method of communication.

Many models come with a battery life of over 12 hours, which extends beyond the typical school day and may be a good option for coaches and other after-school activities.

Accessories can help make a difference in the functionality of your radio. Earpieces or Bluetooth® connections can help keep communications private and prevent student panic.

Belt clips and lanyards allow your staff always to keep their walkie-talkie on hand while teaching or performing other tasks.

Best Walkie-Talkies for Schools

Walkie talkie

GPS has become a popular option for many walkie-talkies. You can locate an unresponsive staff member based on the location of their radio.

Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best models for schools:

The MOTOTRBO™ R2 is a two-way radio with 64 channels, a maximum of 26.5 hours of battery life, and enhanced privacy features. SINC+ noise suppression helps you communicate even in load environments by suppressing background noise.

The CP100d is a simple analog radio with the capacity to go digital in the future that’s easy to use. With a voice announcement feature, your staff can stay up to date on happenings on campus. With up to 160 channels available, you can provide your staff with specific channels to use and pay attention to.

The SL300 radio is a slim and lightweight radio that can be carried without drawing too much attention. The optional Shatterproof Active View display protects against occasional drops that may happen during the school day.

Discuss Which Walkie-Talkies May Be Best for Your School Today

The right walkie-talkie for your Richmond, Tidewater, or Southside, VA, school can help keep your staff and students safe while maintaining clear lines of communication for everyone.

The team at Radio Communications of Virginia can help you find the right walkie-talkies for your campus, including infrastructure and accessories. Contact us to learn more today.

How the MOTOTRBO Two-Way Radios Can Help With Fleet Management

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MOTOTRBO two-way radios are a great way to communicate with employees across a warehouse, campus, and even on the roads of Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, Virginia.

Radio Communications of Virginia offers fleet management solutions using MOTOTRBO two-way radios that can make fleet management more accessible. They do this by making it more efficient, improving communication, and increasing safety for your drivers.

More Efficient Fleet Management

Fleet manager with radioManaging your fleet efficiently is key to productivity and getting the job done. With MOTOTRBO two-way radios provided to both dispatchers and drivers, they can communicate.

This allows dispatchers to communicate with drivers to suggest alternate routes, request additional stops, or even alter delivery destinations if a last-minute change is needed.

Since two-way radios allow you to do all this while on the road, you save time and can get more done. MOTOTRBO two-way radios can also be installed in every vehicle in your fleet, ensuring your drivers can always be reached on the road.

Consistent and Reliable Communication

When your fleet vehicles are upfitted with MOTOTRBO two-way radios, your drivers have access to communication methods whenever they get behind the wheel.

Using MOTOTRBO two-way radios provides drivers with a vast communications network across Virginia that allows them to communicate with home base, with questions, additional information requests, or unexpected problems.

MOTOTRBO two-way radios offer clear audio and noise suppression, so your drivers can communicate over road and vehicle noise and hear what your dispatchers say.

These radios also have additional functionalities, such as text messaging services—allowing your team to send quick non-verbal messages while stationary to keep your dispatcher up to date.

Increase Worker and Vehicle Safety

Best Radios for Security TeamsWorker safety’s an essential factor in every business. MOTOTRBO two-way radios can help keep your workers safe. Two-way radios are simple to use and can be safer to use than cell phones when driving. Simple push-to-talk buttons may allow your drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road as they communicate, with a dispatcher.

The volume of some MOTOTRBO radios can also adjust automatically to road noise, so your driver can hear clearly, without taking their hands off the wheel.

If the unexpected happens and the driver’s unresponsive or a vehicle’s been stolen, your two-way radio may be able to help.

Many MOTOTRBO models come with GPS-tracking, allowing you to locate the car with the two-way radio.

If there’s been an accident, you know exactly where to direct first responders. If the vehicle’s been stolen, you may be able to recover that property, saving you money.

Discuss MOTOTRBO Two-Way Radios for Your Fleet Today

MOTOTRBO two-way radios can help enhance your business’s fleet management system and provide consistent communication.

If you have a fleet for your business around Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, VA, that needs upfitting, contact Radio Communications of Virginia.

Our team will create a customized solution using MOTOTRBO two-way radios that works for your fleet. Contact us to learn more.

How Does the VESTA® NG9-1-1 Promote Safety?

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9-1-1 dispatchers around Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, Virginia, need to make decisions quickly and access a lot of information.

Radio Communications of Virginia recommends the NG9-1-1 program. This dispatch program promotes safety for those who call for help and the internet security that 9-1-1 operators rely on in many ways. It does this by simplifying workflows, providing access to essential information quickly, and enhancing overall cyber security.

NG9-1-1 Simplifies Workflows

Call Center ComputersThe use of NG9-1-1 technology simplifies workflows for operators. Each of the responder’s stations can be set up the same way through this program, allowing for less employee training and adjustment.

NG9-1-1 is also scalable as your team grows. Everyone can rely on the same program and spend more time helping keep people safe.

Through the program, operators can transfer calls with the touch of a button, saving time and ensuring first responders are on the way.

Each step of the call process is more straightforward—from opening a case, gathering information, accessing maps, and relaying critical information to the first responders.

This simplified work process allows dispatchers to be more flexible and address a caller’s needs more specifically.

Allows Dispatchers To Access Vital Information Easily

911 Call

When using the NG9-1-1 program, all critical information is present on one screen. This UI lowers the need for a multiscreen layout, ensuring you have all the information in one place.

The correct information at the right moment is critical for operators to provide help to callers. Before a call’s even answered, operators can pinpoint the caller’s location on a map. This allows them to dispatch emergency services as soon as possible.

Multi-agency support’s also available with a few buttons, so everyone who needs to be at a scene at once can be contacted. Information about the incident can be shared through the cloud to other locations, if needed.

Text Message Assistance

Only some people can make a 9-1-1 call. Some people rely on text messaging to get help when a phone call isn’t possible.

The NG9-1-1 system can provide essential information from the text message, including location, and allow an operator to respond and coordinate help.

Increases Program Security and Maximizes Performance

How Police Use Two-Way RadiosLike other technology-based systems, security’s required to protect the system from cyber-attacks and unauthorized users accessing information.

The NG9-1-1 system comes with increased security to protect your system. This maximizes uptime and performance, allowing dispatchers to help more people.

NG9-1-1’s security features are confirmed through the Department of Defense Joint Interoperability Test Command Approved Products List (DoD JITC APL) certification. This means NG9-1-1 has been tested for and passed system interoperability and that the program’s an efficient use of resources.

Learn More About Vest NG9-1-1 Today

When you’re helping people in a crisis, response time and reliability of your technology are critical. The VESTA® NG9-1-1 system simplifies workflows, provides information quickly, and maximizes performance allowing operators to get help for those around Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, VA, as soon as possible.

If you want to learn more about integrating VESTA® NG9-1-1 into your response system, contact Radio Communications of Virginia today.

History of the Two-Way Radio

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History of the Two-Way Radio

In the era of televisions, internet, and cell phones, two-way radios are often overlooked as the technological marvel they are. With one touch, a person can wirelessly and instantly communicate—in many cases, without relying on added infrastructure. Other communication methods are instant, too, but if a cell tower goes down, or the power goes out, calling, texting, and emailing are out of the question.

The history of the two-way radio is one filled with innovation, involving efforts that spanned continents, and at Radio Communications of Virginia, we’re here to tell you all about it! We proudly serve those in the Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, VA, areas.

Learn More About Our Two-Way Radio Services

The First Two-Way Radios

Two-way radios are those that can both send and receive messages. They contain an audio transceiver, a transmitter, and a receiver all in one device. Before the advent of the two-way radio, radios could either send or receive messages, but not both.

As early as 1912, military and commercial ships were installing transmitters and receivers to allow for instant two-way communications across the Atlantic Ocean. Up until the 1920s, however, instant back-and-forth communication required two separate devices.

The invention of the two-way radio changed communications dramatically. When people could communicate back and forth in real time using one device, they could respond to emergencies more quickly and run businesses more efficiently.

Making Them Mobile

History of the Two-Way RadioThe first devices to combine message sending and reception into one device were helpful, but they had one major drawback: they were stationary, locked in place wherever they were installed.

The first big innovation with two-way radios was making them mobile. In 1923, Senior Constable Frederick William Downie of the Victoria Police in Australia did just that. The mobile two-way radio took up the entire back seat of a squad car, which posed some challenges in the event that any of the officers had to actually arrest someone.

However, the benefits outweighed the disadvantages. Even with the back-seat-sized mobile two-way radio, the system was still significantly more efficient for communications. Before Downie’s innovation, the only way for officers and other public safety personnel to get in touch with each other was via public call boxes. If an officer was far from a call box, they had to hope they could find one quickly.

Mobile two-way radios for police as we know them today got their start in 1933 in New Jersey. The Bayonne Police Department operated a two-way radio system that had a fixed location for dispatchers to communicate via transceivers in patrol cars. With a smaller real-time communication system, public safety personnel could respond to emergencies more quickly.

Putting the “Walkie” in “Walkie-Talkie”

After making mobile radios suitable for vehicles, the next big innovation was making them wearable, like a backpack.

Two different engineers pioneered their own versions of wearable two-way radios. In 1937, Canadian engineer Donald Hings developed the “packset,” which also utilized a wearable backpack transceiver.

Another precursor to walkie-talkies were the Polish military backpack radios that infantries would carry to keep in touch with squad commanders in the late 1930s. The inventor of these portable radios was engineer Henryk Magnuski, who would later move to the United States to further develop radio devices with Motorola in the 1940s.

The first true walkie-talkie—a name coined by journalists sharing this exciting new device with the public—was manufactured by Motorola for use by the Allied forces in World War II. The handheld device that modern consumers would recognize as a walkie-talkie was the SCR-536, which Magnuski also worked on.

The SCR-536 was truly a marvel, even by modern standards. For one, it was waterproof. It weighed only five pounds with its batteries in place. It operated on AM between the 3.5 and 6.0 MHz frequency range. Instead of an on-off button, users powered the device by pulling out the antenna and shut it down by pushing its antenna back down. It held enough charge to last a whole day.

In the post-war period, portable handheld radios became part of mainstream life in the United States when Motorola Corporation began producing them on a large scale. It’s fitting, too—the name Motorola means “sound in motion.”

Modern-Day Applications

The two-way radio has come a long way since its first car-sized iteration. Today, they’re available as powerful handheld devices that can rely on analog technology, tap into cellular networks, and use GPS tracking.

Now, two-way radios are more powerful and capable than ever before, and like always, there are new advancements in the works.

Public Safety

History of the Two-Way RadioPortable two-way radios are useful in all kinds of situations, but one of the industries that relies on them the most is public safety. This has been true since 1923 when the Victoria Police Department developed their innovative—albeit a little too large—portable radio into their fleet of squad cars.

Almost 100 years later, the instant one-touch-talk functionality and reliability of two-way radios is still the best way to coordinate public safety efforts and respond to emergencies.

Today’s two-way radios operate using radio frequencies, but for more range and capacity, they can also tap into cellular networks. Other advancements include GPS tracking, integrated apps, and even cameras.

Event Hosting

At a sold-out football game, event staff can’t necessarily rely on cell phones for a connection, since the influx of cell users can overwhelm the local cell tower. Two-way radios for employees of stadiums, convention centers, and other densely populated places make it possible to keep security personnel, maintenance crews, guest services, and more all up to date on situations as they arise.

Healthcare

Pagers revolutionized the healthcare industry, so much so that although the general public has moved on to smartphones, hospital staff still rely on pagers for fast updates in emergencies. These mini transceivers send and receive only what is absolutely necessary and have long battery lives, perfect for an industry that relies on streamlining processes to save lives.

Manufacturing and Construction

The first walkie-talkie was waterproof, and since that time, handhelds have only gotten more rugged. When you’re working in manufacturing and construction, you can rely on drop-proof, dust-proof, explosion-proof handhelds to keep teams in touch, even in challenging environments.

Other Applications

Of course, two-way radios don’t always come in the form of a wearable device. Another common application for two-way radios is callboxes. As a security feature for a gated area, it can be used to talk and remotely unlock doors.

Two-Way Radios for Sale

Radio Communications of Virginia has been providing two-way radio solutions since 1954, so we know better than anyone how much almost any business can benefit from using two-way radios.

We specialize in Motorola-branded radios, which are still some of the best on the market. Types of two-way radios we provide include:

  • Handheld portables
  • Base stations
  • Repeaters
  • In-vehicle two-way radios
  • Motorola-branded parts and accessories

Two-Way Radio Service

When it’s time for you to update or repair your fleet, trust our seasoned experts. We have an in-house service center that offers repairs, maintenance, and service for all your Motorola radios.

Our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment can identify the cause of any issues you might have, and our access to official Motorola parts means that all our repairs are done to manufacturer specifications.

Other services we offer include in-vehicle radio installation for police cars, construction vehicles, delivery trucks, and even watercraft. Installing a two-way radio into a car has proved useful since 1923—let us help you increase your efficiency, too.

Learn More from Radio Communications of Virginia!

Whether you want to learn more about the history of two-way radios or learn more about the modern two-way radios that can help your business thrive, Radio Communications of Virginia is here to help.

As two-way radio technology continues to evolve, you need a two-way radio dealer who has seen these evolutions firsthand. Since 1954, we’ve been experts in the Richmond, Tidewater, and Southside, VA, areas in all things radios and all things Motorola. Contact us today!