by Brad Cooper
According to Motorola, two-way radio is “on the verge of making the biggest leap forward since the invention of the transistor—the move from analog to digital.” Improved voice quality, greater range, better privacy, sophisticated call-control features, and the ability to easily integrate with data systems are among the touted benefits.
But how do you know if digital is the right move for your company? The technology costs more up front than its analog counterparts, and used equipment for the budget-conscious is harder to find.
How Digital Works
Like digital television and cell phone signals, digital two-way radio works by converting analog information into packets of digital data that can be transmitted more efficiently and with less loss of data across greater distances.
As a result, digital can provide these benefits:
• Improved voice quality
• Greater range
• Better privacy
• Less data loss
• Sophisticated call-control features
• Ability to easily integrate with data systems
• Capability to double capacity by using 6.25 khz
• Greater spectral efficiency, resulting in no loss of capability with narrowbanding
When Analog is Better
For a budget-conscious company just getting started in two-way radio and unsure whether the expense is justified, analog radios can be a good starting place. Because they are relatively inexpensive and readily available on the used market, they are a less risky way to get started.
When to Make the Switch
With the looming deadline for narrowbanding, there has never been a better time to switch to digital two-way radios. Motorola, Kenwood, HYT, and Vertex all offer high-quality options that will ease your transition to compliance with narrowbanding, while providing you all the additional benefits of digital.
While analog radios are still very common, most experts agree that they are headed the same way analog cell phones and television have gone: Into history. We recommend that if you haven’t already, you begin budgeting now to upgrade your equipment and maintain the effectiveness of your company’s communications.
