Radio Accessories, Part 5: Surveillance Kits and Speaker Mics
Last of five parts A surveillance kit has to be quiet; a speaker mic has to be loud. That’s the only fundamental difference between these essential two-way radio accessori
view
Radio Accessories, Part 4: Belt Clips, Holsters, and Carry Cases
Fourth of five parts Two-way radio manufacturers usually provide a basic clip to attach their radios to a belt, but users often find they need more options: clips that attach in different ways and holsters or carry cases to provide extra protection and make the radio
view
Radio Accessories, Part 3: Antennas
Third of five parts For all the complex electronics inside a two-way radio, arguably the most important component is the antenna, which transmits and captures radio waves. Portable radios come from the factory with an antenna that has been tuned precisely to meet the needs of the radio it’s attached to. So why would you need an accessory antenna? A couple scenarios spring to mind: Broken and scratched — To operate at peak efficiency, an antenna needs to remain in the shape it was built in. Dent, scratches and breaks can foul up an antenna and might cause it to fail altogether. If you
view
Radio Accessories, Part 2: Headsets and Earpieces
Second of five parts Being able to hold a two-way radio in your hand goes from awesome to annoying the minute you start doing a chore that requires free use of your hands. That’s why earpieces and headsets are such popular accessories for two-way radio users. They set the hands free. A great way to explore these accessories is to walk through the features of an existing model. For instance, Motorola Solutions makes a head-hugging headset called RMN4049A that has a host of high-tech features: Bone conduction — This mod
view
Radio Accessories, Part 1: Batteries and Chargers
First of five parts Radio manufacturers usually provide basic batteries and chargers, which do a fine job as long as the radios don't get a lot of use. Active users of two-way radios, however, soon find they need more charging capacity and more versatile, longer-lasting batteries. Fortunately, radio manufacturers and several aftermarket companies offer plenty of ways to
view