Two Way Radio Features and Terminology Explanation

Two way radios with the adjustable gain feature allow you to adjust the sensitivity of your microphone. This is useful along with hands-free operation because it helps minimize the possibility of unintended noises triggering a transmission, or enhances the ability to pick up quiet voices.

Radios with this feature play a tone whenever a button is pressed. This helps you to confirm that the button was actually pressed.

Radios with the audio accessory connector feature have a port that will allow you to connect external devices to your two way radio. The actual devices supported vary by model. Some of the most popular external accessories are microphones, speakers, and hands-free kits.

Most two way radios have a digital LCD display that displays useful information, such as your current channel. Radios with this feature allow you to turn on a lighted display, to make information easier to read in darker environments.

A battery charger will re-charge two way radios that include rechargable batteries. If you plan to use your two way radio with any frequency, rechargable batteries are a good idea and will pay for themselves in the long run!

A battery meter will indicate the amount of charge remaining on the battery.

Two way radios with this feature generally have a "low power" mode that they will switch to automatically after being left unused for a certain amount of time. While in the "low power" mode, the drain on the battery is less than during normal operations.

Two way radios are mobile devices and were intended to move around with you. Because of this all radios operate on battery power. Most models will work with standard alkaline AA or AAA batteries. Several models include rechargable batteries. Rechargable batteries included with two way radios are usually either Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) or Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). NiMH rechargable batteries are usually considered superior to NiCd. NiMH batteries usually last longer and have no "memory effect". NiCd batteries do suffer from the "memory effect" and because of this it is recommended that you completely drain your NiCd batteries before you recharge them.

Call tones allow you to transmit a tone to other radios in your group to alert them that you want to talk. This is similar to a telephone's ringing to indicate that someone wants to talk to you. Many radios allow you to choose from several different call tones.

The channel scan feature enables a two way radio to continuously scan each channel for activity. When activity is detected on a channel the scan process will stop and you will hear the transmission.

A channel is a frequency on which two way radio users can communicate. There are 14 FRS channels and 15 GMRS channels, and of those 7 are shared. Radios supporting both FRS and GMRS will support 22 channels. To communicate with others using a two way radio, all radios in the group must be set to the same channel.

Two way radios with a clock will display the current time. Some radios with this feature also have an alarm feature.

A sophisticated digital voice compression technology that reduces the static hiss between words. This technology extends the effective range of the radio and delivers noticeably clearer transmission quality.

A digital compass will tell you which direction you are headed. Two way radios with this feature will usually show you abbreviations for your direction while the compass is active. Common abbreviations are: N, E, S, W, NE, NW, SE, SW.

Two way radios that are drop-in charge capable are compatible with desktop type cradle chargers. In these chargers, you drop the entire radio in a cradle while it recharges.

Dual channel watch allows you to monitor two channel/privacy code combinations at once.

The eavesdrop reducer feature will allow you to set a special "eavesdrop reducer" code. Setting this code will cause your radio to garble the tranmission for anyone else who may be listening. Another radio with this feature must be set to the same "eavesdrop reducer" code before they will be able to hear your transmission correctly. This feature does not guarantee secrecy, but it does add an extra layer of privacy.

Fixed antennas are not able to be removed from the radio.

FRS channels are channels that were set aside by the FCC for use by the Family Radio Service (FRS). There are 14 FRS channels available. The FCC has limited the amount of power that a device can use to broadcase on an FRS channel to .5 watts, which is a maximum of around 2 miles.

GMRS channels are channels set aside by the FCC for use by the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS). There are 15 GMRS channels available. The range limit put in place by the FCC for FRS frequencies does not exist for GMRS frequencies. Because of this most radios that support the GMRS frequencies have a greater maximum range than FRS radios. The FCC requires that all operators using the GMRS frequencies obtain a radio license before operating their equipment. To obtain this license request form 605, which includes all forms and instructions.

Two way radios supporting interchageable face plates have snap-off front covers. These "face plates" can be replaced with others to give your radio a fresh look and style!

Radios with the keypad lock feature allow you to "Lock" the buttons so that pressing them has no effect. This is useful if you are carrying the radio in your pocket or in a purse where buttons could accidentally get pressed.

Two way radios with the low battery alert feature will alert you in some way when the battery charge is getting low. Some models will provide an audible tone to indicate the battery is low. Other models show a special icon in the display when the battery charge is getting low.

This is the warranty provided by the manufacturer. See manual for specific details.

Two way radios with memory locations allow you to store your frequently used channel/privacy code combinations for easy access later.

This feature allows you to check if a channel is clear before you transmit.

The noise filtering feature reduces unwanted noise. Many models accomplish this by shutting off weak transmissions, thus eliminating unwanted noise due to terrain and conditions. For some other manufacturers, turning this feature on means that the radio only receives transmissions from other radios by the same manufacturer with this feature enabled.

Two way radios that are plug-in charge capable have a port where you can plug in a charger. This is similar to how most wireless phones are charged.

The power selectable feature allows you to switch between high and low power modes for GMRS frequencies. Low power mode would reduce the range of your two way radio. If your group is using a GMRS frequency, it could be useful to have to option to reduce your range if you are receiving unwanted transmissions from outside of your group.

Many radios divide individual channels up into a certain number of privacy codes. Instead of only needing to be on the same channel to communicate with other members of your group, radios using privacy codes require all radios to have the same channel/privacy code combination in order to be able to communicate. This is an extremely useful feature. In places where many people are using two way radios, such as sporting events or theme parks, it would be very difficult to find a channel that wasn't always being used or monitored if only 22 channels were available. Privacy codes make it possible for your to take your two way radio to high traffic places and still be able to communicate with your group in relative privacy.

It is important to be aware that the number of miles of range advertised by two way radio manufactures is always the maximum range that the radio will get under perfect circumstances. Many things can affect the range, such as trees, bushes, buildings, vehicles, or almost anything that could interfere with line of sight.

This is the opposite of the Noise Filter feature. When the range extender feature is turned on, your radio will receive even very weak transmissions. This may result in unwanted noise, but will extend the range of your two way radio.

Some two way radios include rechargeable batteries. If you plan to use your radio frequently, upgrading to a model that includes rechargeable batteries will pay for itself in no time!

Radios with this feature allow you to remove a specific channel from a scan. This can be very useful if you need to perform a scan, but there are channels with activity that you know you are not interested in.

There are seven channels assigned by the FCC to the Family Radio Service (FRS) and General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) that overlap. Channels 1 through 7 have been assigned to both services. Almost all radios that support the GMRS channels also support the FRS channels. You will sometime see a difference between how some radios supporting both services handle these frequencies. Some treat them as low range FRS channels and others as high range GMRS channels. Some others give you the option of setting the range yourself for these shared channels.

A signal strength indicator will give you an indication of how strong the signal of your incoming and outgoing transmissions are.

In silent mode, the radio will indicate an incoming transmission without making an audible alert of any kind. Typically, the display will flash several times to indicate the incoming transmission. This is a great feature for hunters, where a noise may be disruptive.

Some two way radios have a stopwatch feature. A stopwatch displays the amount of time between when it was started and when it was stopped.

The Talk Confirmation Tone is sometimes called a "Roger Beep". When this feature is activated, a tone is transmitted to the listener after a transmission. This alerts the listener that you are finished, and that it is their turn to talk.

The timeout timer feature is intended to prevent accidental transmissions and to save battery life. If the "TALK" button is held for a long period of time, the radio will automatically stop transmitting.

The transmit power of a two way radio is measured in watts and is the major factor in determining the range of a radio. Generally the more watts of transmit power, the greater the range of the radio. The FCC limits the transmit power of radios on the FRS channels to .5 watts.

Two way radios with the vibrate alert feature have the ability to vibrate to alert you that you are receiving a message. This is very useful in noisy environments where it would be difficult to hear a call tone or a message.

The voice scrambling feature garble your transmissions, allowing you to have conversations that are more private and secure. In order to use the voice scramble feature, all members of your group must have radios supporting this feature. This feature does not guarantee secrecy, as someone with a similar radio could hear your conversations, but it does add an extra layer of privacy.

Radios supporting the Voice Activated Transmit (VOX) feature allow you to use your two way radio "hands-free". The radio will automatically begin transmitting when you speak.

Water resistant two way radios are better suited for use in environments where they may get wet.

Radios supporting this feature can tune into broadcasts by the NOAA Weather Radio and Environment Canada Weather Radio. Most radios that will allow you to listen to weather channels also have the ability to alert you automatically to emergency weather broadcasts. This feature requires that NOAA or Environment Canada service be available in your area. Check with your local weather office to verify that this service is available.