Two Way Radios

[Kreole Kid]

Anyone here still using two way radios for communication on land, commercial applications. Just trying to see if anyone still uses that technology or is it really outdated. In today's world everything is digital and also everyone can't always answer their phone right away.

I own a Medical Equipment business and I'm trying to be more efficient with getting the technicians their orders "on the fly" and to see where they are geographically within the city to dispatch to the closest tech. We currently use cell phones or text messaging but this is sometimes tedious and confusing, who's on first??

Any opinions :huh:

 

[1956olds]

can you get gps traking or ais system so you will know where they are?The cops still use radios as do firemen and ambulances.Motorola makes nice stuff.

 

[Summer Fun II]

When I was driving local truck, We had them and they sucked.

If you lost line of sight of the radio tower you got nothing but static.

Some of the reasons were, Deep Valleys - Tall Buildings - Mountains - Trees

My calling was, 203 mobile 5 to base.. Karen.

 

[spfortjohn]

Look at Sprint direct connect. In Alabama we have southern link

 

[Havana Shamrock]

For work we have verizon direct connect, after years with Nextel and they both stink don't waste your time or money!!
We all just use our smartphones,

 

[IanBat]

Im with most of the posts here.

We are a fairly large dealer for 2 ways.

To me though, the smart phone would be far better and more reliable than 2 way.
If they cant answer their phone or see a text, how are they going to answer a two way??
All vehicles should have a good bluetooth system.
And as already said consider gprs with google mapping etc, that way you can see who is where.
If you have 2 way, you would need vehicle mounted with a good aerial, for range, it is going to be interfered with tremoundsly around buildings etc, wont work inside carparks, hand helds will give you no range. So basically out of communication if not in the vehicle, I presume the same as Australia, you would hve to be on the commercial channels, and pay a licence for your own frequency, otherwise you are competeing with general chatter.

What we get involved with is the earthmoving industry, so the loader operator can tell the truck driver to stop, etc. And they can chat