FAQs

What are two-way radios?

Two-way radios are able to transmit and receive audio (voice) on pre determined frequencies. Commonly known as walkie talkies, they are available as a hand held radio, a desk top radio and a vehicle radio.

Licensed Vs Licence Free

The licence free radios are ready to use straight out of the box, the licensed radios require you to have an Ofcom licence which will in turn give us the frequencies to tune in for you. The licensed radios are higher power, suffer less interference and are mainly aimed at the business user. The unlicensed are aimed more at private users or small businesses.

How do I get a licence?

Ofcom are the government body that issue licenses and although it can be a laborious process, DTS Solutions are happy to apply on your behalf. Simply talk to us about your radio requirements and we will include the licence cost on top of your standard quote. As a guide expect to pay around £75 for the licence although depending on your location, this could be slightly more.

Digital Vs Analogue

Digital radios are the latest technology and offer improved clarity and range over analogue radios. The analogue radios are often priced lower and it’s important to note that unlike the TV digital, there is no end date for the analogue radios and in fact new models are still being manufactured.

Why can’t you tell me the range?

The range on the radios is subject to so many conditions that it is impossible to be accurate in predicting the range. Terrain, building materials, state of the battery and even the weather will affect range. What we can say is that licence free radios have an output of 0.5w whereas the licensed radios have 4w or 5w outputs. This is reflected in the range achieved, higher power = greater range. If you are unsure, please contact us to explain what you’re trying to cover and we can try to assist you from there.

Can I have a trial?

In many circumstances we are able to offer some form of trial. The type will depend on your needs but the most common ways is either for us to meet with you or for you to have a short term free hire. A credit check and credit facility will need to be in place for this type of hire to happen.

What is the IP rating?

The IP rating is mentioned many times in the sales literature that you might read. It is typically shown as IP54 or IP67 etc. The first number is the dust protection level; the second number is the water proofing level. The numbers range from 1-8 with 8 meaning better protection. In radio we only really see 5-8 mentioned. So the higher the numbers you see, the better the protection level.

Purchase, Hire or Lease?

If you only have a short term requirement or want to include the cost of your radios in your business running costs long term then hiring is probably for you. If on the other hand you have the capital to purchase your radios outright then go for the purchase option. Finally, if you wish to own the radios in the long term but want to spread the payments then discuss leasing with us.

How will my radios be delivered?

In most cases we use a next day courier service to deliver your radios. If you wish to have a pre 12 delivery or a Saturday delivery, ask at the time of order. If you a purchasing smaller items such as earpieces or leather cases we may choose to use Royal Mail Recorded Delivery. In either case a signature will be required to acknowledge receipt of your goods.

More Questions?

These are only a brief answer to many of your common questions but we are of course happy to discuss anything in more detail. Please use the contact form or call us on 0800 542 7860.

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