Two-Way Radio – FAQs

Some radio frequencies require a licence for you to be able to legally transmit and receive on them. Licences are available in the UK through OFCOM to ensure you are covered to operate your radio within the law. We can arrange a licence for you, however, it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct licence in place for your frequency.

However, if you would prefer not to have a licence, you can purchase unlicensed walkie-talkie radios that you can use without the need for a licence.

To read more about UK business radio licensing, please refer to OFCOM.

If you would like us to arrange a licence on your behalf when buying a radio from us, or if you are unsure whether you need a licence, please call one of our support team on 01274 602504, or drop us a line on the contact form and we’ll call you back.

To make life easy for you, when you are hiring radios from us, you won’t need to worry about a licensing as we have that covered under our own business licence.

IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’. In basic terms it means that the higher the IP rating number the better protected against water and dust your product is.

IP ratings are given a two digit rating the first digit represents the dusts/solids protection and the second represents the water/liquid protection.

The dust protection rating is on a scale of 1 to 6. Products rated at the highest level 6 are considered completely protected against ingress of dust and solids for 2 to 8 hours.

The water protection rating is on a scale of 1 to 8. Products rated as a 7 can be fully submersed in shallow water for up to 30 minutes, an 8 rating extends that protection to deeper water, under pressure for longer periods (or completely submersible and waterproof).

For example a radio that has an IP67 rating would indicate a high level of protection from both water and solids making them a great product for use in industrial or outdoor settings.

See our full range of products offering waterproof and dust-proofing with IP67 & IP68

If you need a further level of protection to use a device in an explosive environment, you will need to look at ATEX standard radios to give you the protection you need.

DMR stands for digital mobile radio.

DMR is an open digital system meaning that radios of any brand can be configured to work together.

Within the DMR system there are 3 levels of operation, Tier l, Tier ll and Tier lll.

Tier l is for licence free radios on the PMR446 band.
Tier ll is used for licensed radios.
Tier lll offers trunking capability and allows data to be transmitted.

A common abbreviation you’ll hear in the world of two-way radios is PMR. But what does it mean?

It stands for Private Mobile Radio. It is the classification of professional two-way radios in the UK. A term used in USA is LMR (Land Mobile Radio).

You will also come across the term PMR446, this used to describe a type of radio that can be used without a licence. The 446 represents the UK radio frequency that licence free radios operate on.

Licence-free or walkie-talkies are a popular low cost choice for many businesses and private users.

Browse our full range of licence-free radios. 

ATEX certification is awarded to products that are in compliance with the EU directive for safe use of electrical items in explosive environments.

Our ATEX range of products fully comply with the safety features that ensure they meet the health and safety protection for worker in high risk explosive environments.

You will find ATEX two-way radios and ATEX accessories in our online store. We can also arrange for hire of  ATEX products when required.

Products marked with the ‘EX’ logo meet the ATEX safety standards.

More can be read about ATEX on the HSE’s website.

It is possible to have your radios programmed to whatever band you need, our team of technical specialists ensure your hired radios work just as you need them.

Speak to our hire specialists for more details on 01274 602504

We do have some PoC (Push to Talk Over Cellular) radios in our hire fleet, these are available on request.

Please speak to one of our hire specialists to discuss your needs on 01274 602504.

Read more about PoC Radios

We send out a printed hire guide document with all of hire packages, many of our customers find it useful when using radios for the first time or if they come up against any problems when setting up or using the radios.

If you need additional copies or if you would prefer to see it on your device, you can access it online too by clicking the link below.

Download the Hire Guide Document

Before you receive your hired radios, we’ll always check your understanding and support you every step of the way. We can do site installations for large complex set ups and we offer 24/7 telephone support if you are having any trouble.

For more information, you can contact our hire team on 0127460 2504.

We do have a full range of ATEX standard radios and accessories available to hire in our fleet.

Given the special usage of ATEX products, we’d prefer to speak to you about what you require. Please call us on 01274 602504 to discuss your needs.

Yes, and the chargers don’t add any additional fees.

Yes, we offer a complete delivery and installation service that can include total on-site support throughout your event. Particularly useful for larger, system based installations leaving your team/s free to do other things.

Our team will install all the necessary equipment and be available for complete technical support. Our team can also book out all your equipment using our bespoke asset management software on your behalf so you know exactly what equipment has been allocated to each member of your team.

Having worked in the event industry for many years our experience and technical knowledge is second to none and is seen as a valued addition for a large number of our clients.

If you would like any more information regarding on-site support options we will be happy to discuss your requirements.

Yes, depending on the size of your order you can either:

1. Have your order couriered to you
2. We will deliver your order
3. You can collect your order from us

Our standard courier service is next day before 12 noon Monday to Friday (weekend and before 10am deliveries can be arranged) for orders received before 12 noon the previous day. All orders have an address sticker for easy returns. We only use national, reputable and recognised courier services that operate throughout the UK.

Alternatively, larger or emergency orders can be delivered or collected by a member/s of our team and would quoted accordingly. Likewise, where a member/s of the Digitall Comms team are required for delivery and installation we will be happy to quote accordingly.

If you would prefer, you are more than welcome to collect your order directly from our UK office in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

You can contact Digitall Comms either by phone on 01274 602 504, using our contact form or by email info@digitall-comms.co.uk for an instant quotation.

It is helpful if you can consider how many radios you’ll need, where they’ll be used, and the dates you need them for.

The hire process is simple:

1. You tell us what you want
2. We send you an email quotation
3. We set you up an account
4. We arrange delivery

The range of walkie-talkie radios are dependent on objects between transmitting/receiving radios. But usually, in urban areas the range is from around 1 – 2 miles and 2 – 3 miles in rural areas.

If you need to communicate over a larger area, we can offer you repeater aerial to hire which will boost the signal to increase the coverage range.

If you want to transmit over wider areas, we can offer PoC (Push To Talk Over Cellular) radios to transmit over any distance using 2/3/4G signals and WIFI.

All of our hire packages are prepared individually to meet the customer’s needs. If you need some spare batteries, or some fist mics, we will be happy to oblige.

Speak to our hire experts on 01274 602504 if you want something specific catering for.

You do not need a licence, all equipment will be programmed to our existing licence prior to dispatch.

Yes. Analogue radios broadcasts as a continuous stream of electrical signals, which makes the transmissions easily interfered with by natural disturbances such as storms etc. But, analogue will still provide some kind of signal even when interfered with.

Digital radios don’t send a continuous signal. When a digital signal experiences interference, the entire signal is lost. However, when the signal is present it is easier to tune into than analogue. Also, digital radios can reduce background noise and have a larger range.

We build your hire package just for you, so your order will be dependent on your requirements. This will be discussed at your consultation.

The standard radio hire package includes, radio battery, antenna, belt clip, charger, licence (if required), earpiece and a quick start guide.

The minimum period of hire is one day. There is no maximum period, with the hire radios available for as long as you require. We do recommend that you review your equipment at least every two years to maintain full functionality.

Two-way radios often feature an emergency call button, these are usually red or orange and are often found in a prominent top location on the handset.

On pressing the emergency call button, the user can alert the base station, or another radio, depending on how the alarm is programmed, to an emergency situation without having to speak into the radio.

Radios with a display will show the identity of the unit making the emergency call so assistance can be with them quickly.

Some two-way radios issue a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal. GPS is a handy feature on radios that can help locate the radio in the event a user makes an emergency call or the Man Down alarm is triggered.

GPS provides an enhanced health and safety feature that many employees are now keen to embrace.

GPS is used with radio systems using dispatcher software, the dispatcher can see at a glance the location of all their workers from their GPS signal.

If you want to alert a worker in the event they enter a hazardous area, GPS can provide geo-fencing and alerts to ensure the safety of all.

The Lone Worker feature is a timed check-in call on a two-way radio to ensure the safety of anyone working alone. After a set period of inactivity, a warning is issued to the users handset for them to respond, failure to respond will trigger the pre-set alarm and alert the supervisor.

Man Down is a radio security feature that sounds a pre-programmed alarm in the event a radio stops moving for a set period of time or if it tilts at a set angle. The alarm can trigger a voice, bleep or message to the whole radio system, to a mobile phone or email, there are many ways to programme this to meet the needs of your own system set up.

The Man Down feature is useful if you have staff working in remote areas or away from base for long periods and provides a notification should they become injured, have fallen over or are unconscious – a must for any health & safety conscious organisation.

In the event the radio is left horizontal for a period of time, a warning is usually issued to the user and then the alarm is triggered.

IP stands for ‘Ingress Protection’. In basic terms it means that the higher the IP rating number the better protected against water and dust your product is.

IP ratings are given a two digit rating the first digit represents the dusts/solids protection and the second represents the water/liquid protection.

The dust protection rating is on a scale of 1 to 6. Products rated at the highest level 6 are considered completely protected against ingress of dust and solids for 2 to 8 hours.

The water protection rating is on a scale of 1 to 8. Products rated as a 7 can be fully submersed in shallow water for up to 30 minutes, an 8 rating extends that protection to deeper water, under pressure for longer periods (or completely submersible and waterproof).

For example a radio that has an IP67 rating would indicate a high level of protection from both water and solids making them a great product for use in industrial or outdoor settings.

See our full range of products offering waterproof and dust-proofing with IP67 & IP68

If you need a further level of protection to use a device in an explosive environment, you will need to look at ATEX standard radios to give you the protection you need.