What "Intrinsically Safe" Actually Means Here
An explosion needs three things in the same place at the same time: fuel, oxygen, and an ignition source. Aboard a vessel, you can't remove flammable vapour from a fuel bunkering line or oxygen from the air. The only variable left to control is the ignition source, and a standard electronic device is a genuine candidate for that role.
A normal handheld radio uses a battery, a speaker coil and switching circuits that can, under fault conditions, produce a spark or generate enough heat to ignite flammable vapour. An intrinsically safe radio is engineered from the circuit board up to limit the electrical and thermal energy it can ever release, even if a component fails, to a level too low to cause ignition.
The DT985FF-Atex carries ATEX II 2G Ex ib IIC T4 Gb certification, the "G" specifically denoting gas-atmosphere protection under the European ATEX directive, alongside MED/5.20 approval under the SOLAS firefighting equipment requirements for EU-flagged and SOLAS-regulated vessels. For a deeper technical breakdown of what these certifications cover and how MSL's Entel and Tait intrinsically safe lines compare, see our intrinsically safe radios Q&A.
Built for the Job: Certification and Durability
A spec sheet only tells half the story on safety-critical gear. Here's what the DT985FF-Atex's certifications actually deliver in practice.
Submersible Where It Counts
The IP68 rating on this radio certifies survival fully submerged in 2 metres of water for up to 4 hours, one of the highest submersible ratings in its category. For a fishing crew working the Bay of Plenty coast or a firefighting team responding to an onboard incident in heavy weather, that's not a marginal spec. It's the difference between a dropped radio being a non-event and a comms failure mid-response.
Built for Gloved Hands and Low Light
The high-contrast OLED display stays legible in bright sun or through smoke, and the ultra-tactile, high-torque buttons are designed to be operated with thick firefighting or HAZMAT gloves on. In an emergency, fumbling with tiny controls costs time you don't have.
Digital or Analogue, Your Call
The radio operates in both DMR digital and analogue modes on the UHF marine band, giving you the option of upgrading to digital's clearer audio and added features while staying interoperable with existing analogue fleets during a transition.
Who This Radio Is Actually For
Marketing copy for ATEX gear tends to wave at "hazardous industries" broadly. It's worth being specific about where the DT985FF-Atex genuinely fits.
Where It's the Right Choice
- Firefighting teams aboard commercial vessels needing SOLAS MED/5.20 compliant radio equipment
- Commercial fishing fleets and offshore support vessels operating around fuel bunkering areas and engine rooms
- Port operations and marine terminals with onboard gas-hazard zones
Where a Different Device Fits Better
- Onshore sites with combustible dust risk, such as grain silos or timber processing, need dust-rated ATEX equipment (a different category), not this gas-rated marine unit
- General industrial or mining sites without a specific SOLAS or marine gas-hazard requirement may be better matched to Entel's broader intrinsically safe range or an equivalent from Tait or Motorola, worth a conversation with our team before assuming this exact model is the fit
Getting this match right isn't pedantry, it's the difference between a radio that's actually certified for your risk and one that merely sounds like it is.
Getting the Setup Right
The radio itself is the core of the system, but the accessories around it decide how well it actually performs on shift.
- Noise-cancelling headsets for engine rooms and noisy deck environments, so instructions are heard the first time
- Remote speaker microphones that let the radio stay clipped to a harness while the user talks hands-free, useful when climbing or working in confined spaces
- Genuine Entel batteries and chargers only, since a non-approved battery can compromise the radio's intrinsically safe rating entirely, not a risk worth taking on safety-critical gear
We'll match the right accessory set to your vessel and crew rather than bundling generic extras that don't fit the job.
Buying, Hiring and Support from Mobile Systems
As Entel's representative in New Zealand, Mobile Systems Limited supplies the DT985FF-Atex programmed to your specific licensed frequencies and talk groups, not sold as a generic box.
Genuine Entel Supply
Official NZ representative status means genuine stock, accessories and warranty support.
Licensing Handled
We guide you through the RSM licensing your commercial UHF frequency requires.
Hire or Lease
For a short-term shutdown or project, hire gets you compliant gear without the capital outlay.
Ongoing Support
Firmware updates and repairs from our Mount Maunganui workshop keep your fleet running.
The DT985FF-Atex is available now at $2,236 NZD through our product page, or browse our full two-way radio range if a different model fits your risk profile better.
