Entel is a UK manufacturer with a narrow, deliberate focus: maritime, hazardous-area and heavy industrial communication, where a standard commercial radio isn't fit for purpose. Almost the entire range is IP68 submersible, and a large part of it is certified intrinsically safe. That focus brings a lot of near-identical model numbers, so this guide sorts them by what actually matters, marine certification, safety rating, band and network, so you can find the right radio without wading through spec sheets.
01
GMDSS marine, or general use?
Only the HT649 is MED and GMDSS approved. Everything else is a tough marine or land radio, not a GMDSS substitute.
02
Standard, or intrinsically safe?
ATEX/IECEx and UL913 are different certification systems. Confirm which one your site's zone classification requires.
03
VHF or UHF?
Set by your existing licence and coverage area, not preference. Radios on different bands can't talk to each other.
04
Licensed radio, or PoC?
The DN495 rides 4G or Wi-Fi instead of a licensed frequency, with no repeater network needed.
Marine VHF & GMDSS
Dedicated marine VHF handhelds, including MED and GMDSS approved survival craft radios for vessels with a carriage requirement.
MarineVHFUHFIntrinsically safe
| Model | Certification | Standout | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HT644 | Commercial marine | Tough, waterproof marine VHF handheld | Commercial fishing, ports, general marine use | from $476.00 |
| HT649 / HT649/P2 | MED / GMDSS | GMDSS survival craft radio for emergency and distress communication, Package 1 or 2 | Vessels with a GMDSS carriage requirement | from $1,269.32 |
GMDSS is a legal requirement, not a nice-to-have: if your vessel must carry GMDSS-compliant equipment, only the HT649 range meets that certification in Entel's line-up. The HT644 and the digital handhelds below are excellent marine radios, but they're not a substitute.
Standard Land & Marine Handhelds
IP68 submersible digital and analogue handhelds for general land and marine use, not intrinsically safe certified.
| Model | Band | Standout | Best For | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DX422 | VHF | 5W, IP68, DMR and analogue, Lone Worker and Man Down | General professional land or marine use | from $539.03 |
| DX425 | VHF | 5W submersible digital radio with display | Teams wanting on-screen channel info | from $683.93 |
| DX482 / DX482U | UHF | 4W submersible digital and analogue entry radio, upband version available | Budget-conscious land or marine UHF | from $539.03 |
| DX485 / DX485U/CB | UHF | Adds a display, upband CB version available | On-screen info at a similar price | from $683.93 |
| HT782M / HT783M | Marine UHF | Analogue marine UHF, the HT783M adds a display | Simple onboard UHF communication | from $622.10 |
| DX482M / DX485M | Marine UHF 450-470MHz | 2W digital and analogue marine versions of the DX482/DX485 | Onboard UHF alongside a marine VHF set | from $627.90 |
IP68 is a step above IP67: IP67 means surviving 1m of water for 30 minutes. Entel's IP68 handhelds are rated for 2m for up to 4 hours, built for decks, wash-downs and heavy outdoor work.
Submersible DMR Handhelds
Entel's DT-series DMR Tier II digital and analogue radios, organised by series, power and control tier.
| Series | Power | VHF 136-174MHz | UHF 400-470MHz | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT500 Entry | 4W | DT522 | DT582 | from $1,935.86 |
| DT500 Display | 4W | DT525 | DT585 | from $2,105.88 |
| DT800 Entry | 4W | DT822 | DT882 | from $1,935.86 |
| DT800 Display | 4W | DT825 | DT885 | from $2,105.88 |
| DT900 Entry | 1W | DT922 | DT982 | from $2,069.17 |
| DT900 Display | 1W | DT925 | DT985 | from $2,239.19 |
Ladder logic: pick the power first. 4W suits larger sites and marine work, 1W suits compact, close-range coordination. Within each series, Entry models keep it to straightforward voice and Display models add an on-screen readout for channel and status.
Intrinsically Safe: ATEX & UL913
Entel's certified hazardous-area radios, built so no internal component can create enough energy to ignite flammable gases, vapours or dust.
| Model | Certification | Band & Power | Standout | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DT842-Atex / DT942-Atex | ATEX | Marine VHF, 3.9W / 1W | Analogue marine handheld for hazardous zones | from $1,935.86 |
| DT844-Atex / DT944-Atex | ATEX | Marine VHF | Analogue marine handheld for hazardous zones | from $2,105.88 |
| DT882M-Atex / DT982M-Atex | ATEX | Marine UHF, 2W / 1W | Digital and analogue marine radio | from $1,935.86 |
| DT885M-Atex / DT985M-Atex | ATEX | Marine UHF, 2W / 1W | Digital and analogue with display | from $2,105.88 |
| DT885FF-Atex / DT985FF-Atex / DT944FF-Atex | ATEX | UHF or VHF | Fire-fighter radios, clear audio with gloves on or in water | from $2,224.70 |
| DX542-IS / DX544-IS | UL913 | Marine VHF | US-standard intrinsically safe marine VHF | from $848.15 |
| DX582M-IS / DX585M-IS | Intrinsically safe | Marine UHF 450-470MHz, 4W | Higher-power IS marine UHF | from $925.43 |
ATEX/IECEx and UL913 aren't interchangeable: they're separate certification systems used in different jurisdictions and industries. Confirm which certification your site's hazardous-area classification requires before ordering. It isn't a spec to guess at, and we're happy to check it against your zone with you.
PoC & Infrastructure
Broadband push-to-talk for wide-area teams, plus the repeater that extends an Entel UHF network.
No spectrum licence for the DN495: it runs over the cellular network, so unlike every other Entel radio here there's no licensed frequency to arrange. Coverage depends on cellular signal, worth factoring in for genuinely remote sites.
Why Order Entel Through MSL
Entel's strength is certification, and getting that right matters. We help you match the radio to your vessel's carriage requirements or your site's zone classification, then program it to your channel plan in our Mount Maunganui workshop before it goes out.
We install and support directly across the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Rotorua, Taupō and Waikato. Outside that area, we coordinate with trusted installers nationwide, or supply a fully configured radio ready to use.
We're brand-independent. We stock and support Entel alongside Tait, Motorola, Hytera, Icom and GME, so our recommendation is built around what suits your operation, not what's easiest to sell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Entel radios need a licence in New Zealand?
Entel's VHF and UHF radios do need a licence. They run on licensed frequencies through Radio Spectrum Management, and marine VHF users also need an operator certificate. The DN495 is the exception, it runs over the cellular network and doesn't need one. We can arrange licensing as part of the job.
Can Entel radios work alongside our existing Motorola or Tait fleet?
Entel's DMR and analogue radios can be programmed to work alongside other brands' DMR or analogue radios, so you can introduce Entel gradually. Confirm compatibility for your specific models before mixing brands on one network.
Which Entel models are intrinsically safe?
The models marked ATEX, Atex, IS or UL913 are the intrinsically safe range, built for fuel depots, offshore rigs, chemical plants and hazardous marine zones. ATEX/IECEx and UL913 are separate systems, so confirm which your site requires before ordering.
Does Entel offer a radio that meets GMDSS requirements?
The HT649 range is Entel's MED and GMDSS approved option, available as Package 1 or Package 2. Entel's other marine handhelds, including the HT644 and the digital range, don't carry GMDSS certification.
How waterproof are Entel radios?
Most of Entel's marine and industrial handhelds are rated IP68, for submersion in 2m of water for up to 4 hours. That's a meaningfully higher standard than IP67, which covers 1m for 30 minutes.
Not sure which one fits?
Tell us the vessel, the site and the certification you need, and we'll match the Entel model to it.
Shop Entel Two-Way Radios
View all 41 products
Entel DT885 Submersible 400-470MHz 4W DMR Display Radio
$2,105.88 NZD
($1,831.20 exc GST)
Entel DT585 Submersible 400-470MHz 4W DMR Display Radio
$2,105.88 NZD
($1,831.20 exc GST)
Entel DX485 Submersible 400-470MHz 4W Digital Radio
$683.93 NZD
($594.72 exc GST)
Entel DT825 Submersible 136-174MHz 4W DMR Display Radio
$2,105.88 NZD
($1,831.20 exc GST)
Entel DX482 Submersible 400-470MHz 4W Digital Radio
$539.03 NZD
($468.72 exc GST)
Entel DN495 Handheld Land PoC Radio
$1,136.98 NZD
($988.68 exc GST)
Entel HT644 Handheld Marine VHF Radio
$476.00 NZD
($413.91 exc GST)
Entel DT985 Submersible 400-470MHz 1W DMR Display Radio
$2,239.19 NZD
($1,947.12 exc GST)