What's the difference between VHF and UHF radios?

VHF (30-300 MHz, with the New Zealand business band sitting at 136-174 MHz) travels further over open, clear terrain such as farmland, water, or flat ground. UHF (300 MHz-3 GHz, with the NZ business band at 400-470 MHz) handles obstructions like buildings, trees, and hilly terrain better. If your team works across a mix of open and built-up or forested ground, talk to us about a setup that covers both.

What range will a portable two-way radio give me?

A typical 1-2 watt portable radio gives useful coverage of around 1 km in built-up areas and 2 km or more outdoors with no obstacles. A 5 watt radio in good, open conditions can reach up to 15 km. Real-world range always depends on terrain, obstructions, and antenna quality, so we always recommend a site assessment before committing to a setup if range is critical to the job.

How do I get more range than a standard handheld gives me?

Three options, in order of cost: fit a better antenna on the handheld (a telescoping or higher-gain antenna extends range noticeably), install an external antenna at a fixed end of the link, or add a repeater. A well-placed repeater on high ground can extend coverage from a couple of kilometres to well over 100 km in the right conditions.

What is a repeater, and do I need one?

A repeater receives a radio signal and re-transmits it at higher power from a fixed, elevated location, extending coverage well beyond handheld-to-handheld range. If your team regularly drops out across hilly terrain, dense forestry, or a large site, a repeater is usually the fix. We offer fixed and solar-powered repeater options depending on your site.

Why use a two-way radio instead of a cellphone?

Radios connect instantly with a single push of the talk button, no dialling, no waiting for a connection. They also let several people share one channel at once, so everyone hears every call without setting up a group call. For short-range, frequent, team-wide communication, radios are simply faster and cheaper to run than cellular.

How much transmit power do I actually need?

Use the least power necessary for the job; it reduces battery drain and interference with other nearby users. Portable radios typically run 1-5 watts. Vehicle-mounted (mobile) radios typically run 5-50 watts, occasionally up to 100 watts for specialist applications. We size this to your actual coverage need, not the other way around.

What is a trunked radio system, and do I need one?

A trunked system automatically allocates an available channel to each call rather than locking users to one fixed channel, giving better spectrum efficiency, more call privacy, and resilience if one repeater goes down. Trunked systems suit larger fleets and high call-volume operations. Smaller teams are usually well served by a conventional repeater setup instead.

What is Lone Worker safety on a radio?

Lone Worker is a built-in safety feature on many portable radios. If the radio detects no activity within a set period, it triggers an audible alert and can send an emergency status message automatically. It's a simple, effective safeguard for anyone working solo in remote or hazardous environments, from forestry crews to facilities staff doing after-hours rounds.

How long does a two-way radio battery last?

Most radio batteries last around 8 hours per shift under normal use. Manufacturers typically base this on a 5-5-90 duty cycle: 5% transmitting, 5% receiving, 90% on standby. Heavy talkers will see shorter battery life, while light users can often stretch a battery through a full day.

What's the difference between a walkie talkie and a two-way radio?

In practice, "walkie talkie" and "two-way radio" describe the same basic technology; the difference is usually in build quality, power output, and intended use. Consumer walkie talkies are typically lower power and built for casual or short-term use. Commercial two-way radios are built tougher, run higher power, and support features like repeaters, encryption, and Lone Worker safety that consumer models don't offer.

Do I need a licence to operate a two-way radio in New Zealand?

Most commercial two-way radio frequencies require a licence through Radio Spectrum Management (RSM). PRS (UHF CB) channels are licence-exempt for general use. We handle the full licensing process for clients as part of a new system install, including frequency selection and coverage planning.

Can you program or reprogram my existing radios?

Yes. We can reprogram radios for new channels, frequencies, or features regardless of where they were originally purchased. If you don't have your existing programming details on file, we can usually read them directly from one of your current radios.