Personal Radio Services are low-power, short-range communication via two-way radio devices, and include CB, FRS, GMRS, IPRS, and MURS Services. These services may utilize both one and two-way radio transmissions that operate equipment by remote control and data transmission.

For the most part personal radio services do not use transmission towers or other similar equipment to operate. Personal radio services that have very high frequency, and ultra high frequency radio spectrum experience far less static and other disturbances compared with basic walkie-talkies.

There are many different types of personal radio services. The most popular types include Citizens Band Radio Service (CB), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS), Low-Power Radio Service (LPRS), and Family Radio Service (FRS).

Here is a closer look at these types of personal radio services.

Family Radio Service (FRS)

The FRS allows for short-distance (usually under one-half mile) two-way communication. FRS units are very comparable to the look and functionality of a walkie-talkie. Unless you have a GMRS license you may only use FRS channels to communicate. Your unit label or operations manual should detail the service it is approved for. FRS-only units have antennas and give off lower power levels.

Citizens Band Radio Service (CB)

CB service offers private two-way radio communication for both business and personal use. You can’t communicate using this system to any stations located over 155.3 miles (or 250 km) in distance. There are maximum power levels authorized for use, these levels fluctuate depending if the transmitting station is operating on a single side band (SSB) or an AM signal. AM transmissions are only approved for up to 4 watts of power while the SSB transmissions are approved for up to 12 watts of Peak Envelope Power (PEP).

In the United States all CBs must be certified with the FCC and the manufacturer must properly label units as such.

No CB channel is assigned to one individual, meaning the 40 lines of communication are shared on a “take-turns” basis. In order to keep the system flowing no user can talk for 5 or more consecutive minutes at one time. Users must also wait one minute after ending a conversation before initiating another conversation.

It is illegal to modify CB units internally through the attachment of a power amplifier or any other way of increasing power output.

General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS)

GMRS is a land-mobile radio service used for two-way communications over shorter distances. You need a license from the FCC to operate a GMRS system. The system includes station operators and a mobile station with one or more mobile units. One or more land stations may also be included; land stations may operate as repeaters that extend range capabilities. GMRS units often include detachable antennas and transmit at higher powers.

New GMRS licenses are only granted to individuals. If your business was granted a license for use prior to July 31, 1987 you are eligible for renewal so long as you meet certain conditions. Filing fees are set annually and currently total $85. A filling guide is available here: (Reference)

Low Power Radio Service (LPRS)

LPRS offers a one-way, private form of communication that operates across short distances. It allows stations to transmit voice data or signals for auditory assistance serving people with certain disabilities. It is very common for law enforcement and health-care professionals to use LPRS to communicate. LPRS is also used for network control communications in the Automated Marine Telecommunications System (AMTS).

Multi-Use Radio Service (MURS)

MURS is a two-way short-distance private form of radio communication capable of transmitting voice or data. It is used for both personal and business operations. This service includes 5 channels; all of which are Very High Frequency (VHF).

There are rules and regulations regarding the use of these 5 channels in order to reduce interference when using the lines. All users are given the same rules and priorities when using MURS. It is illegal to operate a MURS station as a repeater station; this includes store-and-forward packet radio operation as well as a signal booster.

The maximum output power you can legally use for a MURS unit is 2 watts. The unit’s antenna size, as well as local terrain and weather will impact transmission range for two-way radios.

Operating Radios Without A License

The licensing laws regarding Personal Radio Services are instituted for a reason and must be followed. If you use a radio for unauthorized purposes or do not secure the correct licensing you are subject to fines and possibly even imprisonment. All of your equipment may also be confiscated. 

How To Contact The FCC

If you need to contact the FCC regarding licensing or any other related matters you may contact them by phone at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322).

You may also contact them by mail at the following address:

Federal Communications Commission

Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division

445 12th Street, S.W.

Washington, DC 20554

For the best deals on two-way radios and related services contact Highland Wireless today! 

Two-way radios are key to communication and survival during an emergency, but are your radios ready for use when the time comes? There are 7 questions you can ask yourself to find out if your emergency radios are ready to perform.

Even when phones let you down a two-way radio will continue to operate with efficiency. The number one time cell phones tend to go out of service is during an emergency because so many people are trying to access the same line at the same time. Also, certain types of emergencies such as a storm or other natural disaster may cause phone lines to go down all together. Even if an entire town is in shambles a two-way radio will continue to operate for effective communication.

If you use two-way radios on a regular basis you are more likely familiar with how to ensure radios are ready when needed. On the other hand, if you only plan to use radios during an emergency there are things you need to be aware of so that your radios actually work when the time comes to use them. 

Here are 7 questions to ask yourself to know if your emergency two-way radios are prepared for use.

1. Do You Know How To Use The Radio?

This might seem self-explanatory and a no-brainer but you might be surprised how many people have two-way radios for emergencies but don’t take the time to really learn how to use them. Keeping your radios stored away with the non-perishable food you plan to eat during an emergency is not recommended. Not only do radios need to be charged, but they also need a knowledgeable operator. It’s not hard to use a two-way radio, but a little practice to test out your skills will help ensure you know just what to do.

2. Have You Tested Your Radios In The Location You Plan To Use?

Always test out radios for emergencies in your immediate location to ensure nothing interferes with signal. If you wait until the last moment to check reception you may end up with a non-responsive device, which could have been identified and solved prior to an emergency.

3. Do You Have The Appropriate License?

There are certain walkie-talkies you can buy just about anywhere that operate over shared lines of communication and do not require a license. In an emergency these lines could be harder to access, as many amateur radio users will be using them. This is still beneficial because you can tune in and see what is going on, but it might not grant you the chance to communicate outward. General Mobile Radio Service will cost you $85 every five-years and provides access to communication lines with less possibility of interference.

4. Do You Test Emergency Two-Way Radios Frequently?

It is recommended that you test two-way radios at least once a month to ensure they are properly working. If a problem arises with a particular device you don’t want to wait until an emergency arrives to find out.

5. Do You Also Have An AM/FM Radio? 

Having a basic AM/FM radio is a great tool in any emergency. Local news is the most important news during an emergency. Knowing what is going on in your local area offers peace of mind, direction and helps formulate a game plan of action. Make sure to store plenty of spare batteries so that your AM/FM radio is guaranteed to work.

6. Do You Have A Plan Of Action That Everyone Knows?

A home or business emergency plan of action needs to be clear and very well known between everyone involved. Post your emergency plan on a wall somewhere convenient for people to locate and see on a regular basis. Every so often go over the plan with everyone to keep people in the loop about what to do in an emergency. It’s always helpful to have some back up plans too. Oh, and make sure everyone knows how to operate a two-way radio.

7. Have You Joined Your Local Radio Community?

Uncover your local radio community and join for greater access to other locals during an emergency. (Reference)

Benefits Of Two Way Radio In Emergency

There are so many benefits to a two-way radio during an emergency. Many instances throughout recent history have caused cell phone communication to dwindle or disappear all together. For instance, snowstorms in 2007 that ravaged all the way from Kansas to Georgia caused power grids to go out for days. As a result both cell phones and even computers become unusable for communication. Two-way radios are often the only form of communication available during an emergency.

No one wants to be isolated or in the dark during an emergency. Communication can be the difference between life and death.

For the latest emergency two-way radios contact Highland Wireless today!

Are you planning a big party or event of some kind? If so, two-way radio rentals will make your event go as planned by preventing a number of common instances from getting out of hand. Weddings, kid parties, a charity night or sporting event can all be greatly benefited by two-way radios. Businesses and professional event planners always make sure to have two-way radios on hand when hosting an event, but even if party planning isn’t your day job affordable two-way radios are still accessible. You don’t have to buy 2-way radios; instead you can rent as many radios as you need for even just one single event.

Two-way radio rentals are extremely popular because it offers anyone the opportunity to utilize this professional tool and run a smoother event. When you take storage, maintenance and initial cost into consideration it doesn’t make financial sense to buy a bunch of radios for one or two events. Renting radios is an affordable way to use the reliable technology without having to make a large purchase.

The following 5 benefits of two-way radio rentals for an event will have you saying ‘I do’ to radios for your next event!

Prevent Security Concerns

The number one goal when putting on a public or private event is to keep everyone in attendance safe. In order to keep everyone safe coordination is a must, which can get challenging when you have a lot of people and things going on all at once. Coordination all comes down to communication. Making sure the right people are notified of pressing information as it comes in will help reduce security concerns. Plus, since two-way radios operate on a closed network it keeps privacy secure and prevents others from hogging up a line right when you need to use it.

Always Reliable

Cell phones are obviously popular devices for communication but they aren’t always reliable when running an event. For one, it’s more work to place a call on a mobile device as opposed to talking directly over a radio line. Also, cell phones commonly malfunction due to dead spots, location, interference, or too many people trying to use phone lines all at once. Two-way radios offer far more reliability you can count on during an event, guaranteeing the right people receive the right messages at the speed of light, no matter what.

Cost Savings

Constant communication translates to more money in your pocket. According to Sorin Smalley two-way radios helped the University of Tennessee save money on a recent event held for 12,000 high school students.  Thanks to two-way radios, “We were able to reduce the number of drivers and vehicles we used by 31 percent, while serving the same number of participants.” (Read More)

Knowing how much you need of something at an event can be tricky, but not so much if you have constant communication between all involved parties.  Discussing what’s going on in real-time always prevents miscalculations that could otherwise break the bank.

Run A Smoother Event

At an event everything needs to take place at just the right time to be considered perfect. For instance, you don’t want the bride to start walking down the aisle at her wedding before the Groomsmen have already lined up. Two-way radios allow event coordinators on opposite sides of a party to coordinate, ensuring the most precious moments occur at the spot-on perfect time. Food needs to come out at the right time and the DJ needs to know when to announce a particular event on the dance floor, the needs for communication throughout any event are far spread. Two-way radios prevent a well-planned event from looking like a poorly planned chaotic mess.

Keep Guests Moving In The Right Direction

If your event is held outside two-way radios will allow coordinators to communicate about any bad weather that suddenly arises. As a result, people can be efficiently guided in the right direction no matter what Mother Nature throws your way. Also, a packed event can lead to overcrowded areas that need to be dispersed. Using two-way radios to discuss options and plans can change an unenjoyable event into a comfortable and fun event for all guests. 

Renting Two-Way Radios

Two-way radio rentals will offer countless benefits for very little cost. You can pick the type of radio you rent based upon your needs, plus all rental radios come with chargers and you can add on any accessories you require. This is a safer option than say for instance buying used radios from someone on Craigslist. When you rent radios from us you know they are going to work and serve their intended purpose.

Highland Wireless offers two-way radio rentals at unbelievable prices. Contact us today and put on the event of a lifetime!

From the playground to the school bus, the benefits of two-way radios are utilized by many school systems to keep things in order. All thanks to the benefits they provide, like safety and security for students and staff. Two-way radios are used from the start of the day when traffic requires directing to the end of the day when the school traffic returns, and it’s not just traffic.

Throughout the entire school day two-way radios serve an assortment of purposes on campuses all around the nation. Daycare centers, elementary schools, high schools and even colleges rely on two-way radio technology. There are so many benefits to two-way radios for schools; here are 4 of the most important of all.

1. Directing School Traffic Made Easy

School traffic is a staple in life. Everyone arrives around the same time making campus parking lots and adjoining streets unavoidably congested. It’s not just automobiles that need to be properly directed; at the start and end of any school day there are plenty of pedestrians out on the street as well, largely including kids. Campus traffic directors must keep everyone moving in the right direction while also looking out for the safety of often-unpredictable kids.

Two-way radios help make communication easier amongst traffic directors so that everything flows smoother. There’s no way to direct several intersections of traffic without multiple people on guard, all of which need to communicate in order to prevent injury or accident. The benefits of two-way radios help to reduce the risk for error, and help speed up the pick-up and drop-off process.  If there is an issue out on the road two-way radios offer a quick way to contact a teacher, staff or school nurse without leaving the job at hand.

2. Keep Classrooms Safe

Schools and two-way radios have long since gone together, but there is a new trend in how they are being used. More schools are starting to equip each classroom with two-way radios so that teachers have access to a broad communication system in the instance of an emergency. School emergencies are not everyday occurrences but they do happen. If a classroom is put on lock down, or if a storm or tornado blows into town, individual teachers need reliable communication to protect their classroom of kids. Equipping all staff with two-way radios offers the perfect way to quickly get in touch with everyone at one time, something no phone system can offer.

3. School Bus Communication

School bus drivers also rely on two-way radios to communicate with school officials as well as other drivers. Take off and arrival time, traffic issues or problems with a particular student on board the bus can all be communicated to the appropriate personnel via two-way radio. Kids don’t just take the bus to and from school. Buses are also used for field trips and other school-related events as well. Having some form of quick and easy communication is a must no matter where a bus full of school kids is headed. According to the official Bus Driver Handbook, a number of things must be reported immediately using a two-way radio, such as if you are running 15 or more minutes behind schedule.

A common issue arises when buses exit the service area provided by a certain radio range. As a result, the radio will no longer work to communicate with appropriate parties. Our Wide Area coverage offers the perfect solution by providing 300-miles of two-way radio service stretching from Jacksonville to Florida Keys.

4. Enhanced Campus Security

Every campus has a number of hallway monitors and other security personal on staff to ensure safety. There are many instances when a two-way radio comes in handy, for example if a student is caught attempting to ditch or engage in other bad behavior, or if there is an unknown intruder on campus.

Schools tend to be on the larger-side but two-way radios help make any campus feel smaller by making instant communication with anyone possible. Two-way radios have remained the go-to tool schools use to communicate between different departments spread throughout the same campus.

The Best Two-Way Radios For Schools

What is the best two-way radio for your school? If you only need to communicate on campus a low-range two-way radio may do the job. If the same radio system is used for buses traveling greater distances our Wide Area Network “Florida Fleet Talk” might be the better option, expanding your communication zone by hundreds of miles. Single channel radios may work in some situations, but if more than one group needs talk capabilities (which most schools do) a multi-channel model is your best bet.

Highland Wireless offers a number of the best Kenwood radios and Motorola radios for schools. Our wide area network Florida Fleet Talk spans from Jacksonville down to the Keys. Contact us today to set your school up for communication success!

There are countless accessories available for two-way radios, including earpieces and microphones that greatly enhance communication. Many different people use two-way radios for many different purposes, which is why radio accessories are so important.

Many job sites constrict the use of hands to communicate, which is where a highly functional and comfortable earpiece can really come in handy. Also, if you are on the radio throughout the day it is uncomfortable to constantly hold up a radio, and once again a radio earpiece will make your life easier.

All that being said, there are so many earpieces for two-way radios available it can be tricky to find the best one for you. Here are some tips and recommendations to help you find the best earpiece for your needs.

Motorola Radio Earpieces

Motorola makes some of the best two-way radio earpieces on the market. They have full headsets that cover the entire ear, and they also have more minimal headsets that fit inside of ears. Some headsets have cords and others are wireless, some are sleek and others more invasive. There are so many options it can start to get a little overwhelming when trying to pick the best out of the bunch.

Kenwood Radio Earpieces

Kenwood also makes a great assortment of high quality radio earpieces compatible with their most popular devices. Just like Motorola, Kenwood earpieces offer unlimited options in terms of comfort and convenience, ranging to include full ear coverage to more discreet earpieces. Cordless and cord options are both available, depending if your radio has Bluetooth capabilities or not.

When it comes to finding the best Kenwood and Motorola radio earpieces it’s best to talk with your team members and show them all of their options. You want everyone to be happy with the final selection so that it is put to good use.

Bluetooth Radio Earpieces
Does you fleet of radios include Bluetooth technology? If so you will not need an earpiece that comes with a cord to connect to the radio. Instead you can go for a wireless option. Having no cords in the way throughout the day can make things easier, but it can also complicate things because people may forget to bring along their radio (if it is not attached to their person). This is counterproductive because Bluetooth will cease to work if separated from the radio by too much distance.

Talking to your team about the applied use of radios throughout the day can help you decide on Bluetooth vs. corded options.

What If I Am Renting Two-Way Radios?
You always have the option to rent or buy a radio system. If you are renting you may not want to purchase accessories. In this case, you can actually rent accessories to go along with your radios.

Questions To Ask When Considering The Best Two-Way Radio Earpiece

-How often are radios used to communicate throughout the day, all of the time, sometimes?
People may not want to wear a headset throughout the entire day if radios are only used sometimes. On the other hand, if radios are used all of the time people are more prone to wearing the headset and forgetting about it because they are constantly in need of it.

-What is most comfortable for you and your team to wear?
Different people have different preferences when it comes to comfort regarding wearing an earpiece. Employee comfort is adamant to keep productivity and moral high. This is why it’s important to ask your team to define their preferences or take a group vote. This is especially helpful if everyone is given the opportunity to try on different model earpieces. People don’t always know what type of earpiece is most comfortable until they try out a few options. In most cases different earpiece models are compatible, allowing people to wear the earpiece that is most comfortable to them while still enjoying smooth communication across all channels.

-Do you need a microphone too, or just an earpiece?
If team members only need to hear messages and not respond you may only need an earpiece and not a microphone. Most earpieces do come with microphone attached for two-sided conversations.

-Are radios mounted to vehicles or individuals?
If radios are mounted to something (such as a car, wall or individual’s belt) Bluetooth is an excellent option. This grants greater range of movement while still remaining connected. If radios are free floating Bluetooth may become complicated because both the earpiece and radio must be kept in close contact throughout the day. Corded earpieces are also complicated by unsecured radios. Regardless if you use Bluetooth or corded earpieces it’s wise to consider investing in clips for radios that attach to belts, other pieces of clothing, or something else always nearby.

For all of your two-way radio needs contact the leading industry professionals at Highland Wireless. We provide radio repairs, radio services, two-way radio rentals and sales.