There’s a reason why the walkie-talkie market is expected to reach $5.26 billion by 2026. For many people, this valuable piece of technology is just a children’s toy.
However, the reality is that thousands of industry professionals rely on this communication tool every day. Despite this fact, many people are still confused by the difference between a two-way radio and a walkie talkie.
This isn’t surprising, since the
difference between the two is fairly slight. But, we still think it’s important
for people to know more about it. That’s why we made this article. In it, we’ll
go over everything you need to know about walkie talkies and two-way radios.
Let’s get started!
What
Is A Walkie Talkie?
Before we go any further let’s clear
up some confusion about walkie talkies and two-way radios. All walkie talkies
are two-way radios, but not all two-way radios are walkie talkies. This might
not make sense, but we’ll clear it up.
A walkie talkie is a two-way radio
that is portable and handheld. The handheld receiver on the device allows you
to talk while you walk (hence the name, walkie talkie).
What
Is A Two-Way Radio?
As we mentioned, even walkie talkies
are technically two-way radios. However, there are a variety of other types of
two-way radios that aren’t portable. These are mobile two-way radios. They can
be mounted on the side of bases, vehicles, desks.
As we’ll see in the next section,
they’re also a good deal stronger than walkie talkies.
What
Is The Difference Between The Two?
At this point, we already know that
walkie talkies are portable and some other types of two-way radios aren’t. So,
what else is different about these two types of radios?
The other main difference is the way
that the radios receive and transmit their signals. There are two main ways of
receiving and transmitting: half-duplex mode and full-duplex mode.
With full-duplex mode, you’re able
to both send transmissions and receive them at the same time. The same goes for
half-duplex mode. But, the difference is that you can’t do them at the same
time. That’s why you’ll often see walkie talkie operators say over when they’re
finished speaking.
Walkie talkies work at half-duplex,
so the speaker needs to indicate that they’re done transmitting to receive a
message.
With a mobile two-way radio that
runs at full-duplex, you can speak more like a phone call since you’re both
transmitting and receiving at the same time.
The other difference is that
portable two-way radios often don’t have the same signal range and clarity that
stationary radios have. This is related to the watts needed to broadcast
farther and the frequency that they can broadcast at.
Pros
And Cons Of A Walkie Talkie
Now that we know the difference
between a two-way radio and a walkie talkie, we can discuss the various
advantages and disadvantages that come with each. Let’s start with the walkie
talkie. Remember, that when we talk about walkie talkie’s we’re referring to
portable, handheld radios.
Pro:
Affordable And Portable
If you’re on a budget, then you
might be better off going with walkie talkies. These types of radio are
typically much more affordable than stationary two-ways. What’s more, you can
typically save even more money by purchasing them in bulk.
And, of course, there’s the fact
that they’re portable. This makes them extremely ideal for certain projects
that require you to be on the move around the job site.
Pro:
Easy To Find And Use
Another benefit of walkie talkies is
that they’re easy to find. If you want a good two-way radio, then you’ll
typically need to shop from an expensive specialty store. But, you can likely
find a great walkie talkie at your local hardware store.
And, they’re not just easier to
find, they’re also easier to use. This is ideal if you have a large workforce
or group that you need to communicate with. It won’t require much training for
even the most technological-phobic person to learn how to operate it.
Con:
Limited Distance And Interference
Sadly, walkie talkies aren’t
perfect. For one thing, they have a limited distance that they can transmit and
receive. There is a strong model, but even the strongest won’t work at certain
distances.
And, distances aren’t the only thing
that can disrupt communication. Walkie talkies are also prone to interference.
This can come in the form of physical objects blocking the signal.
Or, it can come from other radios
operating in the area. Regardless, it leads to a lot of static and poor
connections. As such, it’s not ideal.
Con:
Security
Finally, there’s the security issue.
With walkie talkies, it’s possible for anyone tuning into your frequency to
listen to it. As such, you should make sure that you tell your team not to
divulge any information over the walkie talkies.
And, if you can’t operate without
talking about sensitive information, then you might require a more secure
portable communication method.
Pros
And Cons Of A Two-Way Radio
Now that we know more about the
benefits and drawbacks of a walkie talkie, we can move on to stationary two-way
radios. Remember, the radios we’re referring to in this section work at
half-duplex mode and are much stronger than walkie talkies.
Pro:
Instantly Broadcasts Messages
A mobile two-way radio will
broadcast your message almost instantaneously. What’s more, you can talk and
listen at the same time on these types of radios. That makes it much more
natural to communicate with whoever you’re talking to.
Pro:
Larger Range And Less Interference
As we mentioned before, walkie
talkies aren’t the most ideal radio for long-distance communication. Not only can
they broadcast at fewer watts (it eats up too much battery), but they’re also
susceptible to interference.
Luckily, the same isn’t true for
mobile two-way radios. Because they’re plugged in they can operate at a much
higher watt level. That means the signal is stronger.
It’s also not affected by physical
objects around it, as long as a solid antenna is being used too.
Con:
Requires A License
Unfortunately, some cons come with a
mobile two-way radio. First, in some cases, you need a license to operate a mobile
two-way radio. Specifically, if you’re using it for commercial purposes.
Because of this, it can be a lot
harder to train employees because they need a permit to operate it. If you want
to learn more about these types of permits, then check out this helpful guide.
Con:
More Expensive
Walkie talkies aren’t always cheap,
especially when you purchase them in bulk. But, a mobile radio, along with
appropriate transmitting gear, is going to be much more expensive than a walkie
talkie.
Not to mention the fact that you
will likely need to hire an installer to help you set it up. Plus, the ongoing
permit expenses. As such, they’re not ideal for all types of businesses. If
you’re on a budget, then consider walkie talkies over them.
Con:
They’re Not Portable
Mobile radios need to be fixed to a
location to function properly. Sadly, this significantly limits their mobility.
As such, this makes them a bad fit
for places like construction sites, combat training, and other situations that
require communication on the go. So, if you need a portable option, then go
with a walkie talkie.
Where
Is The Best Place To Purchase A Radio Solution?
Regardless of whether you want a
walkie talkie or a two-way radio you need a place to purchase them from. Now, if
you don’t care about quality, then you can go down to the nearest superstore
and purchase one.
But, what should you do if you need
a professional two-way radio solution for your communication needs? If you need
a recommendation, then you can’t go wrong with the pros at ECMI Wireless.
If you live in Florida, then you can
benefit from their widespread expertise in airtime solutions in the state. So,
make sure to click this link for more details.
Want
More Content? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you
learn more about the difference between a two-way radion and a walkie talkie.
As you can see, these two concepts are kind of like bourbon and whiskey. All
bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.
And like this popular drink, walkie
talkies and two-way radio are both useful pieces of technology that both serve
their purposes. So, if you think your job could benefit from radio
communication solutions, then start implementing them today.
Did you enjoy this article? If the answer is yes, then you’re in the right place. Keep exploring to find more content that you’re sure to love.
