When your school or district is making a plan for school security and communication, start by describing and documenting your context: What is working already? What could work better? What are you and other stakeholders most worried about?

Listening for Possibility

For education leaders looking to improve communications and safety, it’s important to envision what communication could be like in the district. Where is the district today, and where do you envision it going?

Do you just want communications in one school, or multiple schools? 

Do you want a way to alert everyone, districtwide, in case of an emergency?

Who has two‑way radios? And who needs them? What are the physical constraints of their buildings and spaces?

How does the school or district want to deal with buses? For example, we can use two‑way radios to communicate with buses, and we can also set up tracking software for buses so somebody can monitor the buses. But this becomes challenging if your school doesn’t run its own bus system and has it contracted out to a bus company. Bus companies have their own radios, systems, and frequencies. It’s still possible to connect them, but a larger budget is needed to accomplish that.

What hardly anyone wants is the status quo.

Piecemeal Communications

It is not unusual for a school campus to have multiple buildings, and a bus transportation system that runs for miles. Personnel communicate via antiquated two‑way radio equipment, or they have jury‑rigged a system using different equipment from various providers. It’s common to start by trying to use what you already have.

To make improvements, investment is going to be needed in updated equipment. So it’s important to pay close attention to the way school boards and school budgeting work in your district. Imagine if you were the one trying to make the case for investing in a truly integrated state‑of‑the‑art communications system, and write that rationale down as a starting point.

School safety needs to be a top priority. In a perfect world, if money wasn’t an issue, what would your communications system look like?

It is possible to have eyes and ears on every bus, for example. And teachers can have small two‑way radios to communicate instantly in case of an emergency in the classroom. Innovations like these can be overlooked if the initial assessment is based on what already exists, rather than what is possible.

Gather the Stakeholders

Another issue that comes up for schools is that multiple people are involved in making communications decisions, and using communications equipment in schools: security people, directors, administrators, custodial staff, bus drivers. It’s a challenge to determine who actually needs to be involved in the optimal communications system.

Who are the important decision makers who are responsible for purchasing and justifying the expenditure for up‑to‑date communications equipment?

You know the phrase “You get what you pay for”? When it comes to talking about the price of upgrades, one problem is that people are used to seeing prices that they see online for substandard radios — $89 “throwaways.” Those may be fine for camping, but they’re not secure and they have limited range. 

Cheap radios don’t have the kind of functionality you need for an emergency, or GPS tracking, or any of the crucial features that schools need these days. 

Make the Case for Improvement

When it comes to school communications, the failures are the headlines. We all know — and try to erase from our minds — the stories of chaos that ensues when an intruder enters a school or a student brings a gun to school and harms students and teachers. 

Absolutely no one wants to be that school. As a school leader, you read the news every day. If you know you have a problem with your communications system, wanting to fix the problem is top of mind. But these concerns can get lost in the day‑to‑day of operating schools — especially with the additional challenges of the pandemic.

And these concerns can be hard to address because doing so means facing the school board or the district administration to getting them to understand the need to allocate the money. But you can successfully advocate for a school communications system by demonstrating success in similar projects, and by introducing a plan to be implemented over time. 

Demonstrate Success

School districts vary in size, and Illinois has some giant districts. For example, the state’s second‑largest district, School District 214, covers 62 square miles, has 7 campuses, and serves close to 13,000 students. That’s like a small city!

Even in smaller districts, it’s helpful to show what a large district with multiple challenges is doing to address safety and coverage. 

In this case study, you can see how a school district upgraded their communications system. They went from using antiquated two‑way radios from the 1950s and repeaters from the 1960s to a system that uses MOTOTRBO Capacity Plus, which uses advanced repeater software to allow coverage over a wide area.

The district’s entire fleet, including buses and driver’s ed cars, is linked by GPS through NeoTerra, which reports each vehicle’s location every 30 seconds.

And they have Motorola’s WAVE technology, allowing radios, cellphones, desktops, and landlines to use push‑to‑talk (PTT) capabilities.

It’s important to note that Chicago Communications helped them build this system over years. The school district started with the basics, got comfortable with the technology, and kept adding until they were satisfied that they could react instantly in case of an emergency and reach everyone who needed to act, no matter where they were on campus.

“The way that it’s changed the most is having a sense of safety and security in our ability to communicate,” says Kate Kraft, director of one of the district’s schools. 

That’s exactly what we like to hear.

Scalable, Custom Solutions

Teachers may be resistant to the idea of two‑way radios. They’re thinking of the sturdy, bulky radios like the ones maintenance people need; they need to work even if they drop them while they’re out plowing snow, salting, or working in a dusty basement. But these days, radios come in all shapes and sizes. 

Teachers usually need a small radio, a basic radio that’s very light that they can put in a pocket or a purse and be able to use when they need it.

In most school communications systems, there are some radios that are inexpensive and others that are expensive — size and cost can be adjusted based on needs. It can take a sizable budget to do a full upgrade for school communications. And not every district is ready for that. 

But when a district is ready to start the process, they can start small and scale up as they go along. It’s good to know the end game — the optimal system — but often it all starts with getting two‑way radios into more hands.

The post Designing a School Communications System for Our Children’s Future appeared first on .

Two-way radios are meant to provide a simple, reliable way to communicate without the need for satellites or towers. However, not all of these handy devices offer a good range, quality and other desirable features.

As a prepper, you need a radio that promises not to fail when the emergency strikes. Anything can trigger the survival mode when you are on your adventure. You definitely don’t want something that lets you down at such a critical time.

One of the most popular choices for two-way radios is Midland GXT1000VP4 which comes with a boom style headset that fits inside a helmet. In this post, we take a closer look at this device and compare it with other models to see what you can expect from it. 

» Click for Current Pricing, Pictures & Amazon Reviews

Midland GXT1000VP4 Review – UPDATED 2020

It has been designed to be one of the most powerful and reliable walkie talkies on the market. The Midland GXT1000VP4 is loaded with lots of options and outstanding features.

It provides dependable push button communication in case of emergencies. The radio features:

• 22 Channels
• 28 Pre-programmed privacy channels
• Multiple power settings
• Silent operation

Design

The radio has a durable, professional-looking design. It is made out of high grade plastic. The belt clip also has a plastic construction and a metal hinge with a spring. The buttons are large, rubberized and easy to use – even with gloves. The ports for a microphone and headset are also covered with a rubber cap that stay in place. This helps avoid any moisture and dust entering into the radio.

The Midland GXT1000VP4 is weather-resistant and has a waterproofing rating. It can be used in rainy weather without need for any concern. It also does not get affected by dirt and dust. Its design is perfect for all hand sizes and not bulky. However, the earpiece is something that Midland could have done better.

Weighing 7.4 ounces with the battery, the radio is a bit heavier as compared to other walkie talkie models. Its length is about 8 inches with an antenna, which of course contributes to its overall size. It can feel bulky to carry in a pocket and is often carried in a backpack or with carabiner type clip. The radio also includes a car charging adaptor that allows charging the device while traveling.

Setup

It is really easy to set up the radio. It comes complete with a user manual that provides a comprehensive guide to every process. The menu descriptions in the manual may seem intimidating at first, but it becomes easy once you get started with it.

You can quickly open the battery door, install the batteries and charge the device using the stand. Both the units charge at the same time and a snap ensures they don’t fall out accidentally.

Display

The radio has a large, black-white display that shows everything clearly in any lighting condition. It also has a red backlight that automatically gets activated upon switching the device on or pressing the buttons. It turns off after some time to save battery. The simple display, though clear and crisp, limits the amount of information it can display. This means you may have to decode abbreviations to understand the menu.

Performance

The Midland GXT1000VP4 features 50 channels and claims a range of 35 miles. The radio performs well in this range when there are small obstructions like small hills and houses. But the performance degrades if you use it amidst large buildings.

In normal outdoor conditions, you can expect the radio to deliver a practical range of about 2 miles. Overall, the sound quality and reception of the radio are impressive.

As long as you stay in the range, everything is heard clearly and loudly. You can use one of the privacy codes of the device to make sure the other team does not listen to the conversation. In case of any trouble, you can use the SOS signal to alert the team that you are in a jam.

The included features work flawlessly but the menu system is quite complicated and it can take some time before getting used to them. The weather radio scans well and picks the correct channel quickly and other features like privacy code, group call and hands-free operation perform well.

Pros

• Comes with a boom headset
• Extra channels and privacy channels ensure private communication
• SOS siren to send alert about an emergency
• Captures weather alert broadcasts
• Excellent range of 35 miles
• Can work in the rain
• Backed up with a 3-year warranty
• Excellent audio quality

Cons

• Does not work well when buildings are around
• USB charging facility is not available
• Complex menu
• Somewhat expensive

Best 2-Way Radios For Preppers

The best 2-way radios for preppers are different from normal walkie talkies used for casual purposes. The best two-way radios are sophisticated devices that enable people to communicate clearly over long distances in times of emergencies. A survival radio is aimed to replace other modes of communication and expected to prove useful when no other communication method is available. This is why it has to provide the best performance, range and battery life to serve its desired purpose.

Not only do these radios feature excellent range and clarity, some of the better models even come with privacy features to block eavesdroppers. The best radios for preppers should also be highly durable as they are intended to be used in times of disasters and post-disaster. They should be able to take a beating.

Cellular Outage

Imagine an earthquake or a terrorist attack just took place and your family is not with you. Cell phone towers get congested or stop working. In such a time of crisis, a two-way radio is the tool you will need to get in touch with your family. It will help you locate your family, confirm their situation and bring them to safety. The best two-way radios for preppers are the ones that help you deal with the panic by allowing you to find your family quickly and getting them to a place of safety.

Communication is quite important in times of disasters so it is essential for preppers to get two-way radios that are specially designed and well-equipped for survival situations. When you look for the best survival radio, it is important to note that cost guides the quality. But you don’t want to end up in a disaster where your radio does not perform as expected. So you should not hesitate to invest in a high-quality radio to get the quality and performance you desire.

Weather Coverage

The best two-way radios for preppers are those that have access to NOAA weather channels. They provide weather updates to let you know about safety conditions and dangerous areas to avoid. They also use this feature to provide non-weather data in times of natural disaster. Access to NOAA channels is one of the most important considerations for preppers when selecting the best two-way radio.

It is essential that you select a model that suits your needs from privacy and durability to range and battery life, so that you can be well-prepared for emergencies. The Midland GXT1000VP4 combines outstanding features with a good range and clarity and makes an excellent choice for preppers.

Midland GXT1000 Battery Life

The Midland GXT1000VP4 ships with rechargeable battery packs to power the device. The batteries are NiMH, alkaline type and have a battery capacity of 700mAh. While the radio offers a host of extra features, excellent range and clarity, it disappoints when it comes to battery life. Most test results suggest the batteries last for about 9 hours on full charge. This is quite less as compared to other models.

The good thing is that you can use 4 ‘AA’ batteries per radio to run the radio. You can purchase a few sets of batteries when you go out for camping or pack your survival kit. With AA batteries, the device can provide a battery life of about 15 hours. This is quite satisfactory as compared to the rechargeable battery packs.

Midland GXT1000VP4 Vs GXT1050VP4 – How They Compare?

» GXT1050VP4’s Pricing, Pictures & Amazon Reviews

Both Midland GXT1000VP4 and GXT1050VP4 are feature-packed compact 2-way communication radios to suit preppers. Both these models are quite similar in terms of features and functionality. They offer up to 36 miles range with 50 channels and 284 privacy channels to facilitate desired communication privacy.

The GXT1050VP4 features 5 animal call alerts including duck, turkey, crow, wolf and cougar to make it ideal for hunting. While the GXT1000VP4 radio only comes in black/silver design, the GXT1050VP4 comes in a Mossy Oak Break-Up Country Camouflage design that makes it a great walkie talkie for hunters. It also includes a vibrate function to silence all tones.

Though both these radios from Midland share a lot of features, specifications and functions, deliver a similar performance and make the best options for preppers, there are minor design and function differences that make the GXT1050 exclusively suitable for hunters. 

Conclusion

What makes Midland GXT1000VP4 a great choice for preppers is the variety of exciting features it comes with. It includes scanning and monitoring buttons, a keypad lock function, NOAA weather scanning and an SOS siren. The weather scanning feature is quite useful as it allows getting forecast data in locations without cell service and makes it an important part of an emergency survival kit.

Though it is somewhat pricey as compared to other two-way radios, it delivers an audio quality and performance you would need as a prepper. The price is justified for those who want to communicate among a group, stay on the top of weather patterns and talk with privacy. It does have some hiccups but the plethora of features it packs into a beautifully style unit makes it worth giving a try.

The post Midland GXT1000VP4 Review – UPDATED 2021 – Best 2-Way Radios For Preppers appeared first on .

» Click for Current Pricing, Pictures & Amazon Reviews

Battery

When you are running security, the last thing you want is for the radio to stop working on you. Thankfully, DeWalt is well-known for producing some seriously decent batteries. While the one that you find packed into your DeWalt DXFRS800 is not likely to be anywhere near as good as their tool ones, it is still far, far better than competing two-way radios.

A single charge of these radios should last a fairly lengthy shift. If you stick them on charge at the end of the shift, then they will be ready and raring to go the next day. You don’t even have to worry about putting them on charge without draining the battery first. These are lithium-ion batteries. They are built to last.

Build Quality

Let’s be honest. If you are working security, then there will be some issues on occasion. Some of these issues may involve well…a little bit of physical contact. You need a radio that is going to be able to stand up to that. We think that this one fits that bill perfectly.

This is a radio that has been built for use on the construction site. If you have ever seen a builder, you will know how careless they can be on occasion. Dropping things from a great height. Throwing items around. That sort of thing. See where we are going with this? Well, the DXFRS800 is virtually unbreakable.

Let’s imagine you are in a tussle. You are working retail, and somebody decided to shoplift a pair of socks. You go to grab them, but they decide to keep running. Of course, as they try to get away, your radio goes flying. With most other radios, it would be a goner. Not the DeWalt. This bit of kit is designed to land on concrete from a height of around 2 meters, so in most cases, it is just going to bounce a little on the floor. There may be a scuff mark or two, but nothing too crazy.

Versatility

If you are working outdoor security on a wet day, then you will be pleased to know that this radio works perfectly for that. It is waterproof up to a depth of 1-meter. So, unless you get caught in the worst torrential rain in history, your radio is going to be working perfectly well throughout it.

There is an issue here, though. This is the fact that the belt clip on the product isn’t all that good. It is short. So, you may need to find a different way to hold the radio. Some people will keep it in their pocket.

Voice Activation

See something a little bit untoward during your security guard duties? Just want to give a status update? Well, with a normal radio, you will have to whip it out and press a button. Not this. When you are doing security, you probably don’t have time to do that. Thankfully, you can set your DeWalt up for voice activation or VOX. Just give the word, and it will send out your message instantly. This way you can get assistance if you need it.

Yes. Voice activation is going to be incredibly awful in some situations. It doesn’t work in busy environments as it would be forever flicking on, draining your battery. However, if your security detail is a bit quieter, then this is going to be perfect.

Simple to Use

There is absolutely no training required to use the DeWalt DXFRS800. It only has a couple of buttons, and everything is fairly self-explanatory. Again, this is important when you are doing security. Obviously, when you are in a bit of a predicament, the last thing you really want is to be flicking through countless menus so you can actually get help, right?

Private Channels

There are 22 channels built into this radio. All of them can have privacy settings turned on too. This means that the only people able to listen in to your communications will be you and whoever else you want to listen. Obviously, this is going to be important for security. You don’t really want people hearing about your operations, do you?

The Range

For most security situations, the range of a device isn’t going to be all that important. After all, most security will be in close proximity. However, we do want to point out the range of this set of two-way radios…just for completeness.

If you are using this radio indoors for your security, then it is perfect. The radio signals are able to penetrate through retail displays. In fact, the radio signals are so strong, that they are able to get through 25-floors without any issue. This means that it works perfectly if you are doing security for a larger establishment.

If you are doing outdoor security detail, then you will be pleased to know that you will get a good couple of miles range with it. Although, to be honest, most people will not be using that sort of range. However, the larger range on a two way radio does mean that when you are a little bit closer to one another, the audio quality is pretty much impeccable. This is important when you are doing security. You really can’t have your messages get lost in translation, can you?

Conclusion

If you want one of the best, if not the best, radio for security, then we urge you to look at the DeWalt DXFRS800. It’s not as cheap as something like a two way radio for a child, but you will be pleased to know that it is incredibly affordable too.

The post Best Two Way Radios for Security appeared first on .

We certainly don’t live in that world. But we do live in a world where people don’t need to experience frustration and delays when it comes to two‑way radio repair.

It all comes down to service.

Service Is Everything

When a two‑way radio provider sells you equipment, they should also offer the service you need to operate that equipment optimally. 

Look for a provider that has an approved Certified Service Center to ensure that your needs are being met after you purchase equipment. There are national certification programs for technicians; that’s who you want looking out for you. 

Even the best equipment requires occasional expert service. Changing environmental factors, wear and tear, and technological enhancements mean that your two‑way radio might need a trained technician’s expertise.

The best way to do that is to guarantee service by purchasing a maintenance program.

Avoid Dangerous Communication Failures with a Service Program

If communications equipment is not properly serviced and maintained, it can lead to failures. That’s more than just a hassle for customers; it interferes with mission‑critical public safety communications. 

One of the best ways to avoid any interruption in service is to purchase a maintenance contract. It’s a guaranteed way to increase the product lifespan and maximize your investment.

A maintenance program ensures that you receive end‑to‑end support and services for your equipment, including online and remote support, engineering services, system design, and engineering, project management, installation, and calibration. In other words, everything you need to feel safe and secure in operating your two‑way radios.

Who You Gonna Call?

Sometimes customers reach out to a contact in sales when they have a problem with a two‑way radio or another piece of equipment. Sales people are always there for their customers, but they’re not the best person to contact when you need service.

Calling or emailing the service department is the quickest, most effective way to address issues that require technical support. Current Chicago Communications customers can also fill out a form here to request service.

To keep your two‑way radios operating optimally, we offer a Troubleshooting Checklist and a free download of Top Tips for Two‑Way Radio Maintenance and Troubleshooting.

If you’ve done the troubleshooting and checked the batteries, connections, and channels, it’s time to contact the service department.

That’s where you’ll reach someone like Jenny Streit, a Chicago Communications service dispatcher.

Tips from Dispatch

Jenny’s job is to generate service calls after hearing from customers with problems. She says the company prioritizes public safety and health care equipment such as 911 dispatch centers, police and fire departments, and hospitals. For many of these mission‑critical service calls, a technician arrives within four hours.

What does Jenny—or any dispatcher—need to know?

When Jenny gets an email or call, she will look up the customer’s account and phone number so the technician can locate the person with the radio that needs service. She also asks about access information if the radio equipment is located in a remote area, or an apartment building, or water tower. 

If it’s not an urgent repair, a dispatcher will send a service label so the equipment can be sent in to be repaired.

“It’s useful to get as much detailed information as possible,” she says. “Lots of times, we’ll get a call about a portable/handheld that you can clip onto your pocket. We’ll do a preventative maintenance check on it. We’ll put on an analyzer, which realigns the radio to factory settings. Basically, we’re checking all the knobs and buttons and the screen, to make sure all that stuff is good, to determine what is not working.”

She says customers don’t need to have a lot of technical knowledge to be able to describe what’s happening with their radios. “We have people come in and say, ‘This base station is making a motorboating sound.’ We know exactly what that means.”

“We just need to know what’s wrong. If we don’t, it’s kind of like going to a doctor and saying, ‘I don’t feel good.’ or telling a mechanic the car doesn’t work. In bigger systems, like police departments and fire departments, there’s more places for things to be wrong. So we’re hoping to get as much information as we can from people.”

Removing the Hassle

The service department is your friend.

Experienced two‑way radio service providers know what questions to ask and how to address issues with equipment. They can help you send a piece of equipment in for repair, or send an experienced technician out to repair a radio without delay.

They have compassionate dispatchers and trained, certified technicians who are familiar with the common—and uncommon—problems and challenges customers face.

And they’re never more than a phone call or email away.

The post Removing the Hassle from Two‑Way Radio Repair appeared first on .

Police Scanner Storefronts Shift Online

If you are looking for a sophisticated bit of kit like the Whistler TRX-2, you aren’t going to find this in your average radio store. As we said before; it is likely to be way too expensive for a normal store to keep them in stock as standard. They may be able to special order them, but it won’t be quick, and the price is going to be high. Most folks will not have a brick & mortar radio store nearby. We have seen many major towns and cities that seem to be lacking any sort of store that sells radio equipment.

This is why we would only suggest buying online nowadays. It is easier. It also no longer matters where you live, to be able to find the radio that you want.

» Click for Current Pricing, Pictures & Amazon Reviews

Meet the Whistler TRX-2; NWR’s Top Rated Phase 2 Digital Police Radio Scanner

Throughout this page, you are going to see that we heavily recommend the Whistler TRX-2 radio scanner. This is because we feel that this is a model that will last you for years to come. While we are not going to give it a complete review here, we do want to point out some of the reasons as to why it is so great.

First off; it is affordable. We know that a lot of people are going to turn their nose up at the price of the Whistler TRX-2. If you have no experience with radio scanners, then the price can be a little bit on the high side. However, trust us, for the features that you get packed into this unit, it is an absolute steal at that price! We do not think there is anything in this price range that comes anywhere close to the features the Whistler TRX-2 offers.

Well Suited for Both Amateurs & Seasoned Vets

For starters; this bit of kit is digital-ready. It should be compatible with just about every digital radio network out there. This means that you do not have to worry about not hearing anything. This radio will be able to pick up all public radio signals in your area with ease.

When you get the Whistler, you will find that it comes complete with a channel list for your local area (assuming that you live in the United States or Canada). When you first use it, you will be asked to input your ZIP code. The radio scanner will then automatically fill out your scan list will all identified channels it has stores in its memory. There are channels here that we have not seen on any other radio scanner. Of course, you can update the channel list if you want, and this is something that Whistler makes easy to do.

Custom Channel Lists

The best feature, however, is the ability for you to be able to make your own scan lists up. You can have hundreds of them if you wish. Just use the included software (Windows computers only) to tap in what you want, and you have your own customized scan list. You will only hear what you want to hear!

Whistler also is a trusted brand, complete with an iron clad 1-year warranty and great customer service. If you think the TRX-2 might be a git, we encourage you to read through the Amazon user reviews so you know you are getting something great.

We realize that when you sought out to find stores to purchase a police radio scanner, that you might have preferred something you could jump in the car and drive to. However, hopefully, it’s clear why shopping online for these types of products is best. It’s unfortunate that most hobby shops haven’t been able to stand the test of time. But fear not, as there are still great ways to get your hands on a police scanner, and at a great price too.

The post What Stores Sell Police Scanners in 2021? appeared first on .

The FM radio frequency is one of the most overlooked, yet valuable electromagnetic waves in human discovery. Without it, emergency broadcasting services wouldn’t exist, neither would the technology for baby monitors, or microwaves. But while the FM radio was a crucial contribution to history and entertainment as we know it, the history of FM radio is full of drama, politics, business, and everything no inventor wants to face, but ultimately has to.
That being said, this article will go through the ups and downs, and the entire story and major milestones of FM radio.

Many stations still use FM as the primary mode of broadcasting. Its predecessor, AM broadcasts were prone to a lot of interference and were seriously lacking audio quality, resulting in the need to develop a better alternative, that ultimately became what we know as FM radio today.

Table of Contents show

What is FM Radio Broadcasting?

The Difference Between AM and FM

The Growing Need for & History of FM Radio Broadcasting

The Authorisation of FM Broadcasting

FM Radio in Europe

FM Radio in the Present & Future

What is FM Radio Broadcasting?

Frequency modulation radio (or FM radio) is a form of broadcasting transmission that is based on frequency modulation, which is the reason the sound quality can become much better than that of AM radio. It’s one of the most significant milestones in radio history, and its discovery is linked to the name of Edwin Armstrong.

Today, wide-band FM is used worldwide as the best way to provide a quality sound over broadcast radio, meaning a more accurate reproduction of the original audio. Its discovery was a contribution to raising the overall sound quality and still remains as one of the leading technologies in quality radio. FM radio was the first to introduce stereo audio which was a major leap in the history of radio and is still a crucial part of our listening experience.

This means FM broadcasts have what is called “stereo multiplexing”, which is capable of switching fast between the left and right audio signals. It is a stereo receiver that helps stereo FM radio stations broadcast in what is called stereophonic sound. This stereo receiver contains the additional circuit and parallel signal paths to reproduce two different channels. In contrast, AM has a monaural receiver, which only receives a single audio channel which is a combination of the left and right channels. To make listening to the radio a better and easier experience for the audience, an FM receiver often has a stereo to mono switch, allowing the listener to choose between the two versions.

The Difference Between AM and FM

To understand the history and meaning of the development of FM technology, we must first understand the workings and problems of its predecessor, AM radio, and how FM differs from it. AM radio uses amplitude modulation to transmit radio broadcasts. It is one of the most primitive and simplest forms of radio technology, and while it’s fully capable of providing a steady wave of information, the audio quality suffered greatly.

Because of FM’s ability to modulate frequencies when broadcasting audio data, it provides consistent frequency and amplitude, whereas AM radio could only serve with a steady amplitude. This is because, with the use of FM, only the frequency of the radio waves changes, while the amplitude remains untouched.

While FM radio operates at a higher frequency range compared to AM, its distance scope is slightly more limited, with most FM stations reaching a 100-mile radius or less. Additionally, while FM’s contributions tackle almost all struggles of AM radio, its signals are frequently limited by physical obstacles like buildings and hills, impacting their overall reception. As a result – reception is based on your positioning, and when driving through a rougher area, reception can come and go easily.

The Growing Need for & History of FM Radio Broadcasting

During the early 1930s, the world was devastated by the impact of the Great Depression. Despite the fact that a huge part of the population was struggling with unemployment and businesses found it hard to stay afloat, broadcasters all throughout the United States were still making billions of dollars a year. Those were mostly thanks to the contributions of one Edwin Armstrong in radio technology, and the launch of television broadcasting in some parts of Europe and North America. (By then, one of the first TV stations was live broadcasting from the General Electric facility, under the name of WGY Television.)

Edwin Armstrong has made many major contributions to the history of radio. These include the development of the regenerative circuit and the superheterodyne receive. Both solutions improve the quality of radio -, and the development of the ABS and NBC television networks. And while he made a crucial impact on the development of the AM radio, Armstrong, like many other inventors of his time, was aware and was looking for a solution to the many problems and setbacks of AM frequency radios, which included:

• Static interference from weather and even household appliances
• Limited audio quality
• Interference caused by multiple stations working at the same time

Finally, in 1933, Armstrong introduced something even Lee De Forest and Guglielmo Marconi would envy. He came to the conclusion that in order to eliminate sound quality issues, he needed a much wider bandwidth than AM stations could offer, potentially solving some problems that the AM signals faced due to AM’s lower bandwidth.

His FM radio occupied a bandwidth twenty times larger than that of the AM station, and did, in fact, solve almost all problems that AM faced, including:

• An ability to reproduce almost the entire range of sound available for the human ear. This is thanks to a wider frequency band, and is known as “high fidelity”
• Multiplexing: the option of sending more than one FM signal at once
• An ability to serve a wider area than an AM station, while using the same amount of power
• The convenience of placing stations physically closer to each other, thanks to the fact that its signals don’t interfere with each other.

Inside the band available for the FM frequency, each station takes up a 200-kilohertz section, meaning that stations exist at odd numbers on the dial, such as 88.5 or 88.1. This concept was introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency in charge of regulating radio.

In Europe and Africa (also called the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Region 1) and in Australia, this is known as VHF Band II, ranging from 87.5 to 108 MHz. In America (ITU Region 2), it ranges from 88 to 108 MHz.

The AM band is very different, as its lower bandwidth makes the quality poorer, but this allows it to have more stations available on any frequency. Some of the world’s earliest radio stations have switched to FM broadcasting, like New York’s WRUC licensed in 1915, and Seattle’s KJR licensed in 1919 both became FM stations in the late 1990s. Most of these stations are still operating today on FM frequencies.

The Authorisation of FM Broadcasting

In the year 1933, Edwin Armstrong was granted four patents for his FM radio technology. With this, he began to appeal to the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) with his new system. The RCA was in charge of granting permissions for radio innovations at the time. But despite him being granted these patents, he still ended up in a patent war with NBC and the RCA, who was trying to use his technology without paying royalties. In fact, Armstong’s full authorization to go through by the FCC took almost a decade, and it wasn’t until after his early death that both stationary and portable FM radio’s golden years began in the 1960s.

The head of the RCA at the time, David Sarnoff, viewed the FM technology as a threat, due to the fact that it had relied on the 40MHz band which was used for television broadcasts. At that time, Sarnoff was punching the growth of television more aggressively, and the RCA had a substantial stake in the channels that used these bands.

Therefore, the ruling delivered by the FCC announced that the 40 MHz bands in question would be given to television broadcasts, and while Armstrong did earn some support from companies like Zenith and General electric, Armstrong was forced to continue his work on his own, financing the development from his own pocket. This move in frequencies was also greatly supported by AT&T because the loss of FM radio stations meant that networks were forced to purchase links from AT&T. It wasn’t until 1940 that the FCC began authorizing commercial FM broadcasting on a tiny spectrum (42 MHz to 50 MHz). But this isn’t even nearly the end of the history of FM radio. The complete life and death of Armstrong is a tragic one tale all radio enthusiasts know of.

People were welcoming the technology of FM radio with open arms, discovering that it was much better than the quality AM could even offer. But even well after the battles with the FCC and the RCA for authorization, despite its great potential and crucial contributions to radio technology, the wars in business stopped FM radio from achieving all it could. Unfortunately, these battles and the aforementioned band change killed Edwin’s passion and knowledge as he was struggling to find the support that FM radio frequency needed. His battle with the RCA turned a dear friendship with David Sarnoff into a bitter rivalry, and Armstrong even had to convince the world that he was, in fact, the creator of the technology, as the RCA’s engineers claimed that they were the first to discover FM frequencies. The inventor spent approximately 20 years in and out of courts, fighting for his invention, and in his pursuit to offer better technology for the masses.

Finally, when the audiences saw what an amazing invention this was, and when the FCC granted him a spectrum, Armstrong assumed his troubles were over, and finally he could be proud of what he had done. He continued his work by building an experimental tower in New Jersey funded by himself and began manufacturing radio receivers that would pick up FM broadcasters.

W2XMN was his first experimental FM radio station, making him one of the first-ever station owners, and the first when it comes to FM stations. But unfortunately, even his hard labor and the audience’s reaction to the technology weren’t enough to fight the FCC. Ultimately, the FCC removed Armstrong’s frequency from the airways and placed it on a different broadcast spectrum, leaving Armstrong devastated, and broke, as his FM radio network basically became obsolete. This final blow to his mental health caused his wife to leave him, and eventually, it all became too much, and the inventor jumped to his death from his apartment building in New York City in 1954. 

FM Radio in Europe

After World War II, FM radio broadcasting was introduced to Germany. In 1948, a new wavelength plan was set up for Europe. Because of the results of the recent war, Germany was given only a small number of medium-wave frequencies, which weren’t good for broadcasting. Therefore, Germany began its broadcasting on UKW, or “Ultrakurzwelle”, meaning ultra short wave, nowadays called VHF.

After experimenting with amplitude modulation and AM stations, it looked like FM was a much better alternative to VHF than AM. Because of this history, FM radio is still referred to as “UKW Radio” in Germany to this day. Many other European nations followed this change later when the superior quality of FM was realized.

One of the first FM stations in Europe was the Hungarian Kossuth Radio – the second most popular station of Hungary – which marks an important milestone in the history of radio, as the Antenna Hungaria broadcasts it with a heaping 2 MW power on 540 kHz, making it the most powerful medium wave transmitter in the world, and is among the most powerful radio transmitters of the world. Successful reception of the Kossuth Radio broadcasted by this antenna was reported from as far as Michigan, United States, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Since 2013, this transmitter site has been a preserved industrial monument.

FM Radio in the Present & Future

After tackling the long and bumpy history of FM radio, it’s also important to talk about what’s next in the technology’s future. In 2017, Norway made a decision that would impact FM radio’s future, and telecommunications history greatly. They shut off their FM signal as part of a move towards digital radio. This move to digital radio (DAB) and the switch-off of FM was agreed upon by Norway’s Parliament in 2011, and the timetable for this change was introduced to the masses in 2015. More than half of the citizens of Norway were opposed to the idea of shutting down FM radio, similar to the reaction the United States got in 2009 when Congress moved to eliminate analog television signals.

Over the years, other countries, like Switzerland and Britain considered joining this move by dropping the FM frequency, however, the BBC in the UK announced in 2018, that they were dropping all plans to remove FM radio. They believed there was no need at all to force millions of listeners to switch to digital transmissions. Instead, they suggested that FM continue as part of a hybrid future, where it works alongside DAB and internet-based broadcasting. The director of BBC radio, Bob Shennan said that he will be taking steps to protect the longevity of FM radio.

Today, thousands of radio stations continue to broadcast using FM, so the golden years of FM aren’t over yet. It still is a crucial part of entertainment programming, emergency communications, non-native-language programming, and even space communications. Stations like the San Francisco-based KDFC, which offers 24 hours of classical music programming daily, or the New Jersey-based WKXW, and the Los Angeles honed KIIS-FM rely on FM to offer quality entertainment to the masses. The biggest question is, can these radio channels and the complexity of FM radio live on in the digital age?

The story of the development and golden years of FM radio is one of the most well-known among tech savvies. Armstrong’s contributions to the technology of radio changed the face of entertainment for good, and without it, humanity would take decades if not centuries to get to where we are now. Sadly, the politics of it all, mixed with business interests slowed down the process even more. Without these obstacles, the golden age of the FM radio would have been here decades earlier, launching a beautiful career for its inventor.

The post The Complete History of FM Radio appeared first on .

Are you looking for a lightweight, ultra-slim two-way radio?

Whether you’re working in the field or at a black-tie event, the Motorola SL300 is boldly designed to keep you efficiently connected. Measuring under an inch thick, the SL300 is ultra-portable with a stubby antenna, curved edges, and a rugged frame. It features an Active View display with a matrix of LED lights behind the radio housing and “Range Max” technology, an advanced radio design, and a patented antenna for enhanced range. Designed for easy and intuitive use and outfitted with the latest technology, the SL300 is the perfect work partner.

The MOTOTRBO SL300 provides reliable push-to-talk communication for the mobile, everyday user in an ultra-slim and rugged profile. Whether you’re coordinating a school event or working in the field, the SL300 is boldly designed to keep you efficiently connected.

The SL300 is outfitted with the latest technology for performance and ease of use. The SL300 features Range Max: an advanced technology that delivers enhanced communication capability with a slim profile and long battery life. The SL300 3W digital radio with Range Max delivers communication performance equivalent to most 4W digital radios.

The SL300 is compatible with the MOTOTRBO features you’ll find are business-essential; for example, a transmission can be interrupted to prioritize critical communications. Additionally, the SL300 utilizes digital and analog radio technology concurrently to fit seamlessly into your existing communication system.

Features

• Ultra-Slim Profile
  Measuring under an inch thick, the SL300 is ultra-portable. A stubby antenna, curved edges and rugged frame make the SL300 the perfect work partner. It can be easily carried in pockets and purses without snagging or bulging.
• Simple Operation
  The SL300 has been designed for easy, intuitive use. The side volume control, dedicated power button, prominent push-to-talk button, and top toggle channel switch have all been designed for quick one-hand access. Channel “fast toggle” allows users to scroll through 10 channels at a time.
• Analog/Digital
  Get all the benefits of digital, including better voice quality, better range and better battery life—but retain compatibility with your existing radio fleet. With analog and digital capability, you have the freedom to migrate to the latest technology at your own pace.
• Dual Capacity Direct Mode
  Utilize the power of the 2-slot TDMA DMR standard to double the capacity of your 12.5 kHz channel—without the need for a repeater.
• Rugged and Reliable
  The SL300 is built to last. IP54 rated for dust and water resistance, it can be used even in harsh environments. This radio can survive many drops and tumbles. It has also been proven tough in Motorola’s grueling Accelerated Life Test, where the radio is tested against a simulated 5 years of hard service before it is accepted.
• Range Max Receiver
  An advanced radio design and patented antenna that delivers enhanced range while maintaining a slim profile and long battery life.
• Active View Display (Optional)
  Shatterproof Active View display uses hidden LED lighting to communicate channel, radio, and volume information crisply in both daytime and nighttime situations.

Contact us today to learn more about the Motorola SL300.

The post Featured Radio: Motorola SL300 appeared first on .

No, the radio is not dead. Thankfully, due to the revolutionary impact of streaming services, there has been an uptick of online radio stations serving ear candy to listeners all over the world.

The data suggests that almost half (47%) of Americans 12 years old and above reported listening to web radio over the last month, while 36% tuned in at least once over the last week. Listeners craving new content are moving away from the often repetitive music of mainstream FM radios.

If you’ve always wanted to launch your own radio station but don’t know how to begin, then we hope to help you out. Contrary to what you might think, running a radio station is possible without leaving your home! You won’t even need to have advanced studio equipment.

Table of Contents show

First things first – Why Radio?

How Do Online Radio Stations Work?

How to Start a Radio Station: The Essential Steps

Wrapping Up

First things first – Why Radio?

The definition of “radio” has been upgraded from the conventional “over the air” radio wave transmission (for terrestrial radio stations) to any means of transmission. That includes radio waves or streaming that features an in-the-moment feel and a shared experience between a listener and a broadcaster.

Aside from the recreational aspect of online radio, a case could also be made on its profitability.

Excellent marketing strategy

Running an online station can have massive marketing potential. You have the opportunity to create a large and loyal audience base. Therefore, if you’re an online radio station owner, you can improve your bottom line in many ways, including:

• You can sell spots to advertisers
• Procure donations
• Sell your own branded merch
• Start a paid membership club
• Join an affiliate program
• Monetize your YouTube channel or website
• Syndication

It’s doable

Most people would probably think running a radio station requires technical expertise. The reality is – it doesn’t. Beginners to radio broadcasting can launch an online station with minimal equipment requirements and regulation, all of which can be done from the comfort of your home. As a result, getting your station live on air isn’t as complex as you might think.

How Do Online Radio Stations Work?

The general idea of how Internet radio broadcasting works can be broken down into 3 phases: Source, Server, and Listener.

1. Source (This is You): The laptop or desktop computer captures audio (voice, music) before software sends these data streams to a server.
2. Server: After your data stream arrives at the cloud-based server, it’s deployed to the selected channels.
3. Listener (Audience): Anyone can listen to your broadcast once it goes online – using any media player or a server link to the live stream.

Not that complex, isn’t it? After you produce the content, it’s pushed to the Internet, processed by the cloud servers before it’s distributed to the listening audience. The receiving devices can range from the top portable radios to stationary home and car radios.

How to Start a Radio Station: The Essential Steps

Starting your radio station and making it profitable isn’t rocket science, but you need to know the rules and work for it. Here are the essential steps on how you can start a radio station from home.

Step 1: Conceptualisation

When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. The same principle applies to getting your radio station off the ground. The first part of running a radio station is developing a concept and business plan to ensure your station still has a following in the future.

Concept development begins with the initial planning. You need to determine what would make your radio station stand out. If not entirely unique, your radio station concept should still make its mark from what is currently out there. Doing competitor research will go a long way in helping you come up with a robust concept.

As a guide, here are some questions to consider for concept development:

• What will your radio station stream – music or something different?
• If you’re playing music, what genre will it focus on?
• Does it need broadcasters or DJs? How many broadcasters will your station have?
• Which topics will your radio station cover?

Step 2: Branding

Branding starts by knowing yourself. It’s important to be able to answer exactly who you are. To do that, you need to define your purpose, who your target audience is, and locate your potential listeners. A powerful brand has a solid identity. This means that when listeners tune in, they immediately know who the presenters are and can recall the station name or logo off the top of their head.

After pinpointing who you are as a radio station, branding can begin. You can create a memorable station name, radio image, logo, website, cover art, and other marketing materials. Developing a style guide is an excellent strategy to ensure consistent branding across all platforms. The important thing is that your branding reflects how you want to present yourself to the world, and the name of the station plays a great part in it.

Here are some great tips for coming up with your station name:

• The shorter, the better
• Rolls off the tongue
• Choose a name that speaks to your audience

Tip: check for possible infringement issues when branding. You don’t want to encounter problems associated with copyright and trademark.

Step 3: Legal Compliance

Copyright laws vary from country to country. Check with your respective regulatory authorities, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on licenses you may need to acquire before running your radio station. Generally, non-musical radio programming doesn’t require licenses. However, if your radio station will stream music, you may need to purchase a license. To reduce expenses, you can always plan royalty-free music, but a one-time license can still be charged. Also, you can use platforms like radio.co to launch your radio station for free.

In comparison, there are licenses required in terrestrial FM radio stations like Low Power FM and Full Power FM.

Low Power FM stations have limited-range broadcasting available for use by nonprofits. These stations are devoted only to funding from sponsors and donations. On the other hand, full power or commercial FM has a more comprehensive broadcasting range and is reserved for business organizations. Additionally, terrestrial radio stations require a broadcast station construction permit and other applicable fees.

If in doubt, consult a local lawyer to make sure that you can legally operate your radio station.

Step 4: Equipment

It is true that most people assume an expensive setup is required for an internet radio station, but it is not quite so. You can run a radio station without heavy pockets as many affordable options are now available on the market. If you’re starting, here is the list of the must-have equipment and tools:

• Laptop/computer
• Internet connection
• Microphone
• A pair of headphones
• Broadcasting software

If the basic setup doesn’t cut it, you can upgrade to a more sophisticated set of equipment and consider the following:

• Microphone processors to improve audio quality
• Broadcasting desks to manage multiple channels

Microphone processes are essential for taking out background noise and sibilants or “S” sounding words that cause bad signal and high frequency. Meanwhile, a broadcasting desk works as a hub where several input channels and controls are located.

Step 5: Promotion

Radio broadcasts need to be strategic to be successful. Here are some tried-and-tested strategies to consider for marketing your business radio broadcast.

• Create irresistible content. The surefire way of delivering great radio is to produce irresistible content. Understanding your audience and making them feel welcome is key. Since radio creates a personal bond between broadcaster and listener, so aspiring for a “me too” moment is a way to go. Once the listeners are drawn into the conversation, that’s a win.
• Make the episodes personal. Remember to talk to just one person. This is radio, after all. While your aim may be to educate a number of people, you need to publish episodes that individualize the experience.
• Take care of SEO. It’s always a good idea to optimize for Google and other search engines. For instance, include keywords in your radio broadcast title, notes, and episode descriptions. Be sure to make your episode titles attention-grabbing!
• Repurpose your radio content. Take advantage of radio’s versatility by turning them into other content forms. Here are some ideas: podcasts, social media quotes lifted off the radio episode, blog posts, videos, or infographics.
• Guest Shout-outs. Request your guests to throw in a good word about your site or website on their mailing list.
• Collaborate. Pitch a radio topic idea to someone from your network and collaborate as a guest. You can promote yourself and your site using this strategy.
• Run contests. Engaging your audience and incentivizing their loyalty through contests and games can build a sustainable following.

Wrapping Up

There you have it – the fundamentals of how to start and run a radio station. Follow these tips, strategize, and be adaptable. While producing incredible content is crucial for a radio station, it’s also essential to adopt a business mindset. In doing so, you can ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of your radio station.

Are you thinking of starting your own radio station? Access helpful online resources and tutorials to get a clearer understanding of how Internet radio broadcasting works.

The post How to Start a Radio Station from Home appeared first on .