Construction sites across the world have one thing in common. They are all improving productivity and workplace safety with the use of two way radios. Walkie talkies have become a vital part of every phase on the job site from initial ground preparation to the final walkthrough. No matter if you’re a sub-contractor or a large-scale general contractor, clear communication is pivotal to the job’s success.
The question isn’t if two way radios are needed on the job site, but rather which ones are best for you and Retevis is here to make that easy.
The truth is, there are all kinds of two way radios out there that are great for construction. If I were to write about every walkie talkie that could be useful on the job site, we would be here till next year. I am using this article to highlight what I believe are a few of the best two way radios for construction.
Here, you’re going to find a portable option for all budgets, and a great mobile two way radio. I am also leaving a FAQ section beneath the radios and accessories to give you answers to the most common inquiries we run into from buyers.
Things you need to look out for
Durability = The two way radio has a high IP rating giving it the ability to prevent dust and water damage. The aluminum alloy frame protects the circuit board from damage.
UHF Transmission = Construction sites are typically in urban environments. You will need walkie talkies that use UHF transmission because VHF transmission is largely dependent on stretches of land with clear line-of-sight for transmission. Using the UHF band will ensure less interference in your team’s communication from the environment.
Multiple Channels = It is important to be able to segment communication on the job site. Use two way radios that have multiple channels or zoning features to keep your teams from interfering with each other. You can assign sub-contractors to different channels or use different channels for different sites.
Power Output = You will want to look for two way radios that have a suitable power output for the range you need. 5-10 Watts is a good power capacity to look for. Higher wattage walkie talkies will get your messages where you need anywhere onsite.
NOTE:
A big oversight some buyers succumb to is not checking in with their General Contractor when buying two way radios. This is very important if you are a sub-contractor coming into a large job site.They could have requirements for onsite two way radios to all be programmed to scan a certain emergency channel, or they might require an entirely digital system from their sub-contractors. The worst thing would be to buy and program a full fleet of two way radios, only to have to send them all back in because you opted for analog when your job site requires digital units. Easiest fix? Ask the GC before buying.
Something else buyers don’t always think about is how you can customize your fleet of two way radios. If you employ a lot of temporary workers or have team members who are especially careless with their equipment, you can grab some lower-tier walkie talkies so you’re not replacing top dollar equipment when a unit is lost or broken. On the flip side, you can incorporate top-tier two way radios for your management team who might need to have more features because they are moving between sites or they need a more functional display and keyboard to better control operations. You can program your different two way radio models to work together and better utilize your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions for Construction
What should I look for in my construction walkie talkie?
The basic features that all two way radios on a job site should have are durability, multiple channels, UHF transmission, and a suitable power output. Everything else is icing on the cake for you to utilize in optimizing your communication system.
Which is the best two way radio for our construction site?
This answer changes depending on who you ask. Even here, at Retevis, there could be varying opinions as to which two way radio would be right for your specific needs. I might recommend a unit from Retevis’s Rugged Radios line while my colleague could think something from Motorola would better suit you.
What’s most important is that the walkie talkies you choose have the features critical for a construction job: durability, multiple channels, UHF transmission, power output. Beyond those, your company’s custom needs are what is going to slim the field of viable choices for you.
Do we need a Repeater?
Most construction sites will not find a Repeater is needed as they are working in an area less than 350,000 ft2 or in buildings with less than 30 floors. We find that a Repeater starts to become necessary when your job site trailer is a ½ mile or more away from the site, or if your team is building multiple towers simultaneously.
Why shouldn’t we buy the least expensive two way radios you offer?
Simply put, you get what you pay for. We can relate this to the adage where a poor man will end up spending countless more dollars on boots than a wealthy man because the poor man keeps buying the cheapest pair he can get while the wealthy man invests in well-made boots that last for years.
This translates perfectly to the two way radio world. Less expensive walkie talkies are always a draw, yes, but those less expensive units are less durable and don’t support the range or the advanced features of a higher-priced two way radio.
We have existing two way radios. Can you program the new walkies talkies to work with our existing fleet?
Yes, this is an easy solution we can offer you. There are several ways of doing it, but the simplest is for you to send us a radio from your existing fleet. We then clone the new units to your radio, guaranteeing the same programming on all your new two way radios.
- IP67 waterproof
- LCD display
- Busy lock
- VOX
- High and low power
- End-of-call tone
- Pressure amplification function
- Power level display
- Scan function
- Keypad lock
- Voice annunciation
- Power saving function
- Low battery reminder
- TOT
- NOAA(US)
- Heavy Duty High power UHF band Two Way Radios: Retevis RT29 with the orange color, with the high power, and the range UHF 400-480MHZ.
- Long standby battery: RT29 with the 3200mAh high capacity battery, which support 22-25 hours of use time; and the standby time is up to 250 hours.
- Long range Two way radios: RT29, not only with the high power, but also with the high gain antenna, make the range longer.
- Including the charger base: Equipped with a charging base which makes the RT29 Two way radios charging safer and faster
- Private call, group call, all call in digital mode
- Encryption
- Wideband /Narrow band selection
- Online update
- Busy channel lockout
- English and Chinese audio prompt
- Time out timer
- TX high/Low power selection
- Read and write by computer
- Digital/analog double modes
- 32 Channels(2 Zone)
- Talk around
- Side key programmable
- Battery indicator
- End-tone elimination
- VOX function
- Double time slot
- Battery save/Low battery alarm
- Monitor
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