S&P Communications

How far do radios talk?

There are several factors that affect the range and coverage of radios. The factors that have the greatest impact are the frequency band of the radio system, the power output of the radio transmitter, the height and location of the antenna, building layout, design and size, the terrain the system will be operating in and the amount of electromagnetic noise in the general area of operation. Given these factors, in average circumstances:

4-5W radios will have a range of 1.5-5 miles
2W radios will have a range of 0.5-2 miles
FRS radios will have a range of up to one mile

What is the difference between VHF/UHF and 800/900MHz?

VHF (136-174MHz) signals have good range characteristics in suburban and rural areas. VHF generally has poor building penetration.

UHF (450-512MHz) signals are more appropriate for urban areas as it has the best penetration of dense metropolitan areas and is almost completely free from external noise. UHF has superior building penetration.

800/900MHz is also appropriate for urban areas, as the signals will bounce off structures and rock surfaces increasing penetration in urban and mountain areas. 800/900MHz is typically reserved for public safety and private system carriers.

What is the average life expectancy of a radio?

FRS (Family Radio Service) and other inexpensive retail radio models are estimated at 6-12 months. Commercial grade radio models are estimated at 4-7 years.

Are other brands of radios compatible with mine?

Radio compatibility depends on the protocol operating frequency and emission mask. The two operating protocols are Conventional and Trunking.

Conventional – The conventional protocol is a universal operating protocol. These are standard two-ways and will communicate with every two-way manufacturer. Any conventional-capable radio will work.
Trunking – Some trunking protocols are proprietary to that radio manufacturer and will not talk to radios by other manufacturers. Some trunking protocols are non-proprietary.

Emission mask refers to how the information is transmitted from the radio to the receiving station. The two emission masks are analog and digital.

What is the difference between Analog and Digital?

Analog transmission is sending signals as waves of reflection similar to the original signal. In digital format, the information is compressed into a series of zeroes and ones, increasing the clarity of the transmission. Most digital radios can communicate with analog radios. However, analog radios cannot communicate with digital radios.

How should I care for my battery?

Charge your new battery overnight BEFORE using it:
Nickel Cadmium and Nickel Metal Hydride 14-16 hours.
Lithium Ion/Polymer 2-3 additional hours after the charger light turns green.
Batteries that have been in storage for more than two months should be fully discharged and recharged.
DO NOT leave your radio and fully charged battery in the charger when not charging. Continuous charging will shorten battery life. (Do not use charger as a radio stand.)
Only charge a battery when it needs it. If it is not fully discharged, do not recharge it. (The most effective solution for users requiring longer operating time is to carry a spare battery.)

What are the differences between Ni-CD, Ni-MH, and Li-Ion batteries?

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-CD) is currently the most reliable and cost effective technology available. Ni-CD batteries will provide at least 700 charge cycles and can provide even more when properly recharged. Improper charging can lead to the development of memory, which diminishes the length of the life cycles.

Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) delivers as much as 30% more talk time than Ni-CD batteries of similar size. Ni-MH batteries are more susceptible to heat damage than Ni-CD and require a rapid charger. With proper care, Ni-MH will provide about 500 charge cycles.

Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries, otherwise known as smart batteries, offer increased capacity over Ni-MH and are lighter weight than similar sized Ni-CD and Ni-MH batteries. Li-Ion batteries require rapid chargers. Li-Ion charge cycles are about 400.

What is the difference between a mobile, a portable, a control station (base), and a repeater?

A mobile station is one that is capable of operating from an external power source, typically vehicle applications. Mobile stations are mounted in either the dash or the trunk of a vehicle.

A portable radio is a battery-powered radio that is small enough to be carried by a person.

A control station is a fixed station used for communications with mobile or portable units.

A repeater is either a mobile or fixed station whose purpose is to extend the range to and from mobile units.

Do you rent radios?

S&P Communications does rent radios. Perfect for tradeshows, special events, fundraisers, fairs, sporting events, construction and filming, S&P Communications proudly offers the latest Motorola and Kenwood radio equipment along with a full line of accessories including earpieces, headsets, shoulder mics, bank chargers and more.

What should I do when something is wrong with my radio?

If your radio isn’t working properly, bring it into our office or call Customer Service to arrange for pick up. For on-site service, call Customer Service to schedule a time when a Service Technician can come out and service your system.

As authorized warranty and service centers for Motorola, Kenwood and Icom, our trained service staff of experienced professionals have the capabilities to service and repair not only the radios you purchase from S&P Communications, but most all major brands as well. In most cases, the turnaround time for repairs is three to five days. For those repairs that have to be sent back to the manufacturer the turnaround time is around seven to ten days.

What is the average cost of radio repair?

For radio check-up, preventative maintenance or estimate, there is a flat rate charge of $40. For radios needing repair, the flat rate is $80 plus the cost of parts. For repairs that exceed $125 or radios sent to manufacturer depot, an estimate will be provided to customer for approval before repairs proceed. Battery test and reconditioning are included in all repairs and all repairs carry a 90-day warranty.

How do I get my radios repaired when they are under warranty?

Each manufacturer has its own warranty procedures, most of which require a Proof of Purchase from an authorized dealer to perform warranty work. If the radio was purchased at S&P Communications, we have the necessary information on file. If the radio was not purchased at S&P Communications, you will need to provide Proof of Purchase with the radio’s serial number for warranty service. Depending on the type of radio and severity of problem, it will either be repaired by our Service Technicians or sent to the manufacturer for repair.

How do I get my radios repaired after the warranty has expired?

For radios needing repair that are not covered by warranty or are out warranty, S&P Communications charges a flat rate plus parts (See “What is the average cost of radio repair?”). Depending on the age of the equipment and the severity of the problem, in some cases it may be more cost advantageous to consider purchasing a replacement. For a small investment, you can eliminate unpredictable repair costs by having your radios covered by a Maintenance Plan customized to fit your budget and service needs.

Do you offer a maintenance contract? What does it include?

Yes. Our maintenance agreements provide a structured, hassle-free means of radio system management for a fixed budgeted cost. S&P Communications goes one step further by providing additional services such as pickup and delivery, engraving, loaner radios, three day repair turnaround, battery replacement, and discounts on installations and accessories. We offer customized maintenance packages to meet your budget, but more importantly, your specific service needs. For example, the Gold maintenance plan covers labor, all component parts, annual preventative maintenance schedule, belt clip replacement, antenna replacement, battery replacement, 25% discount on engraving services, priority repair service.

Do I need a license? Why?

Two-way radio systems function by radiating energy in the electromagnetic spectrum. To protect the usability of this resource and to enhance its value by protecting systems from interfering with each other, governments, by international treaty, have stipulated certain rules under which they will allow this energy to be produced within their borders. In the United States, these laws are found in Title 47, Vol 1 of the Congressional Federal Register. Part 22 (Public Radio Communications) and Part 90 (Private Radio Communications) stipulate the rules under which most private, non-federal government and commercial two-way radio systems may operate in the U.S.

Part 22 consists of highly restrictive rules for private radio carriers, such as paging operators. Most business and/or individuals will not be regulated by these restrictions as their operations are covered in the Part 90 rules. Under Part 90, most radio operations will fall under one of the following classifications:

MURS – Multi-Use Radio Service that authorizes any citizen to operate certain two-way radios on a limited number of specific frequencies in the VHF (151-154 MHz) radio band. These rules prohibit any fixed station operation and specify that any portable radio used in this service may never exceed 2 watts power output.
FRS – Family Radio Service is another unlicensed frequency band in which transmitters with integral antenna systems may operate at no more than 500 milliwatts of power on specific UHF (450 MHz) radio channels. Any citizen may use these radios without a license.
GMRS – General Mobile Radio Service allows individuals to operate radio systems primarily for communications with members of their immediate household. Radios operating in this service are limited to 2 watts power output on specific UHF (462-467 MHz) radio frequencies. Users, however, are required to apply for and obtain an FCC license before using the devices.
Land Mobile Radio – This service is generally used by commercial enterprise, state and local government agencies. The FCC requires all applications for licenses in this band to be approved by a certified frequency coordinator whose job it is to choose operating frequencies that will minimize interference with other licensed users. There are specific classes of service for which certain frequencies are set aside. These classes include “ for profit” shared operations, internal use only operations, trunked operation with or without a “protected service area”, conventional repeater operation, low power mobile only (2 watts or less), high power mobile only (more than 2 watts) and more.
Congress has authorized the FCC to levy fines of up to $10,000 per day against individuals and/or organizations who operate radio systems without being properly licensed or at locations or power levels which are not authorized within their license.

What types of financing do you offer?

S&P Communications offers many different financing arrangements to accommodate our customers’ variety of needs. Whether you prefer to maintain a COD account, require purchase orders for equipment orders and service, or would like a customized payment plan for all-inclusive service, S&P Communications offers options to best suit your business needs.

What is Project 25?

The P25 standard was created by and for public safety and federal communications professionals to provide detailed standards for the design of communications systems so that all purchasers of P25 compatible equipment can communicate with each other. Download the P25 FAQ for more information.