Rapid advances in mobile devices and wireless networking technology are changing the communications landscape. Companies can install temporary wireless networks and beam Internet connectivity to every nook and cranny of a designated area. That capability comes in especially handy on construction sites, where two-way radios (walkie-talkies) have long been commonplace.
Is there still a need for two-way radios in a time when construction professionals can bring their laptops, tablets and smartphones to work and communicate with colleagues around the world in real time? The answer is an emphatic yes, as long as it's the right radio.
Integrating Digital Two-way Radios into wireless networks
Motorola Solutions designed its MOTOTRBO line of digital two-way radios, repeaters and software to tap these rapid changes in networking technologies. Its XPR6350 and CP200d portable radios leverage the inherent advantages of digital technology, which translates the human voice into packets of data for distribution over Internet protocol, or IP, networks. Internet connectivity enables a construction supervisor in Dubai to consult via walkie-talkie with an architect in Oslo, effectively expanding the radio’s range from thousands of feet to thousands of miles.
While it’s true that other mobile devices can, in theory, communicate over a construction site’s WLAN, most smartphones and tablets have not been purpose-built for rugged outdoor environments where weather and wear-and-tear can damage sensitive electronics.
That’s where industrial-strength portable radios come into their own: They’re designed to survive drops, kicks and bumps, and built to keep out dust and moisture, which is exactly what construction pros need.
Motorola CP200d: A digital workhorse
The CP200d is a digital version of Motorola’s trusted CP200, a simple and economical radio used in businesses around the world. It has 16 channels, up to four watts in UHF and five watts in VHF, and is built to the IP54 standard for keeping out dust, drizzle, sprinkles and moisture.
The CP200d can be used in both digital and analog modes so companies don’t have to worry about their new radios being unable to communicate with their old ones. The radios come in analog by default and can be upgraded to digital with a simple software upload.
The radio’s dual-capacity direct mode uses two-slot TDMA technology, which allows two radios to work in space that used to be reserved for one, which doubles the capacity of a business radio network.
XPR7350: An advanced digital communication tool
The MOTOTRBO XPR7000 line was developed for complex communication networks. Some models in this line come with hundreds of channels, so large construction sites with multiple teams can have their own channels. They also have GPS capability, which can tell managers the precise locations of their radio-equipped staff.
The 32-channel XPR7350 has enhanced, easy-to-use features and offers advantages like integrated Bluetooth and Intelligent Audio to improve business communications and increase efficiency in the workplace. The Motorola XPR7550 operates on 1,000 channels and offers the ability to seamlessly integrate voice and data.
Advanced digital radios like these tap into the robust data-tracking capabilities of modern wireless networks. Because all digital radios generate data, their data-use patterns can be analyzed to remove inefficiencies and make companies more profitable. That helps companies recover some of their investment in these more complex radios.
MOTOROLA, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2015 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.
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