Concert venue A venue manager looking for the best two-way radios (walkie-talkies) for events has two realities to deal with: large crowds and loud performers. People numbering in the thousands mean security staff, concessionaires and maintenance staff all need to be able to communicate with each other quickly and efficiently no matter where they might be in the venue. Loud performances mean the radios need to be designed with noise-control technologies. Both of these realities create complex communications challenges that require radios packed with capabilities often missing from less-advanced models designed for smaller settings like retail stores and restaurants.

What to look for in a two-way radio

If you’re in the market for radios, it’s helpful to scroll through the feature list of a model on the market and see what each feature does. The HT1250 two-way radio from Motorola Solutions is designed for more complex communication scenarios, so it offers a good illustration of what you can find in the best two-way radios. Power. With 4 watts in UHF, 5 watts in VHF and 6 watts in low-band mode, the HT1250 has ample transmission range for a well-defined area like a stadium or concert hall. Each frequency band has unique characteristics (VHF is best used outdoors in areas with few obstructions, for instance), so it’s good to have multiple band options. Channels. Up to 128 channels can be programmed into the HT1250. Festivals that sprawl across several square miles could potentially need more than the standard 16 channels available in many basic two-way radios. Talk-around. Large events and venues like stadiums often rely on repeaters to connect people in far-flung locales. Sometimes, though, users who are nearby need to be able to bypass the repeater and talk directly. Pass-around mode enables this option. Clean audio. Motorola’s exclusive X-Pand compression keeps audio sounding pure and sharp even if the band is going full-blast or the crowd is roaring its approval. Voice-operated. With an optional headset, the HT1250 allows users to communicate hands-free. That’s a must-have option for people dealing with crowd control or retailing operations. Emergency signaling. An emergency button on the HT1250 can be programmed to send an emergency alert in case a user needs to call in the cavalry for a brawl or fetch first aid for a heart attack victim. Data storage. Phone numbers, frequencies and other short messages can be stored and read back on the HT1250’s LCD screen. This makes your radio a much more versatile communication tool. Compact and full keypads. The HT1250 comes in two configurations — a compact keypad with three programmable keys and a full keypad model, the HT1250-LS+, that has adds more advanced capabilities. It’s tempting to just buy the fullest feature set but some of your users may never need more than the compact keypad. It’s best to have the choice. Six programmable keys. With programmable keys, users push one button to use features that might otherwise require pushing several buttons. The HT1250 has three programmable keys on the side of the radio body near the push-to-talk button in addition to the three on the front panel. Consider the rental option Festivals and other events often require a large communication infrastructure for just a few days every year. There’s not much sense in owning a radio fleet that will sit in a warehouse the rest of the time. That’s one of the reasons why BearCom is the nation’s largest provider of radio rentals. When you rent two-way radios, you get the latest technology and leave it up the experts to program your radios, deal with FCC licensing and make sure everyone has the right radios for their specific jobs. motorolasolutions 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.