Golf-course-mowingTwo-way radios (walkie-talkies) are must-have tools for golf course workers, who know better than to rely on spotty cell phone coverage. A course warden depends on having a radio to call the groundskeepers to clear out branches blown down in overnight storms. Course pros, bartenders and restaurant staff also rely on radios to streamline customer service. At BearCom, we recommend that golf course managers equip their staffs with basic, industrial-strength radios like the CP200d from Motorola Solutions, a digital version of one of the most trusted business radios on the market. The CP200d illustrates must-have features for golf course staff:

 Digital/analog capability. Like so much technology, two-way radios are going digital, encoding the human voice in     packets of  data that can travel on wireless networks, or WLANs. The CP200d is a bridge between digital and analog technologies: It can work in either mode, so companies can upgrade at their own pace and still be able to talk to people using older analog models.

 Water resistance. The CP200d is built to operate in light showers and rain — the most common risks for golf course workers. You might want a totally watertight radio for groundskeepers who work near ponds and face a risk of their radios getting dunked, but that’s more protection than most golf course staffers need.

 16 channels. This allows course managers to assign specific channels to various departments, so everyone has plenty of communication capacity and retail people do not have their calls interrupted by outdoor staff.

4 to 5 watts of power. With up to 4 watts in UHF and 5 watts in VHF, the CP200d has plenty of power to allow a manager in the front office to talk to a co-worker on the farthest reaches of the back nine.

Two-away Radio accessories are critical for golf course staff

BearCom sells more than 20 accessories for the CP200d, including batteries, chargers, speaker mics, headsets and antennas. With the right accessories, golf course managers can ensure a basic but versatile radio accommodates a wide range of workers. To match the right accessories to individual golf course workers, keep these points in mind:

Sound environment. Headsets with earpieces and microphones make radios hands-free, ensuring retail staff and grass mowers can still communicate while getting their work done. Some highly specialized headsets have whisper mode, which is vital for outdoor staff who do not want their voices to distract golfers. Staffers running loud machines like leaf blowers, however, need noise-blocking headsets that protect their hearing.

Power requirements. Portable radios are useless without charged batteries. Some chargers will energize a bank of batteries all at once to ensure there are always plenty of charged batteries around. Also, some radios can use high-capacity batteries that will stay powered longer than standard batteries.

Terrain. The rolling hills of a golf course can present challenges for line-of-sight radios. People working in the most far-flung sections of the course may need an extra-long accessory antenna, while retail staff might need a short, stubby antenna that is more comfortable to wear in a busy pro shop or restaurant.

Bear in mind that some accessories are optimized for digital radios, while others are built for analog models. Also, some accessories are weatherproof but not all, so be sure to keep your climate in mind.

Ready for a digital upgrade?

Digital technology represents the future. A few points in favor of digital radios:

Better sound quality. Digital radio conversations sound clear to the edge of the radio’s range; they don’t get noisier as users move farther away from each other.

Longer battery life. Digital radios use less power than analog versions, so they can stay active longer on a charge.

Digital data capacity. Packets of voice data sent by digital radios can be distributed on any standard IP (Internet Protocol) network. If your golf course already has a WLAN, then digital radios become part of your IT infrastructure. That means the digital data generated by radios can be analyzed to improve the efficiency and profitability of your course.

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