Two-way radios play a key role in many industrial, health care and emergency services applications. As commonplace as cellular phones have become in today’s society, in some environments they are not necessarily the best communications tool. A two way radio is much more efficient, allowing instant communication between people fast and effectively. Are you taking proper care of yours?
Here are some maintenance tips:
Storage
The ideal environment is a dry area at room temperature ~ “22C”
Cleaning
It’s best to use a microfiber cloth or soft cloth dampened with water to clean your radios. Do not expose the radio to solvents.
Charging
Do not leave the radio on or use it while it’s charging. Don’t put the radio in and out of the charger while using it. By doing either of these things will reduce life expediency of the battery.
Battery Life
The average life span of a NiCad, Ni-MH and Li-Ion batteries is 2 – 4 years depending on usage and charging habits. Don’t store a battery in an active charger. Don’t keep the radio on while charging. Don’t take the radio in and out of the charger when using.It’s best to charge the portable once a day or after 8 – 12 hours of usage. When a battery is 2 years old, it should be analyzed by a qualified service center. Analyzing a battery of any chemistry with clear the memory increasing the battery capacity. Most analyzers will produce a report showing the percentage of batteries capacity. It’s recommended that when a battery is down to 70% capacity it should be replaced.
Daily Usage
Don’t grab or hold the radio by the antenna, avoid dropping the radio, keep away from moisture even if it’s waterproof. Try to keep the radio from extreme temperatures.
Through proper care and maintenance, your radios have a much higher probability of serving you when you need them most.
Acknowledgement: This article was composed with input from experienced two-way radio specialist, Eugene Rollinson, Corporate Account Manager, Nutec Electro Tel.
If you are considering two-way radios as part of your communications strategy, contact Nutec Electro Tel now for a no obligation consultation.
