Speaker microphones are great for listening and responding easily to calls without picking up your two-way radio. Audio is broadcasted loud so you can hear incoming transmissions. A lot of components go into making a good speaker microphone that will let you hear and be heard.
Here are 7 things you should be looking for when buying a speaker microphone for your two-way radio.
IP Rating
Radio accessories can have what’s called an IP Rating. Ingress Protection, or IP Rating for short, classifies the degree of protection electrical equipment is against water and solids. It’s categorized by two numbers on a scale of 1-6 for solids (like dust) and 1-8 for water. The higher the numbers, the better your equipment is protected.
It's often essential for public safety to have IP-rated accessories because they’re exposed to outside elements like rain. It's important to note an IP rating is different than being completely waterproof. Your accessories usually can withstand being submerged in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes at a time (this can vary between manufacturers).
Accessories with IP ratings give you the added protection that your equipment will stay protected.
Noise Cancelation
Loud sirens, busy streets, and noisy crowds make conversation hard on the receiving end. In most lines of work, being heard the first time is important. Noise-canceling technology cancels out loud noise around you while only filtering your voice for clear communication.
Emergency Button
Emergency buttons help public safety quickly call for help during emergencies. When there is a “man down” situation, the push of the emergency button can alert others on your channel that help is needed by a member of your team. This button is usually orange in color so it's easily visible in a life-threatening emergency or injury.
Audio Port
Speaker microphones can have audio ports for plugging in an auditory accessory like receive-only earpieces. These ports are usually 3.5mm or 2.5mm in size. When using a receive-only earpiece, you can mute the speaker and have the audio go to your ear via the acoustic tube and ear tip. This is great if you’re looking for silent communication that isn’t broadcasted loudly for people to hear.
Cabling
You want a speaker microphone that is going to withstand any environment you put it in. Speaker microphones should have strong cabling that is strain relief and durable to last. At Waveband, our microphones have Kevlar reinforced cables that are made of strong material that won’t strain.
Volume Control
Is audio too loud or too quiet? Speaker microphones can have a switch that controls how loud or soft you want to audio. Maybe you’re in a loud environment where the louder the volume the better, or you’re in a quiet area where you want a softer volume, volume control gives you that flexibility.
Intrinsically Safe
Firefighters, miners, or anyone working in hazardous locations need to use Intrinsically Safe equipment. This type of equipment is tested and safe to use around fires and won't cause a spark that could start an explosion.
Intrinsically safe radio equipment is usually bright yellow or green to differentiate itself from non-intrinsically safe equipment.
The 7 things listed above are all great features to have in a speaker microphone. Good quality audio and noise-canceling features make for clear communication even in noisy environments. Speaker microphones need to be durable in any type of weather or situation you put them through. Look for these things the next time you purchase a speaker microphone for your two-way radio.
Waveband Communications is a two-way radio accessories manufacturer with compatibility with the largest names in radios including Harris, Motorola, Kenwood, and more. Shop our durable, water-resistant, and clear audio speaker microphones for your two-way radio here.
