Comms gear in it's simplest form is 2 individual radios that can talk to each other. After that it can become a little confusing quickly. I suggest a focus on UHF/VHF frequency portables with an operating range of about 1 mile. Stuff non-hams can utilize and are easily available. If you're looking to communicate at distances longer than that, it's time to go to the HAM forum.
I'm pretty sure we start out the same way - a bubble pack with 2 radios from [insert chain store here] that run on AA batteries. Wow, cool stuff until you realize the limits and that the equipment is not commercial grade. There's a lot out there and getting 2 different manufacturers can be hit or miss unless you read the specs and get into it deeper.
Then it's time for commercial grade stuff - robust cases made for everyday abuse by police, fire, maintenance staff, etc. - Motorola, Kenwood, Vertex and so on all make commercial grade stuff that works. The problem is not finding it, it's programming and accessories.
Motorola is particularly fussy because of the way the obsolete equipment and programs - cables are all proprietary as is software. Most of the equipment is not "face programmable" so you have no option besides using a compute, cable and software to input channels.
Once you get your radios talking to each other it's time to start looking at the accessories to make comms simple so you can focus on your specific task.
Options include:
No accessories - just hand held/belt clip
Lapel Mic - Police are the most common users of this style.
Lapel Mic w/Ear bud - you can hear radio traffic but those around won't
Secret Squirrel Earbud - a few flavors, throat mic, push button in hand, lapel button, etc. Security personnel are the most common application - night clubs, etc.
Headsets - a few flavors like NASCAR pit crews, high noise environment stuff and base operations "telephone operator" styles for dispatching and the like.
Depending on your task the accessories can make all the difference in making comms easy - the task will drive the accessories in most cases. Figure out your conditions and pick the right gear.
That's about it for an intro.
Discuss.
I'm pretty sure we start out the same way - a bubble pack with 2 radios from [insert chain store here] that run on AA batteries. Wow, cool stuff until you realize the limits and that the equipment is not commercial grade. There's a lot out there and getting 2 different manufacturers can be hit or miss unless you read the specs and get into it deeper.
Then it's time for commercial grade stuff - robust cases made for everyday abuse by police, fire, maintenance staff, etc. - Motorola, Kenwood, Vertex and so on all make commercial grade stuff that works. The problem is not finding it, it's programming and accessories.
Motorola is particularly fussy because of the way the obsolete equipment and programs - cables are all proprietary as is software. Most of the equipment is not "face programmable" so you have no option besides using a compute, cable and software to input channels.
Once you get your radios talking to each other it's time to start looking at the accessories to make comms simple so you can focus on your specific task.
Options include:
No accessories - just hand held/belt clip
Lapel Mic - Police are the most common users of this style.
Lapel Mic w/Ear bud - you can hear radio traffic but those around won't
Secret Squirrel Earbud - a few flavors, throat mic, push button in hand, lapel button, etc. Security personnel are the most common application - night clubs, etc.
Headsets - a few flavors like NASCAR pit crews, high noise environment stuff and base operations "telephone operator" styles for dispatching and the like.
Depending on your task the accessories can make all the difference in making comms easy - the task will drive the accessories in most cases. Figure out your conditions and pick the right gear.
That's about it for an intro.
Discuss.