Do I Need a License to Operate a Walkie-Talkie?

Probably not, but it depends on how powerful you need the radio to be.

Most countries have a regulatory body that governs the use of radio frequencies. They do this so that different groups can use radio signals without interfering with each other (especially in the case of the emergency services). Here in the UK, radio transmission is regulated by Ofcom (Office of Communications), which is, in turn, regulated by the UK government.

However, if you are only planning on using a small device, Ofcom do allow some 'licence free' walkie-talkies.

The UK government allows small, low-powered handheld radios that use a set of eight frequencies in the UHF band (around 446Mhz) to be sold and used without the need for any licensing. They may be used for both business and personal / leisure purposes. Radios that meet this standard (usually called "PMR446" radios) can only have a power output of 0.5 watts, which means that their range is less than the more powerful licensable business walkie-talkies, that have power outputs of 4 to 5 watts.

One of the benefits of the European Union is that the standard for license-free radios is exactly the same, right across the EU. This means that if your radio is license-free in the UK, it will also be license free anywhere else in the EU).

If you wanted to use a more powerful radio (say anything over 5 watts for a handheld or 25 watts for vehicle radios and base stations), then you will need a license. Licensed handheld walkie-talkies can have 5 watts power output, but "licence-free" PMR446 radios can only have ½ watt power output, so the licensed radios will have a better range and better signal penetration in buildings.

The most basic licence available to you would be the 'UK Simple' license,

This licence is effectively a licence to use the more powerful radios anywhere in the United Kingdom, using a set of frequencies that are shared by all users of this licence. This licence is quick and easy to apply for, costs £75 per organization, and is valid for five years. It is ideal for most users of business radios, and is the only choice for those who need to be able to use their radios anywhere in the UK.

It is also possible to get a 'Technically assigned Geographic License' - essentially, this license allows you to use a specific frequency (or set of frequencies) that are uniquely yours. The catch is that you can only use them within a specific location. These licenses aren't especially expensive to maintain, but the cost is rising in major cities, especially London.

If you are setting yourself up as an equipment lender, or rental firm, then you'll need a UK Simple Business Radio Supplier's License. This license allocates you a set of frequencies that you rent out to clients, along with your own equipment. Because the frequencies are licensed to you, the hirer of the equipment need not worry about obtaining their own license.

How Can a Video Conference Benefit Your Next Event

For your business to maximize efficiency, management should put a few things in place. There are some tools that maneuver the different operations in the office. One of the major tools is video conferencing. Video conferencing is an important thing that should not lack in a business, but you will find that many business owners ignore it. This is because, many business owners are unaware of this technology and do not know what benefits it can bring in the business.

First, with the help of live video conferencing, you can be able to communicate with other people across the globe without the need of travelling to where they are. The existence and heavy use of mobile phones may cloud people's realization of this important technology.

Here are some advantages of video conferencing and how it can help you benefit your future events:

1. It saves money- it eliminates the costs of travelling; you can communicate with everybody you want, clients, and colleagues with just a video link at any time.

2. It can be used in connecting employees - Online video conference helps bring together all employees including those in remote areas and through this, you can update employees on all business matters and demonstrate new products.

3. It helps to improve customer relations - video conferencing engages employees to their esteemed customers. They can develop good relationships with customers without the need of meeting them physically and this also saves time.

4. It improves relationships - body language, like gestures and facial expressions are clearly displayed during a video conference and this assists in developing the relationship unlike a conversation via a phone.

Conclusion

Video conference streaming can embrace large numbers of people to talk to each other and this can be conducted from all over the globe in a more convenient and cost effective manner. Using the internet to exchange content in this fashion also improves an organisation's credibility in relation to its high tech awareness.

There are so many benefits associated with video conferencing, and no company should be ignorant as to not explore the use of this technology in their activities. It will largely help companies increase their productivity and speed up the process of exchanging ideas. Additionally, it will save money and time thus leading to a better performing company and this will assist you with everything that is needed to run a professional and smooth video conference at a very fair fee.

Keep Official Communications Private

There are several occasions when your entire team needs to communicate with each other simultaneously. One way out is using a VOIP or the voice over internet protocol. However, this implies that each one is at his/her desk and has access to the computer and broadband. This is not always feasible as most people in the construction business know. Whether it is security personnel in a multi-storied building or mall; or in businesses like transportation, interior decoration or construction, you might have several people at different locations that need to communicate what is going on. This issue is better resolved using walkie-talkies.

Professional Usage Requires Professional Gear

The idea is to ensure that you or your personnel are not at the mercy of cell phone service providers. When you opt for professional Walkie talkies you know that the frequency has been fixed by computer and the users can't change it, thus ensuring confidentiality. Amateurs desirous of listening in can be thwarted by the fact that only channels ¾ not the frequency ¾ are displayed. Such a radio system for communication is reliable and efficient to use due to voice clarity and long battery life. You don't want the battery to die on you just when somebody has some critical information to convey.

In fact, the Motorola Talkabout EM 1000 R has some advanced features, which makes it ideal for professional usage, including a range of twenty miles and emergency alert mechanisms. However, you will need other products like portable, plug and play ready cameras disguised as eyeglasses or sunglasses or even a pen or a wristwatch. Spyglasses are the tools that drive investigative journalism, crime investigation, and espionage.

Whatever may be the kind of undercover camera which you use, make sure that it has night vision and can make clear recordings even in the dark or in uncertain lighting. Try looking for the kind of video cameras which use the progressive scanning method to produce razor sharp images even with fast moving objects like passing cars. You will also need a DVR for recording, retrieving, storing, transferring and saving digitally recorded files. In the latest models of DVRs the basic operations like start, stop, pause, search and tracking saved files are simple and easy to operate. Just ensure that both the camera and the DVR have a hard drive size that matches the time frame while recording at the highest possible resolution and frame rate.

Richi James is a professional writer of technology related products he focused on security and surveillance products. He works for Secured Point