A rechargeable two way radio lets you plug in to AC power after using the radio instead of having to throw away batteries whenever the radio’s charge is low. Following are some things to consider when looking for a rechargeable two way radio.
Batteries
Some two-way radios take standard AA batteries that allow you to use rechargeable batteries, but in event of a long power outage, you can use off the shelf AA batteries when your rechargeable batteries die. Other radios use a custom size battery. For these you can purchase spare batteries that you can have charged and ready to go in the event your primary battery charge runs out. Two-way radios come with a charger unit to keep the primary batteries charged, and in the case of custom batteries, they usually include a slot for the backup battery too.
There are three types of batteries that are typically used for rechargeable two-way radios: nickel cadmium (NiCAD), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium ion (LiION). You can’t typically choose the type of battery you use for most two-way radios. The manufacturer does that for you. Following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
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NiCAD |
Good at low temperatures, resistant to overcharging, long life expectancy, low cost. | Larger and heavier, memory effect reduces effectiveness if not fully discharged, |
NiMH |
No memory effect, lighter than NiCAD | Shorter life expectancy, special charger required to limit overcharging. |
LiION |
HTML clipboardFast charging, no memory effect, slow loss of charge when not in use, lighter than other batteries. | Higher cost, after a number of maximum number of charges they no longer accept a charge (typically 500 to 1000). |
Drop-In Charger
Some two way radios simply have an AC adapter that plugs in the phone which recharges its battery. Other radios have a drop-in recharger cradle that lets you neatly store the unit, plus they allow for charging a backup battery as well. That way if you run out of charge on one battery you simply swap it out for the charged one.
Multi-Charging Units
While each radio comes with its own recharging unit, the higher quality radios have multi-unit chargers available that enable you to have up to six radios charging at one time. If you are keeping the radios all in one place, the advantage of this is that you don’t have to use a large outlet strip to plug in multiple AC transformers for each radio.
Depending on the type of rechargable two way radio you choose you may not be given the choice of some of the above options, but if you look around, you can find the radio that best suits your application.