Quick decisions, life-saving responses, and dangerous situations. For emergency responders like police and ambulance workers that operate within these conditions on a daily basis, reliable communications are fundamental to ensure everyone is connected and informed of the latest situation developments. While traditional 2-way radio systems can provide a useful choice within industries like hospitality, they are not necessarily built to withstand unique dangers like storms and earthquakes or operate within high-density environments underground. In these sorts of life-and-death situations communications simply can’t fail; reliable and effective mission-critical communications are fundamental to the safety of the wider community.
When deciding upon the most effective mission-critical radios, there are numerous factors to consider that can fluctuate in importance depending on the specific industry. Just some of the factors are range, sound quality, radio durability, safety, and security of communications, as well as the wider integration that the radios have with different unifying data applications.
With this considered, here is our list of the best mission-critical radios going into 2024.
MXP600 TETRA Radio
One of the latest TETRA radios by Motorola solutions, the MXP600 TETRAs have been specifically designed to prioritise the safety of personnel on the front line. This is obvious through its rugged design and durability which can operate effectively through the most extreme of environments. Similarly, the MXP600 is built with user simplicity as well as security in mind. Each radio is small and lightweight as well as offering an extended battery life, making them perfectly suited for efficient communications within longer and potentially tiring mission-critical scenarios. The TETRA also features a backlit keypad and a dedicated emergency button that ensures any frontline personnel can be heard in an instant should a critical scenario escalate further.
MXP600s also feature innovative and powerful sound technologies that ensure complete communication efficiency within the loudest of environments and are built with Bluetooth 5.0 technologies to allow for secure pairing with external smartphone devices. These features make Motorola Solutions MXP600 radio one of the best around for simple and efficient communications between personnel.
Key Mission Critical Features
- Wi-Fi Over-the-Air Updates and Programming
- Bluetooth® 5.0 technology
- Near field communication for Bluetooth pairing
- Push-to-talk Land Mobile Radio
- Compact and rugged
- Pairable with a smartphone for HD voice
MOTOTRBO R7 Two-Way Radio
Launched in Q1 of 2022, the MOTOTRBO R7 series is the latest in the portable MOTOTRBO range of two-way radios. When compared to other mission-critical radios, the MOTOTRBO R7 has been built to withstand volatile industry environments such as oil and gas. This is in part due to the impenetrable IP68 design that provides complete water as well as dust protection, meaning that any unintentional submergence in water will not impact communication efficiency. Given the dangerous environments in which the radio is used, this is a fundamental safety feature that compliments the durable MIL-STD-810 military standard design.
Another mission-critical feature of this radio is the innovative noise-cancellation technology driven by the Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity technologies. Within high-density and noisy mission-critical industry environments such as construction sites being able to hear key information can be a challenge with traditional two-way radios. The MOTOTRBO R7 alleviates this by providing game-changing audio clarity and loudness no matter where the workforce operates.
Key Mission Critical Features
- Easy to use full display and keypad (with the option for no display and keypad if preferred
- Large display (2.4 in. 320 x 240 px.)
- IP58 and IP68 rated.
- Intrinsic safe TIA-4950 option available.
- Intelligent audio cancelling technologies.
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS options.
- Long battery life
- Offers a range of accessories.
APX 8000 All-Band Portable Radio
As part of the APX series of Motorola solutions radios, the APX 8000 All-Band Portable Radio offers the best functionality for users thanks to the unique 4 radio frequency bands, adaptive audio and gain control, and ultra-loud speakers. This enables complete communication interoperability and adaptability within a diverse range of mission-critical environments. For example, if someone is in a high-noise environment or required to whisper in a sensitive and dangerous situation, the sound quality and communication efficiency remains the same even if these change within a quick period.
The APX 8000 also offers Wi-Fi and data connectivity and therefore multiple benefits to personnel safety. The radio can be connected to up to 20 Wi-Fi networks, allowing for seamless and frequent security updates. Similarly, each radio can be easily integrated into an overarching ASTRO 25 trunked system, allowing for unified communications management between personnel and a smooth running operation. Each radio is also equipped with an outdoor GPS that shares location and ensures that a quick response can be sent should someone be in danger.
Key Mission Critical Features
- 4 Bands in 1 Radio: 7/800 MHz, VHF and UHF Range 1 and Range 2 bands
- Adaptive audio gain control and noise suppression
- Adaptive windporting in high wind environments
- MIL-STD 810 C, D, E, F, G rating
- AES, DES, and ADP encryption algorithms
- Integrated Wi-Fi and data connectivity
MOTOTRBO ION
The MOTRBO ION is one of the more unique two-way radios. As a smart radio it is built on an android operating system and offers seamless integration between the most useful mobile applications – regardless of the industry – like bar scanning, VoIP calls and instant messaging. The radio can even be connected to a business’s full unified technology ecosystem meaning that personnel can access options like video security and quickly respond to any situation. This is particularly a useful integrated feature for those within security and emergency services. Additionally, in high travel scenarios the radio stays continually connected thanks to its seamless switching to an optimal broadband signal once radio coverage has been lost.
Despite being an always-connected smart radio, MOTOTRBO ION radios have been designed to adhere to NIST Cybersecurity Framework and maximise system security. By implementing ARM’s TrustZone technology through a Trusted Execution Environment it ensures that all critical data is completely isolated from the android operating system and subsequently stored and protected. Devices are also built with multifactor authentication mechanisms to ensure that only those who should have access to information do.
Key Mission Critical Features
- Android platform
- Uses Motorola Solutions’ unified technology ecosystem
- Full multimedia capabilities
- Sturdy and dependable design
- Long battery life
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity features
- Seamless radio signal and broadband switching
Reliable, Effective and Durable Communications
With the potential life-and-death situations that different industries and emergency services face each day, there is a fundamental need for two-way radio systems that are specifically designed to enable effective mission-critical communications. For businesses looking for durable, reliable, and effective radio communications, Motorola Solutions offer a wide portfolio that offers excellent solutions.
Minerva is a proud Motorola Solutions partner and will tailor a solution for your business’s mission-critical two-way radio communication requirements. If you’re interested in our two-way radio ranges and how they can benefit your organisation’s mission-critical communications, then contact our expert team today.