Archives May 2019

PTT over Cellular, or Push to Talk over cellular, as it is also referred to is a method of two-way radio communication.

As the name suggests, PTT over Cellular uses cellular networks, rather than radio-to-radio, or radio-to-radio via a repeater, that traditional two-way radio systems use.

For those reading who are not familiar with the term ‘cellular network’, let me explain. The cellular network is the existing communications infrastructure that makes your mobile work.

You are probably familiar with seeing those metal towers by the side of the road with antennas on them, well many of them are the receiving and transmitting antennas for the mobile phone network.

Those towers enable the radio signal to move to and from your mobile phone, allowing them to be mobile. A mobile phone is basically a different form of handheld two-way radio, operating on a higher frequency (typically around 900Mhz or 1800Mhz).

PTT over Cellular combines the advantages of a mobile phone, with the call speed of a traditional two-way radio.

With PTT over Cellular the user can communicate almost instantly, by pressing a button, rather than having to dial a number.

This speed advantage can be critical in some situations, such as an emergency. This makes the system great for improving business safety and efficiency, though there are some caveats.

A caveat, is that the mobile phone network, which is used by the system, can become overloaded in emergency situations.

This is because lots of people may start to use their mobile phones, to record and send images and video, to social media accounts.

Therefore this needs to be considered, for use in locations such as large public events, and areas with a lot of people, such as city spaces.

In this situation, traditional two-way radio, may be a better option. We also provide this.

The handsets used with PTT over Cellular networks, can either be shaped like the traditional handheld two-way radio, or just a special app installed on a mobile phone.

A handset that we would recommend is the new Submersible Entel DN series.

The Entel DN series radio is available in both SIM, and SIM free versions.

Push to Talk over Cellular

https://yesway.co.uk

IP stands for Ingress Protection, and is a rating of how resistant the radio equipment is to water and dust ingress.

Therefore a high IP rating is important in a Marine environment.

The IP rating is especially important for sea going yachts, as the corrosive effects of salty sea air can penetrate the casing of radios with too low an IP rating.

The effects of corrosion on a radio with too low an IP rating, will be premature failure of the radio equipment. This is often because the PCB ( Printed Circuit Board) inside the radio, gets attacked and corroded.

PCB corrosion can also occur within environments, such as Indoor Swimming Pools, where a high Chlorine environment may be present.

An IP67 or IP68 radio, such as the Entel DX series, can be dropped into water with no ill effect. This is due to its high ingress protection rating.

Yachts battery rooms need not only a radio with a high IP rating, but also ATEX (Intrinsically safe) protection, due to the potentially explosive environment (ask us for specialist advice).

Of course not every yacht needs radios with high IP rating, and for cabin use, something like the excellent Hytera PD405 would be ideal.