What is the Difference Between A Walkie Talkie and A Two-Way Radios?
A walkie-talkie in general is a half-duplex hand-held communication device used for communicating between individuals or a group of individuals. Usually, a walkie-talkie looks just like a mobile telephone handset, with a speaker built on one end, and microphone on the other end, and an antenna on top to send and receive signals. The user (individuals/ groups), needs to hold it close to the face to communicate in a unidirectional manner.
It means the messages on the walkie talkie also called handheld transceiver travel one way, one at a time with both users on the move like a group of trekkers, hikers, fishermen, and hunters. Even though a 2-way VHF radio can travel farther distances and uses a lower frequency, it is not a good choice in buildings, where a walkie-talkie fare better. Walkie-talkies generally operate in pre-programmed frequencies within the band of 446.0 to 446.1 MHz
What is a two-way radio?
A two-way radio is a communication device that is used to send and receive messages over radio waves together. This means, it is an audio transceiver, transmitter, and receiver rolled into one unit. In other words, it is a bidirectional device that allows person-to-person voice communication. A two-way radio is used by geographically separated groups/ individuals who need to be constantly in touch with each other through voice communication. In general, in a 2-way radio, while a person on one end is static, the person on the other end is always on the move like an aircraft pilot and air traffic controller, ship captains, and harbour-master.
A two-way radio can operate both in a half-duplex or full-duplex mode. In the Half-duplex mode, the two-way radio can transmit or receive messages via radio signals one by one but not simultaneously, but in a Full-duplex mode, the two-way radio can transmit and receive messages by radio signals at the same time. Two-way radios generally operate in the pre-programmed frequency range of 136 MHz to 900 MHz,
Difference Between Walkie Talkie and Two-Way Radio
A walkie-talkie has a shorter range, fewer features, and is cheaper than a two-way radio. The walkie-talkie is typically a license-free low-cost communication device. A two-way radio generally has a tough build quality and is used in a commercial setup, as such requires a license and is expensive compared to a walkie-talkie. There are numerous types of 2-way radios that are not handheld or portable devices as such are not considered mobile radio sets. As such it can be said that all walkie-talkies are two-way radios but not all two-way radios are walkie-talkies.
As the differences between the two are minor, walkie-talkie and two-way radio are often considered interchangeable, particularly in the USA. However, in the UK there is a clear difference between the two, and the high-end devices are called 2-way radios whereas basic devices are called walkie talkies. Although some manufacturers don’t usually refer to the half-duplex hand-held communication device as a walkie-talkie but as a two-way radio.
