TWO-WAY RADIO (Walkie Talkie) RENTALS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Example of how we handle a large event

Not just Walkie Talkies, Mobile Relay Associates (MRA) dba Raycom has a complete two-way radio rental department.  We rent both mobile and walkie talkie two-way radios that will cover from small areas to hundreds of miles. Our rentals consist of the finest radio equipment available manufactured by Kenwood including their state of the art NEXEDGE digital radio products.  Our equipment is maintained by professionals to the highest standards, so you can count on the radio equipment working at your event instead of failing to provide the communications required.  We can handle the smallest rental of two radios to be used over a weekend to 1500 radios for large special events.  We provide radios from one day to years at a time.  Whatever your needs, we can supply the radios to keep you in communicating.

There are many types of radio systems.  The majority of radio system rentals are for system type #1 or system type #2.  However, many events cannot be handled properly with system type #1 or type #2 because the needs for radio coverage far exceed the performance of these simple radio systems.  Many rental companies will provide a repeater system type #3 or repeater system type #4 which can extend the range of the rental, but often suffers from one or more problems due a lack of coverage from the repeater location or co-channel “Radio Interference Issues”.  MRA radio systems include the entire spectrum of radio systems which no other company in Southern California can provide.  We also have exclusive radio channels to prevent you from having co-channel radio interference. Radio systems that we can provide are:

System Type No.	Type of System	Type of Performance
1	On site analog simplex	Communications is limited to radio line-of-sight which is typically 4-6 blocks in the city, sometimes more or less depending upon circumstances.  Inside buildings, the range is highly dependent upon the building design & construction and may not work throughout the entire facility in some buildings.  MOST RENTAL COMPANIES HAVE FCC LICENSES TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
2	On site digital simplex	Communications is limited to radio line-of-sight which is typically 5-8 blocks in the city, sometimes more or less depending upon circumstances.  Inside buildings, the range is highly dependent upon the building design & construction and may not work throughout the entire facility in some buildings.  Digital radios will often cover the entire area when an analog radio will not provide the coverage.  Digital radios provide approximately 20% better range than the equivalent analog system.  MOST RENTAL COMPANIES HAVE FCC LICENSES TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
3	On Site Analog Conventional Repeater	One repeater is required for each talk group (i.e. security, food service, transportation, parking, administration, etc.).  The range of the radio system is determined by the placement of the repeater and the height of the antenna above ground.  (We can produce a coverage map prediction once we have the technical parameters including latitude, longitude and antenna height.)  Since individual repeaters use duplexers and one antenna per repeater and with several repeaters at the same location, they tend to interfere with each other thus causing unreliable operation.  SOME RENTAL COMPANIES ARE NOT LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
4	On Site Digital Conventional Repeater	One repeater is required for each talk group (i.e. security, food service, transportation, parking, administration, etc.).  The range of the radio system is determined by the placement of the repeater and the height of the antenna above ground.  (We can produce a coverage map prediction once we have the technical parameters including latitude, longitude and antenna height.)  Since individual repeaters use duplexers and one antenna per repeater and with several repeaters at the same location, they tend to interfere with each other thus causing unreliable operation.  Digital radios provide approximately 20% better range than the equivalent analog repeater system.  SOME RENTAL COMPANIES ARE NOT LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.
5	Existing Centralized Trunked Analog Repeaters	Coverage is determined by the existing repeater locations.  (See coverage maps on the Airtime Services page.)  MRA owns many trunked repeater systems that are permanently installed and operational at strategic locations to provide coverage where often needed.  NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE OR OFFERS THIS SERVICE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
6	On-Site Analog Centralized Trunked Repeater System	One trunked analog repeater system is required for the entire event.  The number of channels in the trunking system is determined by the number of radios and the number of talk groups (i.e. security, food service, transportation, parking, administration, etc.).  The range of the radio system is determined by the placement of the analog trunked repeater system and the height of the antenna above ground.  (We can produce a coverage map prediction once we have the technical parameters including latitude, longitude and antenna height.)  The trunked repeater system uses a receiver multicoupler system so it uses one receive antenna for all the channels.  The transmitters use a transmitter combining system and one antenna per transmit combiner to create reliable operation.  NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE, BUT SOME MAY PROVIDE THIS SERVICE WITHOUT PROPER LICENSING.
7	Existing Digital Network	Coverage is determined by the existing digital network locations.  (See coverage maps on the Airtime Services page.)  MRA owns a complete digital radio network that is permanently installed and operational at strategic locations to provide coverage where often needed.  We cover Southern California, the eastern Sierras, Ventura & Santa Barbara counties, central and southern Nevada.  NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE OR OFFERS THIS SERVICE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
8	On-Site Centralized Digital Trunked Repeater Network	One trunked digital repeater system is required for the entire event.  The number of channels in the trunking system is determined by the number of radios and the number of talk groups (i.e. security, food service, transportation, parking, administration, etc.).  The range of the radio system is determined by the placement of the digital trunked repeater system and the height of the antenna above ground.  (We can produce a coverage map prediction once we have the technical parameters including latitude, longitude and antenna height.)  The trunked repeater system uses a receiver multicoupler system so it uses one receive antenna for all the channels.  The transmitters use a transmitter combining system and one antenna per transmit combiner to create reliable operation.  NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, BUT SOME DO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE WITHOUT PROPER LICENSING.
9	On-Site Centralized Digital Trunked Repeater Network Connected to the Existing Digital Network	One on-site trunked digital repeater system is required for the entire event.  The number of channels needed in the trunking system is determined by the number of radios and the number of talk groups (i.e. security, food service, transportation, parking, administration, etc.).  The range of the on-site radio system is determined by the placement of the digital trunked repeater system and the height of the antenna above ground.  (We can produce a coverage map prediction for the on site coverage once we have the technical parameters including latitude, longitude and antenna height.)  The trunked repeater system uses a receiver multicoupler system so it needs one receive antenna for all the channels.  The transmitters use a transmitter combining system and one antenna is needed per transmit combiner to create reliable operation.  The on-site system is connected to our wide area system.  THE TOTAL SYSTEM COVERAGE IS BOTH THE ON-SITE COVERAGE FROM THE ON-SITE SYSTEM AND THE EXISTING COVERAGE OF OUR DIGITAL NETWORK WITH SEAMLESS ROAMING.  (See coverage maps on the Airtime Services page for our existing digital coverage.)  MRA owns a complete digital radio network that is permanently installed and operational at strategic locations to provide coverage where often needed.  We cover Southern California, the eastern Sierras, San Diego, Palm Springs, Imperial, Ventura & Santa Barbara counties, central and southern Nevada.  NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY IS LICENSED TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE OR OFFERS THIS SERVICE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
10	Studio Truck Direct Digital Radio Connection	Our digital radio system has the ability to attach directly to the studio truck controlling the broadcast of your special event.  (We provide a 4 wire balanced 600 ohm audio connection to the studio truck so that the radio can be connected directly to the truck intercom system, thus enhancing the ability of the program director to contact the personnel in the field during the broadcast.) We have an additional feature that allows the talent wranglers to communicate with each other while still listening to the director, but not bothering the director with the routine conversations.  With the flip of a switch, the talent wrangler can now talk to the director and still talk to all the other talent wranglers.   NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY OFFERS THIS FEATURE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR LIVE BROADCAST EVENTS.
11	Studio Truck  Duplex Direct Connection	Raycom has full duplex radio equipment that can connect the studio truck to analog radios for a totally seamless radio operation for the program director.  (We provide a 4 wire balanced 600 ohm audio connection to the studio truck so that the radio can be connected directly to the truck intercom system, thus enhancing the ability of the program director to contact the personnel in the field during the broadcast.)  We have an additional feature that allows the talent wranglers to communicate with each other while still listening to the director, but not bothering the director with the routine conversations.  With the flip of a switch, the talent wrangler can now talk to the director and still talk to all the other talent wranglers.  NO OTHER RENTAL COMPANY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAN LEGALLY OFFER THIS FEATURE OR DOES OFFERS THIS FEATURE WHICH IS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR LIVE BROADCAST EVENTS.

 

For a complete discussion on the distance a radio system will work, please see the article on our website, “How Far Will My Radio Talk?”

For a complete discussion on the benefit of clear radio channels, please see the article on our website, “Radio Interference Issues”

For a complete discussion on the capabilities of the digital radio network, please see the page on our website, “The Diga-Talk Network.”

TWO-WAY RADIO SYSTEM TYPES

Radio systems operate very differently depending upon how it is configured to operate.  Below are some examples of different radio systems and how they work.

Most radio systems that are rented are simple simplex systems.  Each radio talks directly from the transmitting radio to all the other radios that are in range.  Unfortunately, in referring to the diagram above, person #2 has limited range and can only talk to persons #1 and person #3 cannot talk to everyone else.  This causes problems at event sites because a critical person can miss the message due to terrain or obstructions.  This diagram is radio system type #1 when analog radios are used and system type #2 when digital radios are used.

 

Here is a typical repeater station for a police department with the repeater located on top of the local hill in the center of town.  The repeater defines the coverage area and anyone can talk to anyone else within the coverage area.  This diagram is radio system type #3 when analog radios are used and system type #4 when digital radios are used.

Above is an example of many repeaters co-located which provide radio communications for many different talk groups during an event.  Unfortunately, this arrangement typically works very poorly because one repeater interferes with the operation of another repeater.  This diagram represents multiple type #3 systems at the same location for different talk groups.  For a discussion of this interference, see our article on “Conventional Radio”.  (The pertinent discussion starts at the sub-heading MULTIPLE REPEATERS ON DIFFERENT CHANNELS which is about 80% of the way to the end of the article and continues to the end of the article.)

On-Site Trunking System

Above is a 3 channel trunking system that has two talk groups talking at the same time.  The BLUE group is talking to their people while the GOLD group is talking to their people.  Each conversation is on a different channel of the trunking system since the system automatically assigns each talk group to a different channel.  Only when all channels are occupied will a user from another talk group be denied service until a channel becomes available.  This diagram represents the following:

• System type #5 when analog radios are used on our existing analog repeater sites
• System type #6 when we install an analog trunking system at the event site
• One of many sites in the digital radio network in system type #7 when digital radios are used on our existing digital radio network (see diagram below for a more complete description of system type #7)
• System type #8 when we install a digital trunking system on site using digital radios.

Above is a diagram of the MRA Diga-Talk Network which provides for wide area communications over Southern California, Central & Southern Nevada, eastern Sierras, etc.  Anyone located in one area can communicate with anyone in another area because the repeater sites are connected together.  This represents radio system type #7.

IF WE INSTALL SYSTEM TYPE #8 ABOVE AT THE EVENT LOCATION AND CONNECT IT TO THIS SYSTEM TYPE #7, THEN WE END UP WITH SYSTEM TYPE #9 SO THAT THERE IS GREAT LOCAL COVERAGE AND RELIABLE WIDE AREA COVERAGE AT THE SAME TIME.

RAYCOM IS THE ONLY COMPANY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT CAN PROVIDE THIS SERVICE.

FCC LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

 Every radio system that is operated whether it is owned by the user or rented from a company such as Raycom, requires an FCC LICENSE to legally operate.  Unlike almost all other rental companies, Raycom has the prerequisite FCC licenses that allow you to do all of the above without causing radio interference to others on the same or nearby frequencies or receiving radio interference from others on the same or nearby frequencies.  (Most radio rental companies only hold licenses for system type #1 or #2 and sometimes #3 or #4 above, but often rent radios for all the other type of radio systems which is highly illegal.)  Raycom is the holder of FCC licenses for the largest number of exclusive radio frequencies in Southern California which allows us to set up radio systems on short notice that will perform properly without interference.  For a complete discussion on the issue of exclusive channels, please see our article, “Spectrum Issues for High Technology Radio Systems.”

RADIO INTERFERENCE

Other radio rental companies rent their radios on shared frequencies which are licensed to many other companies.  In an area like Los Angeles where it is common to have over one hundred companies licensed on a given frequency, radio interference is common.  (There are many radios systems that operate illegally without licenses which can cause even more interference.)  These co-channel radios can & will interfere with the rented radio system causing various types of interference to the radio communications. For a reasonably complete discussion of co-channel radio interference, please see our article on “Radio Interference Issues”.

SECURITY

In today’s world, security for special events is paramount.  When renting radios from other companies, your radio programming is exposed to the public by FCC records which reveal the frequencies that are used by the radios rented by vendor to the radio user.  Since Raycom holds over 250 licenses and is licensed on over 600 radio channels, there is no easy way to find out what frequencies are in use which protects the radio system from attach by unknown forces during the event.

Raycom digital radios require a considerable effort to monitor.  The Kenwood NEXEDGE system requires specialized scanners and radios to listen to the conversation.  In addition, all our digital radios have built in encryption which can be enabled to enhance security if that is a concern.

TWO-WAY RADIO RENTAL TIERS

Raycom has 3 levels of rentals.  They are:

• Basic Radio Rental – For those who need something inexpensive, we have preprogrammed simplex analog rental radios that rent for a low price and provide basic performance.  The radios will not be custom programmed for the event and the radios are on frequencies that are not exclusive.  The radio equipment receives basic maintenance and the accessories available are limited.  This rental features a low price.
• Standard Radio Rental – For those who need a rental that has greater reliability and versatility, a more expensive radio, better batteries, better accessories, custom programming for the job and use of some of the exclusive frequencies held by Raycom.  This rental features a modest price.
• Elite Radio Rental – For those who want full service, top line equipment, exclusive features, the ultimate radio performance and on site assistance, we provide custom services that are tailored to your specific demands.  This includes radio system types #6-#11 above and requires considerable setup time prior to the event.  This rental has the highest price.

Radios are used for everything from street fairs to the most elaborate events like The Oscars and everything in-between.  Raycom can provide the communications you need for the event you are planning.   Some of the Raycom events include:

ComiCon	The Emmys	Black Entertainment Awards
The Golden Globes	The SAG Awards	American Music Award
Billboard Awards	The Mint 400 Race	The Grammys
The Oscars	Star Wars Show	Kids Choice Awards
The Special Olympics	Baker to Vegas Race	Lomita RR Museum
PV Christmas Parade	CAL OES Recovery from Calabasas Fire	CicLAVia

Raycom tailors the rental for each event to the specific needs at the event.  Each of these events have different needs which makes the radio system delivered to be completely different from one event to another.  Some events only need communications over a short distance over an outside area which makes simplex radios work very well.  Other events such as CicLAVia require communications over a 10 mile distance which cannot be achieved under most circumstances without the assistance of one or more repeaters.  Our studio events include direct connection of the radio into the studio truck so that the director can speak directly to the people on the radio without having press any button or pick up a radio.  Other events like the Baker-to-Vegas race occurs over a distance of 120 miles through one of the most remote and desolate areas in the country where there is no cellular phone coverage over most of the race course.  Whatever your needs, we have a way to provide the communications.

Example of a large event

 RENTAL COSTS

The cost of the radio rental provided is highly dependent upon what we do.  Some rentals are for simplex radios with standard programming which is a fairly inexpensive daily rental.  Other events demand special programming for the event which incurs additional time to program each radio for the event.  (It is not uncommon to have two people spend several days preparing the equipment for an event before we arrive at the event site.)  Other rentals require repeater service from existing repeaters that we have already installed and working while other events require a repeater or an analog trunking system or a digital trunking system to be supplied with the radios to be set up and installed at the event.

Other items that affect the price for a specific rental are whether Raycom needs to be present at the event to do any or all of the following:

• Prepare the sign out sheet for the people who will use the radios
• Consult on the channel list and determine the best method of designing the radio program
• Bring all equipment to the event
• Hand out the radio to the appropriate persons
• Provide instruction on how to use the radio to each person using the radios
• Prepare instruction booklets with channel lists for hand out to the radio users
• Attach the audio accessories and test the accessory such as speaker-microphones, lapel microphone kits or headsets per request of the individual
• Charge spare batteries and change batteries as required
• Repair any problems that arise with the radios
• Take in radios at the end of the day and get them ready for the next day including charging the batteries
• Account for missing radios, batteries and accessories after the end of the event
• Remove all equipment from the event and return the equipment to the office.
• Clean up the equipment, charge batteries, repack accessories and get equipment ready for the next event

We handle the simple event where the user will pick up the radios at our office to the most complex event where we have to do all of the above.

RENTAL EQUIPMENT

 

Here are the various models of rental equipment in our stock:

 

NX-300 Digital & Analog Trunking Portable Radio

 

The NX-300 portable radio is Kenwood’s first digital radio which has become the workhorse of digital radios.  This radio has a wealth of robust features and the “G” model version of the radio includes built in GPS which can use the MRA Digital Radio Network to show the location of your personnel while working in an outdoor environment which can be displayed on a webpage.  The radio is capable of the following modes of operation: analog simplex, analog conventional repeater, analog LTR trunking, digital simplex, digital conventional repeater and digital NEXEDGE networking.  Our short term digital rental fleet consists of over 800 of these radios. This radio is used for system types #1 – #11.

 

TK-373G Analog Trunking Portable Radio

The NX-373G portable radio is Kenwood’s analog portable radio which has become a workhorse for simplex radio rentals.  The radio features 16 channel capacity, 8 character / 13 segment LCD display, wide / narrow bandwidth, 4W / 1W adjustable power output, 4 programmable keys, rotary channel selector on top of the radio, 500mW of receiver audio, whip antenna, Ni-Mh battery, and time-out-timer.  Our short term analog rental fleet consists of over 130 of these radios.  Radio is used for simplex operation system type #1 above.

 

TK-3173 Analog Trunking Portable Radio

The TK-3173 compact portable radio is smaller and lighter weight than most rental radios.  The radio features an 8 character alphanumeric backlit LCD display, 250 channels, wide / narrow bandwidth, 4W / 1W adjustable power output, 4 programmable front panel keys, 3 side programmable keys, rotary channel selector on top of the radio, 500mW of receiver audio, whip antenna, Li-Ion battery and time-out-timer.  Our short term analog rental fleet consists of over 100 of these radios.  Radio is used for simplex system type #1, repeater system type #3, analog trunking system type #5, analog trunking system type #6 and studio truck connection system type #11 above.

TK-380 Analog Trunking Portable Radio

The TK-380 portable radio is high performance rental radio.  The radio features an 12 character dot matrix backlit LCD display, 250 channels, wide / narrow bandwidth, 450-490MHz, 4W / 1W adjustable power output, 4 programmable front panel keys, 2 side programmable keys, one top emergency / aux  programmable key, rotary channel selector on top of the radio, 500mW of receiver audio, whip antenna, Ni-Mh battery and time-out-timer. Our short term analog rental fleet consists of over 200 of these radios.  Radio is used for simplex system type #1, analog repeater system type #3, analog trunking system type #5, analog trunking system type #6 and studio truck connection system type #11 above.

TK-3140 Analog Trunking Portable Radio

The TK-3140 sub-compact portable radio is the smallest rental radio in our fleet.  The radio features an 10 character dot matrix backlit LCD display, 250 channels, wide / narrow bandwidth, 450-490MHz, 4W / 1W adjustable power output, 4 programmable front panel keys, 2 side programmable keys, one top programmable key rotary channel selector on top of the radio, 500mW of receiver audio, whip antenna, Li-Ion battery and time-out-timer.  Our short term analog rental fleet consists of over 200 of these radios.  Radio is used for simplex system type #1, repeater system type #3, analog trunking system type #5, analog trunking system type #6 and studio truck connection system type #11.

TK-8180 Analog Trunking Mobile Radio

The TK-8180 mobile radio is a full featured conventional and analog trunking mobile radio.  Boasting up to 128 zones and 512 channels, backlit LCD, 12 character LCD display, 3 digit sub display, 450-512MHz, 25W output, TOT, RSSI indicator, DTMF encode & decode, VOX, emergency features, clock, GPS and more. Our short term analog rental fleet consists of over 100 of these radios.  Radio is used for simplex system type #1, repeater system type #3, analog trunking system type #5, analog trunking system type #6, studio truck connection system type #11.

 

NX-800 Digital & Analog Trunking Mobile Radio

The NX-800 mobile radio is Kenwood’s first digital radio which has become the workhorse of digital radios.  This radio has a wealth of robust features including 14 character backlit dot matrix LCD display, 450-512MHz, wide / narrow / very narrow transmission, 25W transmitter output, TOT, RSSI indicator, DTMF encode & decode, VOX, emergency features, clock, optional GPS and more.  The radio is capable of the following modes of operation: analog simplex, analog conventional repeater, analog LTR trunking, digital simplex, digital conventional repeater and digital NEXEDGE networking.  The radio has an optional KCH-10 remote mount kit to mount the radio controls near the vehicle operator and the radio body elsewhere.  Our short term digital rental fleet consists of over 150 of these radios.  Radio is used for system type #1 – #11.

NX-820 Digital & Analog Trunking Mobile Radio

The NX-820HG mobile radio is Kenwood’s economical digital mobile radio.  This radio has a wealth of robust features including 10 character backlit dot matrix LCD display, 450-512MHz, wide / narrow / very narrow transmission, 25W transmitter output, TOT, RSSI indicator, DTMF encode & decode, VOX, emergency features, clock, built in GPS and more.  The radio is capable of the following modes of operation: analog simplex, analog conventional repeater, analog LTR trunking, digital simplex, digital conventional repeater and digital NEXEDGE networking.  Our short term  digital rental fleet consists of over 50 of these radios.  Radio is used for system type #1 – #11 except for the one radio that connects to the studio truck which must be the NX-800.

In addition to the above portable equipment, we have the following portable accessories available:

• Spare batteries
• Single unit chargers
• 6 unit chargers
• 12 unit chargers
• Stubby antennas
• Speaker-microphones
• One wire lapel microphones
• Two wire lapel microphones
• Over the headset with boom microphones
• Behind the headset with boom microphones
• External antenna adapters
• Magnetic mount antennas

Standard portable radio rental comes with battery, antenna and carrying clip.  Other accessories must be ordered separately.

In addition to the above mobile equipment, we have the following mobile accessories available:

• Cigarette lighter cord
• Regular power cord
• Mounting board with microphone clip and speaker
• Magnetic mount antenna
• Mobile microphones
• DTMF microphones
• GPS antennas

Standard mobile radio rental comes with cigarette lighter cord and magnetic mount antenna.  Other accessories must be ordered separately.

Contact Raycom to request a rental quote for your event.  Obtain a Rental Quote

 

SHORT TERM RADIO RENTALS

Most special events are short term rentals.  Events include:

Street Fairs	City Fairs	County Fairs
Conventions	Live Broadcasts	Movie and TV Filming
Foot Races	Car Races – on track	Car Races – off road
Car Races – Grand Prix	Boat Races	Bicycle Races
Iron Man Events	Marathons	Triathlons
Air Shows	Athletic Competitions	Celebrations
Large Gatherings	Music Festivals	Wine & Food Festival
Chili Cook-offs	Rib Cook-offs	Political Rally
Boat Shows	Car Shows	Parades