Troubleshooting Two-Way Radio Problems
Working around a broken or malfunctioning two-way radio can seriously harm you and your staff’s productivity. Luckily, users themselves can fix many of the problems that people find with two-way radios. Make yourself aware of some of the more common issues industry professionals find while working with radios and try to fix the issues yourself. By troubleshooting two-way radio problems instead of sending your devices straight in for repair, you can save yourself money that you may have otherwise wasted on a fixable issue.
Bad Audio Quality
When your radio’s speakers aren’t providing you with the quality sound you need, it may lead to misunderstandings all around the workplace. The industries that use two-way radios often require work that can get dusty or downright dirty at times. Often, this results in the speaker cover clogging with dust or debris.
Before you send the device in for repair, try wiping the speaker cover off with a dry cloth and testing how the audio sounds with an earpiece plugged in. Removing the dust with the dry cloth can make the audio sound better, if not completely fix the audio issues. If the audio quality improves by using the earpiece, but still sounds bad coming through the clean speaker, you can either stick to the earpiece or send it in for repair.
Low Battery Life
If your batteries aren’t lasting as long as they should, it becomes more than just a frustrating interruption. Though batteries are one of the many parts of a two-way radio, caring for them is a different matter entirely. A low battery is often one of the common solutions when troubleshooting two-way radio problems—especially if the device is producing a repetitive beeping noise.
Care for your radio batteries as though they’re separate from the radio itself and take these battery care tips into consideration:
Don’t Overcharge Your Batteries
Once the green light signifying that the battery is fully charged comes on, it’s time for the battery to leave the charging station. You may think that keeping the battery on the charger maintains the full charge of the battery, but in reality, you are degrading its lifespan.
Only Charge Batteries Once They’re Completely Drained
You may want your batteries to get back to full charge after they’re at 20% and you’re done for the day, but for the longest battery lifespan, you should wait until batteries are drained before charging them. Charging a battery from low charge rather than no charge lowers the overall capacity of the battery.
