Question about radios

[kentbwj]

Do police and fire departments generally use the same type of radios? The radio I use has a large unit that hooks to my duty belt with a "handy talkie" that clips to the shoulder of my police uniform. Do firefighters have both the large radio and the smaller attachment, or is their unit more portable? Are the firefighters' radios of a more heat resistant material?

Thanks for the info.

Brenda

[dmleblanc]

No, generally we use the same type of radios the police use. They're not any more heat resistant than what you may be used to. Many firefighters also use the mic attachment, for various reasons:

1) Convenience...the mic is less bulky than the whole radio.

2) Protects the radio...Since we often work in environments of high heat, being doused with water, getting bumped around and generally taking a lot of abuse, it's an advantage to keep the actual radio safely tucked into a pocket or under your coat and only expose the mic to the elements. And if you do damage the mic, they're a lot cheaper to replace than the whole radio.

3) Since we often work in noisy atmospheres (near loud fire engines, ventilation fans, rescue tools, etc.) it's handy to have the mic up closer to your ear where you can hear it rather than the radio way down on your belt.

Another consideration is whether the radio is intrinsically safe...that is, whether it's approved for use in a flammable atmosphere and won't cause ignition. May be more of a consideration in fire and hazmat than in police work, but most models from the major manufacturers will meet this requirement.

[nmfire]

What he said :D

Now, that said, many department's who are strapped for cash resort to buying cheaper consumer grade radios and consumer grade accessories.