Securing Radio Communications for Security Teams

The majority of the organizations that deal with the safety and security for others often have a team of security personnel that have direct access to an internal control center and other security teammates working that shift. Often these teams are equipped with two-way radios tuned to a specific frequency. Older analog devices used UHF and VHF radio wavelengths to transmit via transceivers, repeaters and receiver devices. Today, most businesses and institutions are networked and rely on internet protocols to transport data and voice. Your radio devices can also tap into these networks.

Why is there a need for secured communication?

Security officers and guards often make routine patrols and provide assistance to the general public. For them to be able to fulfill their duties effectively, it is crucial that they have secure radio communications that will allow them to be summoned should the need arise. 

In a much larger organization, there is typically a hub of the security operation. The calls made will be redirected to this hub and, in turn, a dispatcher will then contact a security officer situated in the nearest location where their service is needed. This is a highly efficient way of ensuring that no time is wasted trying to contact the security officer to inform them regarding the emergency. 

What are gateways for RoIP systems?

RoIP, also known as Radio over IP, is basically the way to send and receive data and voice packets, over a wide or local area networks based on internet protocol. This page answers the question, “What is radio over IP” best. There is a need for a device to convert a typical radio signal into a digital voice or data packets. We call this device a gateway device. 

What’s the difference between RoIP and VoIP?

So, why are gateways for RoIP systems important? RoIP takes advantage of digital networks the same way that telephone networks have transitioned to VoIP networks. VoIP or voice-over-Internet protocol is readily available to individuals and businesses for over 15 years now. While telephony requires certain protocols (in addition to VoIP) to setup, monitor and control calls, radio can function without all of these mechanisms. With RoIP, there is a greater sense of reliability and enhanced value, making contacting security officers a lot more efficient. 

How are two-way radios any better than our cellular phones?

So, if using RoIP gateways is more effective than traditional UHF and higher frequencies of sound wavelengths for sending and receiving data, how is it different from our cellular phones? Both two-way radios and cellular phones have their own list of pros and cons. To give you an overview, two-way radios are simple, easy to use, and very reliable, whereas our cellular phones are very complicated to use and typically will not last long in heavy industrial environments. 

On another note, cellular phones can be hijacked and paired without the user’s permission. Radios are the best way to ensure you maintain secure radio communications when required. Voice encryptions can also be employed easier for radio signals., Easier than buying a secure VoIP console for your business. In terms of security, the system on two-way radios is completely owned by the organization. There are no ongoing fees for service or airtime and it presents fewer opportunities to be misused by security officers.