You may not realize just how beneficial accessories can be for the use, performance, and longevity of your two-way radios. We’re not questioning the reliability of the handhelds you currently own, but we are saying that there are plenty of situations where additional features can make them much easier to operate and maintain. Here’s why we think it’s worth your time to consider two-way radio headsets, earpieces, and more.

Headsets

There are plenty of times where workers require the use of both hands in order to be productive and safe. Having one hand that’s constantly holding a radio to the ear can make that difficult. Connect that radio to a headset and your problem is solved.

Do you have workers who operate in loud offices, warehouses, or jobsites? Headsets are fantastic at canceling out background noise and allowing users to focus on their conversations without interruption. Consider options like the HS65 and HS75 professional series from RCA, which offer ear muffs and high-quality, flexible boom microphones. You’ll often see these used by construction workers, manufacturers, pit crews, and airport tarmac attendants.

Earpieces

If noise cancellation isn’t as high of a priority, and you’re simply looking for something that allows your workers to operate hands-free, then earpieces are an excellent accessory. They provide crystal-clear audio and offer a convenient design that won’t leave you tangled in cords.

Looking for an option that’s even more covert? Whether it’s for members of the Secret Service or private security, surveillance kits can be connected with RCA two-way radios to provide effective, real-time communication while remaining inconspicuous. 

Speaker Mics

Allowing a more hands-free experience isn’t just about what your workers can hear — it’s also about how well they can respond. Speaker mics can be coupled with earpieces to allow your team members to easily radio in whenever they need assistance or to report an emergency. Available options from RCA are built to be durable and easy to grip. Some, like the RCA SM311WP, are even waterproof.

Holsters and Chest Packs

While industrial two-way radios are built to be tough, they’ll last even longer when you keep them secure with premium-quality holsters and chest packs. Options from RCA have been shown to reduce falls, wear and tear, loss, and theft. We’d even argue that they’re like bulletproof vests for your radios.

Going back to our hands-free comparison, workers can combine holsters and chest packs with earpieces and speaker mics to become truly connected and coordinate their efforts without sacrificing efficiency or safety.

How Is This Setup Better Than a Cell Phone?

We’ve seen how some workers think that two-way radios could be replaced by using cell phones or smartphones and bluetooth earpieces. That can be a dangerous assumption for a few reasons.

Smartphones may be smart, but they aren’t durable. Ever see a YouTube video where someone drops and shatters their iPhone the moment they take it out of the case? Speaking of durability…

Radios are built for hazardous working conditions. The most durable two-way units on the market are rated IP67 — in other words, dust- and waterproof. They’re also intrinsically safe, which means their electrical components won’t react negatively with air quality to injure their users.

Radios have better, reliable coverage. In an emergency, cell towers can be easily overwhelmed and prevent calls from going through. Radios don’t work like that. As long as you test and verify that you have full coverage, and use repeaters wherever you find dead zones, you’ll always have the ability to contact the other members of your team.

In a similar vein, don’t be tricked into purchasing walkie-talkies over two-way radios. Their names are often used interchangeably, but the former technically refers to recreational units that you might have when camping, while the latter refers to those with high durability and performance in industrial settings.

Are Accessories Really Necessary?

We’ve seen some (not all) of our competitors downplay the need to use two-way radio accessories, often because of profit: either the accessories they sell won’t earn them a high enough commission for them to see the value, or they’re counting on accidents and loss to encourage you to come back and buy more radios.

At DTWR, our primary goal is to make sure that you get radios that offer world-class quality, performance, coverage, sound, and battery life. We want you to get the best bang for your buck, which is why our models cost at least 30 percent less than other major bands. And we want to make your job as easy as possible, which means keeping your radios working as long as possible. That’s why we promote these accessories and their additional cost savings.

Now that we’ve discussed two-way radio headsets, earpieces, speaker mics, holsters, and chest packs, let’s talk about the RCA models we’d recommend pairing them with.

Best-In-Class Handheld Radios From RCA

RDR1520

The RDR1520 is an exceptional entry-level model. Its smaller size and convenient handling make it ideal for users who aren’t looking for a lot of bells and whistles, but still want reliability and quality. 

RDR2500

This mid-tier radio continues to be RCA’s bestselling model due to its balance of performance and cost. Offering slightly better durability and power than the 1520, the 2500 (as well as its partner in the series, the upgraded 2550) offers crystal-clear audio thanks to X-Sound+, wide coverage, and over 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.

RDR4280

The 4280 is RCA’s most durable handheld two-way radio. Its military-grade design and IP67 rating prepare it for the most demanding on-the-job conditions. It also includes a sensor for the emergency alert Man Down, which detects when a worker has possibly fallen.

Questions and Quotes

Whether you have questions about the material we’ve covered, or you’d like to get an instant quote, we want to hear from you! Give us a call at (888) 299-6340 to speak with one of our two-way radio experts.