Analogue vs Digital 2-Way Radio

Analog two-way radios have been used for various business applications as far back as the 1930’s, and they were originally placed into service by the U.S. military 20 years before that. This time-saving communications tool has now become a favorite choice for commercial, industrial, military, and even personal use. But with the creation of the digital platform, a new era of radio technology has now arrived. From varying price points and the distinction in sound quality, both technologies have significant differences. And even though it offers numerous advantages, the digital radio will not completely replace its analog sibling. Let’s explore the difference between analogue and digital 2-way radios.

The history of the two-way radio is long and well defined, but the question still stands as to whether the analog radio is strong enough to offset the advantages of the feature-rich digital devices that are growing in popularity.

Because of the age of analog two-way radio it has reached the ceiling of innovation. Decide for yourself as you read on where the two-way radio has been, its possibilities for the future, and whether analog or digital technology best suits your needs.

Understanding the Past, Present, and Future

Since the initial development of wireless communications, analog has been the primary technology platform for two-way radios. The majority of radio systems today still run in analog mode. But as digital technology progresses and transforms for example, as it has with music and television, it is beginning to play a major role in professional two-way radio communications.

Because the analog radio system has been used in many industries and has been around so long, the limit of innovations has virtually been met. However, with the digital platform, new levels of productivity and performance can be explored. Increased calling capacity, enhanced voice clarity, better quality coverage, and the availability of software applications are only a few examples of how the advent of digital two-way radio technology will make a difference in the coming years.

Defining the Differences

A traditional two-way radio with an analog signal is not feature rich on its own. Standard analog radios usually offer push-to-talk, scanning, simple group conversations (one-to-many), and limited encryption capabilities.

But the analog two-way radio has a strong history. It has been around long enough for engineers to find ways to enhance its functionality with a number of useful features. Chances are, if you want your analog radio to perform a certain task, someone else has already found a way to make it happen. This could be considered a negative issue for the new digital two-way radios, as they have not been in use long enough for the proper “tinkering time.” However, this will undoubtedly change as the popularity of digital devices grows. For example, remember when cellular phones were first introduced? They were all analog in the early days. But as more and more people became dependent on their cell phones, digital devices were introduced, and the rest, is history.

Two-way radios with a digital signal offer all of the same features as analog radios–and more. However, the features of digital radios offered by the leading manufacturers don’t differ all that much. Some radios promise affordable components, ease of repair, and ease of use, while other manufacturers offer features such as enhanced text messaging, IP connectivity, and ruggedized design for harsh environments. All digital radios enable a 30-50 percent
longer battery life than traditional analog radios, because the digital radio transmitter is not constantly on.

To determine your best option, you should carefully review the different types of radio systems available today to decide which is the best fit for your specific needs. For example, in order to leverage wireless spectrum most efficiently, you can use simple, local peer-to-peer
radio systems for wider coverage.

What exactly is an analog signal and what is a digital signal? Take a look at the similarities and differences between both:

• Analog: Analog signals have a sinusoidal, or continuous, value. Today’s analog systems use frequency modulation (FM). The frequency modulation produces a continuous wave with the
  voice signal. By integrating such a simple system into a single chip, the cost of this radio has dramatically reduced. Analog signals are commonly used in many systems today, but the uses for analog signals are declining with the introduction of the more reliable digital signal.

• Digital: Digital signals are represented by binary numbers: 1 or 0. The 1 and 0 values can correspond to different discrete voltage values. Any signal that doesn’t quite fit into the scheme is rounded off. By using a binary signal, error correction- embedded signaling and control bits are possible in each packet transmitted. A packet contains an assembly of bits. The software contains an algorithm that understands the differences between voice and background noise, and in return, cancels the unwanted background noise and unwanted audio. The wireless digital signal provides the same levels of reliability and control as a wired digital signal.

Reviewing the Advantages and Disadvantages

A common misconception about two-way radios is that it is a fading technology. With benefits such as instant private communication, one-time purchase incentives, one-to-one or one-to-
many call options, durability, and flexibility of communication in almost any environment, the two-way radio is still a very popular choice for communications in virtually all markets. These include a variety of business, commercial, and industrial applications, as well as more high-risk environments, such as public safety, military, security, and government.

Both digital and analog technologies offer many of the same popular features, but their differences set them very far apart. Decide for yourself which technology is the best fit for your
situation as we discuss the advantages and disadvantages to both systems.

The advantages of analog two-way systems include:

• Analog systems use the natural voice, which is a feature preferred by many users.
• Because analog has been around longer, the number of products and accessories offered is much larger and provides
  for more options than does digital.
• Analog systems make good use of bandwidth and are well
  understood by the general public.

The disadvantages of analog two-way systems include:

• Typically, only one two-way conversation can occur at a time on each channel.
• Analog systems require hardware receivers and transmitters that are designed to fit the particular transmission. Analog devices can be upgraded with features but not technology.
• No software-driven business applications are available for analog radios.

The advantages of digital two-way systems include:

• More simultaneous talking paths are possible, and information such as unit ID, status buttons, and enhanced text messages can be embedded into a single digital radio channel.
• Bandwidth consumption is reduced.
• Digital signals can be handled by standardized antenna systems and existing infrastructure equipment.
• The digital conversion of a user’s voice reduces external background noises. And the digital technology platform is ideal for reducing environmental noise levels during transmission, such as inside noisy manufacturing and processing plants or outside in windy conditions.
• A number of new software applications are available for use with the digital platform.
• The digital platform provides a migration path that allows for simultaneous use of digital and analog radios.

The disadvantages of digital two-way systems include:

• Digital radios, like all new digital technology, can be somewhat more expensive.
• Due to the additional features and enhanced functionality, a learning curve exists for first-time users.
• Digital signals are intolerant to radio frequency (RF) noises, and in the presence of too much RF noise, the signal can result in an error.

In addition to the various advantages and disadvantages listed above, the sound quality for both analog and digital is very high within their peak performance areas. An analog radio will produce a clear signal—accompanied by the standard white noise—within its peak performance range. Once the signal moves further and further away from the transmit (center) point, the audio will slowly fade out until it is unrecognizable. By contrast, the digital signal will stay strong and clear to the limits of coverage.

The Bottom Line (You make the call)

Deciding which signal is better or worse is a dependent variable, reliant on the factors surrounding the environment and usage of the technology. A digital system requires components that are generally more expensive, but moderate prices often accompany
lower-end digital systems. And as digital technology becomes more popular, the prices will become even more affordable. Also, a digital system can more easily be integrated into the rapidly expanding wireless IP network world.

Analog is best suited for situations that have no use for the enhanced features offered by digital technology. In reality, many two-way radio users need only a simple, reliable method of communication. Analog radios are still the most popular choice for those who would not benefit from feature-rich or software- enhanced equipment. For example, someone in the retail industry would probably not have a need for enhanced text messaging or GPS services, nor would the typical school teacher. Analog two-way radios prove themselves daily, in countless installations. Unfortunately, analog technology has reached its limits of innovation, and a new platform is now required to help achieve new levels of performance and efficiency. A user looking for an improved analog radio will still find the same functions— plus much more—with the improving digital technology.

Although it may look like the world is turning digital, the analog radio will most likely continue to be the prominent choice for most businesses and organizations, at least for the next few years. The general cost of the digital two-way radio systems will deter some potential customers who do not see the need for the digitally enhanced feature sets. But as the digital platform becomes more cost effective and common, most users will eventually replace their analog radios with their digital counterparts. Just as we have seen network television morph into cable and satellite TV and old, clunky cell phones evolve into today’s sleek, e-mail seeking smartphones, our society is quickly becoming accustomed to the ever-evolving digital world.

We hope this gives you an understanding of the difference between analogue and digital two way radios. For any further query, please feel free to contact our two way communication consultants on 1300 885 309 or via e-mail by visiting our contact page.