Since the early 20th century, when they first came into being, 2-way radios have undergone a stunning advancement. They were initially created for military use but today, these handheld, two-way communication devices have become an important part of many different kinds of businesses and even some everyday events.
The advances in wireless technology that have allowed for the shrinking sizes and the broadening capabilities of walkie-talkies have come about almost entirely in the past few decades. And in that time, our need for dependable communication has only grown.
Origins and Early Development
Two-way radios trace their origins to World War II, when the need for effective communication on the battlefield drove technological development. After the war, walkie technology rapidly moved into civilian contexts, including applications in law enforcement, construction, and recreation.
The first commercial models became widely available and found their use in many industries that required the kind of portable two-way communication that they provided.
Advancements in Range and Functionality
The 1970s and 1980s saw the technological progression lead to a shrinking in size, allowing them to become more portable and available. Moving from vacuum tubes to transistors reduced walkie-talkie dimensions and power usage.
They also broadened their frequency bands, going from VHF to UHF (Ultra High Frequency). This enabled them to provide better range and signal clarity (especially in urban areas) compared to their predecessors.
The 2-way radio was also influenced during this time by the crazed development of the Citizen Band (CB) radio. The CB radio became popular among truck drivers and hobbyists, leading manufacturers to develop more consumer-friendly versions of handheld devices. These models had multiple channels, selective calling features, and improved sound quality, making them more appealing for personal use.
Digital Revolution and Extended Reach
Walkie-talkies became digital in the 1990s and early 2000s. In many respects, this was a natural evolution of technology; we were already living in a digitized world, and inclusion in this world yielded obvious advantages. Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) and other digital communication protocols improved the clarity of our voices and the “intelligence” of the messages sent.
They also yielded new advantages, like encryption for secure communications and extended battery life. Because of these unprecedented advantages and improvements, businesses and emergency responders increasingly adopted these devices. Another important development was the introduction of the Family Radio Service (FRS) and the General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) in the U.S., which allowed ordinary people to use two-way radios for personal and recreational communication.
Modern 2-Way Radios and Nationwide Communication
At present, walkie-talkies have evolved far beyond the traditional short-range radio. By being integrated into cellular and internet technology, today’s modern two-way radios can now cover the range of a nationwide network.
Systems like Push-to-Talk Over Cellular (PoC), for example, allow you to communicate far beyond the limits of line-of-sight or even the wattage of your radio, using instead the vast distances that cellular towers can cover.
The Evolution of Walkie-Talkies Will Continue to Set Them Apart as Reliable Communication Devices
Beginning with their origins in the military and moving to the advanced digital systems of today, the evolution of two-way radios mirrors the advancements in wireless communication.
As technology continues to move forward, walkies will likely play an even more pivotal role in the international communications network, filling in the cracks and guaranteeing connectivity in all circumstances.
