Business Band Radios for the Church Security Team?

Here is a recent email from one of our CSA Members who needed some information and a recommendation on selecting radios for the church security team. They are currently using Family Radio Service units but have found that they need a better, clearer mans of communicating for their facility.

Jack and Glen

Praise God for your ministry. What walkie talkies do you recommend? We are starting a security team and use cheap Talkabouts as an usher staff and parking lot team. We are considering getting UHF Motorola CLS1110 radios for security team however we will not be able to communicate with usher team or parking teams if we do. I understand UHF is much better indoors we will have 5 guys on duty during Sunday service and we feel communication is key between us, so spending 130 .00 per unit for upgraded talkies would be worth it

Your thoughts and experience would be appreciated.

Jeff

Our Response

Jeff
The UHF series of business band radios are much better than the GMRS/FRS radios that you are currently using. You will find that they are much clearer and also penetrate the walls of the building much better. When I was running the security team for a youth outreach program we were using the prior version of the Motorola CLS110, the Spirit UHF single channel series.

The CLS1110 series are very similar, one channel and a economic plastic build. We found that these did not hold up in a “strenuous” environment. We spent a lot of time breaking up “issues” amongst the teens. The antennas would break on these units and could not be easily replaced. They also did not stand up well to being dropped or rough handling which does happen to shared radio units.

The single channel, while maybe not a problem now, will be when you upgrade the parking and greeter staff to the same UHF radios. For a little more money you can get a stronger radio with multiple channels and replaceable antennas. You will also want to have remote earpieces with mic’s for discrete conversations. I would also recommend have an extra unit placed at the greeters or information desk so other ministries have a means of contacting security other than hunting one of you down as you will be on different frequencies at first.

I do have a couple of suggestions for business band radios:

Radios

• Black Diamond CE300 5 Watt UHF Industrial Radio  $199.99 each
  http://www.customearpiece.com/category.php?id=27
• BlackBox UHF Two Way Radio $169.00
  http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/blackbox/blackbox-uhf.aspx

Earpieces

• Messenger Coiled Tube Earpiece
  http://www.customearpiece.com/category.php?id=19
• Blackbox earpiece
  http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/xlt/surveillance-earpiece-se200-mb1.aspx

They do cost a little more than the CLS1110 but are a much more durable unit and have 16 channels available. These should last 3 to 4 times longer.

Remember that your church will also need to get a business band license for frequencies that you will be using.

Please let me know what you choose and how it works out for your church.

Jack

Please note that many churches have needed to start out with FRS units. While not the best, they are much better than not have any means of communication between team members and other ministries. When the budget permits, I highly recommend moving up to business band radios. The sound is much clearer and the ability to penetrate walls of the facility is much better that FRS. There are two basic version of business band radios, UHF and VHF. In past experience, the UHF seems to be a better choice for must churches.

CSA has no affiliation with either of the companies listed above but we have either used the radios or have had good reports on the equipment.