Sector
Two-way radios for schools, colleges and universities
A school needs to reach a member of staff anywhere on site within seconds, whether that is the playground supervisor dealing with a first-aid incident, the caretaker on the far field, reception when a visitor arrives, or every classroom at once in a lockdown. A radio does that without relying on a phone being answered.
Primary schools usually take a handful of Hytera BD505 radios for the playground, the office and the gate. Secondary schools, colleges and university campuses need the range of a licensed fleet such as the FW-400, with a separate channel for the site team and an emergency all-call. Large campuses add a repeater. Trips and residentials take a small hire pack for the week.
Schools usually lease over three or five years so the cost sits in the operating budget, or hire by the term. PTAs running fetes and fun runs can apply for free hire under our charity scheme.
Typical accessories
- D-shape earpieces
- Desktop multi-chargers for the office
- Belt clips
- Carry cases for trips
What matters in schools, colleges and universities
The problems radios solve here, and how we set them up.
Lockdown and emergencies
One emergency channel reaches every radio. The emergency button on any radio alerts the office with that radio's ID.
Non-technical users
Channel knob, volume knob, one button. The radio announces the channel name. There is nothing for a busy teacher to get wrong.
Large sites and playing fields
Licensed 4 W radios cover a large secondary site and its fields. A repeater covers a university campus.
Safeguarding and trips
Radios keep trip leaders in touch on coaches, at venues and on residentials where there is no mobile signal.
Recommended radios
What we send to schools, colleges and universities customers
Licensed digital DMR
Hytera BD505
Hytera's entry-level digital handheld. Small, light and simple.
- UHF 400–470 MHz (VHF 136–174 MHz available)
- 48 channels, 3 zones, 16-position knob
- 4 W / 1 W UHF (5 W / 1 W VHF)
Licensed digital DMR
Fellwave FW-400
Our standard hire radio. Licensed 5 W UHF digital, no screen, USB-C charging.
- UHF 400–470 MHz
- 256 channels in 16 zones, 16-position rotary knob
- Up to 5 W high / 2 W low
Licensed digital DMR
Motorola MOTOTRBO R2
Motorola's everyday radio. The DP1400's replacement, with a 26-hour battery.
- UHF 403–480 MHz (VHF 136–174 MHz available)
- 64
- 4 W / 1 W UHF (5 W / 1 W VHF)
Repeaters
Hytera HR655
A compact 2 kg repeater with a built-in duplexer and battery backup.
- 25 W (IP54 indoor version) or 10 W (IP67 outdoor version)
- UHF 400–470 MHz or VHF 137–174 MHz
- DMR Tier II + analogue FM
Schools, colleges and universities: common questions
Which radio does a primary school need?
Usually four to eight BD505 or FW-400 radios covering the office, the gate, playground supervisors and the caretaker. We programme them before delivery so there is nothing to set up.
Can we hire radios just for a residential trip?
Yes. A six-pack with chargers and a case can go out for the week, delivered to the school before you leave.
Is there a discount for schools?
Schools get education rates on lease and hire. PTAs and charitable trusts can apply for free event hire under our charity scheme.
Enquire
Tell us about your schools, colleges and universities job. We'll spec and quote it today.
How many radios, the dates, where you are and what the job is. That is enough for us to put a kit list together.
- Email[email protected]
- Monday to Friday, 08:00–18:00. Out-of-hours support for live events by arrangement.
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