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Comment by stephen Ingram on December 8, 2008 at 1:43am

Do not have much exposure to radios but good luck with your asienment.

Comment by Adam Box on December 7, 2008 at 2:15pm

People in my department either keep their radios in radio pockets (on the left side of the chest) or they have a radio strap. (there's a long raging debate on whether to wear the strap under the coat, over the coat but under the SCBA, or over all of it).
The gloves are kinda bulky and hinder use of radios sometimes. (hard to switch channels, press buttons etc.)
Battery life is always an issue with radios.
We use speaker mics on our radios. I find that makes it easier to key up the microphones and we tend to hear the transmission better. The only problem with mics is that many times, if you try to clip the mic to your collar or really anything, it tend to get knocked off and it swings around under you and get in the way pretty quickly.
Some basic functions on the radios are multiple channels, and a mayday/emergency button.
Our radios are all black, but it might not be a bad idea to throw a reflective strip on them.
We use Motorola radios that are made of some sort of high impact plastic.

Comment by Jeanine on December 6, 2008 at 8:54pm

Current issues that my department has is affordability of the radios, durability, and repair/replacement cost.
When I wear my gloves and attempt to use my portable, it is very difficult to make sure that im keying up the radio because of the lack of dexterity of wearing gloves.
When I am on a call, i keep my radio in my radio pocket of my bunker coat.
Our portables do not have mics. I know of departments who use mics and it seems to take away from the overall quality of transmision plus it akes more "power" to run the mic.
Color is not a big issue...black is the stanard. I have never seem any other color.
As far as materal, unsure what it i ue we use motorolla and icoms.