Portable Radios – Hand-Held Two-Way Communication
Portable two-way radios—also known as hand-held radios, walkie-talkies, or handie-talkies—are compact transceivers that both send and receive voice signals. These devices feature a built-in battery and antenna, making them ideal for mobile teams in public safety, industrial, commercial, and event coordination roles. Most include a push-to-talk (PTT) button for fast, reliable communication.
Unlike mobile radios, portable models integrate power and transmission hardware into a single unit, offering frequencies ranging from 35 MHz to 1200 MHz. PSI supplies a full range of portable radios to meet every operational need, from analog models to advanced digital and APCO P25-certified units.
A Brief History of Portable Radios
- 1940s: The first true portable two-way radios were developed for military use during World War II. Known as "handie-talkies," the SCR-536 was used by the U.S. Army to provide field communications across the front lines.
- 1950s–60s: Commercial and municipal services, including police and fire departments, began adopting ruggedized handheld radios for patrol and emergency coordination.
- 1970s–80s: Technological advances led to smaller and more reliable units, expanding their use into industrial sectors such as utilities, manufacturing, and transportation.
- 1990s–2000s: The introduction of digital protocols like DMR and APCO P25 transformed the capabilities of portable radios, adding encryption, data transfer, and interoperability for multi-agency coordination.
- Today: Portable radios are essential across industries including law enforcement, emergency response, construction, education, events, and logistics—where instant team coordination is mission-critical.
Leading Portable Radio Manufacturers
PSI is proud to offer portable radios from the most trusted names in the industry:
All Portable Radios
