Boost radio signal in a school building

[Danny_11515]

Hi, 

 

I am currently looking into something and researching how to boost radio signal in a school building. I have had users come to me about the signal being quite bad sometimes and you can hear people come through like robots sometimes rather than hearing a clear audio. After doing some googling I have seen that there are many antennas and loads of options to choose from but I was wondering if anyone has any insight to this and knows how to work around this issue? 

 

We have UHF single band radios and am I correct in thinking that I would need a radio connected to this on one dedicated channel and if I wanted to boost both channels then I would need to hookup 2 radios on different radio channels? 

[psydii]

It was ages ago, but we ended up getting a repeater and had our handsets reprogrammed to solve this. I think it did indeed move us from using 1 channel to using two, but the details were all in the implementation, and I haven't thought about it since (other than to periodically check the battery-backup on the repeater is still good).

 

I recall we talked with both these companies to understand the issue, and ended up choosing one because they already knew the site.

Capcom | Handheld Radio | Radio Communications

Professional Communication Solutions - Two Way Radio - Telecoms - Radio Links - Purchase Hire and Service

 

 

[DrCheese]

If you're just using unlicensed radios (eg PMR 446) there's not a ton you can do.

 

We switched to licensed radios a few years ago, which can be much more powerful (these https://www.twoway-radio.co.uk/business-radio/licenced/Vitai8800_ - We had to buy these as one of our buildings is metal framed so signal struggles to get through (Faraday!)

 

We just pay Ofcom £112 a year to use the spectrum.

Edited May 14, 2025 by DrCheese

[drutt]

We got a repeater and had to buy an Ofcom licence as well, ridiculously good value for money as now our radios work on the field across from the school where we have our sports day.

 

We had to have two antenna setup for full inside coverage due to all the concrete and steel works, one on the roof and one in the plant room.

 

We've used Radiocoms as our supplier for over a decade and can happily recommend them, had no problems and they're always quick to provide a quote and technical advice.

 

Edit: Also they've been great for getting our radios repaired, we have to send a few back a year due to drops and other damage that occurs

 

Edit 2: Fun little side story, our licence lapsed one year and it triggered a visit from an Ofcom engineer, was a unique little experience to go through the frequencies we used with him on his tester. All was resolved quite quickly, just a missed invoice all in all.

Edited May 14, 2025 by cnewstead

[Gongalong]

Repeating what oters have said, get licensed radios, if you don't have them already.

[Brax]

Yep just to echo what others have said. Get an ofcom license. Bonus is that if you use wireless microphones for assemblies etc you can also tune them to make use of the frequency.