Having this defined will help determine both the amount of transmitting power you'll need in your radios and what additional equipment may be necessary.

A radio's power rating is represented in watts and determines the strength of the radio's signal and its range. That power rating also affects the radio's battery life. For example, a Four-watt radio may have a stronger signal and transmit farther than a Two-watt radio, but it will also draw more power and drain the battery more quickly. Plus, Four-watt may be more power than you need. Because it's more important to have an efficient system than a powerful one, it's best to have a system designed to use the lowest power rating possible for the size of the operation.

Other components can be added to the system to increase its efficiency. For example, many systems are outfitted with repeaters, which receive and relay signals. This allows you to use a radio with a lower power rating to transmit and receive over a larger area.

Today's business radios use either very high frequency (VHF) or ultra high frequency (UHF) bands. UHF is more effective when transmitting and receiving within buildings or to and from buildings. VHF frequencies are most effective when used outdoors. General mobile radio service (GMRS) radios work for some limited applications, but they are not recommended for situations in which private, or secure, communications are needed. UHF and VHF frequencies are leased; the user buys rights to specific frequencies guaranteeing others will not use them. GMRS frequencies, on the other hand, are public, and anyone with a GMRS radio would be able to hear potentially sensitive information.

If a small number of people will be using the radios, a conventional system, where each party hears all the conversations, is probably sufficient.