Efficient Countryside & Agricultural Operations - How Icom Two-Way Radio Solutions Can Make a Difference
The countryside offers a rewarding work environment and space for outdoor recreational activities yet it comes with inherent risks that are heightened by isolation and challenging terrain. For gamekeepers, estate managers, farmers and hunting parties, instant communication is vital for safety and operational success as it impacts their livelihood.
In this article we explore the communication challenges faced within the countryside sector and how our two-way systems can be a great solution to overcome them.
Rural Communication Challenges
Working across large remote areas can present communication barriers that impact safety and operations. Examples of these include:
Lone Worker Risk - Checking animal traps, mending fences and patrolling boundaries are risky jobs that are often carried out alone and on rugged terrain.
Logistical Management - Managing a game drive, moving heavy machinery or coordinating a team of farm workers are tasks that require instant communication with multiple individuals or groups simultaneously.
Extreme Weather – Farming and other countryside activities continue regardless of the weather and heavy rain, wind or extreme heat often make daily activities and communication more difficult.
Rough Terrain - Rolling hills, deep valleys and thick forest cover all present geographical obstacles.
These communication barriers can be overcome by a two-way radio system which can deliver reliable and instant connection through reliable, weatherproof devices that come with a variety of safety features.
Unique Operational Requirements
Alongside the communication challenges from their environment, countryside workers and recreationists require communication for their unique range of activities. Examples of these include:
Asset Protection – Farmers often keep high-value machinery, farming supplies and animals making them targets of theft or livestock rustling. Having access to instant communication can prevent incidents and improve overall security to safeguard their assets.
Bulk Deliveries – Estate managers and farmers often need to take large deliveries of supplies such as red diesel, animal feed or other land maintenance supplies. Guiding these heavy duty vehicles into farmyards can be difficult to achieve without instant communication.
Game Drives – These require coordinating beaters to steer animals towards the hunting rifles at the pegs. Real-time communication is needed in this instance so that the beaters can move together safely and efficiently.
Outdoor Shooting Competitions – With live ammunition in play, shooting event organisers need real-time communication for the safety of themselves and the participants. Large events of this kind also need a lot of coordination across vast areas, making instant comms essential.
What are the solutions?
Icom two-way radio radios are built to withstand harsh conditions and come in a range of options to suit any countryside environment. Examples of these different solutions include:
PMR446 Licence Free Radios - Simple to operate, these short range handsets are cost effective and durable, making them great for smaller farms and clay shoots.
View our range of
PMR446 Licence Free Radios.
Licenced Professional Radios – Ideal for use in remote areas, these radios offer more power than their unlicenced counterparts, providing more reliable comms over longer distances.
View our range of
Licenced Professional Radios.
LTE/PoC Radios – For hilly areas where long range VHF might struggle, these radios use cellular networks to maintain crystal clear communication. These networks provide regional or nationwide coverage depending on the requirement.
View our range of
LTE/PoC Radios.
Why Icom Radios?
Icom radios are built to be a reliable lifeline for the people who use them which is why many of them come with advanced features designed to improve safety and efficiency. Examples of these include:
Lone Worker - This automated feature requires a user to press a button to "check in" at set intervals. If the user fails to respond, the radio automatically sends an alert (Group Call or All Call) to the base station indicating a potential problem.
Man Down - A highly valuable feature that uses a built-in tilt sensor. If the radio is horizontal for a predetermined period (indicating a potential fall or injury) it automatically triggers an alarm.
Dedicated Emergency Button - A separate, easy-to-press button ensures that a user can instantly broadcast an ‘All Call’ distress signal, bypassing all other traffic in a moment of distress.
Water and Dust Proof - Icom equipment is designed to survive the harshest outdoor conditions, meeting industry-leading standards most of our radios have IP67 or IP68 environmental and waterproof ratings. Not only does this keep the radio fully functional but it also means no loss of sound quality for crystal-clear audio regardless of the operating conditions.
By investing in Icom communication solutions countryside workers and recreationists can stay connected, ensuring that their operations remain safe, efficient and profitable. For more information, call us on 01227 741741 or email us at
sales@icomuk.co.uk.
