The broad definition of the word “Works”

In our many years in business, we have had many service calls to which we respond.One thing I’ve always wanted to write about was how most people define the status of their communications which led me to this topic.

One day, a call comes in from a client having a coverage issue.

Among other issues, as we complete our testing we notice the portables have 3 year old batteries attached.

When we finish our report to the client, and suggest some minor necessary changes and improvements we end up having to focus on the 3 year old batteries.

As we mentioned this, the client appeared apprehensive about having to equip all his radios with new batteries in order to restore the performance.

“Surely there is SOMETHING wrong with the radio it can’t be the battery because the radio “WORKS” Said the client.

We begin to explain to our client that over time, although the radio “WORKS” (i.e., it transmits and receives) the batteries lose the ability to not only store capacity (the part that allows your radio to last all shift ) but also loses voltage and has an accelerated discharge rate.

The bottom line is that as the battery ages, commensurately, the radio loses power on transmit. Now what happens is the receiving radio doesn’t hear the transmitting radio as well due to this reduction in power from the other side. Combine this effect on a 20 radio site with radios all purchased about the same time and one can easily see how this can get easily out of control.

All this from a radio that “Works!”

Of course other items can still be needed, for instance, antenna replacements, repairs, interference, alignments etc. but usually when a radio has more going than just a battery or an alignment issue it more than likely will not even “Work”.