Best Comms for CP work

Just reading the comms Chapter on the Close Protection book written by Richard Aitch.
What are the best comms equipment to be used for CP in your opinion?
Do you like it covert or with the visible curly wurly earpiece?

The Hytera seems to be the best radio but the price is high.

The MOTOTRBO SL radio from Motorola looks good.


http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Two-Way+Radios+and+Pagers+-+Business/Portable+Radios/Wide+Area+Communications/SL+7550

Combined with this kit, you now have a cheaper option than the hytera and completely covert radio with the BT neckloop and discreet earpiece:
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Accessories/Two-Way+Radio+Accessories/Wireless+Bluetooth+Accessories/Wireless+Earpieces/Operations_Critical_Wireless_Completely_Discreet_Surveillance_Kit

Sometimes it is good to use discreet comms to avoid detection and draw attention but as Richard Aitch points out in the book having an overt and visible earpiece (curly wurly) can also work well because if the principal is a well known face then people around are going to know anyway he has a CPT, an earpiece can act as a detterent against people with little motivation, it will help you get what you want in placed like hotels, restaurants and clubs, and you will get less hassle getting through doors.

Here is the overt earpiece for use with this radio:
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/Business+Product+and+Services/Accessories/Two-Way+Radio+Accessories/Audio+Accessories/Surveillance+Accessories/PMLN5957

Sorry it's taken me longer to respond to this than it would usually as I have been travelling.

Actually, Rich came to us when he was writing this chapter of the book so I would pretty much echo what he says.

The type of accessory is often determined by the image you want to portray.  But whatever you choose, it is worth buying the quality devices.  The adage of buy cheap buy twice applies here as much as anywhere.

When it comes to radios my personal preference is the Hytera.  It is a true covert radio whereas the Motorola SL4000 is more of a Gucci front-of-house type of device; also it is only half the power of the X1E and has no GPS capability.

If budget is not an option, look at the Zodiac; follow this link.  

http://www.g6-global.com/stock/267/65/Zodiac-Covert-Digital-Portable-Radio.php

It is the guts of a Motorola DP3401 radio re-packaged into a truly covert offering.  Price is high but so is the quality and performance.

Hope this answers the questions.

Hi andy,

Many thanks for your help.
What is the price of the zodiac device?
Do you have pics if the wireless covert earpieces compatible sold with the zodiac?

I've used the MOTOTRBO with covert and over ear pieces and it's a fantastic encrypt-able and secure radio. It's small and as thin, if not thinner than most smartphones. If using a radio, i prefer covert, but the fact of the matter is that the overt "pig tail" ear pieces require less maintenance, cost less and work better than most of the wireless loop antennae ear pieces. For covert radio comms the MOTOTRBO combined with this: http://www.phonak-communications.com/en/products/in-ear-receivers/profilo-nano/?gclid=CP22ocvlxbkCFYKS3god4ykA3w  would work really well.

Many thanks HP

You're welcome Ted.

In addition, i've been field testing Voxer which is an app for smartphones turning the device into an internet based walkie talkie. Using this WITH a regular phone earpiece is a great way to communicate if radio's are too overt. I'm in no way endorsing this, i'm simply pointing out that i'm testing it, because i'm a geek at heart! (if you use this, keep in mind, all transmissions go through and are probably stored on the Voxer server).
http://voxer.com/

H