In high-stakes ATEX environments such as chemical sites, manufacturing plants, and oil and gas facilities, reliable and secure communication isn’t just beneficial – it’s essential. ATEX two-way radios are specifically designed to prevent sparks, so they can be used in ATEX-rated zones and work sites. Today’s article is an overview of the 3 top ATEX radio series on the market (in our opinion) with some details on why we recommend them.

For a more in-depth look into ATEX devices read our ATEX radio comprehensive guide blog Post HERE

Key Considerations for Choosing ATEX Radios

We have worked in collaboration with hundreds of clients over the years who require ATEX-safe equipment for their sites. From our work in this industry, we have pinpointed these are the key factors to be taken into account when choosing a quality ATEX device:

• Durability and build
• Reliable clear audio
• Battery life
• Emergency features
• Usability
• Affordability

We have chosen the following two-way radios based on the above criteria.

Our Recommendations

Hytera HP79X EX

Durability and build:

• MIL-STD-810H
  Based on reliability tests such as accelerated life testing, impact test for the radio with a 2.4-inch screen, and drop test It is rugged enough to withstand dust, shock, or sudden drop.
• IP 68 rated
  Can operate in extreme environments from rain to dust without the risk of damaging the device.
• Dual antimagnetic mechanism.
  The device has been designed to repel magnetic metal dust and shavings that would cause damage to the speaker. Maintaining outstanding audio clarity and longer service life. All lies in the dual antimagnetic mechanism.

Clear and reliable audio for critical communication.

• Cutting-edge audio processing technology delivers crisp, clear audio even in complex environments,
• AI-based noise cancellation. To eliminate background noise in loud environments
• Automatic gain control (AGC) automatically increases or decreases microphone gain to ensure consistently loud and clear audio output, regardless of how softly or loudly the workers are talking into the microphone
• Unique water-porting speaker design that can automatically expel water from the speaker’s acoustic cavity quickly.

Long battery life for extended operations

2,150mAh IIC intrinsically safe Li battery

• 24hr battery life (GNSS off)
• 21hr battery life (GNSS on)

Emergency features

• Lone worker
• Man down
• Precise location positioning

Usability

• 390g comfortable for long-time grip
• 4 inch LCD screen with 9-grid menu and pop-up notification on the home screen
• Textured housing to prevent the device from slipping out of your hands
• Tactical and textured keys
• Enlarged emergency alarm
• Three programmable buttons for efficiency

Cost.

£1362 Available to buy HERE

contact us for the best available price

Motorola DP4000 Ex Series

DP4401 EX non-display model

DP4801 EX Full keypad and Display model

Durability and build:

• IP67 rated. Can operate in extreme environments from rain to dust without risk of damaging the device
• MIL-STD-810. Rugged and durable the DP4400EX series can withstand extreme environments.

Clear and reliable audio for critical communication.

• Intelligent Audio allowing the radio volume to automatically adjust to compensate for background noise.

Long battery life for extended operations

• 19 hours in digital mode
• 16 hours in analogue mode

Emergency features

• Integrated GPS
• Orange emergency button
• Transmit interrupt
• Lone worker
• Man down

Usability

• 482g comfortable for long-time grip
• Features a 5-line colour display with a flexible menu-driven interface.
• Icons and large easy-to-use navigation buttons ease message reading and menu navigation.
• Three programmable buttons for efficiency
• Use of management software such as TRBOcall can enable a wide variety of customised features including location tracking, dispatch, telephony, and work order ticket management.

Cost

DP4401 Ex £1147 Available to buy HERE

DP4801 Ex £1447 Available to buy HERE

contact us for the best available price

Entel DTex series

Durability and build:

• IP68 rated Can be submerged in 2 Metres of water for up to 4 Hours
• MIL-STD-810 8, designed for use in extreme environments and conditions.

Clear and reliable audio for critical communication.

• loud and crisp audio, no matter what operational environment you are in.
• intelligent speech tailoring technology automatically detects the type of accessory connected and optimises the audio accordingly to deliver the very best performance

Long battery life for extended operations

• Analogue 16 hours
• Digital 18 hours

Emergency features

• IP Multi Roaming (licenced option)
• Lone worker & Man down (option)
• Personal attack button
• Emergency button

Usability

• 435g comfortable for long-time grip
• basic push-to-talk (PTT) operation
• high-contrast OLED screen can be customised to display simple large-character or more detailed information (Only on display variants)

The DTEx series also has a Licence-free variation which is rare for ATEX devices.

Cost.

DT953 Licence-free (Display Model) £722.52 – Available to buy HERE

DT952 Licence-free (Non-display) £667.44 – Available to buy HERE

DT925 1W VHF (Display) £722.52 – Available to buy HERE

DT982 1W UHF (Non-display) £667.44 – Available to buy HERE

For more variations of this device – check out our website.

Conclusion

To conclude, selecting the right two-way radio for your ATEX zones and sites is a mission-critical decision.  After thoroughly exploring the key considerations, we’ve highlighted our top recommendations for ATEX-rated devices in 2024. The Hytera HP79X EX stands out with its robust build, advanced audio features, and extended battery life, offering a comprehensive solution for demanding environments. The Motorola DP4000 Ex Series impresses with its durability, intelligent audio capabilities, and versatile usability. The Entel DX series has an impressive IP68 rating and unique licensing options. These present a compelling choice for those seeking reliability and adaptability.

 

These recommendations stem from our collaborative experiences with clients who prioritize ATEX-safe equipment. For a deeper dive into ATEX devices, feel free to explore our comprehensive guide. Contact us for the best available prices, and trust that your choice in ATEX two-way radios is not just an investment; it’s a commitment to safety, efficiency, and peace of mind.

Check out our Full ATEX two-way radio range and accessory options on 2WayRadioShop.

Lastly, check out our social media channels for all our latest content updates and news!

Facebook: 2Way RadioShop / Facebook

X (formerly twitter):2WayRadioShop (@2wayradioshop) / X (twitter.com)

LinkedIn 2 Way Radio Shop (Online Store) | LinkedIn

YouTube 2Way Radio Shop – YouTube

TikTok 2wayradioshop (@2wayradioshop) | TikTok