Motorola 3-way Radio

[ResonantEvil]

Yeah, 3-way radio! A while back I could swear I saw a historical advertisement for Motorola 3-way radios. Clearly it didn't mean the radio transmitted, received, and... something else. It was a marketing term for a particular system set up. I can't find any reference to it any more, and was wondering if anyone here knows what I'm talking about?

Thanks,

Michael

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Hmm, a Google search for three-way comes up with some interesting stuff.

Maybe Motorola was into that sort of thing in the 70's and then marketing thought it might not go over well with their more conservative government customers.

Between you, me and the NSA, the best way to avoid a three way on your two way radio is to employ DES or AES encryption and not give the key to any 3LA agencies.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

It may have been a marketing ploy for iDen or Privacy Plus when telephone interconnect was a thing. Probably predates the inter webs.

 

[mmckenna]

Many years ago I heard that term, and it's similar to what RFI-EMI-GUY said. Radio to radio, radio to "Network" (Network being phone, etc).

Also, in the utility industry, there is a protocol called "3-way" communication that has to do with safety. Basically it has to do with providing direction over the radio and having the receiving party read it back to make sure instructions are clear.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Many years ago I heard that term, and it's similar to what RFI-EMI-GUY said. Radio to radio, radio to "Network" (Network being phone, etc).

Also, in the utility industry, there is a protocol called "3-way" communication that has to do with safety. Basically it has to do with providing direction over the radio and having the receiving party read it back to make sure instructions are clear.

Field Op: Open breaker nine

Dispatch: Breaker five open

zzzzzipppp!!!!

Field Op: WTF Over??

 

[mmckenna]

Field Op: WTF Over??

Exactly.

 

[kf8yk]

Three way radio was coined back in the 1940's to describe police radio systems that allowed base-to-mobile, mobile-to-base, and mobile-to-mobile communications.

Usually these evolved from a one way system with the base transmitting AM in the 1.6 to 3 MHz band to receivers in the patrol cars, to a two way system with the addition of a 30-40 MHz transmitter in the police car, then three way with an additional 30-40 MHz receiver in the car.

The Connecticut State Police mentions the three way system they developed here: Connecticut State Police Museum - History