Choosing a Wireless Communication System: Beyond the Line of Sight
When deciding to purchase a wireless communication system, prospective users of tour guides often pay attention to many technical aspects. In the context of radio communication, the term “line of sight” frequently appears. This is an element that potential users often consider to be the most important in the technical specifications. In the following paragraphs, we will explain exactly what this concept means and how it translates into the real-world experience of using a tour guide system.
What is Line of Sight Range?
The term “line of sight” range is a crucial, but merely conventional, technical parameter provided by all manufacturers and distributors of tour guide systems on the market. It is based on the condition where the guide’s transmitter and the tourist’s receiver are directed directly at each other, without any obstacles (which is not always synonymous with the people seeing each other). In practice, this means that no physical obstruction can be directly in the path of the radio signal between the devices to utilize the full potential of the range.
Maximum Range as a Reference Point
The maximum line of sight range (e.g., 120m for Okayo EarME GO, 100m for Okayo WT-350D) is provided as a reference point and is measured under the most neutral conditions possible—i.e., in places where there is no electromagnetic interference, no physical obstructions, etc. Why? Because it is impossible to define another common denominator due to the wide range of tour guide system applications. Moreover, even if a manufacturer were to focus on a single application, such as tourist excursions, it must be remembered that each one also takes place in different conditions.
What Affects the Range?
At the boundaries of the range, meaning near the declared maximum, the signal is naturally more susceptible to interference and quality degradation. This happens because the radio signal weakens with increasing distance, which is why crackling and static sometimes appear, and the guide’s voice becomes robotic. Furthermore, many other external factors affect the range and, consequently, the sound quality:
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Weather conditions: On a sunny day, the range may be more resistant to interference than in rainy weather.
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Infrastructure: The proximity of metal structures, scaffolding, or reinforced concrete walls affects the range.
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Other radio devices: The gathering of many different tourist groups with tour guide receivers in one place, or proximity to military units.
How to Deal with Obstacles? The Concept of Usable Range
It is worth remembering that line of sight range is not equal to usable range, which should be the most important factor for users. The usable range, which allows for free use under average conditions (e.g., 70-80m) with moderate obstacles, is indeed smaller but still fully sufficient for comfortably guiding groups.
To fully benefit from the possibilities offered by tour guide systems, it’s worth keeping up with the times and trying to use the modern solutions offered by digital models. Besides standard options, they have a larger number of simultaneous channels than old analog models. Thanks to simultaneous channels and better channel separation, groups do not interfere with each other. Digital tour guide systems also have options for channel migration and additional features, such as automatic searching for an interference-free channel.
Summary
Let’s remember that the key to reliable communication is not chasing the maximum theoretical range, but choosing the technology that performs best in real, complex conditions. When investing in a tour guide system, focus on the usable range parameter and on digital solutions that actively manage interference. Choosing modern equipment directly translates into tourist satisfaction and the guide’s comfort of work.
