Wireless Audio – Is Digital Better?

It often seems like a foregone conclusion that anything digital must be better. Yet thousands of agencies still rely on legacy analog equipment every day. In this article, we’ll explore the differences between wireless devices for covert surveillance and compare digital body wires to their analog counterparts.

Wireless Range

In general, digital devices achieve similar range to analog. But in noisy RF environments common to urban areas, digital systems usually perform better thanks to stronger immunity to interference. One exception is spread spectrum technology, which can cut range to half or one-third of comparable devices. Obstructions in the environment tend to widen this performance gap even further.

Security

Digital body wires deliver a level of security that makes them resistant to interception by common counter-surveillance tools. In contrast, analog transmissions can be picked up by off-the-shelf police scanners. However, analog allows multiple teams to monitor transmissions simultaneously, while most digital devices require matched transmitters and receivers.

Price

Analog equipment is typically more affordable, often priced in the hundreds of dollars, while digital systems run into the thousands. Still, digital offers mission-critical advantages:

• Stronger information security
• Longer run times with efficient power use
• Remote enable/disable functions to reduce RF detection

If any of these are vital to your mission, cost should not be the only deciding factor.

Transmission Speed & Latency

Early-generation digital units had noticeable delays of up to a second, unacceptable for live monitoring and UC/CI safety. Today’s digital body wires operate with near-zero latency, in the realm of milliseconds. One exception is digital burst units, which intentionally delay transmissions for added security in sensitive operations.

Bidirectional Communications

Agencies often request remote enable/disable features to avoid RF detection. While possible with analog, it requires extra radios, making concealment harder. Digital devices transmit a data stream, enabling remote control, bidirectional audio, and even adjustments to frequency, power, and encryption keys without bulky add-ons.

Physical Size & Power

A decade ago, digital units were larger than analog. Today’s digital components are miniaturized, creating smaller, more concealable packages with improved efficiency. Even with small batteries, modern digital transmitters can match or exceed analog operating times.

Conclusion

When features, benefits, and cost are weighed together, digital devices stand out as the superior choice for covert law enforcement and intelligence missions. Today’s digital systems outperform analog across nearly every category, from security to concealability. To explore MAXSUR’s digital body wires, visit our collection or contact our team for guidance on the best system for your mission.

Thanks for reading,
Jake Lahmann