In one embodiment, a control station detects the presence of a portable radio device within range of a radio frequency communications link, and sends a command to the portable radio device to change an internal setting of the portable radio device. In another embodiment, a control station receives at least one message from a portable radio device on an out of band channel, the at least one message indicating an identification of the portable radio device, a request to make an external connection, and an identification of an external device to which the portable radio device wishes to connect. The control station then establishes a connection to the identified external device, and couples the portable radio device to the established connection using an out of band channel.