An improved radio and data network system (15) for communicating data to a user comprising a radio (19), a data collection unit (20), the data collection unit operatively adapted to communicate with the radio, a first tower (21) having a defined first coverage area (22), the first tower operatively adapted to communicate with the radio when the radio is in the first coverage area, a hub (25), a computer network (28), the hub operatively adapted to communicate with the first tower and with the computer network, the data collection unit, radio, first tower and hub so configured and arranged that data from the collection unit is transmittable by the radio to the first tower when the radio is in the first coverage area, is transmittable from the first tower to the hub, and is accessible to the user via the computer network. The hub may comprise a first server (29) operatively adapted to communicate with the first tower and a second server (30) operatively adapted to communicate with the computer network and the first server. The invention also provides a method for communicating data to a user. The invention also provides a radio switching system The invention also provides a method for switching a radio from a control channel to a data channel.