A communications system, comprising: a) a distant radio; b) a first radio, wherein said first radio is a portable device configured to be carried by a person; c) a second radio having a communications range greater than the first radio due to a greater transmission power and receive sensitivity of the second radio, wherein said second radio is a radio device disposed in a vehicle or in a building; d) a remote unit, wherein said remote unit is an auxiliary headset or handset configured to establish a short-range communications link to said first radio, and further configured to establish a short-range communications link to said second radio; said remote unit configured to support wireless communications with said distant radio via said first radio or said second radio using a plurality of communications modes; wherein e) said first radio being configured to a) support short-range wireless communications with said remote unit; b) support a long-range wireless communications with said distant radio; and f) said second radio being configured to a) support long-range wireless communications with said distant radio; and b) support short-range wireless communications with said remote unit; g) a switch element communicatively coupled to said remote unit; h) a control element for detecting actuations of said switch element and configured to select a one of said plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of said actuations of said switch element detected by said control element during a pre-defined time interval and to cause a wireless transmission from said remote unit via said first radio or via said second radio to said distant radio according to said one of said plurality of communications modes; i) said remote unit being configured to in response to the control element detecting actuations of said switch element: a) establish said short-range communications with said first radio and transmit data to said distant radio via said first radio; or b) establish said short-range wireless communications with said second radio and transmit data to said distant radio via said second radio bypassing said first radio. a) a distant radio; b) a first radio, wherein said first radio is a portable device configured to be carried by a person; c) a second radio having a communications range greater than the first radio due to a greater transmission power and receive sensitivity of the second radio, wherein said second radio is a radio device disposed in a vehicle or in a building; d) a remote unit, wherein said remote unit is an auxiliary headset or handset configured to establish a short-range communications link to said first radio, and further configured to establish a short-range communications link to said second radio; said remote unit configured to support wireless communications with said distant radio via said first radio or said second radio using a plurality of communications modes; wherein e) said first radio being configured to a) support short-range wireless communications with said remote unit; b) support a long-range wireless communications with said distant radio; and a) support short-range wireless communications with said remote unit; b) support a long-range wireless communications with said distant radio; and f) said second radio being configured to a) support long-range wireless communications with said distant radio; and b) support short-range wireless communications with said remote unit; a) support long-range wireless communications with said distant radio; and b) support short-range wireless communications with said remote unit; g) a switch element communicatively coupled to said remote unit; h) a control element for detecting actuations of said switch element and configured to select a one of said plurality of communications modes based on a sequence of said actuations of said switch element detected by said control element during a pre-defined time interval and to cause a wireless transmission from said remote unit via said first radio or via said second radio to said distant radio according to said one of said plurality of communications modes; i) said remote unit being configured to in response to the control element detecting actuations of said switch element: a) establish said short-range communications with said first radio and transmit data to said distant radio via said first radio; or b) establish said short-range wireless communications with said second radio and transmit data to said distant radio via said second radio bypassing said first radio. a) establish said short-range communications with said first radio and transmit data to said distant radio via said first radio; or b) establish said short-range wireless communications with said second radio and transmit data to said distant radio via said second radio bypassing said first radio.