A radio communications system (100) includes a portable radio (200) and a mobile radio (300), the portable radio (200) being configured to remotely control the mobile radio (300). The portable radio (200) can operate in a standalone mode, in which the mobile radio (300) communicates with other radio devices using the portable radio's RF interface (285). The portable radio (200) can also operate in a remote mode, in which the portable radio (200) is operative to establish a wireless link between the portable radio (200) and the mobile radio (300) to thereby remotely control the mobile radio (300) and to use the mobile radio's RF interface (385) to communicate with other radio devices.