Latest News
FCC EXTENDS NARROWBANDING DEADLINES FOR PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMERCIAL LICENSEES
07-14-2010
Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week took action to
eliminate certain interim narrowbanding deadlines for public safety and commercial licensees in the
150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz Bands (VHF/UHF Bands). This action will ease the transition for
licensees in these bands who are required to migrate their land mobile radio systems from 25 kHz
bandwidth channels to 12.5 kHz bandwidth channels by January 1, 2013 in order to help reduce
congestion, improve communications, and increase user access to the spectrum.
The Order partially grants a petition filed by the National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council (NPSTC) seeking relief from interim narrowbanding requirements that otherwise take
effect on January 1, 2011. Specifically, the order gives flexibility to VHF/UHF Band licensees to
continue to obtain 25 kHz-capable equipment for their existing systems until January 1, 2013,
which previously would have been prohibited as of January 1, 2011. This will make it easier for
licensees to manage the transition of their existing systems to 12.5 kHz capability. In granting this
relief, however, the Commission reaffirmed its commitment to timely completion of the migration
to 12.5 kHz technology by the January 1, 2013 deadline.
Jamie Barnett, Chief of the FCC‘s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, stated,
“The transition to 12.5 kHz narrowband will result in more spectrum capacity for public safety
agencies and commercial users in the VHF and UHF bands by increasing the efficiency of spectrum
use. But as today's order indicates, the Commission also appreciates the concerns that NPSTC and
others have raised regarding the need for flexibility in the transition. We look forward to continuing
to work with NPSTC and the public safety community to support each licensee’s efforts to meet the
2013 compliance deadline.”
Ruth Milkman, Chief of the FCC‘s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, said, “Although the
Commission took action to eliminate certain interim compliance deadlines related to the use of
antiquated radios and other equipment in these lower bands, it is essential for all band-users to
continue forward with this transition so that they can maximize the use of their narrowband
communications. We envision that voice network capacity could eventually quadruple, enabling
users, including public safety agencies in particular, to take full advantage of the capabilities of
existing technologies to provide high-quality narrowband voice communications in these lower
spectrum bands.”
The Commission took the following additional actions in the Order:
· Extended the deadline for requiring equipment to be 6.25 kHz-capable until 2013.
· Denied the request to allow new or expanded 25 kHz operations beyond January 1, 2011.
The Commission remains committed to working with public safety and commercial licensees to
meet the January 1, 2013 deadline for completing migration to 12.5 kHz channel bandwidth. The
Commission will also continue to work with its Federal partners, such as the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security’s Office of Emergency Communications, to make public safety agencies aware
of opportunities for public funding to meet this requirement.
Action by the Commission, June 29, 2010, by Order (FCC 10-119). Chairman Genachowski and
Commissioners Copps, McDowell, Clyburn and Baker. WT Docket No. 99-87.
For additional information about the Order, please contact Roberto Mussenden, Policy Division,
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 202-418-1428 or Roberto.Mussenden@fcc.gov, or
Melvin Spann, Mobility Division, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, at 202-418-1333 or
Melvin.Spann@fcc.gov.
-FCCFor
more news and information about the Federal Communications Commission
please visit: www.fcc.gov
ON THE FIREGROUND, ANALOG STILL REIGNS
05-18-2010
Apr 6, 2010 5:54 PM, by Glenn Bischoff
Despite important advancements, digital communications aren’t right for every
circumstance.
Technology is beginning to make the problems associated
with using digital radios in very noisy environments go
away. This is particularly important for firefighters, who
often have found that such communications are
unintelligible when they are on the fireground, because
previous versions of the vocoder found in digital radios
were unable to differentiate human voice from the sounds
made by chain saws, apparatus engines, breathing gear
and personal alert systems. As result, transmissions often
were garbled, if they were received at all.
Today, however, a new digital vocoder has been developed
that already has found its way into one vendor’s radios
(EF Johnson) — with others soon to follow — that
represents a significant and noticeable improvement over
previous vocoders. And noise-cancelling technology has
been developed that suppresses unwanted audio.
However, experts speaking last month at the annual
International Wireless Communications Exposition (IWCE 2010) in Las Vegas advised that such
technologies won’t be effective unless firefighters are properly trained on their use — and
sometimes they’re not effective at all. It’s crucial then to know when to use digital
communications, when to avoid them and to have a plan for making such determinations,
according to the speakers.
D.J. Atkinson, lead electronics engineer for Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) — a
joint effort of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Institute of
Telecommunications Services (ITS) — demonstrated the session the effectiveness of noisecancelling
technology, which was discernible. But he cautioned that the impact of noise
cancellation — using a primary microphone to capture the user’s voice and a secondary
microphone that captures ambient noise — can be far less when it’s improperly used.
“The noise source is directional, so the second microphone has to be oriented towards the noise
source to get the maximum benefit,” Atkinson said. “A noise-cancelling microphone, when
properly used, can make a huge difference. But when it isn’t used to its full benefit, it might not
make any difference at all.”
Atkinson demonstrated that even when using an analog radio, how the microphone is used in
relation to the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask is vital in terms of generating
intelligible transmissions. “Putting the microphone right up to the voice port of the SCBA mask
makes a big difference,” he said.
But no amount of training or best practices will make digital communications effective for every
circumstance, said Capt. Kevin Nida, radio officer for the city of Los Angeles Fire Department and
president of the California State Firefighters’ Association. Just as firefighters have several
types of nozzles available to them to direct water at the proper volume, in the proper pattern and
in the proper velocity, based on the circumstances they encounter, Nida said that different types
of radios and frequency bands are needed, based on whether the fire is in a forest, a high-rise
building, a large warehouse or a residential structure.
Also, digital radios have limitations in certain situations that analog radios don’t experience, Nida
said. For example, simultaneous transmissions on the same digital channel have less chance of
getting through compared with analog, he said. Also, digital signals drop off suddenly at the edge
of the coverage area and they experience greater loss when the radio is in a horizontal rather
than vertical position — a common scenario, because firefighters regularly need to crawl through
structures for myriad reasons.
“We’re not against P25, and we’re not against trunking,” Nida said. “But like any tool in the
toolbox, it has to be used appropriately. And just like aircraft, which is still using AM because it
works, we still need to maintain a little VHF and UHF operating in analog mode, because that’s
what works for us in many different scenarios.”
“So, an analog network and simplex channels are very important to have,” Nida said.
Also important is having a plan for transitioning to simplex communications when firefighters lose
contact with the radio network.
“You have to switch to a pre-determined channel that’s off the network before you enter an area
— whether it’s wildland or a building — where such situational issues exist,” Nida said. “It’s a
simple solution.”
To illustrate his point, Nida told the story of a 24-year-old firefighter who was killed after falling
into a basement while searching for victims of a residential fire.
“Sometimes a firefighter is so deep inside a building that he’s not hitting the repeater. When a
firefighter is on the first floor, and he’s suddenly out of network, [we wonder], ‘Did he fall
through the floor?’” Nida said. “That’s exactly what happened to this firefighter. … We have no
idea whether he tried to get a call out. What we do know is that when he fell into the basement,
he went from in network to out of network, so he had no chance of surviving.”
The CSFA has identified 18 “watch out” situations—those that have caused a firefighter death
and cannot be ignored. Number seven on the list is, “No communications link between crew
members and supervisors.”
“When we lose radio communications with the command post, that’s the time to pull out,” Nida
said.
Motorola Announces Industry Leading Capabilities for MOTOTRBO(TM) Professional Digital Two-way Radio System
03-18-2010
March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Enterprise Mobility Solutions business of Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced industry-first enhancements for its innovative MOTOTRBO™ Professional Digital Two-way Radio System at the International Wireless Communications Expo.
Motorola continues to build upon MOTOTRBO with the launch of the industry's first Transmit Interrupt Suite as well as new 800/900 MHz frequency band portable and mobile radios; a new 800 MHz frequency band repeater; a 900 MHz frequency band repeater; and a new UHF 100-watt, high-power base station/repeater.
The new Transmit Interrupt Suite allows MOTOTRBO users to interrupt conversations during an emergency or to deliver business-critical communications exactly when and where it's needed via the voice interrupt, remote voice dekey and emergency voice interrupt features. Transmit Interrupt is an ideal solution for public works agencies, utilities, private security and manufacturing, to help them increase employee safety and efficiency.
Another example of MOTOTRBO's industry leading innovation is the launch of 800/900 MHz capable radios. The XPR® 6580 display portable, XPR 6380 non-display portable, XPR 4580 display mobile and XPR 4380 numeric display mobile radios are currently available with all the great features of MOTOTRBO and operate in the 800 and 900 MHz frequency bands.
New repeaters are also being added to the growing MOTOTRBO system lineup, including the XPR 8380, an 800 MHz frequency band repeater. This repeater provides continuous duty at 40W/UHF, 45W/VHF and 35W/800 MHz. It operates in analog and digital mode and supports two simultaneous voice or data paths in Time-Division Multiple-Access (TDMA) digital mode. A 900 MHz frequency band repeater is scheduled to ship for MOTOTRBO systems later this year.
"Motorola is a company of firsts with a rich heritage of continuous innovation," said Paul Cizek, Motorola director of North America Professional/Commercial Radios. "We are continuing this innovation with the MOTOTRBO system by offering industry-first features for professional digital radios with the Transmit Interrupt Suite and 800/900 MHz frequency band capabilities."
The new UHF 100-watt MTR3000 base station/repeater delivers high-power capability, which helps to improve coverage for users such as schools, public works, and transportation companies operating across a wide area or within large building structures including hospitals, shopping malls or casinos. The MTR3000 also features convenient access to station ports, shortening installation and maintenance time. With 16-channel capability, it operates in analog or digital mode and supports two simultaneous voice or data paths in TDMA digital. An upgrade kit is available for MTR2000 users, allowing them to migrate to the MTR3000 without a total repeater replacement.
Michael Saia, vice president of radio dealer Saia Communications, Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y., said his customers are looking for the flexibility of the high-power MTR3000 repeater which can operate in analog or digital mode allowing them to migrate to digital at their own pace.
"We have many customers who need a high power repeater to meet the communication needs of their business and the MOTOTRBO system with a MTR3000 repeater is the ideal solution," Saia said. "And with the MTR2000 upgrade process; we are able to easily migrate existing users to the advantages of digital technology at a significantly lower cost than if they had to do a complete replacement of their existing equipment."
MOTOTRBO meets the 12.5 kHz capability requirement mandate for narrowbanding, ensuring professional users compliance with FCC regulations. With its TDMA digital technology, MOTOTRBO provides additional benefits over alternate digital technologies including lower infrastructure costs, longer battery life and advanced features.
"These benefits make TDMA the digital choice of the future for professional two-way radio communications," said Cizek. "Delivering advanced features and more system capacity while being able to leverage existing spectrum resources at a significant cost savings, make it a clear choice over Frequency-Division Multiple-Access (FDMA) digital solutions."
Two Way Radio Receives 2009 Best of Charlotte Award
12-16-2009
WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Two Way Radio has been selected for the 2009 Best of Charlotte Award in the Communication Equipment Repair category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).
The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.
Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.
About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)
U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.
The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.
SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association
CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org
Wisconsin Department of Transportation Chooses EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. for Statewide First Responder Communications System in $13.2 Million Contract
12-16-2009
IRVING, Texas, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: EFJI) announced today that it has received a contract valued at $13.2 million from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The contract calls for the Company to provide its innovative Trunked IP25(TM) Project 25 compliant infrastructure system for first responders.
"Our Native IP Trunked IP25 infrastructure is a fully distributed network with decentralized call control and voice routing that delivers mission critical quality of service and reliability with lower life costs," said Michael Jalbert, president and chief executive officer of EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. "Trunked IP25 is a switchless end-to-end digital environment. Radio calls are handled independently of a centralized control system. Benefits to the customer include elimination of a single point of failure, reduced capital expenditures, and one of the lowest life-cycle costs in the industry. The system meets the government mandates for narrowband operation as well as for Project 25 compliance."
Added Carl Guse, WISCOM Project Manager for the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, "Our mission is to build an interoperable communications system that will serve all public safety agencies in Wisconsin. This 80 site statewide system will provide coverage throughout the 65,000 square miles of the State of Wisconsin. The IP25 system will enable our first responders to maintain communications while roaming throughout the state."
Jalbert noted, "We have invested significant resources into our systems infrastructure which has resulted in unique technology applications such as our award-winning StarGate(TM) Dispatch Console, and cost effective wide area networking approach for our customers. We are pleased to note that contract awards like this one, which are integral to our long term strategic growth, further validate the direction we have taken in the systems market." The company's award-winning ES Series of Project 25 compliant radios are also included in this contract, Jalbert added.
EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. Named on Contract from U.S. Internal Revenue Service
12-09-2009
Irving, TX – December 8, 2009 – EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFJI) today announced that it has been named as one of several contractors under a contract issued by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The contract is an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract which allows various federal government agencies to purchase P25 digital two-way radios and related equipment from time to time from a select group of companies, including EF Johnson Technologies, Inc.
“We have a lengthy and proud tradition of providing secure wireless communications solutions to the Federal government,” said Michael Jalbert, president and chief executive officer of EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. “This contract is the latest validation of our commitment. Our award-winning ES Series of Project 25 compliant radios deploy the second-generation Enhanced (AMBE+2) Project 25 Vocoder for superior voice quality and reduction of background noise, solid construction, federally certified encryption algorithms, and compliance with military specifications for extreme temperatures, vibration, and shock. We are honored to be named on this contract and look forward to providing the government agencies with our solutions.”
The maximum total value of the five-year contract is $750 million; however, the contract does not specify purchase dates or quantities of equipment from any specific contractor.
About EF Johnson Technologies, Inc.
Headquartered in Irving, Texas, EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. focuses on innovating, developing and marketing the highest quality secure communications solutions to organizations whose mission is to protect and save lives. The Company’s customers include first responders in public safety and public service, the federal government, and industrial organizations. The Company’s products are marketed under the EFJohnson, 3e Technologies International, and Transcrypt International names and are Made in America. For more information, visit http://www.EFJohnsonTechnologies.com.
HARRIS WINS TECHNOLOGY OF THE YEAR!
12-03-2009
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The SDR Forum announced today the winners of their annual Achievement Awards during SDR’09 Technical Conference and Product Exposition, the premier event for the reconfigurable radio community, December 1 to December 4 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Bruce Fette of DARPA won the President’s Award, The Harris Unity™ XG-100 earned Technology of the Year and Eric Nicollet of Thales took home the International Achievement Award. A special award was also given to Dr. John Glossner for chairing the conference as well. Winners were announced during the event’s Technology Showcase and Welcome Event on December 1.
A new award this year, The Technology of the Year, is presented to an individual or organization for a breakthrough product or technology in the field of Software Defined or Cognitive Radio as selected by the members. For 2009 this award goes to the Harris Unity™ XG-100 Full-Spectrum Multiband Radio which provides federal, state and local agencies with the first portable “One-for-All” solution that delivers true interoperability with first responders and public safety professionals. Supporting both digital APCO P25 secure and analog FM communications across the VHF, UHF, 700 MHz and 800 MHz public safety bands in a single portable radio, responders can now communicate with multiple jurisdictions and agencies operating on many different frequencies and systems. Built-in advanced capabilities include two-microphone noise suppression and clear audio for operation in high-noise environments, GPS receiver for position tracking and rapid response for emergencies, and secure Bluetooth® technology for wireless audio accessories and wireless data support. The XG-100 is built to the military standard for ruggedness and submersibility, designed to be intrinsically safe, and features a true software defined radio architecture that allows flexibility for future growth, including a software-only upgrade to the APCO P25 phase 2 TDMA standards. User-friendly radio controls include a transflective front color display with intuitive user interface, configurable OLED top display for holster operation, front panel programming, and easy-grip radio controls.
About the SDR Forum™
Established in 1996, The SDR Forum™ is a non-profit international industry association with a 100+ strong membership comprised of world-class technical, business and government organizations from EMEA, Asia and the Americas who are passionate about creating a revolution in wireless communications based on reconfigurable radio. The SDR Forum is the only organization in the world dedicated to serving the industry's needs through advocacy, opportunity development, commercialization and education. For more information, please visit www.sdrforum.org.
Narrowbanding - Are Your Radios at the Ready?
11-20-2009
Are Your Radios at the Ready?
Unless you want to lose all department communications, make sure your agency’s FCC frequency licensing is up to date.
by Melanie Basich - as seen in "POLICE - the law enforcement magazine"
Chances are your agency operates radios and various other equipment that work on a radio frequency. Legally, your department must obtain and maintain a license for each "call sign" or frequency through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for authorized use. Frequency licensing is required for everything from two-way radios to remote use bomb disposal robots. As mundane as it may seem, having the proper paperwork in order is necessary to maintain use of these frequencies critical to daily operation.
Such licenses have been important since before the days of "Dragnet" and "Adam 12." But with the advent of cell phones, the Internet, and other technological innovations, increasing competition for available bandwidth has led the FCC to make changes, including reallocating the spectrum to provide room for everyone. This involves migrating to a different bandwidth.
What does this mean for you? New regulations require that every public safety agency switch over to narrowband frequencies by 2013 or else. Now law enforcement agencies that don't bring their equipment and licenses up to date could find themselves in a world of hurt.
Rebanding and Narrowbanding
Rebanding and narrowbanding are separate issues police departments are tackling simultaneously to bring their communications systems into the modern age.
"Narrowbanding is where everybody has to migrate from a 25kHz bandwidth system to 12.5kHz bandwidth," explains Farokh Latif, director of automated frequency coordination at APCO.
This switch will require that licenses be updated. And in some cases it might require changes in equipment. Radios and other equipment operating on wideband will not be available for purchase after January 2011, and no new or modified wideband frequency licenses will be authorized after that time.
"Rebanding is the effort that started three years ago, where Sprint Nextel is vacating some of the channels and relocating public safety licenses to another portion of the band in order to alleviate the interference issues that were being experienced by public safety agencies due to Sprint Nextel and other cellular carriers," says Latif.
The year 2013 might seem a long ways off, but it takes time to process license modifications authorizing a switch to narrowband. It can take even more time if your agency wants or needs to make any additional changes to its licenses, such as increasing wattage or moving transmitters to prime locations.
In fact, any changes could add two or three months to the already month-long process. And license applications that are close to Canada undergo review by Industry Canada (the Canadian version of the FCC) to ensure that no interference will be caused to Canadian licensees, which could add more processing time. If that puts you past the deadline, you could find yourself out of luck. Especially with so many agencies scrambling to switch over at the same time.
"We're getting very few requests for changes to narrowband right now, which is a concern because the licensing system is already glutted with requests for licensing," says Jack Campbell, regulatory affairs manager at Milwaukie, Ore.-based Radio Licensing Services. "Once everyone starts going full bore to narrowband on their licenses, I think they're going to overtax the system. There just isn't going to be the personnel to handle all those changes all at once."
In other words, if your agency hasn't started switching over to narrowband, it better start now.
Where to Start
First of all, if you haven't already, make room in your agency's budget to pay for licensing and upgrades. Again, this might not seem like a high priority, but if money isn't set aside now, it will take all that much longer to get the ball rolling. And you don't want to wait until the eleventh hour.
Finding out how much money is needed will require talking to whomever is in charge of communications and/or frequency licensing for your department—whether that be in house or an outside consultant.
If it's a smaller department and the chief is the default person in charge of maintaining frequency licenses, he or she might not be aware of this new deadline looming. Or it just might have fallen through the cracks amid other more immediate concerns. A large agency might have its own unit devoted to managing licenses. This can be more cost effective than hiring an outside company to fulfill this function on an ongoing basis.
If your agency often works with surrounding departments and communications interoperability is an issue, you'll also need to make sure all involved agencies will be able to switch to narrowband at the same time.
Regardless of your situation, if you are unsure how to go about making the transition to narrowband frequencies, contact APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials) or a reputable consultant who specializes in such matters.
Working with a Consultant
"Legally, public safety agencies can file for their own license—if they know how to," says John Black, president of Spectrum License Consultants in Dallas, Texas. "It's kind of like, legally you can do your own income taxes, but it's so complex that most people use a CPA."
This analogy is especially apt since the FCC began using a system of forms similar to that used by the Internal Revenue Service. Everyone needs to fill out one main form, but there are additional "schedules" that may or may not need to be filed, depending on the license and the situation. Consultants fill out and file the necessary paperwork and follow through to make sure the license is granted.
But paperwork is only part of the process. Many consultants also assist departments with basic system configurations to accomplish their desired goals.
"For example, they may want to put a radio tower in a certain location, but they're not quite sure if it's going to give them the coverage they need throughout their jurisdiction," says Black. "In that case, we can do engineering studies to determine theoretically if a transmitter at that location is going to give them the coverage that they require."
One of the major advantages of using a consultant is that the company not only has the expertise to handle all licensing requirements, but is tasked solely with keeping on top of any changes. You don't have to worry about the FCC mailing an important notice to a person who no longer works at your agency, resulting in a lapsed license because no one ever filed the proper paperwork. APCO now provides an automated system designed to prevent this from happening.
If you work at a large agency, you might use an in-house department to take care of licensing requirements. But even someone who is responsible for communications and everything that includes might have too much on his or her plate—not to mention a lack of very specific technical skills—to properly fill out often confusing forms.
"I actually started in the radio business," says Spectrum License Consultants' Black. "There are a lot of symbols and codes on the forms. You're simply not going to know how to answer those unless you understand radio."
It's also not enough to just file for a new or modified license. Follow-up paperwork is just as important.
"Once a license is granted—and this applies to either a new license or a modified license—that department has one year from the date of grant to file another set of papers with the commission," says Black. "It's called a schedule K, or 'notification of construction,' advising the commission that the department is now operational on those frequencies. If you don't do that, the FCC will automatically terminate your license."
Of course, your agency doesn't need to work with a consultant, as long as someone can keep all licenses up to date.
"The best thing we recommend is for licensees to review their administrative information on the universal licensing system at least once a year to make sure that all the information on there is correct and accurate," says APCO's Latif. "It can be done for free online on the universal licensing system and it will not take longer than 10 minutes of their time."
Dire Consequences
The FCC routinely notifies all its licensees of important announcements and of the need for license renewals. Agencies have also known about the new narrowbanding requirements for years. So although this might seem like a lot to handle, from the FCC's perspective it is being more than fair.
Usually a public safety frequency licensee renews a license every 10 years or when any modifications to frequency, equipment, or locations are needed. But you cannot renew an expired license. There is some recourse for a lapsed license if there is a good reason. But otherwise it must be handled as a new license. That requires starting the process—and the processing time—all over again.
To make matters worse, once you've lost a frequency, others can gain authorization to use it. And if you're in a metropolitan jurisdiction, agencies are scrambling for anything that becomes available. You might need to get on a waiting list to obtain any frequency to replace the one you lost when your license lapsed.
If you choose to ignore the deadline for upgrading or renewing your frequency license, you can be fined $10,000 per day per license, according to the FCC policy statement 1.80. But there are other possible outcomes.
According to Spectrum's Black, if an FCC inspector is feeling charitable, he or she might first only issue a warning to get a lapsed license corrected immediately. "Or he can say, 'You must cease and desist all operations until you correct the license,'" says Black. "That's a horrible thing. That's actually worse than a fine."
If you need to get new frequencies, you will also have to spend the time and expense to reprogram your radios and other equipment to the new frequencies.
"Sometimes that even entails changing other equipment at the site itself, because now you're introducing a different frequency into your combiner or multicoupler," explains APCO's Latif. "They may even have to change antenna spacing, depending on what the frequencies are and how much separation there is from one frequency to another. It will definitely affect the design and coverage of the system."
The bottom line is that every law enforcement agency needs to take frequency licensing seriously. Maintain your current licenses. If you still need to switch to narrowband, work toward a solution now so you won't run out of time. If you're unwilling to do so, it won't go well for your agency.
"The people at the FCC, they're not the big bad wolf," says Spectrum's John Black. "They really do try to work with you. But you've got to work with them, too. And if you choose to be belligerent, well they can be pretty tough, too."
MOTOTRBO Helps Sears DDC
11-03-2009
As part of its continuing goal to provide next day delivery on
large home and garden items, Sears opened its Jacksonville,
Florida direct distribution center in May of 2008. With seven
day shipping, consistent, reliable communications was
critical in order to coordinate the large volume of products
that went through receiving and shipping on a daily basis.
MOTOTRBO digital radios are used to enable the entire
warehouse to talk radio to radio without a repeater; the crisp
audio enables conversation even in the noisy environment;
and the long lasting batteries last through multiple shifts for
increased productivity.
Sears Holding Center opens 812,000 sq. ft. facility
In May 2008, Sears Holding Corp. opened its newest direct distribution center
(DDC) in Jacksonville, Florida. The new 812,000-square-foot warehouse is the
distribution point for home appliances, tractors, televisions and other large
items to local warehouses for more than 112 Sears and Kmart stores in Florida,
Georgia, South Carolina, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.
“This facility will allow Sears to expand our appliance distribution capabilities and
moves us closer to our goal of becoming more effective and efficient,” said Jim
Mixon, senior vice president of supply chain and operations for Sears Holdings,
in an interview with the Jacksonville Business Journal.
The new facility, located on 130 acres in the NorthPoint Industrial Park,
consolidated two smaller warehouses that Sears Holdings operated in
Jacksonville. With a new facility and a larger, busier warehouse to manage, Sears
DDC Facilities Manager, Mike Harbert, began looking for a communications
system that would be better suited to the environment.
City of Wilson, NC chooses EF Johnson Technologies
11-03-2009
Irving, TX – September 24, 2009 – EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFJI) today announced that it has been awarded a contract valued at $2.5 million from the City of Wilson, North Carolina to provide the City with its innovative Trunked IP25™ Project 25 compliant infrastructure system.
“Our Trunked IP25 infrastructure system provides interoperability and exceptional coverage for first responders,” said Michael Jalbert, president and chief executive officer of EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. “The system is based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) enabling the system to be installed and expanded with unprecedented speed and reliability. Its switchless end-to-end digital architecture has fewer network components to own or maintain than competitive offerings, which reduces capital and operating expenses. Our award-winning ES Series of Project 25 compliant radios with the Enhanced (AMBE+2) P25 Vocoder will be used by the City of Wilson police, fire, and utilities departments. We are pleased to provide the City of Wilson with the most advanced and flexible P25 trunked system on the market.”
About EF Johnson Technologies, Inc.
Headquartered in Irving, Texas, EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. focuses on innovating, developing and marketing the highest quality secure communications solutions to organizations whose mission is to protect and save lives. The Company’s customers include first responders in public safety and public service, the federal government, and industrial organizations. The Company’s products are marketed under the EFJohnson, 3e Technologies International, and Transcrypt International names. For more information, visit http://www.EFJohnsonTechnologies.com.
Two Way Radio Wireless Communications Solutions
11-03-2009
Two Way Radio of Carolina, Inc.'s Wireless Communications Solutions include the following brands: Motorola
Two Way Radio of Carolina, Inc. consistantly beats our competitors with better pricing!!! (704) 372-3444 (800) 372-3444
-
- Two Way Radios
- Mototrbo Digital Radios
- XPR6550 Portable
- XPR4550 Mobiles
- Professional Portable Radios
- PR400
- PR860
- HT750
- HT1250
- HT1550
- Professional Mobile Radios
- PM400
- CDM750
- CDM1250
- CDM1550
- PM1500
- Radius Portable Radios (Commercial)
- BPR40
- CP185
- CP200
- Radius Mobile Radios (Commercial)
- CM200
- CM300
- Mototrbo Digital Radios
- Repeaters
- Point-to-Point Solutions
- Wibb Solutions
- Pagers
- Minitor V Fire Pagers
- Advisor II
- Two Way Radios
- Harris
- Simulcast Solutions
- new Unity MultiBand Radio XG-100
- EF Johnson
- P25 VIPER Approved Smartzone Portables
- 5100
- 51SL
- P25 VIPER Approved Smartzone Mobiles
- 5300
- 53SL
- P25 VIPER Approved Smartzone Portables
- Vertex Standard
- Portables
- VX130
- VX230
- VX310
- VX350
- VX410
- VX420
- VX510
- VX820
- VX920
- Mobiles
- VX2100
- VX2200
- VX4000
- VX4100
- VX4200
- VX5500
- VX6000
- Base Stations
- BSC5000
- Repeaters
- VXR1000 Mobile Repeater
- VXR7000
- VXR9000
- HF Transceivers
- VX-1210
- VX-1700
- Portables
- ICOM Portable and Mobile Radios
- Kenwood Land Mobile Radios
- NexEdge Digital Portable Radios
- NX200 NX300
- NexEdge Digital Mobile Radios
- NX700 NX800
- Kenwood Portable Radios
- TK190
- TK2140 TK3140
- TK2160 TK3160
- TK2170 TK3170
- TK2180 TK3180
- TK2200
- ProTalk TK2200LP TK3200LP
- TK2212L TK3212L
- TK2302VK TK2202UK
- TK272 TK372
- TK290 TK390
- TK3173
- ProTalk XLS TK3230
- TK480 TK481
- TK5210 TK5310
- TK5400
- KENWOOD MOBILE RADIOS
- TK5710 TK5810
- TK610
- TK690 TK790 TK890
- TK7102H TK8102H
- TK7150 TK8150
- TK7160 TK8160
- TK7170 TK8170
- TK762G TK862G
- TK863G
- TK930HD
- TK980 TK981
- Kenwood Repeaters
- TKR750 TKR850
- TKR751 TKR851
- NXR7000
- NXR8000
- TKR7400
- TKR7500
- TKR8400
- TKR8500
- TKR9300
- NexEdge Digital Portable Radios
Two Way Radio of Carolina, Inc. consistantly beats our competitors with better pricing!!! (704) 372-3444 (800) 372-3444
