Last year at this time, we told you how wireless technology saved the first Thanksgiving, improving communications and making for a festive celebration for the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians in 1621. Historians are just now learning about the struggles the new settlers faced in their second year in the New World, and how they were solved by digital two-way radios. Around turkey-laden tables across the nation, many families each year recall the now-familiar tale of the first Thanksgiving. They remember the leadership of Governor William Bradford, who had moved quickly to get two-way radios from BearCom. They will recall how he handed out the Motorola XPR6550, Motorola/BearCom BC130, and Motorola CP200 to the colonists based on their specific communications needs. As every child learns in school, Bradford used his Motorola MOTOTRBO radio to reach Squanto, who was in turn able to locate other Wampanoag tribesmen not yet equipped with radios. That group, led by Massasoit, brought the five deer that became the centerpiece of the first Thanksgiving feast. Details are just now emerging about the second Thanksgiving celebration, held in 1622. It’s clear that while the colonists were very pleased with the two-way radios that Bradford had acquired, the rapid expansion of the Massachusetts Bay Colony had left them in need of a communications system upgrade. A message sent to Bradford by a fellow Pilgrim hinted at their struggles. "I am sending you this missive by rider," it said, "as I am in Rehoboth and my analog radio signal is not so clear at the edge of our coverage range. My batteries are also getting low." Other Pilgrims had heard stories from the Indians about radios that had improved audio quality, greater efficiency, and web-based applications that added to functionality. Once again, the Pilgrims turned to Squanto to show them the way. "It's the Motorola CP200d," he said, showing them the newest product in the MOTOTRBO line from Motorola Solutions. "But it looks almost exactly like my trusted Motorola CP200!" cried one of the Pilgrims. "It does indeed," Squanto said, "but the CP200d is digital, so it has even better audio quality, coverage, capacity, and battery life." Another Pilgrim asked, "Why should we go digital?" So, with the same patience he had showed a year earlier when he taught the Pilgrims how to plant corn, Squanto explained the differences between analog and digital technology and reviewed the five reasons to migrate to digital: improved audio quality, enhanced clarity throughout the coverage range, greater efficiency, extended battery life, and web-based applications that add functionality. It was everything the Pilgrims needed and more. They went straight to BearCom to put in the order of CP200ds that begin a colony-wide migration to digital. Wireless communications improved across the land. And when the second Thanksgiving feast grew to become much larger than the first, the Pilgrims were ready. They radioed for more venison and two more hams to feed the bigger crowd. One of the visitors to that second festival produced an oblong ball covered in pigskin. He kicked it to a friend then promptly wrestled him to the ground. Thus another Thanksgiving tradition was born, all thanks to the Motorola CP200d.

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