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December 24, 2013Even superheroes need helpers, and today I want to congratulate one who responded beautifully to a communications emergency in downtown Fairbanks, Alaska. His name is John Benevento, and thanks to "Benny," the clock tower carillon in Golden Heart Plaza plays Christmas music instead of two-way radio traffic from the city's public safety agencies. According to the Fairbanks News-Miner, the carillon designed to fill the downtown square with music was beset by problems almost since the local Rotary Club put it up in 1990. Those issues, several of which were familiar to Alaskans, kept the tower quiet most of the time. Electrical conduits froze. Then an earthquake snapped the underground cable that ran to the tower from the nearby Gold Exchange restaurant. The cable was replaced by a microwave signal from another downtown building, but interference came from an unlikely source: the remote starting systems Alaskans use to warm up their frozen vehicles. Benevento told the News-Miner
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December 10, 2013With help from our partner Motorola Solutions, wireless LAN is going down under. In this case, I don't mean Australia, but underground into the subway system in Toronto, Canada. There, ruggedized wireless access points and controllers using Motorola's Wireless Next Generation technology were chosen by BAI Canada to give Wi-Fi connectivity to Toronto's subway riders. TCConnect, as it's being called, was unveiled this week at two of the city's busiest subway stations, and it eventually will cover all 65 that are in place or planned. That's good news for 1.7 million people who use the system daily. They get the ability to use their wireless devices to access the Internet, social media, and e-mail. They also can get access to real-time alerts, arrival and departure information, and
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November 26, 2013Last 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
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November 20, 2013Our fleet of rental radios from Motorola Solutions—we've got 20,000 of them—has taught us a thing or two about preventive maintenance. All that experience and expertise helped us develop the BearCom Preventive Maintenance Plans, which officially launched this week. "A communications system is only as strong as its weakest link," BearCom President & CEO Jerry Denham said in a news release announcing the new offering. "With a Preventive Maintenance Plan from BearCom, our customers can avoid outages and unexpected repair costs, while ensuring their equipment is operating at peak efficiency. We are very excited to offer this service." A BearCom Preventive Maintenance Plan can be developed for any combination of portable radios, mobile radios, and repeaters, whether they are analog
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November 12, 2013When a steady rain moved in on the morning of the 2013 AUSA Wounded Warrior Golf Classic, what did the nearly 180 participants do? They soldiered on, of course! This year's tournament, with BearCom and Motorola Solutions as lead sponsors, raised $43,000 for two Dallas-area charities helping injured servicemen and women. "The rain may have diminished our golf games but not our gratitude for the men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect our nation's freedom," BearCom President & CEO Jerry Denham said in a news release announcing the amount raised. "BearCom and Motorola Solutions were pleased to again serve as the lead sponsors of this fine event." Video highlights of the tournament
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October 22, 2013I'm not the only superhero here at BearCom. We've got people with amazing levels of experience and expertise in two-way radios and other wireless solutions who every day solve complex and unusual challenges for customers. One of my personal BearCom superheroes is Product & Purchasing Manager Hugh Johnston, who recently told me about how he helped restore power to the mobile two-way radio in an unusual vehicle: a steam locomotive built in 1896. "My favorite attraction in my Texas hometown is the Grapevine Vintage Railroad and its crown jewel, the 1896-built steam locomotive affectionately called Puffy," Hugh told me. He explained how Puffy had been out of service for several years after one of her ancient steam cylinders, which power the driving wheels, disintegrated from age. "Spare parts for steam engines cannot be found at the local
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October 09, 2013The Motorola BC130 has been a winner for years, and now it's official. This BearCom-branded two-way radio has been recognized in the Contractors' Top 50 New Products awards made annually by Equipment Today magazine and ForConstructionPros.com. The awards are based on reader interest in earthmoving, road-building, lifting, demolition, transportation, and technology products. The Motorola BC130 was among four technology products honored, along with a rugged smartphone, a grade-control system, and an operator vision system. "We're always pleased to see our products recognized for their quality and utility, especially when the recognition comes from the people who use them," BearCom President & CEO Jerry Denham said in a news release. "This award is especially satisfying, because the Motorola BC130 is manufactured for us by Motorola Solutions and is available exclusively through BearCom." The Motorola BC130 has proven very popular with customers who want a device that is compact, lightweight, and easy to use. A rugged, die-cast chassis gives the BC130 greater protection, making it ideal for everyday and commercial use, both indoors and outdoors. It offers 16 channels and 5 watts of power. The BC130 has adjustable power levels, accessory connectors, and squelch levels that help minimize interference from weak signals. Each is sold with an antenna, spring belt clip, Lithium-Ion battery, rapid charger base, and power supply. The BC130 is one of three BearCom-branded two-way radios, and it remains the most popular, especially so when it comes to two-way radio rentals. It's a great choice for customers who need to rent a large number of radios and want to do so cost effectively. The BC130 also is popular with customers across a range of other industries, including education and security, and among companies involved
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September 24, 2013Sure, almost everyone has a smartphone these days, but the little jewels don't work everywhere all the time, and there are times when we don't carry them. Fortunately, other wireless technologies fill those voids. One of them is remote call boxes, which will be used to keep people in Southern California safe as they enjoy the outdoors. The Los Angeles River biking and walking path is a busy place. All day and night, riders and walkers make use of this lengthy urban path. The path is not immune to crime, and its isolation and lack of signage could make it difficult for police and paramedics to respond quickly. And of course, many joggers do not carry cell phones. The Alliance of River Communities, a coalition of neighborhood councils, is trying to focus attention on the issue. Chairman Hector Huezo, in a letter to the city council, wrote: "Currently, absent of a smartphone, persons using the path have few
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September 18, 2013Attention golfers, it's time again to get your clubs cleaned up and your swings in shape for the AUSA Wounded Warrior Golf Classic, which is set for October 14 with BearCom and Motorola Solutions as lead sponsors. This year's event promises to be even better, with a new venue, more participation from wounded warriors, and some fantastic items for the post-tournament raffle. The 2013 AUSA Wounded Warrior Golf Classic will be held at Firewheel Golf Park, one of the Dallas area's premier public golf complexes. And it's not too late to register to play. Just go to www.WoundedWarriorGolfClassic.com. There you'll find details on the event and information about the tournament's sponsors. You can also support wounded warriors by making a donation. The golf tournament will again feature contests for the longest drive and the closest to the pin, as well as a hole-in-one
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September 03, 2013Across the country, the public's safety remains a top concern of governments and citizen alike. Getting more policing while holding down costs seems to be on a lot of people's minds. Judging by several recent news accounts, governmental organizations and policing agencies appear to have found a key force multiplier in the form of IP video surveillance. The term is used in several stories describing how video surveillance systems are being used to fight crime. Newsday's report about the video surveillance system on New York's Long Island said it will eventually include thousands of cameras at shopping malls, hospitals parks, and beaches. Live footage will stream into a police communications