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September 08, 2015Second of a three-part series. If you’re buying two-way radios (walkie-talkies) for your organization, you need to do it right and get an FCC license. If you don’t, you’re probably breaking the law.* Besides, there are also ample rewards for operating your radios by the book. For example, you have recourse if other radio operators are making a nuisance of themselves on channels assigned to you. If you’re unlicensed, you’re out of luck. Though people can find plenty to gripe about when it comes to the government, wireless communication is one place where we need an agency to set rules that reasonable people can agree on — getting the most equitable use of our limited airwaves. What are the key components of our regulated radio spectrum and why is FCC supervision the glue that holds it all together?
Radio Basics: Bandwidth is a Scarce Resource
The laws of physics determine that radio -
August 25, 2015With skiers dreaming about the fun of powdery snow and thrilling runs down black diamond slopes, it’s time for winter resorts and other seasonal services to start getting ready for guest arrivals. Renting or buying two-way radios (walkie-talkies) for your winter resort communications is an important consideration in your preparation. One important thing resort managers need to consider is communications strategies. Two-way radios provide many attractive options that boost team collaboration, enhance guest services and improve safety both on the slopes and in the lodge. Outdoors
- Lift staff can provide better service, call for back-up or report maintenance issues.
- Safety patrols can radio in the all-clear or summon help faster if there is an accident or other emergency.
- Parking areas, snowmobile
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July 14, 2015Ideally, your organization will have all the two-way radios (walkie-talkies) you need in-place and ready-to-go when needed to cover peak operating times. BearCom is ready to help you select the right models with features that best suit your users and your environment.
Buy Two-Way Radios
There are many factors to consider when deciding to purchase two-way radios. Some examples include:- What is your immediate need and what are your future needs?
- Are your existing radios reaching end-of-life, which makes repairs and downtime overly costly?
- Are there newer feature sets and technologies that would increase productivity and save money?
- Do you need more
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July 07, 2015Companies and organizations that use high-tech, digital two-way radio (walkie-talkie) networks can’t afford to let communications equipment failures threaten their mission goals. That’s why BearCom is launching a new Network Operations Center (NOC), which scans enterprise two-way radio infrastructure for any hints of potential malfunctions.
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June 29, 2015Businesses in the Houston metropolitan area now have an opportunity to ramp up the productivity of their mobile two-way radio (walkie-talkie) users, thanks to a new partnership between BearCom and pdvWireless. This alliance allows BearCom clients who use Motorola Solutions MOTOTRBO digital radios to tap into a wide-area network encompassing most of the Houston Gulf Coast region. (Similar services are on the way for Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC, and other major metropolitan areas.) One key feature of the WAN solution is DispatchPlus, a system management application that pdvWireless developed to help companies streamline the resource management and field productivity of their mobile field workforce while
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June 19, 2015When thousands of fans fill the seats, stadiums and arenas become more like mini-cities. Sporting events require staff to cook the hotdogs, fix the plumbing, assist guests and keep the peace. Facility and event managers behind the scenes need to keep everything running smoothly so fans can enjoy the game without distractions. Historically, analog two-way radios (walkie-talkies) have been the technology of choice for sports venues, but lately more stadiums and arenas are upgrading to digital radio networks.
Key reasons that digital technology improves operations:
- With Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)protocols, digital radios can deliver twice the efficiency of traditional analog units, because two conversations can occur simultaneously on a single channel without the two groups interfering with each other.
- Digital radios use technology that clarifies the human voice and helps tune out the roar of the crowd.
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June 08, 2015If you plan to rent radios, your first decision is whether to choose analog or digital.
Analog two-way radios (walkie-talkies) are lightweight, rugged and reliable. They’re generally easy to use, and require little user training. However analog radios are not as feature-rich as the more state-of-the art digital models, because their underlying technology has been around since the inception of wireless communications.
Best Two-Way Radios
Digital radios use the latest audio technology to convert voice into streams of data that can be transmitted on standard Internet Protocol (IP) networks. Digital radios generally deliver better sound quality along with encryption capabilities. In addition, digital radios can mix voice and data technology more readily and include applications for added performance. In short, digital models offer more functionality. The following popular models from Motorola Solutions provide a good idea of the choices to consider -
May 28, 2015Production lines can go from profit engines to bankruptcy threats in the blink of an eye. That’s why it’s so vital to have the right communications gear to diagnose problems and call in repair people the minute a line goes down. It used to be that manufacturers handed out a few walkie-talkies for responding to breakdowns, accidents, worker injuries and other factory floor mishaps — and hoped for the best. Factories have a lot of ways to keep effective communications from happening: metal machinery blocking radio signals, extreme noise making it difficult to converse and multiple dead spots in sprawling facilities. Today’s wireless networks and digital technology have consigned most of those challenges
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May 19, 2015Somebody has to ride herd over that summer concert series, Fourth of July fireworks show or downtown art fair. It’s Summer, after all, and people are practically desperate to be out and about. Summer also means event planners are thinking about the two-way radio (walkie-talkie) network they’ll need to keep people safe and ensure things run smoothly. The savvy ones know the advantages of renting radios, repeaters and accessories — and they have planned ahead because summer is the busiest time of the year for BearCom, the largest provider of two-way radio rentals in the U.S. Be sure to reserve early to ensure the best available rates. Why do people rent rather than buy two-way radios for their events? These five reasons are the most common:
1. One-time events require temporary gear
Like any capital investment, radios have to be in use to justify the cost. If you pay good money for radios that may get used -
May 12, 2015When the school year starts in the Fall, you’ll have way too much on your plate with new students, parents, teachers and staff — that’s no time to be fretting over the health of your wireless communications network. That’s why you need life-cycle management for your school’s two-way radio (walkie-talkie) fleet, and you need to do some planning in the spring to ensure your network operates at peak effectiveness in the Autumn. Any equipment-management program will have one factor that’s beyond your control: the availability of technicians to cure what ails your gear. If you wait till September to deal with network maintenance and repair, you could end up in line behind all the people who planned ahead, leaving critical gaps in your network when you can least afford it. Weighing your wireless network’s repair/replacement needs How can