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April 01, 2015Software and silicon chips make digital radios a bit more like handheld computers every day. With microprocessor capabilities perpetually expanding, radio manufacturers can pack ever more features into each model. That’s the lesson of the latest upgrade to Motorola’s MOTOTRBO line of digital radios and communications gear, which makes several subtle enhancements to the experience of using these devices. Release 2.4 features:
- IMPRES over-the-air battery management
- Text to speech
- User-selectable audio profiles
- Event-driven location updates.
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February 17, 2015A venue manager looking for the best two-way radios (walkie-talkies) for events has two realities to deal with: large crowds and loud performers. People numbering in the thousands mean security staff, concessionaires and maintenance staff all need to be able to communicate with each other quickly and efficiently no matter where they might be in the venue. Loud performances mean the radios need to be designed with noise-control technologies. Both of these realities create complex communications challenges that require radios packed with capabilities often missing from less-advanced models designed for smaller settings like retail stores and restaurants.
What to look for in a two-way radio
If you’re in the market for radios, it’s helpful to scroll through the feature list of a model on the market and see what each feature does. The HT1250 two-way radio from Motorola Solutions is designed for more complex -
January 20, 2015Every flight into every airport affects travelers and cargo in other airports. We see it every time a blizzard in Chicago bogs people down for a thousand miles in every direction. That’s why it’s so essential for airports and airlines to have the right tools to maintain a steady flow of travelers, luggage and cargo. Two-way radios are ideal for airports because they sprawl over large, well-defined areas, and airport workers need radios programmed to avoid interference with vital signals between the tower and pilots landing jetliners. Analog radios have worked fine for generations of ground crews, baggage handlers and security personnel, but the increasingly sophisticated communication needs of today’s airports make digital two-way radios much more attractive. Portable radios that use digital technology can become important links in a communication chain that includes:
- RFID tags to track baggage and cargo
- Video surveillance cameras to monitor threats and address emergencies
- A digital command center that coordinates the use of all these assets along with digital radios.
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December 30, 2014What does it mean when a product says “MIL-STD-810” on the package label and the spec sheet? It might not mean what you think. MIL-STD-810 is a document developed by the U.S. Department of Defense advising its suppliers how to test their products for a range of military needs. For starters, it’s helpful to understand what MIL-STD-810 does not mean:
- It’s not an official certification declaring how well the product performed on any of these tests.
- It does not mean the U.S. military has tested or approved the product.
- It does not mean the manufacturer hired an independent laboratory to conduct the testing (some companies test internally; others hire professional external labs).
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December 09, 2014Hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities have come to rely on the real-time capabilities of two-way radios (walkie talkies). The question for many of them today is whether to upgrade to digital radios. Motorola Solutions designed the XPR7350 portable digital radio to make that decision a lot easier. Part of Motorola’s MOTOTRBO line of digital communications gear, the XPR7350 is the entry-level model of the XPR7000 Series. It doesn’t have the keypad or LCD screen like the XPR7550, but it packs the prime components of the 7000 Series:
- Dual digital/analog mode so hospitals can keep using their old radios while taking advantage of the latest digital technology in the new ones
- Best-in-class audio that can tune out loud noises on the helipad and enhance the ability to speak softly in areas where silence is golden
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December 02, 2014Competition in the retail sector is as tough as ever. When merchants are selling pretty much the same brands at pretty much the same prices, customer service is the one thing that can set them apart. That’s what motivated Motorola Solutions to develop the CLS1110, a tough, lightweight and compact radio, purpose-built for indoor environments up to 150,000 square feet. The CLS1110 has one channel and one watt of power on UHF, which illustrates the intent of this two-way radio’s design: doing one job really well. A single channel means there’s almost no training — optimum for a retail workforce — and a single watt means you pay only for the power and range you really need. Up to 56 business frequencies are available, so it’s easy to find one that does not conflict
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September 24, 2014If you have a large fleet of two-way radios from Motorola Solutions, you might be able to save a tidy sum if you upgrade now. Motorola is offering discounts from $325 to $2,000 for customers who trade up to some of the company’s most advanced models. Here’s a quick look at the deals:
- $2,000 credit for trading in 10 radios from the Motorola 6000 Series and buying from the XPR7000 Series and SL7000 Series.
- $1,250 credit for trading in 10 eligible radios and buying models from the XPR7000 Series and SL7000 Series.
- $1,000 credit for trading in 10 eligible radios and buying from the XPR5000 Series.
- $325 credit for trading in 10 eligible radios and buying from the CP200d, CM200d, CM300d, XPR2500 and XPR 3000 series.
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July 28, 2014Sometimes you have to carry a full-featured two-way radio, but you don’t want a bulky device at your side. In such a scenario, the Motorola SL7550 is ideal. It's thin, stylish and brimming with high-end digital communication features. Part of the MOTOTRBO line from Motorola Solutions, the SL7550 is not much bigger than a smartphone and weighs about half as much as a standard two-way radio. It’s purpose-built for industries
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July 21, 2014The Motorola XPR7550 is an advanced data-communication device built into a rugged, industrial-strength two-way radio. The XPR7550 anchors the Motorola Solutions 7000 Series of high-performance two-way radios. They are part of the company’s MOTOTRBO line of digital communication products. It might look like a standard two-way radio at first glance, but closer inspection reveals a broad spectrum of advanced digital features, starting with the keypad and extending to the five-line, full-color LCD screen. What you can’t see are the advanced microprocessor and software enabling a broad range of digital applications. Digital radios translate voice communications into packets of digital data
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July 15, 2014The Motorola XPR7350 two-way radio is rugged, powerful and packed with the latest digital communications technology. The XPR7350 is part of Motorola's 7000 Series of MOTOTRBO digital two-way radios, which feature technology that brings the digital age to construction sites, oil platforms, distribution centers and just about any other workplace where workers rely on sturdy push-to-talk radios. Among the highlights:
- GPS tracking — If your people face any kind of on-the-job hazards, from traveling winter roads to drilling for oil in remote deserts, GPS tracking can be a life-saver in an emergency because search-and-rescue simply becomes a rescue if you know where the worker is.
- Bluetooth connectivity — The radio can be connected wirelessly to external devices like an earpiece or headset, and