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November 30, 2015New threats to schools hit the headlines far too frequently. If it’s not a gunman with a grudge, it’s a hurricane spreading havoc. Many schools are meeting these threats by upgrading their emergency-response communications. Creating lockdown procedures and designating safe spaces are good starts, but these measures cannot be effective if schools don’t have the ability to communicate immediately with police and rescue personnel in an emergency. Manufacturers like Motorola Solutions and dealers like BearCom have the technology to make this happen. In addition to two-way radios (walkie-talkies) that assist with critical communications during emergencies, Motorola has also teamed up with SchoolSAFE
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October 22, 2015One touch, no reach. Those are the two fundamentals for using two-way radios (walkie-talkies) safely while driving. Federal regulations forbid the use of cellphones and sending text messages while driving commercial vehicles. However, these statutes do not prohibit the use of two-way radios, but they do offer guidelines for keeping radio users safe while driving on company business. According to federal regulators, the two greatest risks of using a cell phone while driving are reaching to grab one and using more than one button to operate it. Commercial drivers are allowed to use hands-free phones, provided they can operate the phone without reaching and by touching a single button. These same concepts apply to the safe use of two-way radios while driving.
Addressing
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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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January 13, 2015To stay competitive, energy companies have to be able to monitor every link in the production chain — from well to refinery to SUV fuel tank. Drilling sites, pipelines and refining operations all rely on complex networks of sensors, controllers and software to maximize productivity and prevent costly accidents. Wireless devices like digital two-way radios, smartphones and tablets play a vital role in keeping the fuel flowing, but they also offer tempting targets for cybercriminals looking to compromise vital energy company data. In a white paper published in 2014, Motorola Solutions noted that energy companies have represented 40 percent of the targets of cyber attacks. The white paper, “Protecting Operations in the Energy Sector Against Cyber Attacks,” also quoted a prediction that “cyber attacks against oil and gas infrastructure will cost companies
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May 07, 2014Are you part of a retail, grocery, hospitality, security, or healthcare organization considering adding two-way radio to your communications capabilities? Would you like to add to your existing radio fleet? BearCom is participating in a Motorola Solutions promotion that rewards purchases of six CLS or CLP Series radios with a free seventh radio or free radio accessories.
Motorola CLS Series Two-Way Radios
Motorola CLS Series two-way radios are simple, rugged, and reliable, with intuitive controls that are easy to use. The Motorola CLS1110 and Motorola CLS1410 are very affordable and don’t require the use of a speaker-microphone. Through June 30, Motorola is giving buyers of six CLS Series radios a choice from among a free CLS Series radio, six free RLN6423 swivel earpieces ($210 value), or a CLS multi-unit charging tray (56531), -
April 23, 2014Security is big business in America, with estimated annual revenues of $350 billion. The federal government alone spends nearly $70 billion a year on homeland security. Despite those big dollar figures, security organizations are always looking for force multipliers, and many turn to wireless technology.Wireless equipment and devices have a long track record as effective force multipliers. They also deliver discretion, mobility, and improved coordination—all key issues for an industry that continues to refine the balance between vigilance and visibility. Meanwhile, the security industry finds itself with a new responsibility: the protection of information. "Security organizations are well known for their ability to provide physical security," said Hugh Johnston, Product & Purchasing Manager at BearCom. "But increasingly, they have become responsible for securing not only those physical locations, but also the information they house. As they do this,
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March 12, 2014A key element of school campus security is the ability to quickly summon first responders in an emergency. And while calling 9-1-1 works, a direct wireless connection with police, fire, and medical personnel is even faster. That’s the advantage behind the donation by Motorola Solutions of 250 two-way radios to the Chardon Area Schools in Ohio. Each is equipped with the SchoolSAFE solution, which enables interoperable radio communications between school personnel and first responders. “School districts continue to identify methods that can improve the flow of information between first responders and on-site school personnel in case of an emergency,” said the school superintendent, Dr. Michael P. Hanlon, Jr. “The Chardon Local Schools are pleased to have been selected by Motorola Solutions and SchoolSAFE for the implementation of this program.” Along with the donations of radios and
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February 12, 2014Okay, so the recent Super Bowl wasn't much of a game. But there were plenty of noteworthy elements beyond the weather, the halftime show, and the event's largest-ever television audience. Security at the event was unprecedented—not just the day of the game, but the days and weeks leading up to it. A 2.5-mile chainlink fence surrounded the stadium, and there were helicopters, boat patrols, and an advanced system of IP video surveillance cameras. Video was processed by an artificial intelligence system able to spot unusual or suspicious behavior. These new technologies point to a surveillance industry that is rapidly growing and open to innovation. Organizations have used surveillance cameras to improve security efforts for decades, but the wired analog technology left much to be desired. Cameras had poor resolution and limited controls. Creating a tethered
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Accessories Analog Apps Batteries Construction CP200 CP200d Digital Effectiveness Efficiency Mobile Radio Motorola MOTOTRBO Noisy Environments Portable Radio Productivity Push-to-Talk Repeater Safety Speaker-Mics Text Messaging Trunking Two-Way Radios Walkie-Talkies Wireless Analog Technologies Motorola Solutions Two-Way Radio AccessoriesFebruary 05, 2014The construction industry is on a roll, according to experts who project construction starts will be up 9% this year, on top of last year's 5% gain. The biggest increases in activity will be in single-family housing, commercial building, and multifamily housing. Getting all that construction work done as efficiently and safely as possible will take top-floor communications capabilities, and that's where two-way radios come in. Two-way radios have long been popular tools on construction sites, and it's easy to see why. The one-to-many communications device makes it possible to alert entire groups of people to situations and facilitate their input on resolutions. Radio communications are immediate, which makes for quicker problem solving. Radios allow workers to be heard in noisy environments, and speaker-microphones keep their hands free
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January 21, 2014Those of you who follow my adventures know that I can fly to wherever there's a communications emergency. Regular folks need a plane, and what do private pilots need? They need two-way radios, of course! A recent story on TodaysWirelessWorld.com explained how many private pilots wouldn't consider taking to the air without a backup radio. "Imagine what happens if an airplane's primary radio fails in flight," the story says. "You're thousands of feet in the air at the controls of an expensive aircraft with no ability to monitor weather and emergency channels or communicate with control towers, ground crews, and other pilots. Getting down safely suddenly becomes more theoretical than a sure thing." The story goes on to review some key considerations for a pilot using a handheld aircraft radio as a backup:
- Mind your power supply. "While rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries usually