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October 30, 2013Some $500 million was spent on video surveillance equipment in 2012, and that doesn't even count accessories. A big driver of that spending is, well, driving. A significant portion of the video surveillance equipment being purchased these days is being used to equip vehicles: school buses, patrol cars, and commuter trains to name a few. While school systems can use surveillance cameras to monitor child safety inside buses, some districts have found that the real need is on the outside. For example, Falls Church, Virginia, is using cameras mounted on buses to crack down on drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses. Falls Church City Public Schools, the Falls Church Police Department, and American Traffic Solutions partnered in a project to address the problem. City officials say drivers ignore stopped buses average of 20 times each school day. "Most of the children who lose their lives
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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 16, 2013All across the country, declining state and local revenues have caused budget cuts to numerous public safety agencies. Fire departments, with limited funds and the admonishment to do "more with less," are looking for two-way radio solutions with affordability as a major factor. Fortunately, there are options. In Los Angeles, the fire department's budget for the 2011-2012 year was $472 million, down from $561 million two years earlier. Last year, the city council voted to leave 318 firefighting positions unfilled. In Texas, lawmakers cut funds from $30 million to $7 million, forcing volunteer firefighters who were battling wildfires in 2011 to buy their own gear and even gas for the fire trucks. While the number of deadly fires has declined nationwide over the last 20 years, thanks to better construction and safety techniques, fire departments are increasingly called upon to answer medical emergencies, chemical spills, and more. Firefighters need reliable, versatile and sturdy wireless
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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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October 02, 2013It seems everyone is talking about healthcare. This week, the health insurance exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act went into effect. Many wonder what this means for their individual care plans. Now more than ever, hospitals need to reduce costs and increase efficiency through any means available. Digital wireless technology offers a clear path to improved productivity. Most hospitals are anxious to try new technology. The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society found that 79% of 253 healthcare executives said they plan to use wireless equipment information systems in the coming year. Doctors are, by nature, early adopters of technology. "Doctors were the first large worker base that started using PDAs on the job," Ellen Daley, an analyst at Forrester Research recently told Computerworld magazine. "Here are a bunch of people who have an appetite for carrying PDAs." The impact of wireless technology extends far beyond its most obvious uses. In
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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 11, 2013Innovations can dramatically influence the logistical needs of any industry. So when technological advances helped unlock natural gas and oil from shale formations, it meant growth for the petrochemical industry and an increased need for digital wireless solutions. As a result of the boom in shale gas, ExxonMobil has made plans to expand the capacity of its petrochemical complex on the Gulf Coast. The Baytown, Texas, complex will be tasked with converting ethane, a natural gas liquid, into the chemical building block ethylene, and from that to produce the plastic polyethylene. The company estimates the plant expansion will create 10,000 area jobs during its construction and $870 million of economic activity annually. In an article for TodaysWirelessWorld.com, Motorola Solutions' Dwain Lunau wrote that, "At ExxonMobil's
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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
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August 28, 2013BearCom is getting even bigger in Florida. Today, the company announced it has acquired an Orlando-area business that for decades has served a range of customers with two-way rentals. In a news release, BearCom Executive Vice President Brent Bisnar, who directs our rental operations, said, "In A&R Radio Rentals, we have acquired a strong local and regional provider that is servicing some clients on a nationwide basis." A&R is located in Winter Garden, Florida, and it focuses on two-way radio rentals to large conventions, sporting events, tour groups, transportation companies, and production companies working on films, television shows, and commercials. Its radio inventory consists entirely of products from Motorola Solutions, which is BearCom's largest supplier. Customers Can Expect Seamless Transition "Their business is complementary to ours," Bisnar
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August 21, 2013By now, people all across the wireless industry know BearCom is different. We're the only dealer and integrator of wireless communications equipment with a nationwide presence. Our network of 26 branch locations across the country is unique in the industry. But what specifically does the BearCom branch network do for customers? "Many of our customers offer their services nationally," said BearCom Executive Vice President Brent Bisnar, who directs our rental operations. "As the only supplier with nationwide points of presence, we have the ability to service customers wherever they happen to be. So if an Orlando customer is traveling to Las Vegas, we have a local presence." So how exactly does the nationwide branch network help customers, especially those looking to us for two-way radio rentals? What capabilities