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February 19, 2013Remember when wireless technology meant a doctor with a pager or a high-priced lawyer with a cell phone the size of a shoebox? So much has changed since then, with thousands of new devices, more powerful networks, and faster and faster data transmissions. The wireless industry has put cell phones in the hands of six of every seven people on the planet, even as two-way radios have improved and expanded their own loyal following. So what's next? It's machines talking to machines.
The Next Frontier for Wireless Technology
The next frontier in wireless communication is machine-to-machine (M2M) technology that links machines with other machines using wireless connections that transmit useful data in real time, so humans can act on it and learn from it. M2M has applications in a myriad of industries, including petrochemical, energy, -
February 12, 2013BearCom is adding the new Vertex Standard EVX-531 two-way radio to our product line, and officials here are predicting it will be a popular choice among customers looking for a talk-and-listen radio with dual analog and digital functionality.
Two-Way Product Line
"The Vertex EVX-531 fits perfectly into the simple talk-and-listen space that is still the most popular," said BearCom's Product & Purchasing Manager, Hugh Johnston. "Because it's dual-mode analog and DMR digital, it's fully compatible with existing digital systems, including MOTOTRBO from Motorola Solutions, for basic applications." Established in 1956 with headquarters in Tokyo, Vertex Standard manufactures two-way radio communications equipment sold and serviced through more than 1,000 dealerships in North America. The Vertex Standard EVX-531 is the latest addition to the company's EVX-530 Series -
January 30, 2013It's one of the great things about two-way radios: You push the button and talk to a user group—no busy signals, no voicemail, no wondering if you were heard. Now that same utility has come to BearCom's website with a new live chat feature that offers visitors another convenient way to get answers about radios and other wireless communications solutions.
Push-to-Talk and BearCom
We've all been seeing consumers seek out products and services online in rapidly growing numbers. For those who know what they're looking for, online shopping is fast and easy. But for customers with questions, shopping online can mean making a phone call or sending an e-mail and waiting for a response. While BearCom always responds quickly to those queries, some customers want another, even faster way. That's where live chat comes in. Now, when customers go to designated pages on BearCom.com in the two-way radio sales -
January 22, 2013Across the business spectrum, there is intense focus these days on mobility. Companies want to arm employees with the tools needed to do more things from more places—and to do it all faster. Smartphones are getting smarter. And two-way radios are getting smaller and more sophisticated. In fact, cell phones and two-way radios now can be hard to tell apart. With the convergence of the two technologies, it's natural to ask: Which is right for my business, cell phones or two-way radios? A discussion of cell phones and two-way radios naturally will explore the advantages of each technology over various points of comparison. But in most cases, the two technologies are not direct competitors. Instead, cell phones and two-way radios are wireless mobile communications devices that have specific advantages, depending on the user's requirements. So, weighing the two options is really an exercise in needs analysis. That evaluation
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January 21, 2013Those of you who follow my adventures know that I can fly to wherever there's a communications emergency. Regular folks need a plane—but what do private pilots need? They need two-way radios, of course!
Don't Fly off without a Backup Radio
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 -
4G Analog Apps BearCom Colleges and Universities Construction Data Applications Digital Education FCC Federal Communications Commission Government GPS IP K-12 Schools Land Mobile Radio LMR LTE M2M Motorola Narrowbanding Public Safety Retail Safety Security Text Messaging Two-Way Radios Video Surveillance Walkie-Talkies Wireless Analog Technologies K-12 Schools and Universities Motorola SolutionsJanuary 15, 2013
Analyzing Wireless Trends
Again this year, I asked Jerry Denham, BearCom's President & CEO, for his thoughts about the coming year in wireless communications. And while some of his predictions reflect those he made a year ago, there are several new ones worthy of discussion as 2013 shifts into high gear: 1. Narrowbanding will continue to be an issue, despite the passing of the January 1, 2013 deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The massive effort to convert users of the private land mobile radio spectrum to 12.5 kHz narrowband technology is not yet complete. Thousands of two-way radio users clearly missed the deadline set by the FCC to obtain new licenses. And though many have filed applications that now are being processed and others were granted waivers, there are still thousands of users nationwide who failed to act. While there are indications that strict enforcement may be some months off, we know it will come. We're already working -
January 09, 2013After a fire this week at the Archer Daniels Midland ethanol distillery plant in Illinois, a local fire chief had this to say about the blaze his crews battled for nearly 11 hours: "The biggest problem that we had was the background noise," said Peoria Fire Department Battalion Chief Mike Morgan. "Radio communication was tough." The fire caused more than $1 million in damages, but no one was hurt. A company spokesman was quoted as saying the cause was under investigation.
The importance of Noise Reduction
Background noise is an issue for many users of two-way radios, and it's being addressed through education about best practices, new technologies, and new accessories. The International Association of Fire Chiefs started an investigation into the problem after it began receiving reports in 2006 about communications problems with digital two-way radios in close proximity to noise sources like self-contained breathing