Chicomm Blog

It seems like every few days we see some report of a breach in data security, leaving customers’ private and financial information exposed and vulnerable. The biggest one on record so far was the 2013 Yahoo breach that affected 3 billion (!) accounts. Even worse, it took three years for Yahoo to publicly announce the breach.

How do you plan for the unimaginable?

An active intruder or shooter enters a school, manufacturing facility, or public safety building.

A tornado, flood, or other weather emergency rips through your town, creating havoc. 

All of these horrific events require a combination of planning and the right technology to make sure that facilities are safe.

It sometimes surprises us that more customers don’t take advantage of opportunities for two‑way radio leasing, given the convenience and flexibility it offers.

If you are curious about upgrading your communications equipment but worried about a large up‑front expenditure, leasing might be the right choice for you.

It’s tough to imagine where we’d be as a society right now without the rapid response of pharmaceutical companies in developing COVID‑19 vaccines. 

School security is always top of mind for district leaders and staff — and challenges are compounded when the campus is spread across multiple buildings spanning miles.

How do administrators, security staff, teachers, and other employees stay in touch on a day‑to‑day basis or in case of an emergency? 

In two Illinois school districts — Barrington 200 and District 214, the second‑largest school district in the state — leaders, and staff have overcome communications challenges by utilizing a seamless communications infrastructure that provides safety and security — allowing them to focus on the success of students.

These are two examples of how to build a successful campus communications system.

Public safety requirements for distributed antenna systems are a key part of fire safety inspections. School campuses, hospitals, manufacturing facilities or commercial businesses can expect a visit from a fire marshall at least yearly to ensure operations are in compliance with local or national code regulations.

Whether you’re upgrading your communications systems for better efficiency and productivity or gathering broken radios to take in for repairs, there’s likely a box of equipment somewhere that needs to be handled. 

Finding the best way to dispose of used communications equipment is a key part of two-way radio maintenance. Old communications equipment can contain potentially hazardous materials like mercury or lead, and need to be disposed of responsibly and safely so they do not harm the environment. That equipment can include a variety of different parts:

Imagine that your business has decided to use two-way radio communication to keep connected while on site or in the field, but no one has ever used one. Employees may voice their unease with the devices, or even worse, avoid using them altogether. They may not understand the importance of two- way radios as a safety tool for them and end up hurt.

Your investment is well spent only if the radios are used and used properly. If your team isn’t trained, they won’t use the equipment. If they aren’t comfortable using the equipment, the system you put in place won’t work the way it’s designed because employees won’t know how. This creates safety issues and increases risk. That’s why proper training and efficient interdepartmental communication is crucial to your success.

We often talk about the communication challenges of loud or busy environments. Manufacturing workers need to be able to speak to each other above the noise of machinery. Hospital workers might need to summon medical help from across the building. Fleet drivers must arrange pickups and deliveries from their locations on the road.

Step into any business or organization these days, and you'll expect to be connected to the building's WiFi network. Connectivity is considered standards anywhere from hotels and restaurants to public parks and, yes, hospitals. But when it comes to healthcare facilities, coverage for all devices—medical devices, cell phones, two‑way radios, and more—is about more than convenience. The ability to swiftly communicate with others could be a matter of life and death.