Chicomm Blog

"Rent VS Own" is one of the most common dilemmas people face in life. Should we be tenants or home owners? Should we lease this car or buy it? Should I just rent this movie or buy a copy? In most cases, there isn't a right wrong answer with this dilemma, as it truly relies on the unique situation you find yourself in. Believe it or not, this is actually the case when it comes to communication and two-way radios.

If you are looking into improving your communication with wireless technology, you've probably come across information about two-way radios. You may even be completely sold on them already, but you just aren't sure if you should rent them or own them. To help you make that decision, here is a quick look at some of the most popular reasons to buy or rent radios. 

If you had to choose a single profession or industry that relies on quality communication perhaps more than any other, you would be hard-pressed to select anything other than those in public safety or emergency medical services. That’s not to downplay how important communication is in industries like education or manufacturing (it is actually incredibly important), but police officers and EMS crews rely on communication to save lives.

For those currently using Intrinsically Safe two-way radios approved to the FM3610_88 standard, there are some changes being made by Motorola Solutions that will directly impact you.

The FM3610_88 may only be manufactured through the end of December 2015 - at which point the switch from FM to UL will begin. To help you understand this transition and what it means for you, here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the change.

What does “Intrinsically Safe” actually mean?

According to the National Electrical Code (NEC), “intrinsically safe” is an equipment design protection method for Division 1 which encompasses hazards that may be present under normal operating conditions - or,  frequently present during repair or standard maintenance work.

This term is especially relevant for those who operate in what are known as “hazardous locations.” These locations are areas where fire or explosion hazards may exist “due to flammable liquids, combustible dust, or ignitable fibers or flyings,” according to the NEC.

Police officers on bicycles have become incredibly popular in urban environments across the country. They are seen at local festivals and events, but also maintain a presence throughout the city for a large portion of the year. This is due to the flexibility and efficiency of being on a bicycle – officers can maneuver through busy streets and traffic far easier than those in a car could, and also save a lot of money in the process (no gas needed for a bike!).

With the influx of two-wheel officers in our communities, it is essential to equip them with the proper communication tools needed to be just as responsive as they would be in a vehicle. The best solution for this is often two-way radio headsets.

The moment your assembly line stops, profitability goes down. Even a small pause in work can cause delays throughout the chain, which in turn causes losses. This is why manufacturing managers across the world spend much of their time researching and implementing new ways to limit downtime and improve efficiency.

One of the best ways that manufacturers are improving their efficiency is by improving their communications through the use of digital two-way radios. To illustrate how these radios can make such a difference, here are two scenarios - the first one without two-way radios, the second one with.

Making your community a safer place is often the top priority for those in public safety. You feel a sense of personal and professional responsibility for those that live in your city, and you take your job of protecting and serving them very seriously.

Wireless cameras essentially allow a person who is walking alone at night in a dangerous area, to not be truly alone. These cameras can be viewed remotely and police officers or other public safety officials can keep “an eye in the sky” for any potential threats, therefore making them more proactive. If you are looking to improve public safety and have your city remain vigilant, here is quick overview of wireless camera technology.

In most cases, organizations rely on wireless technology to improve things like efficiency or communication. While these things are important to a business, they are actually mission-critical to those in public safety - meaning the difference between life and death.

The public relies on police and fire departments to be there when they need them. They lean on these agencies in the case of an emergency, and in everyday life. In order to best be prepared to be there for their communities, decision makers often employ various wireless technologies like two-way radios and develop intuitive dispatch centers to improve response times. 

Over time, the technologies available to those in public safety evolve in order to best meet their needs. As decision maker, it is important to stay on top of these trends to ensure your agency is always equipped and prepared with the latest technology (which is vital in mission critical communications). 

From college campuses to K-12 classrooms, schools across the country are tasked with improving student safety and staff communication, especially in the wake of an emergency or violent situation. However, a limited budget can make these improvements seem daunting (or even impossible) for administrations to make.

Before we dive in and explore some various communications solutions for schools, here are a few insights courtesy of Motorola Solutions to help you visualize this issue.

We live and work in an era that will most likely go down as a time where we all became more connected than ever. Think about it – smartphones, tablets, and computers have completely changed the way in which we communicate with each other. Not only do we personally benefit from the ability to connect with friends and family across the globe in a matter of seconds, but we all benefit professionally, as well.

Business-critical communications have evolved over the years and are now at the point that mobile workers can connect with others regardless of their physical location or even their network. This improves the efficiency and accuracy of our work.

The technology is readily available for organizations to adopt, however, corporate infrastructure and IT spending is constantly under pressure. So, the challenge for decision makers is no longer “how do we connect our employees?” – the challenge is now “how do we most effectively and affordably connect our employees?”

Your community depends on you. Sure, this may sound a bit dramatic at times, but the truth is that for those who work in the public safety sector or public works, this dependence is a very real thing – especially when an emergency arises.

Power outages, severe weather alerts, or even an issue with the water supply are considered community-sensitive events – meaning they impact an entire population at the same time. When these events occur, it is absolutely vital for those responsible for keeping the public safe or remedying the issue that they stay in constant contact, and their communications are dependable (regardless of the environment).