Chicomm Blog

Oct. 6 is Manufacturing Day, an annual celebration of modern manufacturing aimed at increasing the public’s understanding of the industry in the U.S. and inspiring the next generation of workers.

Companies, organizations, schools and libraries are holding events all over the country, including factory tours and open houses, as well as presentations from local manufacturing leaders.

In Illinois, more than 80 events are planned, with at least 11 in the Chicago area. Let’s take a look at a few geared toward the next generation.

Customer Service Week is the first week of October, and we here at Chicago Communications love having the chance to recognize our fantastic customers and hard-working customer-facing staff.

We strive to make outstanding service an everyday occurrence, and this week of events is a way to spotlight that even more.

Here’s a look at how we’ve celebrated Customer Service Week in the past.

Whether you’re new to scanning or an experienced hobbyist looking to upgrade your equipment, it pays to be clear on what you’re looking for.

Listening to police frequencies and the conversations being held over the emergency response system of your area is an eye-opening experience, and to make the most of it, you’ll need the right equipment.

To help with your decision-making process, here are some questions to ask when buying a frequency scanner.

Technological advances have made it easier than ever for officers to keep in touch over police frequencies – and for the public to listen in.

From inexpensive frequency scanners to free smartphone apps, the opportunities are seemingly endless for people to monitor police radio and public safety traffic. While most of the interest is harmless, there are examples of the technology ending up in the wrong hands. 

Here are just a few of the ways that listening to police frequencies has never been easier.

Chicago Communications is proud to be a unified workgroup communications provider, and we’re so sure your team is going to love the new Wave OnCloud solution, we’re offering a free 30 day trial.

Wave OnCloud instantly breaks down communications barriers across frontline and field workers, across distance and, most importantly, across devices. Your team can say goodbye to juggling multiple radios, phones and tablets and hello to one easy-to-use, push-to-talk application for everything.

Let’s take a quick look at Wave OnCloud’s benefits as well as how to sign up for your free 30 day trial.

If your current emergency equipment plan involves having personnel carry multiple two-way radios to communicate with everyone they need to reach, it’s time to explore your options.

Truly interoperable solutions are available that eliminate the need for juggling radios, and they highlight the importance of updated emergency communications equipment for both today and into the future.

Here’s a look at several ways that digital radios ensure emergency equipment interoperability.

When people talk about the emergency response system of tomorrow, the predictions are breathtaking: firefighting drones, human-operated robots, real-time 3-D simulations and more.

While some of that may sound more like science fiction than a real possibility – especially given the budgetary and resource concerns facing public safety – there are sound emergency communications investments that departments can make today to prepare for tomorrow.

Let’s take a look at ways that public safety can prepare for the emergency response system of the future.

The development of the police phonetic alphabet and military phonetic alphabet demonstrate the widespread utility for public safety and government, particularly over two-way radios, but there are multiple uses for civilian situations, too.  

Here are some examples of how the international phonetic alphabet has taken off – in some cases, quite literally.

Like other forms of radio lingo such as 10 codes, the police phonetic alphabet grew out of a need for users to communicate quickly, clearly and without ambiguity.

The alphabet endures today not only because of its utility but because of its significant role in public safety culture – it’s hard to imagine officers communicating without it.

Let’s take a quick look at the history of the police phonetic alphabet and its role in public safety.

In the not too distant past, administrators and educators didn't have to worry about things like connecting students and teachers to school WiFi – school supplies came in boxes and filmstrips were considered high-tech. 

When computers and other technology did initially become available, they were shared by students, teachers and administrators alike in group computer labs, and getting time on a computer was a challenge.

Today, of course, it’s hard to imagine educational settings without individual access to computers, tablets, laptops and lightning fast school WiFi. It’s worth taking a closer look at the critical role technology in schools plays, from school safety to campus communication, and how your campus can stay connected.