Chicomm Blog

When a company grows, its radio equipment needs to grow along with it. Over time, coverage may become spotty, or there simply aren’t enough devices to go around. This likely doesn’t mean the whole system needs an overhaul; instead, it’s a time to reevaluate your radios’ current setup and use, as well as your future goals.

When looking into improving your in-building communication, you'll probably come across the terms: Signal Booster, BDA (bi-directional amplifier), or DAS (Distributed Antenna System). If you’re experiencing issues such as dead zones or spotty reception, you know how frustrating poor coverage can be, causing lost productivity and safety issues.  

A DAS is a network of antennas placed throughout a building used to boost wireless signals, typically in large buildings like campuses, hospitals, hotels, or manufacturing plants. 

A bi-directional amplifier is a device that locates a wireless signal, amplifies it, and then rebroadcasts it throughout your building. It also helps your two-way radios and smartphones avoid dropping calls or receiving spotty coverage. This blog provides more insight into how this actually happens, and the next steps to take if you think a BDA and DAS might solve your communications problems.

Between stretched budgets and supply chain delays, purchasing the cheapest, most quickly available communications technology you can find is tempting. But when you find unbelievable prices and shipping timelines, there’s probably a reason it seems too good to be true. In many cases, it means you’re receiving old, faulty equipment without any warranty. 

Working with established, reputable suppliers is important whether you’re getting new or aftermarket products. One way to be sure your investment won’t end up costing more in the long run is to purchase authorized Motorola products. Here’s why:

School communication systems have come a long way from backpack notes and early-morning news broadcasts announcing snow days. Parents and caregivers expect to hear from schools quickly and conveniently about everything from their student’s grades to district-wide announcements. 

This is especially true when it comes to safety: families and school employees alike want the most reliable, fast, and intuitive communications solutions to be a core element of their school or district’s emergency response plan. 

To fully appreciate how far two-way radio communication has come, it's fascinating to take a look at where it started. From the initial discovery of “wireless waves” in 1886 to today’s technology that can turn any mobile device or computer into a radio, it’s been a long, winding, and increasingly sophisticated road.

And it all starts with German physicist Heinrich Rudolf Hertz, who didn’t think his wireless discovery would go anywhere.

Here's a brief history lesson into the evolution of two-way radios.

Police departments rely on communication technology to do crucial public safety work. The right equipment functions dependably each day and in many scenarios. There are several communications essentials that give officers the reliable, real-time information they need to do their job responding to incidents and serving their communities. These are the tools a modern, connected police department can’t do without.

Two-way radios are a major investment and a necessary one. Whether you use them to keep school security personnel and staff connected, to track the progress of workers in the field from the head office, or to meet any of the many other communications needs of a modern organization, you and your team depend on your radios to do the best possible job.

We depend on firefighters to do their jobs under the most dangerous conditions imaginable, and firefighters depend on their communication equipment to help them do it. Firefighter radios must perform reliably in all environments and stand up to rough handling in life-or-death scenarios.

When purchasing two-way digital radios to support this critical work, investing in the right product for your department’s needs is essential. Here are some key questions to consider when shopping for the devices that help firefighters keep our communities safe:

Body cameras for first responders and security personnel are being implemented nationwide and are increasingly becoming legally mandated, even as they remain controversial. 

In Illinois, all law enforcement agents are now required to wear body cams, a law police departments must follow by 2025.

If you're a transportation manager, you know one unfortunate truth. Accidents happen. More often than not, it’s not the fault of your drivers, but it does cause potential liability, and headaches, especially when it becomes a “their word over yours” situation.

The best thing you can do in those situations is to protect your team and company by making sure that any accidents can be explained with video evidence that can be used to respond to any accusations while protecting your drivers.