Commentary - Prisoner use of cell phones

Cell phones are illegal for use in prisons.  That may be true, but the fact is that the illegal use of cell phones within prison compounds is much more common than the public would think.  Today, I received a call from an inmate requesting assistance with a problem on his LG phone on the AT&T network. He identified himself as an inmate using an illegal phone. Apparently, he called us since we presumably have some knowledge about such things and he needed an assist.

I never got the callers name, but I can assume that he was one of the thousands of inmates all over the USA who use illegal cell phones smuggled in mostly by guards and service vendors to the prison. The majority of these prisoners use illegal phones as a viable alternative to prison pay phones which can cost their families up to four dollars a minute.  If these were the only users, it might be OK to ignore the issue, but a small percentage of the inmates use their cell phones to continue conducting their illegal affairs from inside the prison.  Such is the case of an inmate who ordered the execution of a guard from his illegal cell phone.  Regrettably, the execution was successful.  

As a result of such activities, it is necessary to stop the use of illegal phones inside correctional facilities.  There are three ways to combat the problem - phone sniffing dogs, illegal cell phone jammers (which could result in FCC fines of up to $16,000 per day), and cell phone detectors. There are three suppliers of cell phone detectors.  Two are very expensive and do not report abuse in real time.  The third is the one we offer!  You can read more about this incredible technology at www.falcondirect.com/610.  Check out the 610 system.  It could save a life! For additional information, please give us a call at 295.854.2611.

New vehicle camera systems as low as $1,895!

Falcon Direct offers patrol video recording systems for every budget and every need. We provide some of the most comprehensive information available on the subject of vehicle cameras, coupled with unequaled service and competitive prices. Still, we lose an order every once in awhile.  A recent example was the loss of a sale to a competitor who encourages customers to install their own cameras (mainly because they don't support a strong indirect sales and service network). After losing the sale (because of price), I stopped in to see how they were doing with their new cameras.  As it turns out, they weren't doing too well. They wanted to know if I would should them how to operate their new vehicle cameras. Sometimes, low price does not equate to the best value!

In another example, we lost an order to a bidder who supposedly "beat our price". Unfortunately, he overlooked the bid requirement for a 22X zoom camera (very important in law enforcement work), and the requirement for a radar and siren interface. The supplier of the camera system offered none of these options and they are not readily available for integration with the camera system bid. The bid was awarded, and THEN the customer found that the vendor did not comply with the specifications but a 60 day delivery clause allowed the vendor time to try and find a fix.  As we come up on the on the 51st day since the bid was awarded, the customer still has no cameras and they have to wait another 9 days before they can reorder.

In both of these examples, neither of these situations would have evolved if we had done our job a little better.  So, we're going to try to correct the situation. As a first step, we have prepared a new single page product overview of our camera systems with links to more detailed information.  If you are considering the purchase of personal or vehicular camera systems please check out the information at www.info4u.us/CameraOverview.pdf.  Better yet, give us a call at 800.489.2611 for additional information and a demonstration at no obligation.

Out with the old - in with the new!

The Motorola CP125 and CP150 have long been favorite radios for business, church, and industrial users. However, technology advances now allow manufacturers to offer better products with more features and less cost.  This means that some of the old favorites will be replaced with new models. Such is the case with the CP125 and CP150 which are being discontinued with no orders accepted after June 1, 2009.

The ideal replacement for the CP125 and the CP150 is the new Model CP185.  A product brochure describing the features and benefits of the CP185 is available by clicking here.  Pricing information is available at www.falcondirect.com/CP185. Or, if you prefer - just give us a call at 800.489.2611.

MotoTRBO Revisited

We recently received a call from a Canadian user asking why we didn't like MotoTRBO. We were somewhat surprised at the question as we think MotoTRBO is one of the finest product offerings ever produced by Motorola. However, the majority of our readers are in the public safety sector which means their needs are best met with P25 technology.

In our opinion, P25 technology is much better suited for public safety use, and virtually all State Homeland Security departments agree, as well as ALL Federal government agencies. NXDN is the only approved digital standard for railroad users, so in these two cases, it doesn't make any difference what we, or anyone else thinks, the facts speak for themselves.

So the question is - Where DO we think MotoTRBO is well suited? The answer is for any non-public safety user wanting top notch performance, reliability, and flexibility. As a case in point, MotoTRBO is ideally suited for industrial and hospital use. For an example, please click here. The hospitality industry is another great application. For a user case history, click here.

The bottom line conclusion is that every communications system supplier has multiple offerings to suit the unique needs of different users. We do our best to select the one that is best for those we serve, not trying to make one size fit all for our benefit while ignoring YOUR NEEDS! When you want the straight facts, there is only one name you need to know - Falcon Direct! Give us a call for any of your requirements at 800.489.2611. You'll be glad you did!

Lowest price ever on P25 digital radios!

If you've been thinking about moving to digital, we have a special offer for you! On either the Alabama State Contract or Federal GSA Contract, you can purchase a full featured ICOM F70DS-01-RS for only $1,133, a full 37.25% off MSRP! This is a top of the line 5 watt, 256 channel radio capable of operating at 25 or 12.5 kHz narrow band in both analog and Federal Government approved P25 digital modes, and that's not all! Did we mention that the F70 is IX57 waterproof submersible rated or that it rated intrinsically safe with an optional battery?  Add just $62 for the full keypad model.

We will ship FREE anywhere in the USA and we will cover your radio with our exclusive Next Day Exchange (NDE) for just $37.50 during the warranty term.  Free programming is included on your first 16 channels. A high capacity Lithium-Ion battery is included as well as a rapid desk charger, heavy duty pocket clip and antenna! For additional product information, click here. To order, just give us a call at 800.489.2611. Get a couple and put them to the test - you'll see why ICOM P25 is the perfect digital solution for public safety!

A special PS for our fire department readers. The 2009/2010 Assistance to Firefighter grant is expected to open in early April. If you would like to apply for a complete new P25 digital radio system with Firecom wireless intercoms, drop us a note to sales@falcondirect.com. We would welcome the opportunity of working with you.  If you are thinking about a regional grant under the new guidelines, we have some information that may be of interest for you at www.info4u.us/FEMA_2009.pdf.

Add another PS for our law enforcement readers.  The Byrne-JAG grant application program closes on May 18, 2009.  If you would like an assist in upgrading to P25, drop us an email to sales@falcondirect.com.  You'll be glad you did!  Additional information is available by clicking here!

NXDN - ICOM vs Kenwood

There seems to be some confusion about the NXDN™ digital standard. On some of the blogs and discussion forums, we read that some misinformed commenter's believe that Kenwood™ invented NXDN. They did not! NXDN was jointly developed by ICOM™ and Kenwood, along with other NXDN Forum partners.

The ICOM NXDN offering is called IDAS™. The Kenwood offering is called NEXEDGE™. ICOM was first to the market (by about a year), and by far is the better alternative for repeaters in terms of flexibility, power, and price!

While it is true that both ICOM and Kenwood offer NXDN compatible products, the fact is that the product features, power, and pricing is quite different, in particular if you purchase at Alabama State Contract or GSA pricing through Falcon Direct. Uniquely, the IDAS system has the benefit of operating at 6.25 kHz digital AND either 12.5 or 25 kHz analog channels, plus 50 watts of power is standard for either VHF or UHF with no additional amplifiers required. And, just to set the record straight, the AAR railroad communications standard IS 6.25 kHz based on the NXDN standard.

IDAS is a system that can simply and inexpensively grow as your needs change. There is nothing else quite like it! For more information, just give us a call at 800.489.2611.

IDAS™ and ICOM™ are trademarks of ICOM Corporation

NEXEDGE™ and Kenwood™ are trademarks of Kenwood Corporation

NXDN™ is a trademark of the NXDN Forum