Friday, December 23, 2011

Marry Christmas from us to YOU!



Merry Christmas!

I guess we could say more, like how much we appreciate serving those who serve others, how grateful we are for the blessings we have enjoyed this year, how much we anticipate the beginnings of a new year, or all the other things we may have forgotten to say this year.  We thought maybe the Christmas tree could do the talking for us.

That's Burch at the top - the one who planted the tree.  Beneath Burch on the left side is Candice, our face on Facebook, who has been at his side for two decades, and next to her is Andy, our newest member and resident eBay expert.  Below Candice is Phil, the man with all the answers to all things technical at at his right is Joy, the go to girl for just about everything including sales of our products on Amazon.  Not shown is Suzanne who took off early this week. She is the one who keeps the whole ship financially floating.

We wish you and yours all the very best for the holiday season and look forward to being of service in 2012 and the years to come.  And, just to be sure, we have properly conveyed the message - Merry Christmas from all of us!

The Falcon Team!

Monday, December 12, 2011

A message for those who purchase "sole source" communications systems


Hardly a day goes by that we don't encounter a city, county, or even a state that refuses to purchase under fair, objective, analytical, and legal purchasing requirements as they apply toward the use of federal taxpayer funds.

The abuses that have occurred relative to the spending of Department of Homeland Security funding are legendary, ranging from large state agencies down to single fire departments who refuse to play by the rules.

Out in California, Daryl Jones has conducted a long and vigorous campaign to stop the abuses of spending our tax money on boondoggle programs conducted by slick talking sales representatives and companies promoting closed source communications systems with uncontrolled escalating costs.

We thought his latest editorial was worth sharing.  It's fairly long, but it tells a sad but true story in fairy tale fashion. Click here for an extremely well done commentary. Is anybody paying any attention?  Time will tell.......

To Catch a Thief, You Need the Right Bait. We've Got It!


If it's metal, 
somebody will steal it!  It can be a car, a truck, a tractor, a Bobcat, or a Caterpillar.  It can be aluminum, copper, steel, or even tires.

To make matters worse, the bad guys will keep coming back until there is no more stuff to steal or they have been caught.  That's our subject for now - how to catch them before they steal ALL the stuff!

The gadget makes it all possible is a weather resistant professional tracking device.  This amazing device is completely water proof (water tight at depths of up to 100 feet).  A heavy duty magnet allows you to attach this crime fighting tool to any metal surface.

The heart of the system is the PT-X5, a battery powered GPS receiver, with motion sensor and a cellular data transmitter.  No wiring is required since the PT-X5 operates from an internal battery which "sleeps" when there is no movement.  If the vehicle or object to which the PT-X5 is attached is moved more than 10 feet, it wakes up and sends you an email message to let you know that whatever it is attached to is "on the move".

Upon receipt of an alert message, you simply log into our password protected web site portal to track the movement of the PT-X5 for up to 18 hours of driving time. If you are in law enforcement, the PT-X5 is ideal for stakeouts and a WHOLE lot less expensive than allocating personnel assigned for visual surveillance.

The really neat thing about the PT-X5 is that it updates movement every 10 seconds for real time viewing from any Internet connected PC.  You can watch movement on your choice of a regular road/street map, satellite view, or a hybrid map.

If you are responsible for fleet administration, whether commercial, governmental, or transportation; the PT-X5 provides you with the capability of selectively monitoring individual vehicles on a rotating basis.  Now, are you ready for the cost?

The PT-X5 with battery and weather protective enclosure with heavy duty magnet is just $399 complete plus an account setup and activation charge of $25 and a monthly charge of just $29 which includes unlimited reports that can be customized for your individual requirements. 

For example, one commercial user wanted his units set up for over speed, excessive stop times, and travel outside an assigned area during the day, and any use of the vehicle after hours.  Not a problem!

And here's the best news - NO CONTRACT is required.  You just pay by the month.  Activate, deactivate, and reactivate as required!  Want more information?  Just give us a call at 800.489.2611.


Thursday, December 8, 2011

Have you heard about Bill Me Later?


Bill Me Later is a new service by PayPal offered to qualifying Falcon Direct eBay customers.  In a nutshell, you can buy any of our products on eBay, and get six months to pay AT NO INTEREST!  Details are available by clicking here.

Now, here's a deal that will rock your socks.  If you are an ICOM IDAS, Kenwood Nexedge or Motorola MotoTRBO 2-way radio user, or if you haven't yet made the switch to digital; we have a very special offer for you.

Purchase as many Hytera PD702 portables (MotoTRBO digital and analog narrow band compatible) or ICOM F3101D's (IDAS and Nexedge compatible) as you wish. on our eBay Store for  just $499 less a $50 instant rebate if you act before Christmas.  You'll get free programming, free shipping, a 3 year warranty on ICOM and a 5 year warranty on Hytera, PLUS a free Kindle pocket PC and reader.

Have you heard about the Kindle?  It has built in Wi-Fi for airtime free email and Internet connections, access to thousands of free books and huge savings when you purchase your favorite items at Amazon (including those offered by Falcon Direct!).

There will never be a better time to start your migration to digital than right now, and there will never be a better opportunity to get the best pricing with the best terms available anywhere!  If you have any questions, just call Andy Rich at 800.489.2611 for complete details!  Do it today and have your radios and free Kindle in time for Christmas

P.S.  If you would rather select another product or products with a combined purchase price of $500 or more or eBay, we will give you a FREE Kindle with your order!  Nobody makes doing business more fun or affordable than Falcon Direct - Nobody, No time, No where, No how! Merry Christmas from all of us here at Falcon Direct!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

New Kindle Pocket PC with Wi-Fi is only $79. Get it FREE from Falcon!

Did you know that Amazon is now offering a Kindle for just $79?  Did you know that you can stick in your pocket?  Did you know that it can also function as a web browser and allow you to send and receive email from a Wi-Fi hot spot? Click here for product details or to order

Now, here's a deal for you.  Pick any item or combination of items in our Amazon Store valued at $500 or more and we'll GIVE YOU A FREE Amazon Kindle!  It makes a great Christmas gift for you or someone you care for.  There is still plenty of time to get delivery by Christmas! Click here for a listing of our available products available on line from Amazon. 

We also have some great buys on eBay.  If you don't see what you want at the price you want to pay, visit Candice Staggs at Facebook or give her a call at 800.489.2611 and let her work out a deal with you to get a free Kindle!

If you wish, you can buy as many Kindles as you wish at the fantastically low price of just $79 each.  Get a Kindle for Christmas, or better yet, get TWO - one for you, and one for your significant other! Click here to order now!


Monday, December 5, 2011

Amazon and Falcon Direct - Working together to serve YOU!

Get a $40 credit when you apply for a new Amazon VISA card to purchase anything you want from Amazon.com including the special products offered by Falcon Direct in our Amazon store.  Get the best products at the best prices, and rack up rewards points while you're at it!  All the best to you and yours during the holiday season from all of us here at Falcon Direct!

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Get a FREE Kindle with your purchase of WatchDog monitor pagers!

Hey!  Here's a deal for you on America's best value in a fire pager!  It costs 10% less than  Minitor V, yet it has a warranty that is five times longer than Minitor V.  It's called a WatchDog monitor pager.  It has super loud audio, a unique time and date stamp display for visually recording call activity, even message recording and playback if you wish.  And it operates from readily available AAA batteries, either rechargeable or alkaline so you never miss a message.

Additional information on the available models and pricing is available by clicking here.  It's a GREAT pager and it's made in the USA!  So what's the deal with the Kindle!  Just this!  Purchase five WatchDog monitor pagers, VHF or UHF, and model and you just got yourself (or your significant other), a brand new Kindle Fire.  Additional information is available on the Kindle Fire by clicking here


This is one fantastic gadget that anyone would love to own, and it can be yours, FREE, or you can order your Kindle without the pagers by clicking here 
.  
You can order your pagers directly from our Web Store, at Amazon.com, or eBay as you choose!  Either way, YOU win!  It's our way of saying Merry Christmas from all of us here at Falcon Direct!  And, by the way - if you prefer doing business in a more traditional way, just give us a call at 800.489.2611.  We are here to serve YOU!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Confused about P25 Phase 1 and Phase II?


Can't say we are not surprised that you may have some difficulty in understanding all the different P25 offerings.  It takes a cross between an engineer and a lawyer to understand what P25 is at all!  Suffice it to say that the majority of P25 radios being sold today are "standard" or non-trunking P25 models.  Larger system users will pay the extra dollars for "trunking" capabilities (rarely required by any but VERY large users.

From a lay person's perspective, P25 is the ONLY federally approved communications standard with the single exception of LTE (a subject within itself).  The bottom line is if you want federal grant money for public safety communications, the technology of choice is P25 - PERIOD! (and "Yes" we know all about  the "exceptions).  For now, our objective is to help you decide which of the P25 "standards" is best for you.  Before proceeding further, I would suggest an excellent reference source by Daniels Electronics for the serious reader.

For now, let us just say that a non-trunking P25 radio can be purchased for under a thousand dollars.  A good trunking radio can be purchased for under $1,500 IF you are OK with Phase 1 technology.

However, BK/Relm,  EF Johnson, Harris, Motorola, and Tait are rapidly encouraging major users to go with Phase 2 upgrade capability for several reasons.  For starters, the low tier competitors don't have Phase 2 since the final standards have not been announced, but you could say with some certainty that when that standard is finalized, it will be patterned after whatever platform is used by Motorola, and it is entirely possible that many models of Motorola P25 radios will NOT be upgradeable to Phase II.  And, by the way, did we mention that going price for a P25 Phase II trunking radio will typically be MORE than two thousand dollars each, (actually closer to three thousand dollars) and did we mention that there is a Phase 3? (Just thought you might like to know).

Having said all that, there are several manufacturers offering a P25 Phase I trunking radio for under $2,000 that WILL be upgradeable to Phase II.  And who might that be?  For the answer to that question just give us a call at 800.389.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com.  You'll be glad you did! In the meantime, if you are considering the purchase of MotoTRBO or ASTRO P25 radios, click here for some interesting observations.

A Special Message for Radio Renters!


If you've been thinking about renting 2-way radios for the Christmas Season, we've  got some special news just for YOU!  Now you can OWN high quality commercial grade 2-way radios with an audio earpiece for LESS than you would normally expect to pay for rental!

We're not talking about some of those little rack pack toy radios.  We are talking about top quality radios that are lightweight with long battery life (rechargeable), and proven performance.  For complete details, call Candice Staggs at 800.489.2611.  You'll be glad you did.  Oh, one more thing - we also have low cost wireless customer assist systems as well as nifty little gadget that lets you talk through your intercom system from your 2-way radio.  Call Candice today and let her make this your best Christmas retail season ever!


P.S.  These radios are also ideal for Churches and special event managers. And, we thought you might like to know that these products are made in the United States of America!   

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Get a Kindle Fire FREE!





Purchase just five of the new Hytera PD782 MotoTRBO compatible analog/digital radios on our Amazon.com web site and get a brand new Kindle Fire FREE and that's not all.  Purchase before 12/31/2011 and take advantage of our Holiday Savings Instant Rebates!  The PD782 (comparable to the Motorola XPR6550), normally priced at $843, is currently available for only $599 after your instant rebate!  Your choice of VHF or UHF with FREE programming included!

When you place your order for radios, we will include a new Kindle Fire for each five PD782's ordered.  No strings - no gimmicks, just a great deal for your organization plus a great gift for someone else, or even yourself!

If you don't need any radio right now, just click on the Kindle Fire picture above and order on line.  Better yet, before you do that, call me - Joy King at 800.489.2611, and I'll tell you how to get an extra $30 off the price of your Kindle.

I just LOVE this time of the year - don't you?

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

New RDR-100 Rapid Deployment Repeater!


Franklin County EMA (Alabama) has accepted delivery of a new Rapid Deployment Repeater.  Designed and manufactured by Falcon Direct, the RDR-100 is available for VHF (Model 101), UHF (Model 102), or cross band VHF/UHF (Model 103) configurations for analog, digital or mixed mode voice operation.

The Model 101 provides Franklin County EMA with the combined capabilities of providing a 50 watt backup repeater for both fire departments and law enforcement agencies in the event of a malfunction at any of the multiple repeater sites throughout the county.  Instead of paying thousands of dollars per year for service contracts and relying or response/correction times that can run into days or weeks, Franklin County EMA now has the ability to instantly restore a malfunctioning repeater without the need for a technician.

In addition to backing up local area repeaters, the Franklin County RDR-100 has it's own backup in the form of a three year worry free warranty.  In the event of failure of the RDR-100, Falcon Direct keeps a spare repeater in stock, ready for immediate deployment when needed.

With up to 500 channel capability, the RDR-100 is capable of operating on standard 25 kHz or 12.5 kHz narrow band channels in either analog or P25 digital operating modes as well as mixed modes with both analog and digital radios operating on the same channel.

There are three ways to program the RDR-100.  We will do it for you from your list of desired channels.  Or, you can program it yourself using the programming keypads on the radios (no PC, cables, or software required), or the RDR-100 can be programmed with a Windows based  PC using an optional programming kit with cable, software, and instructions.

Flexibility in programming allows the RDR-100 to be quickly deployed for mutual aid outside of Franklin County when needed since it can be programmed on any VHF channels including Department of Homeland Security assigned interoperable channels.  When working with UHF users, an optional UHF radio module can be quickly installed to provide VHF to UHF cross band capability when needed.  

The standard RDR-100 is supplied with flexible connectors terminating into Type N male connectors for direct connection to associated antennas or duplexer (not supplied).  A complete line of antennas, cable kits, and duplexers are optionally available.

The rugged and reliable RDR-100 measures just 20" x 13" x 14" and weighs only 20 pounds including the impact and weather resistant polyethylene case.  RDR Series repeaters are designed to operate from 110 VAC or from a 12 volt DC automotive power source.  An internal 12 VDC battery is optionally available for low power emergency use.

With eight VHF repeaters currently operating in Franklin County, the RDR-100 can quickly pay for itself since the average annual contract maintenance is cost is $1,200 per year per repeater.  That equates to a potential budgetary savings of over $7,000 per year!

Maybe it's time for YOU to take a look at the RDR!  Additional information is available by calling Burch Falkner or Phil Rich at 800.489.2611 or just drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com. By the way, similar models are also available for DMR systems (MotoTRBO and Hytera) as well as NXDN (ICOM and Kenwood) as well as mixed analog, DMR, NXDN or P25 operation.  Call for additional information or join us on Twitter for updates at they are released.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Falcon Direct Products Now Available at Amazon!

You may have heard about our new business development plan.  Candice Staggs is using Facebook to keep closer communications with those we serve, plus making special offers that are unavailable anywhere else.  Andy Rich is handling our eBay offerings with some incredible prices on demo, overstock, and trade-in equipment, and my area is handling of Amazon.com sales with an emphasis on sales of  HYT analog 2-way radios, Hytera digital radios, and Ritron MURS radios along with a family of products we build ourselves called AlarmAlert.

Now, the deal is that each of us is competing with the other, kind of like operating divisions in a larger company.  Each one of us pretty much runs our own operation, and like any other business division; we have a responsibility to take care of our customers while making a profit for our company.  Of the three, the one that does the best job, gets an added bonus - kind of like those Wall Street investment bankers with the difference being that we actually have (a) products (b) a conscience, and (c) we are willing to settle for a reasonable income.

On the HYT and Hytera products, I have the authority to make some incredible offers to make it worthwhile for you to shop at our Amazon.com store.  Take a look at our offerings.  If you see something of interest, give me a call personally, and I will tell you more about our Rebates and Rewards program, exclusively from Falcon Direct, exclusively from ME!

My name is Joy King.  My personal email address is joy@falcondirect.com and my direct number is 800.489.2611, Extension 10.  If you need additional information on any of our products, just type in the name of the product in the Search box at the top right hand side of this Blog page or visit our main web site or go to our general information web site.  You'll be glad you did!

2011 AARS Conference Recap


The 2011 Alabama Association of Rescue Squads (AARS) Conference concluded in Decatur, Alabama on November 12th.  This was one of the best attended and sponsored conferences in recent history.  

It was my pleasure to represent Falcon Direct at this conference with a late arrival by our founder.  Burch has an incredible new system installed in his vehicle which we call MedTRAX.  In essence, it is a military grade laptop computer using a wireless internet connection through a Verizon mobile Wi-Fi hot spot module.

We were able to view Burch's progress as he traveled to Decatur on I-65.  We were able to see his exact location, his speed, and even the view through the windshield, just as if we were riding along with him!  The system has some significant benefits for patient transport vehicle since it can handle multiple cameras and send live streaming video over the Internet to a password enabled web connected PC.

One camera can be in the patient transport area for live viewing by ER doctors, another on the driver for administrative purposes, and still another for litigation protection.  Burch doesn't need a cell phone since he uses low cost Magic Jack service through Bluetooth.  He has live Internet access, email, GPS and everything you would expect to find in a modern office.  The difference is that his office is MOBILE!  He can prepare reports directly from the vehicle, process credit cards with an optional card swiper and print invoices with a mobile printer.  And get this - His mobile PC has an i5 processor, it's waterproof, and it is covered by a 3 year warranty that has NO exemptions!  If you drop it in the street and it's run over by a runaway garbage truck, it's covered under warranty!

He doesn't need a 2-way radio since he has a mobile software application that allows him to communicate with any Internet connected radio system directly from his mobile laptop and he has a pair of digital portable radios that provide him with mobile intercom and/or on-scene communications in complete compliance with HIPAA regulations.

If you would like to see a recap of the new products introduced in Decatur, just click here.  If you would like to keep up with all the new offerings and special offers from Falcon Direct, join me on our Facebook page by clicking here.  Or, if you prefer, just give me a call anytime at 800.489.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com.  Candice Staggs - At Your Service!.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Falcon Direct on Facebook?


Can a company socially network?  Well, not a company, but people can, and the person in charge of social networking for Falcon Direct is none other than me!  My name is Candice Staggs.  Officially my areas of responsibility involves social networking and customer retention.  I am also involved in the care and feeding of company cats, one of which is shown here.  This particular cat later was transferred to be with me at home, but that's another story.....

The founder of our company believes that healthy tension is good for any organization.  His latest brainstorm is put three of us in friendly competition with each other.  Joy King is in charge of marketing through Amazon, Andy Rich handles our eBay store, and I have a Facebook page where I can offer special products, special pricing, and special incentives.  Joy and Andy can post special offers on our company Facebook page as well as Burch and Phil, but it's my job to make sure that you have a good reason to visit our Facebook company site at www.facebook.com/falcondirect1.

I'll make you a deal.  You help me beat out Joy and Andy, and I will save YOU some money.  I may even come up with a plan to buy your lunch, or even dinner for two at a great restaurant.  You've got everything to win and nothing to lose!  Tell you what, YOU pick any product of your choice offered by Falcon Direct in our web store at www.bestpriceradio.com, then give me a call at 800.489.2611 or email me - candice@falcondirect.com.  Just tell me you want a Facebook deal and watch me go to work for YOU!

Friday, November 11, 2011

Great deals on ICOM, Kenwood, and Motorola Radios on eBay from Falcon Direct!

My name is Andy Rich! I'm the newest face at Falcon Direct.  My primary function is managing our eBay store and making sure that we have the products you want at the price you want to pay!  You can be assured of outstanding value since I am not only in competition with other 2-way radio dealers, but two other members of the Falcon flock. 

On top of that, I work for a man who has his own web store, no one knows how many web pages and you never know from one day to the next where he will pop up.  He says competing with each other helps us all do a better job.  He may be right as he has been in this business longer than most people have been alive!  The fact is that I really can offer brand name radios at great prices!  I have a substantial stock of previously owned 2-way radios  by ICOM, Kenwood, and Motorola on my eBay store.  I've got top quality mobiles, portables, even MotoTRBO models that will meet new narrow band standards.

The stock changes frequently, so you will want to stop by my eBay store often to make sure that you don't miss out on popular radios such as the ICOM F50 portable, Motorola M1225 mobiles, and the new Motorola MotoTRBO mobiles, portables, and repeaters.

If you don't see what you want, drop me an email to Andy@falcondirect.com.  Just let me know what you are looking for and I will give you an advance notice BEFORE we place out latest items on eBay!  You can check out my eBay offerings by clicking here or by going directly to myworld.ebay.com/straightfromfalcon.  Either way, you'll get great products at fabulous prices with the best customer service available anywhere - I guarantee it! If I can be of assistance in any way, please give me a call at 800.489.2611.  I'll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Want to put an end to copper theft?

Copper theft is an increasing problem, in particular for churches, schools, and business.  Any structure that is not occupied 24/7 is a risk from the destruction of property caused by one of the most senseless crimes imaginable.  To destroy a ten thousand dollar air conditioner for a few hundred dollars worth of copper is costing millions of dollars a year in insurance claims, deductibles, and outright loss by those who are uninsured.

Worse yet, these same thieves often enter the premises, causing even more damage. Now there is a way to fight back!  It's called AlarmAlert!  New wireless technology provides a means of sending instant notification to a participating law enforcement agency, volunteer fire department or private citizens equipped with a receiving device.

The heart of it all is a cigarette pack sized sensor as shown above that attaches to the air conditioner.  In the event of tampering, this sensor can send a voice alarm message to most VHF or UHF 2-way radios used by public safety agencies.  Within seconds, first responders can be notified and on the way!

There are no installation costs, no monthly monitoring fees, and no delays associated with third party alarm centers.  Best of all, the cost is often less that the cost of the minimum deductible for most insurance policies!  Additional information is available at www.info4u.us/AlarmAlert.pdf.  Check it out - you'll be glad you did!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

New Top Quality MURS Radio Now Available!


We continue to get questions about MURS radios.  Frankly, we are not surprised with the amount of information floating around on the forums and even manufacturers who present their material in such a way as to imply that a non-certified product can be used on MURS frequencies.

Let's try again to clarify the situation.  If a radio is Type Accepted by the FCC for Part 95 operation or if the radio was approved under FCC Part 90 prior to November 12, 2002, it can be used on the MURS channels IF the power does not exceed 2 watts and it is operated only in the narrow band mode.  The public safety and business band radios approved for FCC Part 90 currently being produced by Hytera, ICOM, Kenwood, and Motorola  (with the exception of the RDM2020 and RDM2080D) can NOT be used on MURS channels.

There are several notable exceptions.  The Ritron JMX-141D and 146D CAN be used on MURS frequencies.  They do meet the requirements of FCC Part 95.  The price of the JMX-141D is only $199.  It is supplied by Falcon Direct with all five MURS channels installed, as well as all NOAA weather channels, and up to five business or public safety channels. 

You can purchase the JMX-141D on line at our web store by clicking here, or if you need additional information, click here.  If you have been looking for a top quality FCC approved MURS radio, your search is OVER!


And, just in case you are wondering, we DO have a fixed station radio for office use that is approved for MURS use.  It's called the JBS-146D.  Additional information is available by clicking here, or if you are ready to purchase at the incredibly low price of just $299, click here!

P.S.  Before you ask, a radio that is Part 95A approved is NOT approved for MURS.  The Part 95A designation is for GMRS UHF radios.   If you want a top quality license free UHF radio, we offer several products that are suitable for commercial and public safety use.  You will find them on our Amazon.com site by clicking here


Thanks for visiting with us. As always, we consider it a privilege to provide clarification when it benefits those we serve.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

BeOn - Technology or TechnoToy?


Just read a Press Release by the Harris Corporation announcing an incredible new forward step in combining the power of Push-To-Talk radio with the Android SmartPhone. They call it BeOn and they hope to begin shipping in 2012.  Wow!  Am I impressed!  I guess they didn't know that a little company called Critical RF did the same thing over a decade ago and they have been continually improving their products ever since.


We were quick to recognize the potential of this technology, working with Critical RF to offer this technology for ALL types of SmartPhones, including not only Android, but Blackberry, and iPhone as well.  We even created a separate marketing company called SDR Plus to promote this new technology.  The web site is still on line at www.sdrplus.us, but it has not been updated for quite some time.  The reason?  It wasn't practical.  There were coverage issues which were troublesome, but the real problem was, and is, battery consumption.  When you add a PTT application to a SmartPhone, you reduce the battery life to four hours or less.  That is simply unacceptable!

Let me tell you about a MUCH better solution.  It's called COMMON SENSE!  Until just recently, I was paying over a hundred dollars per month for SmartPhone service through Verizon.  I turned in my Blackberry, got one of those new mobile Wi-Fi hot spot modules (Verizon calls it Mi-Fi), got a teeny little phone with Blue Tooth and put a Netbook in my vehicle.  I can do anything!  I can do live video streaming (click here for an example), I can get directions, allow people to virtually ride along with me.  I have web access with a screen I can see, email, and even airtime free phone minutes.  Here's the really great news!  I CUT MY MONTHLY WIRELESS PHONE BILL IN HALF!  Oh, by the way, I can use my Netbook for PTT operation with any 2-way radio system in the world - not just P25, but DMR, NXDN, and even Analog.  And, I don't have to worry about battery life as my Netbook has a big battery that is being constantly charged in my vehicle.

I am probably not a good prospect for BeOn.  I don't think you are either! If you want to know how to really use technology for YOUR benefit, give us a call at 205.854.2611.  We'll show you how it's done in the real world!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Sign Language


A good outdoor sign or media ad visually tells a story with very few words.  Here is an example.  First, the product.  It appears to be a commercial (actually military) grade radio.  Judging by the size of the antenna, it is apparently designed for VHF or UHF.  Since their is no display, it probably has 16 channels which is the normal limit for a top mounted channel selector.  Actually, this radio can do up to 16 analog channels (wide or narrow band) or up to 32 channels in the digital operating mode (more about that shortly).

The radio is black which means it is designed to appeal to men, actually men who are involved in rigorous activities like construction, manufacturing, or law enforcement.  Now, the question is What do those symbols on the right mean?

Well, the one at the top means this radio is designed is compatible with the Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) standard, the same one used by the MotoTRBO radio by Motorola and the Vertex Standard VXD series, basically a cosmetic variation of MotoTRBO (for those who don't know that Motorola owns Vertex Standard).  Anyway, DMR is well on the way toward becoming the digital radio standard in the USA, and the radio shown in this ad utilizes this standard.

What makes this radio different are the two icons below the DMR logo, starting with the IP67 circle.  So what does that mean?  It means this radio (actually a Hytera model PD702) is super sealed against dust and moisture.  How secure, you may ask? Let's put it like this.  You can drop it in three feet of water and leave there for a half hour with no damage or degradation of performance.  There is a neat little video available by clicking here that demonstrates our point!

The next icon is self explanatory.  The standard warranty for this radio is 5 full years including both parts and labor.  And, when you buy your PD702 from Falcon Direct, you get free shipping, free programming, and free use of an exchange unit it you ever need service during the warranty period.  You just pay the shipping.  We take care of everything else!

And, What about the price?  The answer is clear, just $499.  That is no more (actually less) than a good quality analog only radio.  So what do you think of our ad?  Did it do it's job?  Do you want more information?  Click hereAre you ready to buy?, Click here, or just give us a call at 205.854.2611.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

What Makes Falcon Direct a Little Different?


A large corporate customer recently gave us the opportunity to provide equipment and services.  After going through all the normal introductions and exchange of questions, a senior executive asked  our least experienced member What is it that makes Falcon Direct a good choice as a vendor

We have to admit that this is a good question.  It is the type of question that has been the downfall for more than one politician and/or Miss America candidate.  It is not the kind of question that should be answered without some thought or a real understanding of what it is that makes Falcon Direct a little different from all the rest. The answer to this all important question is available at www.info4u.us/Different.pdf


Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Fleet Safety Simplified!


A friend of mine, a transportation supervisor for a large fleet of school buses, shared a problem and asked if I had a solution.  He had been receiving reports of school buses speeding in rural areas on narrow two lane roads - a very serious issue for someone charged with the responsibility of safety transporting children.

It seems he had been going out with a donated portable radar and making random speed checks.  The problem is there is only one of him and over 50 buses.  There was no additional manpower for assignment of the task, and it just wasn't working.  That is when he recalled that I had mentioned some work we do for law enforcement users in tracking suspects and monitoring patrol activity.

He asked me to give him a quick overview and what I would recommend.  After a 30 minute dialog, we both concluded that I did not have (or at least didn't offer a solution), so we changed the emphasis from my "educating" him on GPS tracking to one of asking what he wanted to accomplish and at what price, under what terms.  Boy, did I learn a lesson!
What he told me was he simply wanted some kind of battery powered device that could be covertly attached to random buses to monitor their activity for a few days.  He didn't have much money in the budget (like many others of us these days), and he wanted something easy to use that would consume as little of his time as possible. 

I asked him if I could provide a device that could be rented for a period of as little as one month with an option to purchase at any time if that would be a good start.  He said yes.  Then I asked him if a little weather proof box that could be magnetically attached to a hidden area of a bus would meet his needs.  It would operate from internal rechargeable batteries and be operational  for up to a week before charging was required.  He agreed that this should work.

I then asked we could program it to send a message to his cell phone anytime that a bus exceeded a specific speed (programmable as desired).  He said that sounded good but he wanted to know if there was some way he could "tune in" on the violator to determine the location of the bus.  My answer was yes.

The last thing he wanted to know was what it cost and when he could have one.  The answer I gave him is located at www.info4u.us/pttracker.pdf. The answer may apply for you as well!  The concept works on all kinds of fleet vehicles and it is exclusively available from Falcon Direct!

Sunday, October 2, 2011

New Smart Talkers making choosing the right 2-way radio easy!


Two facts worth knowing! (1) Choosing the right 2-way radio doesn't have to be complicated, and (2) The best value is not necessarily the "deal" on eBay or the lowest price you can find by doing a search on Google.

Here's another fact.  The majority of all commercial grade 2-way radios sold are rarely used at distances of more than one mile,  Almost all of these radios are portable or worn by a person, and range in price from thirty dollars to over five thousand dollars.

The reason for the wide variance in pricing deals primarily with the function of the radio, quality, range, performance, operating band, reliability, cost of service and the list goes on.  For now, let me just say that we understand the difference and we have your answer for personal on-site or short range communications.

We've got the best of consumer, commercial, and mission critical radios with your choice of Push-To-Talk or hands free operation.  We've got models designed for use inside a noisy industrial plant, outside in a bucket trunk, in churches, hospitals, schools, or wherever you may be.  We got unlicensed models and we have models that can be licensed for both commercial and governmental use.  Best of all, we put it all on just one page!

Want to see how we did it?  Go to www.info4u.us/Smart_Talkers.pdf.  If you still have questions, call us anytime, 24/7 at 205.202.1269 or drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com.  Life doesn't have to be complicated!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Wireless DoorCall System for available for fire stations!

The Argo Fire Department had a problem with their visitor at door intercom system.  The residential type push button intercom provided an alert only in the fire office.  If no one was in the immediate area, the visitor got no response.  The Chief sought an efficient and affordable alternative.

Falcon Direct came to the rescue with our new DoorAlert Wireless 1-Way Announcement System! The wired intercom system was replaced with the exception of the outside call button which was connected to the new Quick Talk Reporter (shown above).  The total system, installed, was provided for less than five hundred dollars!

Now when a visitor pushes the call button, a message is broadcast over the station PA system as well to as all department radios in the immediate area.  Instead of a beep in the back room, all personnel now hear a voice message announcing Visitor at the Door.

Mission reported, mission addressed, mission accomplished!  If you would like to know more about the DoorAlert Wireless 1-Way Announcement System, just give us a call at 800.489.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com. For some other good ideas, be sure and visit our Blog page at http://safercommunities.com!

Friday, September 23, 2011

New Wireless Intercom has over quarter mile range!

The number one fire ground communications problem has now been solved!  Portable radios don't have the power to talk back to dispatch or to talk inside buildings, in particular, 800 MHz users suffer from the "Dies at the Door" problem when entering large structures.  

The all new Firecom 50-Series wireless headset provides the solution you've been waiting for! Wireless headsets have been around for awhile.  Most use Bluetooth technology that amplifies noise on an equal basis with voice.  Couple this with an operating range of only a few hundred feet and battery life about equal to a business lunch and you can see why they have not been widely accepted.

Firecom has changed the rules with the new 50-Series headsets that have a range of over a quarter mile, a charged battery shelf life of up to a year, up to 24 hours of use before charging is required (only 2 hours is required for complete charging), and they are designed for use by fire personnel.  With an IP65 rating, you can soak them under water and they still work!

Did we forget to mention that this headset provides hands free communications with other headsets or Push-To-Talk control of your vehicle radio for extended talk-back communications?  We could go on, but you should be getting the idea by now!  For now, you can learn more about this incredible communicator at www.info4u.us/50-Series.PR.pdf


You really need to see and hear this system to appreciate the incredible capability of America's newest and best fire ground communicator!  For more information, just give us a call at 800.489.2611 or drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com. You'll be glad you did!

Sunday, September 4, 2011

MotoTRBO Compatible Pager-Radio Now Available!

In our September Newsletter we suggested that the time may be right for looking at new alternatives to traditional choices in alerting voice pagers, such as the popular Minitor V.  The response was, to say the least, overwhelming!

As a result of numerous inquiries, we have prepared a special one page report which provides a direct comparison between the Minitor V and the new PD702 Pager-Radio. The PD702 has both wide and narrow band capability, transmit capability, both analog and DMR digital capability plus an IP57 submersible rating, audible and vibrate alerting along with a 5 year warranty for LESS than the cost of a comparable Minitor V pager.

A copy of this report is available by clicking here. For now, let us just say that the price is LESS than you might expect and CONSIDERABLY LESS when you factor in our first time buyers instant rebate.  The net cost is simply UNBELIEVABLE!  Click on the preceding link for a very pleasant surprise!  We will be awaiting your call at 800.489.2611.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Tribute to a Policeman

I recently came across a posting on You Tube that I thought was worthy of sharing.  It is narrated by now deceased Paul Harvey, a radio news commentator with a career spanning over half a century.  This particular broadcast was a tribute to Okaloosa County (FL) Sheriff's Deputies Tony Forgione, Burt Lopez, and Skip York who died in the line of duty several years ago. 

The son of a policeman, Mr. Harvey understood, better than most, the sacrafices made by law enforcment officers and their families. He connected very well to those of us in the communications industry with an interest in building radios going back to his childhood.

As for me personally, I met Mr. Harvey back in the late 60's when I was involved in broadcast radio.  There has never been, nor ever will there be, another Paul Harvey. Click here for Mr. Harvey's commentary.  It will give you a new or renewed perspective and respect for those who give so much for so little.  I know it did for me!