Sunday, July 31, 2011

The alternative to Tommy Toolbelt!

Calling the guy with the service van is not the only way to get good communications equipment service!  Traditional thinking says that the use of two way radio involves purchasing expensive equipment, choosing a company to maintain it and pay through the nose when there is a problem or pay for an annual contract to put a cap on the cost of service. And then, WAIT for Tommy Toolbelt to get around to fixing it!

The days of expensive equipment with planned Obsolescence, maintained at gunpoint prices by Tommy Toolbelt and his Tonka trunk are over!  We've got a better plan.  It's called the PTU (Pay To Use) plan!

· You don't have to buy anything! 

· You don't have to pay for upgrades necessitated by changing technical standards!

· You don't have to commit to a long term service agreement! 

· You don't even have to pay for maintenance, and if service is ever required, you get repair or replacement within 24 hours!

Here's and example of how PTU can save you money!  Within the next year and a half, all VHF and UHF 2-way radio users are required to comply with new FCC narrow band requirements.  Many of these users operate a repeater station, the majority of which are over 15 years and not convertible to narrow band.

The replacement cost is typically projected at $5,000 plus anticipated maintenance of around $600 per year, plus an $800 per year reserve to pay for conversion to Very Narrow Band expected to be mandated by 2018.  This equates to an annual operating cost of $2,400 annually assuming a five year replacement cycle.

The problem is that the traditional plan of purchasing, maintaining, and replacement does not address the possibility of forced changes in less than five years or make any guarantee of prompt service when needed.  Now, let's look at the PTU alternative!

With PTU, you pay to use, not to own, and you pay a LOT less!  Your cost is just $600 per year for your choice of a top quality analog, DMR(Hytera-MotoTRBO) analog/digital, or NXDN (ICOM-Kenwood) analog/digital repeater.  You pay nothing for maintenance and you get 24 hour guaranteed response.  You don't have to commit to a long term contract - just an initial two year term, renewable on an annual basis thereafter.

Best of all, you can try a PTU repeater at no cost or obligation.  Call us at 800.489.2611 for additional information.

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Hytera Goes To War!

U.S. soldiers are the best equipped combatants in the world.  Personal radios can easily cost thousand dollars per soldier.  This is a luxury that is not affordable to freedom fighters (aka rebels) such as those in Libya.  They need reliable communications, good performance and low cost.  So what do they use?  We'll let NBC News speak for us!


NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams focused on the Libyan rebels equipment in the July 28th edition of NBC Evening News of their ongoing struggles to liberate the country from dictator Muammar Gaddafi and the Hytera PD782 was right in the middle of everything!


The picture at the upper left shows a Hytera Model PD782, one of our more popular and affordable radios being used in combat in Libya.  It's got MIL-SPEC capability, plenty of power (both RF and audio), Unit ID, even digital encryption for less than half the cost of even the most affordable "combat" radios.  We just thought you might like to know that good radios don't have to be expensive!


If you would like to see the full NBC News story, click here.  If you would like to know more about the PD782 and other combat ready Hytera radios, click here.

Friday, July 29, 2011

New "T2" Series P25 portable radio beats them all in price and performance!

Well it had to happen sometime!  That sometime is NOW!  For the first time ever, an American manufacturer is offering a top quality P25 portable radio for just $1,178 for the non-keypad model of $1,211 full keypad model with display to our public safety users.  Relm Wireless, through Falcon Direct, is now  offering four additional KNG "T2" Series portable radios with two of them being keypad programmable!

The "TII" Series radio have all the features in the  standard KNG including  IP67 Submersible capable, Class A-TIA specification, 12 hour talk time with the 1950 MAH lithium battery and weighs just 16oz (22 hour talk time with the 3900 MAH battery), optional AA Clam Shell.  The "T2" Series Clones to all other BK radios. It's MIL-STD 810 C, D, E, F and it is "Made in America!"  The only differences in the new "TII" Series radio is that it is designed only for conventional (non-trunking) use and it has a channel capacity of 512 versus the 2048 channels available with the trunking KNG models.

Battlefield tested, over 9000 units have been in service in Afghanistan with the US Army for over the past year. Performance beat out all competitors and for value, nothing else even comes close!  Want to try the KNG "TII" Series?  Just give us a call at 800.489.2611.  If you would like a side by side specification and price comparison with two other models of our most popular radios, please click here.  For detailed product information, click here.  If you are using or plan to use P25 radios, THIS is the radio for you!

For information on other Relm Wireless products,  including two transportable P25 repeaters for incident command and emergency backup for UNDER $6,000, see our Relm GSA price schedule at www.info4u.us/relmcontract.pdf. You'll be glad you did!

Friday, July 8, 2011

Suggestion for AFG Grant applicants

Here's a thought!  Instead of applying for narrow band radios, or P25 radios, or MotoTRBO radios, or NEXEDGE radios, or 700 MHz radios; why not just apply for portable radios that work on ALL bands utilizing the federal standard approved P25 technology for conventional or trunking operation as well as analog wide and narrow band?


The Thales Liberty radio does it all and it does it better and for less than anyone else with any other product offering regardless of brand or model.  And oh yes - did we mention that it's made in the USA?

Want to know more?  Go to www.info4u.us/Liberty.pdf, then give us a call at 800.489.2611.  Do it now - you don't have a whole lot of time!

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Our little radio is better than yours or it's FREE!


Churches, hospitals, schools and other institutional users all need affordable and reliable communications.  Many have tried low cost consumer radios and found them lacking.  Still others are using GMRS radios without a license (which carries some severe penalties if caught) while some are using high powered versions of MURS radios which is a violation of FCC rules. Many are using high priced commercial models with unneeded features and high service costs.

If you are one of these users, we want you to try our New Little Radio (we call it the NLR)!  It is small, lightweight, loud, and reliable!  They have the features and capabilities of radios costing hundreds of dollars more, yet they are especially designed to meet the special needs of institutional users. 

We want you to try the NLR for 15 days.  The NLR is compatible with virtually all brands of UHF radios including Kenwood, Motorola, and Vertex.  We'll program one to operate on your system and send it to you for evaluation.  If you don't like the NLR better than what you have - keep it with our compliments!  If you do like the NLR, we'll be glad to send you some more as well as some useful information on complimentary products.  Oh - by the way, we forgot to mention the price - it's just $149 complete!

And, if you are not currently using 2-way radios, we'll send you two NLR's for evaluation. If you decide to keep them, and maybe add some more, your first radio is FREE!  What have you got to lose?  Give our NLR a try!  You can call us toll free at 800.489.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com.  You'll be glad you did!

Friday, July 1, 2011

St. Vincent's Blount upgrades HEAR system


St. Vincent's Blount Hospital in Oneonta AL is now operational with an advanced version of the Hospital Emergency Administrative Radio (HEAR) system.  The original HEAR system concept, initiated in the 70's was designed to provide direct access from ambulance and field EMT's to hospital emergency rooms.  The idea was, and is, to coordinate the activities relating to incoming patients.

In recent years, cell phones we used as the primary patient responder to trauma care center personnel until it was found that cellular systems overload and become ineffective in times ot true emergency.  The need was apparent for a restoration and upgrade of the HEAR system; first to bring it to an operational status, then to come into compliance with FCC narrow band operating standards, and ultimately to bring the system into compliance with HIPAA (Patient Privacy) requirements.

The St. Vincent's Blount HEAR 2011 system meets all applicable Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) trauma care operating standards as well as FCC and HIPAA rules.  If you are involved in patient transport or trauma care treatment, we will provide a full report on the new HEAR 2011 system - how it works, what it costs, and how it can benefit you and your community.  Just give us a call at 205.854.2611 or drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com.