Falcon Live

A picture of America!

2012-01-26T08:13:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of one of the things that makes the United States of America different from anywhere else! The kids shown here are Explorer Scouts who volunteer their time and talent working with the Clanton Alabama Police Department as law enforcement interns. No pay, no glory, no thanks - just the satisfaction of learning that service to others offers the highest reward of any endeavor.

So what is the point? Simply this! Central Alabama was struck this week by a tornado that crossed our state leaving death and destruction in it's wake. It came within less than a quarter mile of our offices and residence. The damage was unbelievable! Yet within just a few days, basic services were resumed, provisions had been made for the needy, the debris has now mostly been cleared, and things are gradually returning to normal.

What made all this possible? Organized, trained VOLUNTEERS played a vital part in all phases of a response to the unexpected. You rarely hear about them. To be sure, the national disaster relief organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Red Cross were there, but so were average Americans who took the time to help others. We are thankful for people like these. They are GOOD! They could be better with the aid of affordable and efficient communications. We think we have a solution to that need. If you would like to know more, please visit www.info4.us./helpnet.pdf. Thank you!

The time to be thinking about Narrow Banding is NOW!

2012-01-11T17:57:00.000-08:00

As the time for narrow banding grows closer, we are receiving more frequent requests for information on a subject that will impact virtually every VHF and UHF user in the USA by the end of this year. Our top four documents on Narrow Banding are listed below:

Narrow Band Planner
for folks who want more detailed information is available at www.info4u.us/Narrowband_Planner.pdf.

Narrow Band_FAQs
will answer the most commonly asked questions. This is available on line at www.info4u.us/Narrowband_FAQs.pdf.

Understanding Narrow Band for ordinary people
will provide a simple explanation of what happens when you switch to narrow band at http://falconinfo.blogspot.com/2011/08/introduction-to-flow-dynamics-aka.html.

Narrow Banding for people who don't want to go digital
is explained at www.info4u.us/Analog_Planner.pdf.

If you need additional information, you can search on our Blog page by using the Search box at the top right hand side of the page. Or, if you prefer, just give us a call at 205.864.2611. We are always At your Service!

Special prices on Motorola mobiles, pagers, and portables!

2012-01-10T06:58:00.000-08:00

New special pricing offers on new Motorola radios with incredibly low prices are now available. We'll beat or meet any advertised price from anyone, anywhere, anytime on top quality Motorola mobiles, pagers, and portables - Guaranteed!

Our special this week is on the two frequency Minitor V pager, the CM300 mobile and the UHF PR400 portable. Check them out be clicking on the preceding product links. You'll be glad to you did!

P.S. The flag waving chick at the left is our Motorola special pricing spokesperson - Little Cheeper!

APCO-25 Phase Two Revisited

2012-01-10T06:40:00.000-08:00

Some of the experts on the subject of APCO-25 (P25) recently convened to discuss the progress of the second phase of this antiquated, committee designed technology that has no rightful pace in today's marketplace.

As you sit in on the round table (actually, a square table) discussion, you will most likely come to the same conclusion as I. My comments are at the bottom of the page at www.p25phase2.com/?gclid=CKy9iau9xK0CFUmR7Qod5U9uAA. So the real question is Why do we keep pouring millions of dollars into a technology that is neither efficient or affordable? I think you already know the answer. If you take away federal funding, this technology would not last till the end of the day!

Some of you may recall that historically, we have been a staunch supporter of P25 technology. Some may be wondering why we have changed our position. That is a legitimate question. For the answer, click here!

So what is better? Most anything, including analog, DMR, LTE, NXDN, or TETRA, even iDEN! If you would like additional information on practical narrow band planning, we invite you to visit www.info4u.us/Analog_Planner.pdf and www.info4u.us/MigrationPlan.pdf. Better yet, give us a call. That's what we are here for - to help YOU!

Portable radio with ten year battery life!

2012-01-08T08:50:00.000-08:00

You are looking at an ten year old radio. It was purchased in 2002. It has been used continually since that time without any need for service or even a replacement of a battery! Yes, you read it right; ten years of service from the original battery!

This is still a current production radio! If you are looking for a near perfect super rugged and reliable radio with built in paging, scan with 32 channels in VHF or UHF, you can't go wrong with the Motorola PR400 radio. For those who like us on Facebook, you can purchase this incredible radio for only $360! Want to know more? Give us a call at 800.489.2611. In the meantime, you can get more information on our Facebook portal by clicking here!

Communications Industry News!

2012-01-07T09:10:00.000-08:00

Big news to report in the communications industry this week beginning with Motorola. As some of our readers know, Motorola is in the processing trying to sell their Mobility business (cellphones) to Google. Presumably, this will allow Motorola to spend more time and resources on their core business (Solutions, or 2-way radio to you old timers). Got a problem though, sales are under forecast and there are still regulatory issues to address. More news is available by clicking here.

News from ICOM! While supplies last, you can purchase the popular full featured ICOM F2821D, a P25 mobile radio with 45 watts of power and 256 channels for only $595! Your choice of 400-470 or 450-512 MHz operating ranges. Specifications are available by clicking here. To order, click here!

News from Harris Corporation! Harris recently joined the DMR (Digital Mobile Radio) Open Standards Association. In conjunction with this announcement, Harris has launched a new line of digital mobile radios, named Momentum™. These radios will be introduced at the Las Vegas IWCE communications trade show in February 2012. Don't be surprised if these radios bear a great deal or resemblance to the Hytera DMR radios currently available. I believe this is a process called re-branding. As for me, I think I'll just stick with Hytera.......

You like us on Facebook - We like you in your Pocketbook!

2012-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

Several days ago we told you that we would begin a special discount program for our friends this week. Well, the program has started, effective right now! Every week, we will offer three products at special reduced prices ONLY to those who are our Facebook friends. So, here's the deal! Click here to go to our Facebook page. When the page opens, click on the "Like" icon at the top of the page. That makes you our friend. We do very special things for our friends, like extending huge instant rebates on popular communications products.

This week for our fire department friends, we are offering our best price ever on the Motorola Minitor V pager. This offer is being presented by Joy King, our Amazon manager. Click here to review Joy's special offer of just $337 each! Andy Rich, our eBay manager is offering the popular Motorola CP200 XLS pager/radio for just $274. Click here to see Andy's offer. Candice Staggs, our Facebook manager is offering the 32 channel Motorola PR400 VHF industrial grand portable with limited display for just $340 after our special Facebook Friend instant rebate. Click here for more information.

These offers will be available only for a limited time. To cash in on a really good deal, order pagers or radios of your choice today. If you don's see what you want on special, give us a call at 800.489.2611 and tell us what you would like to see on special. And, be sure and check back here next week for more super special values. Better yet, sign up at the right to receive automatic notifications as new specials are released. You'll be glad you did!

Happy 2012 from all of us at Falcon Direct!

2012-01-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun dressing up for our Christmas picture, we thought we would do another for New Year's. Here we are in all our splendor wishing you the very best year ever! We will be doing our part to provide the best products, at the best prices, with the best customer service available anywhere!

We have a new slogan and a business objective for 2012. Simply stated, it is this: Doing whatever it takes to best serve you! That's not just a slogan, or a motto, or even a business plan. It is a commitment! You'll be seeing examples of this commitment starting today!

In addition to our traditional way of doing business, we have added three additional customer outreach programs. Joy King is in charge of sales through Amazon.com with her own web site at http://falconamazon.blogspot.com.The eBay program is managed by Andy Rich. He has his own web site at http://falconebay.blogspot.com. Candice Staggs handles Facebook communications supplemented by our web site at http://falconfacebookplus.blogspot.com.

Andy, Candice, and Joy will be making special offers every week on their web site that are unavailable anywhere else. You can check in as desired, or sign up for automatic notification as offers are announced.

The rest of us will taking care of our traditional activities as well as introducing a whole new line of products designed and built right here in Birmingham, Alabama. 2012 is going to be a great year! We're going to do our best to make it even greater, for YOU! Happy 2012!

Marry Christmas from us to YOU!

2011-12-23T17:32:00.000-08:00

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!

The verdict is in! Our top choice analog portable is......

2011-12-16T07:37:00.000-08:00

A lot of 2-way radio users will be upgrading to narrow band in the coming year. Many will be upgrading to one of three different types of narrow band digital radios.

We thought this would be a good time to review all the available choices and come up with one product in each category that represents best in class in terms of price, performance, functionality, features, flexibility, battery life, simplicity of use, programming, size, weight, power (both RF and audio) as well as cost of operation. In the analog portable radio category, the winner is the Ritron PT150 VHF and PT450 UHF radio!

This was not an easy decision since there were some great offerings by many manufacturers from around the world, but overall, we believe we have made the right decision. To be honest, we like Ritron - It's a family owned American company who builds most of their products in the USA, employs American workers, supports American suppliers, and primarily serves American users.

We've been doing business with Ritron for a long, long time. We like their style and we like their creativity and sustainability through good times and bad. And, in particular, we will the PT Series radios. Check out the specs by clicking here and you'll see why we chose the PT Series radios.

Did we mention the price? We've just lowered the price from $329 to only $219 for a 255 channel radio with alphanumeric display, programmable hot keys, 5 watts of power in VHF (4 watts UHF), a full watt of audio, up to 13 hours of operation, a rapid desk charger, and it does in all in a lightweight (10 ounce) micro sized MIL-SPEC 810F ruggedized housing. And, it will do 2.5 kHz channel steps. Don't know what that means? Click here!

You can buy the PT150/450 in our Web Store, on Amazon.com or by contacting Candice Staggs on Facebook. By the way, we have selected our top choice DMR radio (Hytera and Motorola), NXDN (ICOM and Kenwood) and P25, the federal approved standard. If you would like to know which digital models we have selected, just drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com.

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

2011-12-12T18:43:00.000-08:00

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!

2011-12-12T07:57:00.000-08:00

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.

Have you heard about Bill Me Later?

2011-12-08T06:16:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-12-06T06:55:00.000-08:00

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!

Amazon and Falcon Direct - Working together to serve YOU!

2011-12-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

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!

CopTrax Combo cuts vehicle camera and computer costs in HALF!

2011-12-05T07:41:00.000-08:00

The cost of electronics.....

in law enforcement vehicles is getting WAY too expensive! For example, a good quality ruggedized laptop suitable for use in a police vehicle can easily cost $5,000 or more. The same is true for a good vehicle camera system!

We decided that is was time to look toward consolidating the cost of vehicle electronics by building a system around computer technology. We started with our first version of our new CopTrax system which eliminated the need for a DVR, removable storage devices, and a monitor by interfacing with an existing vehicle laptop. Now we have combined camera and computer technology to provide a totally unique offering which we call the CopTrax Combo. You can learn more about it by clicking here!

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

2011-11-29T19:10:00.000-08:00

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!

Confused about P25 Phase 1 and Phase II?

2011-11-28T18:55:00.000-08:00

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, Motorola, Harris, and EF Johnson (along with other international manufacturers) are rapidly encouraging major users to go with Phase 2 for several reasons. For starters, most of the 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 five thousand dollars each, and did we mention that there is a Phase 3? (Just thought you might like to know).

Having said all that, there is ONE manufacturer offering a P25 Phase I trunking radio for under $1,500 that WILL be upgradeable to Phase II. And who might that be? The answer is Relm Wireless, an AMERICAN manufacturer with a proven record of performance, reliability, and solid value! Don't you think it would be a good idea to take a look at Relm, and in particular, the KNG series from Falcon Direct? It's easy to do - just give us a call at 800.389.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com. You'll be glad you did!

A Special Message for Radio Renters!

2011-11-28T07:52:00.000-08:00

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!

Get a Kindle Fire FREE!

2011-11-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

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?

New RDR-100 Rapid Deployment Repeater!

2011-11-16T13:54:00.000-08:00

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.

Falcon Direct Products Now Available at Amazon!

2011-11-13T12:56:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-13T08:55:00.000-08:00

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!.

Falcon Direct on Facebook?

2011-11-12T04:23:00.000-08:00

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!

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

2011-11-11T19:50:00.000-08:00

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!

Want to put an end to copper theft?

2011-11-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

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!

New Top Quality MURS Radio Now Available!

2011-10-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

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 HYT, ICOM, Kenwood, and Motorola (with the exception of the RDM2000) 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 $189. 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. It even has built in two-tone alert signaling.

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.

BeOn - Technology or TechnoToy?

2011-10-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

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!

Sign Language

2011-10-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

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 here. Are you ready to buy?, Click here, or just give us a call at 205.854.2611.

What Makes Falcon Direct a Little Different?

2011-10-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

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.

Fleet Safety Simplified!

2011-10-12T04:20:00.000-07:00

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!

An introduction to the CopTrax™ Streaming Video System!

2011-10-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, we introduced a new service for our law enforcement friends. It is called CopTrax™. When we try to explain that it combines the features and functions of a vehicle camera system with GPS, most prospective users understand. When we explain that it also incorporates an instant recall records management system, directional assistance, live administrative monitoring, plus elimination of a DVR, monitor and the requirement for removable SMC or DVD data recording; folks start giving us a blank stare.

So, we decided that explaining the use of this incredible device was more of a task than we realized. The fact that it costs no more than an ordinary vehicle camera system just simply does not seem possible. For the moment, let’s just say that it is price competitive to Digital Ally, Martel, Safety Vision, and WatchGuard vehicle camera systems. The task for now is to show you how it works, what it does, and how easy it is to operate.

To accomplish this objective, I picked up a five hundred dollar Netbook PC and one of those new MiFi 4G cards that makes my mobile a Wi-Fi hotspot. I turned in my Blackberry and got a thirty-dollar flip phone which people tell me sounds better than the Blackberry. My monthly airtime plan with Verizon is now actually LESS than what I was paying before and I take my high speed Internet connection where ever I wish. I put the system in myself even though I am mechanically challenged. The bottom line is that my camera system is now “live” 24/7 if I want it to be. Actually, I prefer 7 to 7 Monday through Friday. Nobody wants to be under surveillance all the time!

When I am live, anyone with an Internet connected PC can join me, just like they were sitting in the right seat. You can see what I see, along with my location on an aerial or street view map plus my speed. If I have activated the Record function on my camera you can review the file right from your desk or even another vehicle.

I created three single page documents to better explain my system. The first is a system introduction at www.info4u.us/svs.pdf that explains the features and functions of the CopTrax™ system. The second at www.info4u.us/ezop.pdf shows you what is in my vehicle along with simple user instructions. The third is for system administrators at www.info4u.us/HeresBurch.pdf. This is where you learn to log in and “connect” to my vehicle. This is where the value of the system is defined. You can join me anytime, Monday through Friday. If I am in your general area, give me a call at 205.202.1269 and I’ll be glad to stop by and show you the “real” system. You WILL be impressed!

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

2011-10-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

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!

Wireless DoorCall System for available for fire stations!

2011-09-28T06:32:00.000-07:00

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 DoorCall Radio Alerting 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 DoorCall Radio Alerting 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!

New Wireless Intercom has over quarter mile range!

2011-09-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

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!

Lower P25 radio pricing announced!

2011-09-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it had to happen! For the first time ever, you can now purchase a full featured micro sized P25 radio for less than a thousand dollars! And, we're not talking about a low tier economy model. We are talking about Midland, one of the few manufacturers selected by the U.S. Forest Service for the most demanding standards imaginable!

The STP portable was the first P25 portable with a 3 year warranty and one of only a few capable of keyboard frequency programming. With a regular price of over $2,700, the STP is MIL-SPEC approved, yet it is only slightly larger than a Minitor V pager, and it weighs under 8 ounces!

For a limited time, you can purchase this incredible portable radio for just $995 and there is a full powered 50 watt mobile regularly priced at almost $3,500 for just $200 more (just $1,195!).

Want to know more? Click here!

MotoTRBO Compatible Pager-Radio Now Available!

2011-09-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

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.

Tribute to a Policeman

2011-08-28T12:29:00.000-07:00

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!

The End of Pager Problems!

2011-08-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

We all know about the problems associated with alerting voice monitor pagers. Over the past decade, the price of fire pagers, unlike every other form of electronics has gone UP, not down! Further, the inefficiencies of an internal antenna, coupled with the range and audio degradation associated with narrow banding have cut the operating range significantly. Couple this with reliability issues, battery and charger problems, and you have a compelling reason to look at other alternatives.

Today, August 26, 2011 at the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) conference in Fairhope, Alabama we announced our new DMR pager! For the first time ever, you can purchase a pager/radio that can function as a pager plus the ability to communicate on VHF or UHF national interoperability channels plus fire ground tactical channels. It can operate on standard 25 kHz or 12.5 kHz narrow band channels with both audible and vibrate alert. AND it can communicate with MotoTRBO radios in the digital mode for extended range, superior audio, and longer battery life.

Now - are you ready for the price? It is the same as a Minitor V and the price includes a FIVE YEAR FACTORY WARRANTY! We'll be glad to tell you more, even let you try one! 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!

Minitor VÔ and MotoTRBOÔ are registered trademarks of Motorola SolutionsÔ

Thumbs Up Award to the Alabama Department of Homeland Security

2011-08-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

As many of our readers know, we pass out awards from time to time to those we engage in our endeavors. There are both good and bad awards. There are two classifications of each – Doofus being the worst and Thumbs Up being the best. Sometimes we alternately use the Bouquet and Brickbat Award where we criticize and congratulate at the same time.

It is now time for a Thumbs Up Award to the Alabama Department of Homeland Security (ADHS) who only recently was the recipient of our infamous Doofus Award. This rarely happens, but we are as quick to congratulate, as we are to criticize. This time we not only congratulate ADHS, but also retract our earlier Doofus Award. How’s that for being fair and balanced?

The basis for our Thumbs Up Award is the offer made by ADHS to all Alabama County Points of Contacts (POC’s) to allow them to assist agencies in their county to use federal funds for narrow banding and interoperability. They didn’t tell the POC’s what they had to do. They gave them the option of choosing what was best in their local area.

The response time was a little tight, but more than adequate for a POC to respond in a timely manner. We developed a number of different solutions, all of which were within the maximum allowable amount of $37,500 ($30,000 from DHS with a $7,500 match by the entity receiving the benefit). A partial listing of the alternatives offered by Falcon Direct are available at www.info4u.us/P25_Fire_Specials.pdf.

Thank you Alabama DHS for doing a very good thing. You provided every county in the State of Alabama the opportunity to fund both narrow banding and interoperability. Unfortunately, many of the Point of Contacts statewide were unwilling to take the time to respond to your offer. Somehow, I think there may be another Doofus award in the works, but it will not be for ADHS. Thanks guys - the effort was, and is, appreciated. In the meantime, for others seeking affordable alternatives for meeting narrow banding and interoperability solutions, you may want to review the products and services available on the link above.

New MiniCom Portable Dispatch Center!

2011-08-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

One of our 911 customers got hit by lightning the other day. The console was knocked out as well as a repeater control radio. They had insurance, which was good, but there were still the delays associated with the unforeseen disruption. Events such as this are all too common. One customer (not ours) waited almost a year to get a repeater station replaced.

We've got a better way to quickly restore emergency dispatch communications! We call it a MiniCom Portable Dispatch Center (MPDC). This system consists of a multi-band radio (that's it on the left), a mini operator console (no microphone or headset required) with 2-tone page sending capability, and a multi-band antenna. The MPDC can simultaneously monitor VHF, UHF, 700 MHz, and 800 MHz, analog or P25 digital, 25 kHz or narrow band, conventional, or trunked operation with a single radio! Better yet, it automatically selects the received frequency and allows the operator to talk back at the push of a button - no channel flipping required.

The MPDC allows an operator to select any of up to 2608 channels to initiate a VHF, UHF, 700 MHz or 800 MHz call or even to listen on one frequency band and transmit on another! The price is just $7,495 installed anywhere in the State of Alabama, and it's available on the GSA contract, fully approved by the Dept. of Homeland Security! See www.info4u.us/LibertyDataSheet.pdf for radio specifications.

So, what do you do about repeater site failures? Not a problem! We offer choice of a P25 portable incident command or full powered tactical repeater that can be set up in a matter of minutes with prices starting at UNDER $4,000! And, just to cap things off, how about a field programmable P25 portable for around $1,200 that has features and functionality surpassing other similar radios costing twice as much or more! Additional information is available at www.info4u.us/bk25.pdf.

By the way, if you would like to know more about our service capabilities, see www.info4u.us/Service_FAQ's.pdf or call us at 800.489.2611 for more information or a demonstration.

Is P25 the only interoperable solution?

2011-08-15T08:05:00.000-07:00

Over the years, we have steadfastly maintained a position of supporting P25 as the preferred standard for public safety communications. We did not come to this conclusion on our own. P25 is the ONLY standard recognized by DHS, SAFECOM and most (SCIP's).

The fact is that a standard is rarely mandatory. In the case of DHS communications grants, there is a provision to take exception to the rule for "compelling reasons". This essentially allows a department to apply for analog, or one of two other digital systems (DMR or NXDN) with some assurance that the application will be approved if a proper narrative is provided.

Having said that, we still support P25, not only from the viewpoint of technical compliance but for the goal of developing a true nationwide interoperable network. For what it's worth, we do NOT support 700 MHz except in the very largest metro areas. We believe that VHF is the best overall choice, followed by UHF under certain conditions.

As a grant applicant, you should address the need for narrow banding older radios as well as adding VTAC and/or UCALL national interoperability channels. All new radios used in your department should have VTAC and/or UCALL frequencies installed. This should be identified as a cost item in your grant application.

A second major point is interoperability with other users. If you are applying as a fire department, you should be able to talk to the police and vice versa. This should not be done on your current frequencies (which would not be permissible on some systems such as the Alabama Forestry Commission fire repeaters for police use). Rather, we suggest new P25 repeaters in each county, one for fire and one for law. This project should be a part of a regional, rather than an individual grant. This will be more fully addressed in our P25 Planning Guide.

The third consideration is wide area interoperability which would give you the capability of communicating on VHF, UHF, 700, and 800 MHz. This can be part of a communications project on either departmental or regional grants. We recommend at least two of this quad band radios per department.

Fourth, we think you should include hearing protection as required both by NFPA and OSHA (not to mention litigation avoidance) as well as a fire station security system to monitor AC, fire, and intrusion detection.

A quick planning guide is available at www.info4u.us/P25_Fire_Specials.pdf. We hope you will find this information to be useful. If you need additional assistance in preparing your application, we can recommend an excellent grant writer. His fee is $250 for a single department or $1,000 for a regional application. Call us at 205.854.2611 for additional information or for assistance in preparing an application on your own.

Additional information on budgeting a narrow band and VTAC and/or UCALL upgrades on existing equipment is available a www.info4u.us/dhsapmemo.pdf. If you prefer to apply for a less expensive DMR (Hytera or MotoTRBO) system, see www.info4u.us/LARS2001.pdf or for an even less expensive analog system, see www.info4u.us/Eligible_Products.pdf. There is not much time left to apply for the 2011 AFG program. Let us know if we can help in any way!

Doofus Award for August!

2011-08-06T06:39:00.000-07:00

In 2007, all Alabama public safety agencies agreed to sign over their individual rights for direct Homeland Security funds to the State DHS office for the common good of all concerned. We now see the results of that decision.

The original amount (around 12 million dollars plus or minus a few) sat with the Alabama DHS drawing no interest and doing nothing toward the development of a Statewide interoperable communications system until 2011. Well, maybe that's not being totally fair. They did have some vendor meetings, allegedly spent some money on consultants and actually drew up a State Communications Interoperability Plan (SCIP), which no one, including State agencies followed.

In the fall of 2011, the money had to be spent or returned. So what did they do? Maybe put in a P25 repeater in each county linked by fiber, microwave, or the Internet? Nah! Maybe a cache of radios in each county capable of talking on VHF, UHF, 700 and 800 MHz, analog, P25, conventional and trunked so that each county would have command system capability? Nah!

So what did the DHS leaders in the State of Alabama do? They gave the money to our two southernmost counties (Baldwin and Mobile) to build a network of 700 MHz stations with no mobile or portable radios to talk to - Absolutely brilliant! The fact that the repeater stations cost an average of a half million dollars each, portables around $2,500 and mobiles around $3,500 didn't seem to be a concern even though far less expensive systems could do the job better.

And now, the beneficiaries of this grant are wanting to apply for a federal fire grant to pay for portables, mobiles, and extension of the network. Can it be that anyone wonders why our government is broke? Congratulations to the Alabama Department of Homeland Security. You are the hands down winner of the Doofus Award for August!

An Introduction to Flow Dynamics, aka Narrow Banding.......

2011-08-06T05:50:00.000-07:00

Much has been written about the real world effects of narrow banding. Yet, almost without exception, users are shocked at the degradation in performance that occurs when the change is made.

Mostly, the problem is with portable talk-back range. They just generally don't work well anymore! We have written much about this subject but many of our readers are still having a problem of grasping why performance suffers. Here is an example that our fireman friends will quickly understand.

Think of standard 25 kHz channel spacing (what most of us have now) as a 3" hose. Now let's cut that in half and reduce our bandwidth to 12.5 kHz (narrow band) and our hose diameter to 1.5". Question - Can you get as much water through a 1.5" hose as a 3" hose? We rest our case - physics is physics whether it's water or radios!

The good news is that have addressed this situation and we can offer affordable alternatives to allow you to make the narrow band conversion as painless as possible. If you are experiencing portable radio talk back range since switching to narrow band, give us a call at 800.480.2611 or email AtYourService@falcondirect.com for a report entitled Living With Less And Still Being Best!

The alternative to Tommy Toolbelt!

2011-07-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

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.

Hytera Goes To War!

2011-07-30T06:23:00.000-07:00

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.

Bouquets to Motorola, Brickbats to ICOM!

2011-07-30T05:27:00.000-07:00

Some of our readers will understand the term Bouquet's and Brickbats. It is an old term used to convey the writer or speakers praise for an act or comment while simultaneously expressing displeasure with some portion of the action. Today, we are throwing Bouquet's and Brickbats.

First the Bouquet. As many of our readers know, we frequently take a shot at Motorola. Not because they are any worse than others, but simply because they are bigger and more exposed than their competitors. In addition, Motorola is a leader and as a leader, your mistakes are more likely to come to light. Having said that, we will come back with a Bouquet award to Motorola shortly.

Now the Brickbat, awarded this week to ICOM! About a year ago, we sold ten ICOM radios to a small volunteer fire department. These radios were to be used both as radios and pagers. They were really glad to finally be able to alert all of their volunteers when calls were dispatched by the local E-911.

The problem was - they wouldn't page! Every other brand and model would work, but not ICOM! We asked for help from ICOM. We got nothing! We ultimately determined that the problem could be resolved by an adjustment on the paging encoder at E-911. After finally getting permission to make the adjustment (the encoder was maintained by another dealer), the problem was corrected. For not providing assistance when needed, we award a Brickbat to ICOM.

As for the Bouquet, I can tell you this. If anyone ever has a problem with a Motorola product, a trouble ticket is opened that can not be closed until the problem has been resolved. Motorola takes care of their customers and they will do whatever is necessary to stand behind their products. I have seen this policy in action and Motorola is totally deserving of this weeks Bouquet award.

Thank you Motorola - shame on you, ICOM!

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

2011-07-29T21:11:00.000-07:00

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!

Suggestion for AFG Grant applicants

2011-07-08T08:30:00.000-07:00

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!

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

2011-07-02T05:54:00.000-07:00

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!

St. Vincent's Blount upgrades HEAR system

2011-07-01T07:46:00.000-07:00

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.

MotoTRBO™ compatible radio for less than the cost of a Minitor V™ Pager!

2011-06-28T09:30:00.000-07:00

You read it correctly, a MotoTRBO™ compatible 5/4 watt 16 channel narrow band VHF or UHF analog/digital radio for LESS than the cost of a comparable Minitor V™ pager.

It has audible and vibrate alert and multi-channel scan just like Minitor V™, plus three times the warranty and it can talk in both analog and digital modes - even allow two calls to be in progress at the same time! Want more information? Email us at ServingU@falcondirect.com or just give us a call at 800.489.2611. We'll even tell you how to get one FREE!

The Picture No One Wants To See!

2011-06-20T06:16:00.000-07:00

Broadcasters, Churches, Farmers, Municipalities, Property Owners, and Electrical Utilities all have one thing in common - Copper theft! We are all paying for senseless criminal acts involving Arson, Burglary, and Copper theft - the ABC's of one of America's major crime problems.

We've got a solution! It's called The CrimeBuster Program, a joint venture between participating churches and property owners along with local law enforcement agencies and Falcon Direct; working together as a coordinated team to drive these crimes out of communities that are fed up with being victimized!

If you've had enough, click here for complete information on the CrimeBuster Program, then give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com.

Photo courtesy of NorthEscambia.com

And the band played on.....

2011-06-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

Many of our readers are aware of the numerous accusations of unfair competitive practices by Motorola in the public safety marketplace (Click here for recent comments by an industry executive and senior government officials). Most of us in the industry know that the Department of Homeland Security require radios with P25 operating capability, not compatibility, or upgradeability. The key word is CAPABILITY using open standard technology.

Numerous radio equipment dealers, supported by factory support personnel, are loudly proclaiming that the only way to go is with either a proprietary Motorola standard using five thousand dollar radios or a subordinate technology which can be requested under special circumstances when budget limitations are a factor. It should come as no surprise to anyone than both the anti-competitive, cost excessive enhanced P25 solution offered by Motorola and the lower cost MotoTRBO system with enhanced features are BOTH based on proprietary technology.

The fact that the enhanced P25 system is NOT compatible with federal interoperability standards and the MotoTRBO system does not meet the SAFECOM technical standards required by DHS and FEMA. Unfortunately, this seems to deter neither Motorola, uninformed users, or even is some cases; FEMA officials responsible for the proper administration of grant funds and compliance review of both federal and state interoperability operating plans.

If you are planning a system upgrade to narrow band and/or digital operating capability, we urge you to get all the facts before making a costly mistake that will cost us ALL money. While you are at it, be thankful that there are people like Dave Storey, President and CEO of Relm Wireless who are not afraid to stand up and tell it like it is.

If you don't know how it is and would like the real unbiased facts, give us a call at 800.489.2611. Let's work together to see that our taxpayer dollars are spent effectively and with common sense - not in response to sales pitches by those who benefit by suppressing fair and open competition.

P25 UHF Mobile for $399!

2011-06-10T06:56:00.000-07:00

Only 39 units available - ICOM F2821D, 50 watt UHF mobile with analog AND P25 digital capability. Includes keypad for text messaging. Top of the line mobile radio with 3 year factory warranty. More information at www.info4u.us/399.pdf. Regular price $980. While supplies last, your price is just $399 each INCLUDING free programming and shipping. Don't miss out on this once in a lifetime opportunity! Call today - 800.489.2611 or drop us an email to sales@falcondirect.com.

Doofus of the Day Award

2011-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Our latest Doofus Award goes to an Alabama Sheriff who wins the honor HANDS DOWN. Ditto for the politician and the federal funding agency who gave him $850,000 to install a mobile data system capable of providing lightning fast 56K data download speeds when he could have equipped his cars with computer air cards for a little over $41 monthly for each car.

Cost justification would be a little difficult on this one. If we assume 50 patrol vehicles (We don't know the exact number of vehicles, but the payback ratio would be terrible, regardless of the number of vehicles). The cost for 50 vehicles, using $41 air cards would be $24,600 annually. On this basis, it would take over 34 years to break oven with an $850,000 system, and that doesn't include maintenance!

Although the air cards would provide nearly ten times the speed of the private network, the Sheriff justified his decision, which was not supported by municipal law enforcement agencies, with logic that anyone should understand (or maybe not). Here it is in summary.

The Verizon network could fail whereas the private system would continue to operate in the event of a major disaster. Who's kidding who here? Verizon has trailer mounted portable cell stations that can be in place within three hours, and hundreds of support personnel versus no backup system for the Sheriff and reliance on a single 2-way radio dealer to get him back in operation.

This is absolutely unbelievable! The full story is available by clicking here! Speaking of things unbelievable, our law enforcement friends should check out our new CopTraxÔ system which combines vehicle camera, tracking, direction assistance, CAD, GPS, and a simple case management system for less that the cost of a good vehicle camera! Additional information is available on our Law Enforcement Blog Site at http://just4cops.blogspot.com/p/coptrax.html.

New HelpAlert Reporter Now Available!

2011-06-02T06:59:00.000-07:00

Almost a decade ago, Falcon Direct developed a wireless call button system for use in Courtrooms. Most commonly known as "The Button", these devices have been installed in courtrooms all over Alabama. More recently, the button has been used by merchants at high risk of armed robbery working in association with local police departments. The Mayors office in Birmingham, AL is equipped with the button as are the probate offices in Lamar County. Alabama, and in a variety of commercial and governmental applications.

Every community has it's share of disabled and elderly persons who could benefit from an emergency notification service. We'll all seen the "I'm down and can't get up" ads on TV. What they don't tell you is the monthly cost associated with the service and the delay resulting from routing the call first to a monitoring center, then to 911, and ultimately to local first responders.

The HelpAlert Reporter is available at minimal cost, no monthly fees, and help can be available at the push of a button when service is provided by a local participating agency. When the button is activated, a direct radio message is wirelessly sent directly to first responders via the local 2-way radio system. In many cases the cost of HelpAlert Reporters can be paid for from a number of grant sources. Call us at 205.854.2611 for more information or click here.

New Smart Video System Now Available for Law Enforcement Agencies

2011-05-29T04:47:00.000-07:00

You are looking at the future of vehicle camera systems! This tiny 2 inch camera mounts BEHIND a patrol vehicle rear view mirror! If you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't see it, but that is only part of the story about our new Smart Video System!

The REALLY big news is that this camera requires no DVR, monitor, or storage devices that necessitate removal of CD's DVD's SMS Cards or thumb drives. You don't even need a wireless microphone. You can use your SmartPhone as your wireless microphone and personal camera system that feeds back to Smart Video server!

Did we mention that the system can provide real time vehicle tracking with email or SMS alerts sent to your PC or SmartPhone when a vehicle goes into pursuit, or a selected patrol location to monitor activity? Did we tell you that video can be instantly retrieved by name, date, or event in an Internet connected Courtroom? Or did we tell you that this incredible system can maintain a graphic file on all crime activity in your community?

A word about 800 MHz Statewide networks

2011-05-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

To sum it up simply, 800 MHz Statewide networks don't work. The reason? Start wherever you wish, beginning with the fact the 800 MHz doesn't work inside buildings (which is very important to law enforcement officers and firefighters).

800 MHz doesn't serve the needs of rural communities any better. Rural Sheriff's Departments and volunteer fire departments that are off the main highway are generally not served by these multi-million dollar proprietary systems.

The fact is that 800 MHz Statewide Networks are designed for vehicular, not personal communications. If you need a radio when you are out of the vehicle, your needs would be much better served by much less expensive and more feature rich technologies developed over the past few years.

Cost is another factor. For every square mile covered, 800 MHz will cost on average, at least four times more than VHF or UHF and more often than not, ten times as much or more. As to the cost of mobile and portable radios, the ratio is about as bad - four to ten times more for 800 MHz versus VHF or UHF.

Why the cost difference? Antiquated technology and/or proprietary operating networks would be a good place to start. When there is no competition, prices skyrocket! Case in point, compare any state using an 800 MHz network versus one using VHF or UHF. Notable examples include Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania, all big users of 800 MHz. Then take your pick of those that don't such as Nebraska, or Wisconsin; both of which are much closer to the real world of cost versus benefit.

Pennsylvania is pretty much the granddaddy of 800 MHz statewide networks. It is one of the oldest and biggest in the nation. Click here for a recent article on the situation in Pennsylvania at the present time. Want some better alternatives? Give us a call at 205.854.2611. We can save you a lot of money and provide common sense affordable solutions. That's our job - helping others do their job better!

By the way, before closing our comments on the subject of 800 MHz, it is only to fair to point out that digital radios in general have taken a bad rap for voice quality. The fact is that the publicity deals primarily with first generation vocoders (the electronic circuit device that converts analog to digital). A good example is a recent article dealing with problems associated with digital radios at West Point. Regrettably, the article neglected to mention that the radios used were first generation models. Of equal importable, the demonstration involved a fully suited firefighter talking through a face mask. You couldn't understand what was being said with or without the radio!

In the interest of fairness, it should be noted that advanced model vocoders are getting better and better, and will soon surpass the audio quality of analog (as was the case in consumer home entertainment systems). The new Broadcom G722 vocoder chip has an audio range of 50 to 7000 Hz which is significantly better than current analog radio technology.

The bottom line is that all 800 MHz isn't all bad anymore than all digital radios are all bad. The trick is to make sure you are dealing with fact - not fiction!

Georgia-Pacific Fire Grant Program Now Open

2011-05-14T04:48:00.000-07:00

The application period for the Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade™ grant program is now open. Fire departments located in communities that have a Georgia-Pacific facility are eligible to apply for a grant to help purchase needed gear and equipment.

Contact your local Georgia-Pacific facility to obtain the Bucket Brigade grant application form. Visit www.gp.com/aboutus/bucketbrigade/index.html or contact gpbucketbrigade@gapac.com for more information.

To view a listing of Georgia-Pacific communities, visit www.gp.com/FacilityDirectory/index.html. The deadline for applications is August 9th 2011.

Better Fire Protection for Churches in Forest Home, Alabama Made Possible Through Teamwork!

2011-05-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

Any one associated with a volunteer fire department knows about fund raisers. It takes a lot of work and support by vendors to be successful. Mary Till of the Forest Home VFD contacted Falcon Direct in the hope that we would be able to contribute a prize for a drawing at a fund raiser fish fry. We responded with an offer a little different than she expected. Click here for more information.

Lowest Prices Ever On P25 Radios!

2011-04-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Funny thing about us humans….

We don’t like being told what to do! As a case in point, consider the federal mandate for P25 communications equipment. It wasn’t so hard to do for a federal agency to comply with a funded mandate. It is altogether a different matter for a rural volunteer fire department or small municipality to comply when the equipment is considerably more expensive than other equipment with comparable features and performance.

FEMA, through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, refers to the federal standard (SAFECOM) for the purchase of grant eligible equipment, then turns around and starts allowing exceptions. The result? NO interoperability and only very limited success in isolated areas. How do you fix that?

First you do a better job of educating users on the benefits to THEM! Next, you stick to your own rules with no exceptions. Lastly, the manufacturers have to produce a product that is price competitive to alternate technologies such as DMR and NXDN, even analog! I am delighted to announce that at least one manufacturer has risen to the challenge!

You can now purchase a P25 portable from Falcon Direct for only $795 with the mobile being only $100 more. This is compatible with the prices of ANALOG radios! Now, we’re talking!

Want more information? Give us a call at 800.489.2611 or email P254U@falcondirect.com. We’ll be looking forward to hearing from you!

Common Sense Disaster Communications Planning - The Alabama Example!

2011-04-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

Every once in awhile we have the opportunity of seeing humankind at it's best. We need to remember that there are still those out there who serve others without acclaim or personal gain. Today, I would to share our comments on a good example of what can be accomplished when people work together.

One of the things learned during Katrina, and other natural disasters is that our communications infrastructure, in particular cellular networks, can and will fail from a variety of causes. Clearly, a hardened emergency communications network is required in times of emergency.

On their own, The Alabama Hospital Association, the Alabama State Department of Public Health and Alabama representatives of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) obtained a grant to provide a simple and inexpensive solution by using the capabilities of amateur radio communications equipment and volunteer HAM radio operators.

This program supplements an existing 2-way radio network known as the H.E.A.R. system. We are privileged to be involved as suppliers and installers of both systems, and just thought it would be appropriate to extend our thanks and appreciation to those who tirelessly work in the background for our safety. Thanks guys and gals! You ARE appreciated!

Additional information on these programs and other hospital related communications products and services is available at www.medicradios.com.

Narrow banding 101

2011-04-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's starting to happen. As increasing numbers of 2-way users switch from wide to narrow band, the reports are coming in that my radio doesn't sound as loud as it used to and there seems to be more background noise. The worst thing is that I can't talk as far as I used to.

We hate to tell you so, but that what we have been telling you for over half a decade. There are two solutions to problems associated with narrow banding - You can put in more stations to compensate for deteriorating performance or you can go digital. There are no other alternatives regardless of what you may hear from the experts.

We feel partly to blame for not providing a simple explanation of what happens when you reduce bandwidth from 25 kHz (wide band) to 12.5 kHz (narrow band). We thought maybe an analogy might make it a little easier to understand.

Picture yourself in a basement with no windows. Suddenly a leak develops and the basement starts to fill with water. Think of the floor of the basement as NOISE. The water is rising rapidly, but it's OK because you have a boat in the basement floating on the water, or NOISE.

When you reduce bandwidth, the water (NOISE) starts to rise. The rising water (NOISE) starts to occupy more and more of the space in the basement. You start to lose space. Think of space as operating RANGE. With no water on the floor, you are free to use the whole basement. However as the water(NOISE) begins to rise, the available space (RANGE) is reduced.

As the water continues to rise, you ultimately completely run out of space (RANGE) which is what happens when you reduce bandwidth to the next proposed level of 6.25 kHz, known as Very Narrow Band (VNB).

In our example, when water occupies too much space, YOU can no longer efficiently occupy that space. That's what happens when you convert to narrow band. The basement is still the same size, you are the same size, but the space available for your use is diminished. You have more NOISE and less RANGE.

You also have another problem - reduced oxygen. A reduction in oxygen can cause breathing problems. Think of oxygen as AUDIO. As the water level rises, the AUDIO (think oxygen) is reduced. The higher the level of compression (water rising), the less oxygen (AUDIO) you have. Does that make things a little easier to understand?

In our example, a basement is a basement. It can be a small basement or a large basement. The result is the same. The age, brand or model of your radio doesn't make any difference. The effect of narrow banding is the same - Increased noise, reduced audio, and diminished range - Guaranteed!

You don't have to suffer from water in the basement. The way to do it is start your plan for migration to digital right now BEFORE the water starts rising. Helping you make the right decision as to how to make the transition from analog to digital is what we do. Putting us to work is a simple as picking up the phone and calling 205.854.2611 or emailing sales@falcondirect.com. We've got quite a story to tell!

Introducing the Hytera X-1, a new dimension in airtime free wireless personal communications!

2011-04-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Hytera X-1 is super thin (just 7/10ths of an inch thick) and light (approximately 7 ounces), yet it is fully compatible with the worldwide DMR technical standard used by Hytera and Motorola.

The X-1 combines structural rigidity and IP67 water submersible capability plus versatile functionalities and refined design. Accessories can easily be connected via Bluetooth or an open USB interface allowing application development, and a built-in GPS module is included to support GIS applications. Multiple IP functionalities are available when the radio is connected to a PC, and upgradable firmware allows new features to be added to the radio.

Hospital and public safety users will be pleased to know that the X-1 is available with a high level 256 bit Advanced Encryption System (AES) for private communications capability. It is the perfect covert communicator!

The X1 supports both analog and DMR operating modes, with a power output of 5 watts in VHF or 4 watts for UHF. A vibrating alert function can alert you in high noise level zones or privately as desired.

Want to know more about the X-1? Check out www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WQMsonOe9A. Want to know how easily the X-1 can be integrated into your existing 2-way radio system? Give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email X14U@falcondirect.com. You'll be glad you did!

New TC-508 2-Way Radio Now Available at Incredible Price!

2011-04-12T20:36:00.000-07:00

We are delighted to announce the introduction of the newest HYT 2-way radio, the TC-508, a full featured, yet affordable personal communicator with MIL-STD 810 and IP54 ratings for durability. The TC-508 is especially well suited for construction, hospitality, institutional, manufacturing and retail use. And it's built to last with 5 year Accelerated Life Testing!

Available in your choice of either VHF or UHF with up to 16 channel capability and up to 5 watts of power in VHF or 4 watts in UHF, the TC-508 has all the features you would expect in comparable radios costing up to hundreds of dollars more than the low, low price of the TC-508.

Weighing in at only 9.8 ounces, TC-508 provides up to 14 hours of operation before recharging of the Lithium-Ion battery is required using the standard rapid rate charger (See www.info4u.us/TC508.pdf for additional information.

So, what did we forget? Oh yes - the price! Are you ready for this? Just $220 including programming, shipping and one year factory warranty! Want to try the TC-508? Just give us a call at 205.854.2611 or drop us an email to sales@falcondirect.com. You're going to like the TC-508!

Hytera Advanced Capabilities

2011-04-11T07:10:00.000-07:00

As a part of our services to those we serve, or hope to serve; we continually provide factual information of advances in technology, regulatory issues, and common sense alternatives in purchasing the most effective communications systems.

One of the major contenders in digital communications was essentially unknown to us just a few short years ago. Hytera has come from virtually nowhere to a world class contender in communications, in particular the DMR standard. The primary features and benefits are discussed elsewhere on our Blog, but there are some new capabilities that we felt would be of interest for those who are migrating from analog to digital mentality.

The limitations of analog are well known. One of the major constraints of analog is the ability to operate and control multiple antenna sites. Today, we have the capability of inexpensively linking sites by radio (Click here for more information) or via the Internet (Click here for more information).

We can even cross link repeaters (Click here for more information) or provide high level security with up to 256 bit encryption (Click here for more information). If you like an assist in developing your long term system evolution for your 2-way radio system, we invite you to review the aforementioned White Pagers. There is a lot of good information available to help you make the right choice - both for now, and for the future!

The Other MotoTRBO!

2011-04-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Received an email this morning from a writer who preferred not to identify himself or provide a return email address. I thought the writers comments might be of interest to others, so I am sharing them with you. His (assuming it is a "he") comments dealt with our Blog on the use of MotoTRBO for mission critical (aka public safety) use. If you didn't see the Blog, you can view it by clicking here. In a nutshell, we said (and still do), that MotoTRBO was not designed for public safety (aka mission critical) use.

The writer did provide his or her initials which are "jfr". So, jfr, and others who have an interest in such things, lets begin by providing others with a copy of your comments as follows:

You totally ignore the Case Study of a public safety MOTOTRBO system that Motorola publishes, and you totally ignore the fact that the accessories brochure for the MOTOTRBO portables contains "public safety" speaker/microphones. Now, if Motorola was not 'promoting' the use of MOTOTRBO by public safety agencies, then why would they publish these marketing materials?

As is often the case, many people don't take the trouble to get all the facts. The fact is that BOTH of the issues mentioned by jfr were answered in the Forum comments on the same Blog that he referenced!

However, for the additional enlightenment of jfr and others who want to know the real story of how MotoTRBO came to be and why, we invite you to visit www.info4u.us/The_other_MotoTRBO.pdf. The fact is that the DMR standard (to which MotoTRBO was designed) is a COMMERCIAL standard regardless of what jfr or anyone else "thinks" (which may not be the appropriate word). If you would like to know more about the DMR Association, we invite you to view a short video by clicking here. If you have additional questions, please call us at 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com.

Today is April 1, 2011

2011-04-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

We all know that the first of April is also April Fools Day, a time for pranks, tricks, and general foolishness. Here is a classic example! Over a decade ago, a chemical weapons incinerator facility was constructed near Anniston, Alabama to dispose of nasty weapons containing a multitude of toxic chemicals including Serine gas.

Since even a minor leak of these gases could cause near immediate death for the general population, our government developed the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP), a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army to provide emergency preparedness assistance and resources to communities surrounding the Army’s chemical warfare agent stockpiles.

A special radio communications system was constructed for use by public safety agencies in the area. At it’s zenith, approximately 3500 radios were in use even though the system was outrageously expensive, plagued with problems, and programmed to provide only minimal operating features for the users. Still, a lot of agencies participated in the program since it was essentially “free”

Here’s some news for you – NOTHING IS FREE! Many of the users, in particular volunteer fire departments, hung on to their old UHF equipment because they knew that one day the program would end and the users wouldn’t be able to afford to maintain the system. Well guess what? That day has come!

Here’s the April Fool’s part. In order to continue using the system, at least 3000 user units must remain on the system and pay $15 per month for every radio used on the system – that’s $150 PER MONTH for a user with only 10 radios! If the number using the system drops below 3000, the rate goes up on a graduated scale starting at $22.50 per month, rising to over $50 per month PER UNIT depending on the number of participants.

The incredible thing is that there are actually users who are considering this alternative when in reality, a system with much greater capability can be constructed and maintained for a fraction of the cost of maintaining a decade old system that wasn't much to talk about when it was brand new! That’s what happens when you restrict your choices to a single vendor.

P.T. Barnum was right – There is a sucker born every minute! (Actually Barnum is not the one who made this statement. For the real story click here). If any of our readers are over in the CSEPP area, you might want to contact us for a better alternative than the one you are now facing. Our phone number is 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com.

New ICOM EZ-Buy State and Federal Contract Pricing Guide

2011-03-19T05:27:00.000-07:00

If you are a public safety communications user, and you are not taking advantage of Federal GSA or Alabama State Contract pricing, the chances are you may be paying too much for your 2-way radios!

Many users ignore government pricing plans even though they can be used in lieu of bidding. The nice thing about using a government pricing program, aside from the low prices, is bypassing the bidding process. This assures that you get what you want at the price you want to pay. On the downside, most contracts are difficult to read, and often subject to extended delivery dates. Still, they can save experienced purchasers a lot of money.

Smaller agencies, who can benefit the most through contract purchasing, often ignore the use of federal or state contracts on the basis that the purchasing experience lacks the personal touch of local representation, service after the sale, and making things simple. We've changed all that with our new EZ-Buy contract.

We've selected the top choice models of base, mobile, portable, and repeater radios in your choice of VHF or UHF in analog, IDAS, and P25 models at incredible prices. For example, you can purchase a top quality scanning pager/radio with extra high capacity battery, desk charger, programming, shipping, and a 2-year warranty for just $176!

Want to know more? Check out www.info4u.us/EZ-Buy.pdf. You'll be glad you did!

On the subject of P25....

2011-03-14T04:28:00.000-07:00

From time to time, we receive comments that some of the things said in our Blog are somewhat harsh in expressing our opinion on things with which we do not agree. If you think we can be harsh, we would like to introduce you to Daryl Jones from out on the west coast. Daryl's Blog can be thought of as the Drudge Report for the communications industry.

A case in point is a recent Blog on the failure of P25. While P25 was, and is, a good idea; politics and indecision on the part of responsible agencies and self interests by the manufacturers who "support" this technology, coupled with apathy, indifference, and downright refusal to accept the need for interoperability by many in the public safety community have almost completely destroyed the original concept.

We pioneered the concept of the Doofus awards. Daryl has taken it to a whole new level! Without further comment, I refer you to Daryl Jones' Weblog:

http://blog.tcomeng.com/index.php/2011/the-great-apco-project-25-boondoggle/.

Narrow Band Nightmare!

2011-03-12T05:13:00.000-08:00

As the deadline for narrow banding comes closer, the horror stories related to this required change intensify. Worse yet, as government at all levels is forced to cut back on services, reducing work force, and delaying needed projects, the old traditions of squander and waste continue.

Case in point. We recently received notice that one of our ambulance customers was required to convert their radios to narrow band in order to continue communications with county dispatch. How much notice did we have? THREE DAYS and that was on a Thursday meaning that the work had to carry on into the weekend. This could have been done much less expensively with good planning and communications. As it turned out, the customer was financially penalized for lack of advance notice from the county dispatch center

A more graphic example is the case of the county communications dispatch center that relies on good old "xx", the local radio man who always takes care of them. He takes care of them by CHARGING the 911 board for helping them plan a migration to narrow band. The 911 director REFUSED to hear proposals from anyone other than good old "xx" even though we perform such services at no charge.

Here's another gem! In another county, the local 2-way shop charges $35 per radio for narrow banding, which is highway robbery compared to the rates of other service providers. The customers have no choice since this service shop, the champion of reducing cost to the consumer, takes care of their customers by password protecting their radios. This assures that unauthorized personnel cannot make unauthorized programming changes. The tragedy is that they don't throw him out and get competitive bids for service.

This narrow banding issue is not going to get better unless we all start using our heads and working together for the common good of all concerned. The good old days are over! The bright new day of common sense, cost efficiency, and better resource management is here. Are you ready to change the way that YOU do business? If so, give us a call at 800.489.2611 or email AtYourService@falcondirect.com. Do it today. You'll be glad you did!

March is Services for Schools Month at Falcon Direct

2011-03-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

Our March 2011 Blogs reflect a major emphasis on school safety. The reason being that Title IV and eRate funding is available for enhancing student, teacher, and driver safety. In Alabama, our schools are under proration (that's what you do when you don't have enough money to meet your needs).

Concurrent with a general lack of funding, there is a directive that all buses should be equipped with cameras and communications. Although off the radar, the need for GPS bus tracking is well known although the cost of infrastructure or utilization of cellular networks is cost prohibitive.

So, the conclusion is that there is a need to combine objectives for the purpose of reducing cost while simultaneously developing system technology that will qualify for grant funding (either Title IV, eRate, or both). That's why our new AVS (Advanced Video System) may be of considerable interest to our student safety and transportation administrators.

AVS is the ultimate bus camera system offering HD quality providing clarity and definition simply beyond comparison, but that's only part of the story. AVS eliminates the number one problem with bus cameras - you don't have to deal with removable storage devices - No tapes, no disks, no cards, no sticks - NOTHING!

And if you think that's something, think about this! The AVS system can provide voice and data communications plus real time vehicle monitoring. You read it right - With the AVS system, you don't need 2-way radios or cellular phones and you don't have to settle for a second class vehicle tracking system. With the AVS system, you can have real time vehicle tracking with simple report generation, emergency alarm reporting, and even the ability to look in on a bus from your office PC!

Want to know more? Give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com. You are in for a very pleasant surprise!

New FireEvac Incident Command System for Schools

2011-03-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

One of the major issues facing safety officials is the rapid and efficient movement of large groups of people to safety in an emergency. The problem is compounded when those needed to be orderly moved are children being directed by personnel who are primarily responsible for non-safety related activities (like classroom teaching for instance).

One of our fire department customers came up with a novel idea that we thought was worth sharing with our fire department and school users. We call it FireEvac since the plan was essentially developed for fire evacuation although it could be used for any emergency requiring the quick and orderly movement of students to an area of safety.

The secret of any evacuation plan is based on good communications between a person trained and skilled in incident command working through team members responsible for executing a coordinated evacuation plan. Through a combined effort between the City, the Fire Department, the School, and Falcon Direct; the FireEvac System was developed. Each member of the team was charged with a specific responsibility.

The Fire Department agreed to train school safety officers as coordinators responsible for student evacuation in one of four zones. The safety officers agreed to the necessary training under the supervision of an Incident Commander. Each of our four zone coordinators as well as the principal was equipped with a VHF radio set up for emergency operation on the fire department 2-way radio channel. The City agreed to fund the project with the purchase of the necessary school radios subject to a budgeted allowance of about the cost of a single HT750 radio. That's where Falcon Direct came in!

Falcon Direct met the cost target with ease! That's what makes us a little different than our peers. We don't just sell radios - we provide solutions! We would welcome the opportunity of helping YOU!

For additional information on the FireEvac plan, give us a call at 205.854.2611 or drop us an email to sales@falcondirect.com.

New Vehicle Camera Technology Now Available

2011-03-06T14:28:00.000-08:00

Any law enforcement fleet administrator can quickly tell you the three major problems with current vehicle camera systems. To refresh your memory, they are (1) Cost, (2) Transference of recorded data, and (3) accessing the data when needed. A good dual camera system, installed, can be expected to cost between four and six thousand dollars per car plus the cost of the associated back office equipment. There is no efficient way to share data between agencies or the court system and real time viewing or file transfer can be a very expensive proposition. Now that we know the problem, let's look at a new solution!

We have a totally new vehicle camera system. We call if the AVS (Advanced Video Solution) System. The AVS system does it all for less! Big cameras with poor definition and bulky Mobile Video Recorders are replaced with micro sized high definition camera with no MVR required. The AVS system uses the computer already in most police vehicles, or we can provide an affordable and efficient mobile PC as part of the AVS package.

Unlike other mobile video systems, there are no CD's, SMC cards or other transfer devices used. You can transfer data automatically through an air card or public Wi-Fi to a cloud based server that provides viewing access to any authorized PC including courtrooms! There is no change of data being altered, corrupted, lost, or misused. It's there when you need it with a search system that allows easy retrieval by date, time, or even case number!

Did we mention that real time remote viewing is available? A shift commander can look in on any vehicle at any time directly from the office. Better yet, dispatch and administrative personnel can see the location of all vehicles at any time. You can even have live video streaming of a pursuit in progress! You get all the benefits of CAD plus a whole lot more!

Speaking of cost, did we mention that the AVS System actually costs LESS than a good quality standard video system? Want to know how much less cost? Give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com. You'll be glad you did!

Will the Real P25 please step forward?

2011-03-03T06:39:00.000-08:00

Over the past month, we have lost several bids on P25 radios. This is always distressing to a vendor who has done their best to make sure that potential customers get the best value for their money. What is more distressing is when a competitor offers an inferior product to win the sale based on price alone.

We take great pride in providing all the facts to allow prospective customers to make the best purchasing decision possible. This blog addresses such an issue. One of the considerations for determining suitability for a product performing a specified function is the use of standards based evaluation.

For example, the National Interagency Incident Command Division (NIICD) is a partnership between the USDA Forest Service and the Department of the Interior's agencies. NIICD's mission is to provide portable emergency communications for emergency use. Some might find it interesting to note that neither Kenwood, Motorola, or Vertex are approved for NIICD’s mission critical applications. A list of approved vendors is available by clicking here. Maybe that’s not important to you, but it is to those who truly understand the need for reliable mission critical communications.

Another standard for interoperability is the Project 25 Compliance Assessment Program (P25 CAP) which formally recognizes test laboratories to conduct a predetermined set of tests on P25 products. The tests demonstrate product compliance with a select group of requirements within the suite of P25 standards. Suffice it to say that the economical Vertex products (Motorola’s bargain basement) are not listed. For a listing of approved products, click here.

By the way – if are unfamiliar with the source of the aforementioned information, we strongly recommend a review of the FEMA Responder Knowledge Base at https://www.rkb.us. This is an excellent resource for first responders!

Before you purchase P25 radios, make sure you are getting not only the best price, but the best radios with support by a manufacturer and distribution partner (that’s us) committed not to just making a sale, but serving YOU! If you want all the P25 facts without fiction, give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com.

Which FirePager is right for YOU?

2011-02-18T20:56:00.000-08:00

In June of 2010, we reported a Minitor V battery retention problem that forced a production shutdown for approximately one month (Click here for details). We later learned that the alleged “fix” involved nothing more than inserting a shim to force a tighter fit rather than correcting an apparently defective case mold.

We now understand that another Minitor V voice pager problem has been reported. This problem presumably has to do with a 455 kHz filter that fails shortly after the standard one year warranty. We are not implying that this was a purposeful act of planned failure, but it appears to be the result of a problem that has not been corrected.

Any purchaser of a Minitor V pager would be well advised to purchase the optional 5 year extended factory warranty as a single repair after expiration of the standard warranty will cost you around ninety dollars. Multiply that by four years, and you could be looking at a five year maintenance cost possibly exceeding the cost of the pager!

There is a good alternative pager that does not have any such problem and it has a standard 5 year warranty at no additional cost. It’s called a WatchDog! Additional information is available by clicking here.

Never heard of a WatchDog? We’ll be glad to provide references on request. Concerned about where it's made? Unlike Minitor V ,which is made in China by Unication Co. Ltd., the WatchDog is MADE IN THE USA! So, if you can purchase a US made pager with more features, lower cost of operation, and less initial cost, why wouldn’t you do that?

The good news is that you can order the WatchDog pager from Falcon Direct with your satisfaction guaranteed. All you have to do is click here to get your WatchDog on the way!

Common sense may be returning to Alabama!

2011-02-18T04:06:00.000-08:00

On February 22, 2011, the Alabama Department of Homeland Security made the startling announced that a planned 700 MHz statewide communications system would be delayed indefinitely (Click here for details). Those of us who watch such things view this as much more than a “postponement”. Cancellation might be the better term! So why would I have such a thought?

Well, for one – we just had an election. Almost immediately, the old DHS administration were out the door and gone forever more. Now we have some local people at the top who understand that Alabama’s needs come first in Alabama, which is as it should be! Nationwide interoperability is neither affordable, needed, or practical for local first responders. Now we have a chance to do things the right way. Many federal agencies have known how to do it correctly for many years. Did you know that the DHS operations center in central Florida can communicate nationwide RIGHT NOW? Did you know that the FBI has maintained a nationwide VHF network for DECADES? So why do we need nationwide interoperability at the local level?

The fact is that WE DON’T! What we need is a simple and affordable network that allows an officer in pursuit to communicate with an adjoining jurisdiction or a tactical frequency for local area mutual response fire and rescue activities. Hospitals are well along the way with the establishment or regional disaster communications systems as are Amateur radio operators.

700 MHz trunked technology is outdated, expensive, and inefficient as was evidenced several years ago at the collapse of the Mississippi river bridge in Minneapolis. The cost over runs and coverage issues are well known in every state that has ever attempted to develop and maintain 700 MHz systems. In simple terms, better, more affordable and efficient technology is readily available. We are ready to discuss better alternatives to any that may be willing to listen. We can be reached anytime at 205.854.2611 or by email at AtYourService@falcondirect.com.

For now, our thanks go out to the current Alabama DHS Administration for showing what appears to be the beginning of common sense.

Survey Says......

2011-02-15T07:50:00.000-08:00

The best all around 2-way radio for personal use is the TriSquare TSX300! It requires no license like FRS and MURS, yet it has the communications range of the best GMRS and even commercial grade UHF portables (which require an FCC license).

The TSX300 meets and beats consumer grade MURS radios in the low price category while providing uninterrupted communications with complete privacy for up to 100,000 users within range of each other! The only other radio that even comes close is the Motorola DTR410 which costs a WHOLE lot more and doesn’t even have a built in weather channel!

If you’ve been looking for the ideal church, school, store or surveillance radio, the TSX300 may be right for you. Not sure? Check out the specs by clicking here or for a very interesting article on the technology behind the TSX300, click here. Did we mention the cost? Just $125 for TWO radios with rechargeable batteries, desk charger, a one year factory warranty, a pair of headsets for PTT or VOX operation with shipping included! Concerned about interference? That just does not happen in the ISM Band with state of the art FHSS technology. Nothing else even comes close!

Did we mention that the TSX300 has both audible and silent alert capability plus you can even do text messaging with no monthly airtime fees! And, unlike other personal 2-way radios, the TSX300 keeps your communications TOTALLY private. You’re going to like the radio – We guarantee it! (Click here for details on our worry free guarantee!)

Are you ready to order? Just click here! Want more information? Click here or give us a call at 205.854.2611. If you prefer, just email sales@falcondirect.com. By the way, if you are interested in commercial and public safety grade MURS and FRS radios, please click here for some great news!

The Mother of Digital Radio!

2011-02-11T05:07:00.000-08:00

I thought it was time to liven up our Blog with a pretty face. This one belongs to now departed Eva Maria Kiesler, an actress inventor who gave us what we know today as digital communications! Yep, that’s right! She did it during WWII. The technology is known today as Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum or FHSS.

A modern day product based on this technology can provide the capability of simultaneously serving up to 100,000 users within range of each other. Nothing else even comes close!

The incredible thing is that portable radios are now available at a cost of less than a hundred dollars each with no license required. Range is generally equal to or better than a 4/5 watt UHF portable. Want to know more about this incredible radio? Just give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com.

Oh, BTW – you may know the inventor of digital communications better by her stage name. It was Hedy Lamar! More information is available by clicking here.

The Story of Big Red.......

2011-02-10T07:11:00.000-08:00

Big Red is a Yard Locomotive or YL for short. YL’s are something like railroad locomotives, but YL’s are like house pets – they never leave the yard. They run on rails and haul heavy stuff just like other locomotives – they just don’t go very far.

Well anyway, YL-1 (as pictured here) had a problem. They had a mobile type radio mounted in the engineers cab for communicating with on-site personnel equipped with personal 2-way radios. The problem was that the engineer couldn’t hear anything over the noise of the locomotive. Then along comes Falcon…..

We knew that the American Association of Railroads (AAR) had selected the VNB (6.25 kHz) technical standard for interchange rail vehicles (Click here for more information), but we decided that since we weren’t doing any interchanging that we could save some money by using conventional 12.5 kHz analog radios. We looked at the AAR approved standard locomotive radio and found that it cost over $3,000. By using conventional technology, we were able to bring the cost down to WELL under $1,000, but that’s not the point of this story.

You may recall that the problem was that the engineer couldn’t hear the radio. The user came to us for a solution. We used a desktop radio operating on 110 VAC since we had 110 VAC on the locomotive (You can see the window air conditioner just under the engineer’s windshield). It works like a charm with none of the operational problems associated with operating directly off the locomotives DC power system. The use of an external speaker with internal amplifier gave us a significant boost over the audio output of most 2-way radios.

Can they hear now? As Sarah Palin would say – You betcha! Not only can they hear in the cab, they can hear outside the cab and even inside adjoining buildings!

If you’ve got a whole lot of need and not a whole lot of budget, you may want to give us a call at 205.854.2611 or drop us an email to sales@falcondirect.com. Simple solutions at reasonable cost is what we are all about! Oh, by the way, if you are one those railroad users that need VNB capability, you may want to click here for some GREAT NEWS!

MURS Radio Alternative!

2011-02-06T19:57:00.000-08:00

We recently received a request for available models and best pricing on MURS radios. Our response is not quite what most people would expect. We thought it might be worthy of sharing.

Contrary to popular opinion (including my own until recently), the available MURS radios approved for sale by the FCC is VERY limited. The problem is that many suppliers (in particular those in China and many dealers selling products such as the Puxing Model PX-777 "assume" that a Part 90 commercial grade radio approved for business and public safety use is acceptable for MURS use - NOT SO!

Commercial and public safety grade radios are built and approved by the FCC under Part 90 of the FCC Rules and Regulations. MURS specifications are different, generally favoring the production of a low cost consumer radios such as those available from Dakota Alert. MURS radios are approved only for Part 95, Subpart J of the FCC Rules. A Part 90 approved radio is NOT approved for Part 95 any more than a Part 95 radio is approved for Part 90. The radio used must be Type Accepted for the service in which it is used. And, for what it's worth, a MURS radio can NOT be used on anything but MURS channels as per the following direct quote from the FCC.

Re: CIMS00002972229 - Question on MURS

The MURS frequencies are 151.820 MHz, 151.880 MHz, 151.940 MHz, 154.570 MHz, and 154.600. Output power is 2 watts or less. Under Part 95 for MURS, you can only operate on the above frequencies.

I am not trying to teach a course in communications law, but I think it is important to point out that there is a LOT of misinformation on the Internet and the ultimate responsibility for FCC compliance lies with the USER!

Having said that, I think it also important to know the intended use of the radios. If it is for personal use, you have very limited, but affordable alternatives in MURS as well as the ISM band (Motorola and TriSquare being the only two known sources). To my knowledge, NONE of the commercial radio manufacturers (HYT, ICOM, Kenwood, Midland, or Vertex) with the exception of Motorola and Ritron produce MURS radios. While the USE of the radio does not require a license, the use of the radio DOES require the use of an FCC Part 95 Type Accepted product. If in doubt, ask the supplier to send you a copy of the FCC Part 95 Type Acceptance Certificate. If they don't send a copy of the official FCC certification, you can assume that they do not have Type Acceptance when they don't provide the requested documentation.

The real question is What is the intended use? Personal or Business? If the intended use is for business, the selection is quite different since you can use Part 90 radios without a license if covered by the blanket license of an entity willing to allow the use of their license (Certain restrictions apply which is another subject). For now, let's just assume that your use is for business and that there is a supplier capable of setting up a license sharing agreement (which we can do).

So which radio do we recommend? The HYT TC-500 with your choice of VHF or UHF for just $129 including a 2 year factory warranty, free programming, free shipping, almost DOUBLE the power of MURS radios (3.5 watts versus 2 watts), plus a high capacity long life lithium-Ion battery and charger and the ability to operate on Commercial, Governmental, and Weather channels. Now THAT is a real bargain for any business or public safety user! Full specifications are available at www.info4u.us/TC-500.pdf. If you would like more information, or to purchase, just give us a call at 205.854.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com.

And, just in case you still feel that MURS is best for your individual needs, we invite you to visit our special MURS web site at www.mursradios.com for the best values in personal communications.

A Comment on Fire Grants

2011-02-06T10:29:00.000-08:00

The 2010 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant (FP&S) closed on February 4, 2011 (Why a 2010 grant closed in 2011 is a topic for another day).

It is commonly known that this grant is the orphan stepchild of the FEMA Fire grant program, sometimes referred to as the coloring book and smoke detector program.

This year, we noted a declining interest in this program, partly because of some misconceptions as to what could be done, the funding available, and pent up anger in the inefficiencies of government in general.

At one county fire association meeting, I noted a level of anger and frustration by many of the attendees that reflected the feelings of many whom we serve. In essence, what I was hearing was I had rather be poor and proud than endowed and indebted. This represents a quantum shift in the thinking of many who have benefited from government sponsored assistance programs.

The net result was the lowest level of interest in an available federal grant program that I can recall, and that is a LONG time since I go back to the days of LEAA (A law enforcement grant program developed in the 70’s).

While it is true that most of us have been conditioned to exist on government subsidies, and many have benefited from those subsidies, it is equally true that a return to common sense is needed. I see signs of that happening. I also see signs of increasing responsibility as government watchdog agencies, such as the DHS Inspector General’s Office take a more proactive role in the investigation of cases of abuse and fraud by some grant recipients. I see these changes as positive and beneficial for us all.

To say that I am somewhat disappointed that more of those we serve did not take advantage of a program we developed for safer communities would be untrue. On the other hand, I am delighted to announce that a significant number of communities DID apply for funding to make their communities safer for their citizens and first responders. To these folks, we extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation for your concern for those you serve, and those who serve you.

For what it’s worth, a non-grant funded version of the referenced program is available at no cost to communities who wish to offer enhanced fire/intrusion detection and notification services to those who would benefit. Additional information is available by clicking here.

A Comment on Conferences!

2011-02-06T05:21:00.000-08:00

We have just returned from the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) Conference recently held at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Montgomery, Alabama.

I thought that a few comments were in order. Those of us who remember the AACOP conferences of just a few years ago were absolutely astounded at the changes that can be made by making the right selection for the management of association affairs. The current team is as good at what they do as anyone anywhere in the USA. They actually came up with a plan that virtually guaranteed that every attendee would visit EVERY vendor present!

What a change from the days of standing in the hall at a business motel spending most of our time talking to other vendors. This year we were talking to those we serve (or those we wish to serve as the case may be). Thanks guys – Your effort is MUCH appreciated!

An additional comment on the facilities is in order. Over the years, we have attended conferences all over Alabama and elsewhere. The selection of the Renaissance Center was perfect. The location is generally centralized; the accommodations are first class, and the convention facilities are among the best in the USA. This was and is an excellent choice!

All too often, we spend too much time complaining. This is an exception. On behalf of Midland Radio Corporation and Falcon Direct, we just wanted those who need to know that best effort professionalism is appreciated. It was a great conference!

Oh, by the way – you may be wondering what the picture has to do with these comments. It is just a reminder that this winter of snow and ice, WILL end, sometime (I think, maybe)! Can you stay warm and stay cool at the same time?

Oh by the way #2. For those who were unable to attend, we would be remise not to mention that one of hot topics of conversation was the move to narrow band and the choosing of the best operating system for today and tomorrow’s communications needs. Very shortly, we will be scheduling meetings around the state to honestly and objectively address these issues. We will keep you posted, or you can call 800.489.2611 for a private meeting at your convienence.

XTS® 5000 comparable P25 radio as low as $1,145 through March 31, 2011!

2011-01-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

P25 is the approved technical standard for public safety communications. Most of our readers know that. They also know there are three levels of P25 radios. Since most of our readers are familiar with Motorola, we will use the XTS Series as a standard of comparison.

The XTS® 1500 is for utility, not mission critical use. The XTS® 2500 is essentially an entry level public safety P25 radio while the XTS® 5000 is a top tier public safety P25 radio. Both the XTS® 2500 and XTS® 5000 are available in three models – non-display, display, and display with full touchpad. When comparing other brands or models, we recommend using the XTS® 5000 as a basis for comparison. Specifications for the XTS® 2500 are available by clicking here, or for the XTS® 5000 by clicking here.

I should point out that not all Motorola dealers offer the XTS Series P25 radios. We are one of those dealers. For a brief explanation of why we don’t offer the XTS series radios, please click here. We do offer the PR1500 series of Motorola P25 capable radios which is essentially comparable to the XTS® 1500. Since this model is not rated for public safety mission critical use, it is not recommended for our public safety users. We offer BK Radio, ICOM, and Midland radios which ARE rated for public safety use which brings us to the topic of this Blog.

The ICOM F9011 portable radio is comparable to the Motorola XTS® 5000 portable while the ICOM F9511 mobile is comparable to the Motorola XTL^TM 5000 mobile (Click here for specifications). Specifications on the F9011 portable are available by clicking here. Specifications on the F9511 mobile are available by clicking here.

Now, if you are seriously interested in purchasing a top quality P25 portable or mobile radio, we invite you to call your local Motorola dealer and get their best price on the XTS® 5000 portable and the XTL^TM 5000 mobile. Now, consider the following.

Between now and March 31, 2011, you can purchase the ICOM non-display model of the F9011 for just $1,145 including rapid charger. The display model is just $100 more and the display with full keypad model is just $1,345. If you need a mobile, the price of the 50 watt standard non-keypad F9511 model is just $1,200. The keypad model is just $100 more. If you want the top of the top of the line 110 watt model with keypad, you pay only $1,650! If you’ve been looking for the best deal ever on a top quality P25 radio, your wait is over! To order, just give us a call at 800.489.2611, but be sure you do it BEFORE March 31, 2011.

Digital Radios for UNDER $500!

2011-01-29T08:59:00.000-08:00

As most of our readers know, DMR (Hytera/MotoTRBO), NXDN (IDAS) and APCO 25 (P25) are the basic digital technologies used in the USA. Each has a specific user benefit which is a topic for another time. The major resistance to digital technology, until now, can be summed up in one word – COST!

The only technology currently capable of operating at 6.25 kHz Very Narrow Band, as proposed by the FCC, is NXDN (ICOM calls it IDAS), and it is by far, the most efficient multi-site operating system (think IP Site Connect). As a long term investment, nothing else even comes close to IDAS and now, nothing else even comes close in terms of initial cost.

Beginning TODAY, you can purchase a radio that will operate in either analog or digital modes on 25, 12.5, or 6.25 kHz channels for UNDER $500! Both portables and mobiles are available in your choice of VHF or UHF. They are fully compatible with all analog, DMR, NXDN, and P25 radios in the analog mode as well as NXDN digital conventional, multi-site, and trunking. Oh, by the way – GPS is available as a low cost option as well!

Want to know more? Click here for more information on the new F3101/4101D Series portable or click here for more information on the F5121/6121D Series mobile. For more details on our incredible pricing, give us a call at 800.489.2611 or email sales@falcondirect.com. You’ll be glad you did!

In the meantime, if you would like to know more about the IDAS system and how it stacks up against other digital systems, click here!