ECAN system for EMA and First Responders now available

Introducing ECAN!

SDR Plus, a Division of Falcon Direct, Inc. announces the development and availability of the efficient & affordable Emergency Communications and Administrative Network (ECAN) especially designed to meet the needs of Emergency Management Administrators.

The ECAN system can link State, Regional, and Local Emergency Management offices in times of need or for routine administrative use at a cost of only $265 per agency!

No expensive infrastructure is required and the system can be expanded to include field operational units consisting of Desktop, Laptop, NetBook computers as well as most Smartphone (Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile) devices, and even 2-way radios.

In addition to serving the administrative and emergency networks needs, the ECAN system can be expanded to include connectivity to fire and rescue, law enforcement, school, and transportation agencies. The system can also provide connectivity with adjoining state agencies as well as others involved in emergency response activities at the municipal, county, state, federal, and even international levels.

Setting up ECAN is as simple as downloading the main program for your Internet connected office PC which links you to our server as well as any other users in the ECAN system anywhere in the world. The cost is only $265 for software, support, and server

You can add ECAN software to Internet, data card or WiFi enabled laptop PCs, NetBooks, or PDAs for just $265 additional. You’ll have direct connection with your office and other users regardless of location, and as a special offer to new customers, the cost of software for the second unit is FREE through the end of 2009.

Now, here’s the REALLY big news. You can link your office PC and any 2-way radio system for just $1,879. With our SiteBASE unit, you can talk on your 2-way radio from your software enabled Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile PDA, Laptop, NetBook, or PC ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Now that is truly administrative control and it is a fraction of the cost of any other interoperable solution.

Additional information is available from Burch Falkner at SDR Plus by calling 205.854.2611, by email request to burch@SDRPlus.us, or visiting the company web page at www.SDRPlus.us.

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Update On FCC Narrowband Standards

We recently received.......

an email from a representative of a large communications manufacturer questioning why we did not provide supporting documentation to validate information contained in a recent newsletter. Specifically, this individual, and presumably the corporation with which she is employed, felt that our comments could be in error and causing confusion to our readers. This was never our intention, so we thought a word of clarification might be in order.

Our newsletter as well as information referenced on some of our web sites cited the schedule for narrow banding with the dates of 2011, 2013, and 2018 being significant. These dates were taken from public releases by the Federal Communications Commission. 2011 is the date that all VHF and UHF radios manufactured for sale in the USA must be capable of operating at 6.25 kHz. 2013 is the date that all users must reduce bandwidth from 25 to 12.5 kHz and 2018 is the originally proposed date by the FCC to require reduction in bandwidth from 12.5 to 6.25 kHz.

2018 was the original date proposed by the FCC to require operation at 6.25 kHz. This was later amended in the FCC Third Report and Order which suspended the requirement to convert to 6.25 kHz by 2018. However, the Commission made it very clear that they would expeditiously establish a transition date for users to convert to that more spectrum-efficient technology. We concluded that this meant that the original target date of 2018 would likely be met. However, we must admit that this is an assumption on our part, but based on past history, we believe the odds are that the FCC will stick with their original schedule. Obviously, there are those who may not agree. At the least, we feel that we have an obligation to share information to the best of our ability.

Speaking of sharing information, this same representative took exception with our policy of rejecting a one size fits all marketing policy. Every manufacturer has a unique product offering. In most cases, it is the dealer’s responsibility to assist those they serve in making the best choice for that users individuals needs. Sometimes this may not fit with a manufacturer’s objective or even winning incentive rewards by the dealer. Still, at the end of the day we still have to live with ourselves and that means putting our customers first. That’s the way we have always done business and the way we will continue to do business as long as we are in business.

Selected sections of the FCC Third Report and Order dealing with mandatory implementation of 6.25 kHz operational standards follows:

Federal Communications Commission FCC 07-39

Before the Federal Communications Commission

Washington, D.C. 20554

In the Matter of Implementation of Sections 309(j) and 337 of the Communications Act of 1934 as Amended Promotion of Spectrum Efficient Technologies on Certain Part 90 Frequencies

)))))))))

WT Docket No. 99-87

RM-9332

THIRD REPORT AND ORDER

Adopted: March 22, 2007 Released: March 26, 2007

10. Based on our review of the comments, we will not establish a specific migration plan to 6.25 kHz at this time. We note that the majority of commenters believe that adopting such a measure would be premature, and we conclude that more time is warranted to allow further development and field testing of the 6.25 kHz standard. It thus is not presently apparent what date would be most appropriate for requiring licensees to use radios that operate on 6.25 kHz channels or wider-band equipment that delivers equivalent efficiency.

11. We reiterate, however, that 12.5 kHz technology is a transitional step in the eventual migration of PLMR systems to 6.25 kHz technology. As the demand for scarce PLMR spectrum continues to grow, the Commission will closely monitor the progress made by standards-setting organizations and equipment manufacturers to develop more spectrum-efficient PLMR systems. We will pay particular attention to progress made in the development of 6.25 kHz technology. When that technology matures to the point that sufficient equipment is available for testing, we will expeditiously establish a transition date for users to convert to that more spectrum-efficient technology.

New PowerTenna doubles portable operating range!

Now here's an antenna! Look at the size of that baby! It's so big, we originally thought about just calling it The Monster. But cooler minds prevailed and we decided for focus on what it does, not what it looks like, so we call it the PowerTenna!

It's the biggest, ugliest, heaviest portable antenna we've ever seen. As you can see, the height is greater than the height of the radio, even a big radio. It's expensive too! Can you imagine paying $169 for a portable antenna? Why would anyone pay that kind of money for a big, ugly portable antenna? In a word - Performance!

Drive out to where your favorite radio quits. Screw on the PowerTenna on and keep driving - twice as far as where your ordinary antenna quit. That's why people will pay this ridiculously high price for an antenna. It could save your life!

In the hands of a rural fire chief, the PowerTenna provides the power to communicate when the other radios don't work. In the hands of a rural law enforcement officer, the PowerTenna keeps communicating when the others fail. It's a whole lot less expensive than a vehicular repeater and your satisfaction is guaranteed.

Try the PowerTenna for 15 days. If you are not 100% satisfied, send it back. Sometimes, big and ugly and expensive can be GOOD! Order one today. You'll be glad you did. To order, see the Ordering Guide section at www.SDRPlus.us. Additional information on the PowerTenna is available at www.info4u.us/ptenna.pdf.

October Newsletter Now On Line

The Falcon Direct October Newsletter is now on line at www.falcondirect.com/newsletter/october. See what's REALLY new in mobile electronics!

CoPilot - Helps you find others! Helps others find you!

CoPilot - The DriversAid System to serve those who serve others!

Throw away your road maps. CoPilot will show you the way, anywhere you want to go, in the USA! When you get there and need an emergency assist (like a rescue helicopter for instance), just push a button and your geographical coordinates will instantly appear on the screen. The professional grade CoPilot system is ideal for EMS vehicles, on-demand passenger vans, and special needs buses.

The basic CoPilot has all the internal electronics to provide real time vehicle tracking, two way keyboard messaging, turn by turn driving directions, and a fully functional Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for less monthly cost than an ordinary cell phone and that's not all!

Our new SDR Plus enabled CoPilot can be used as your 2-way radio! It can operate on VHF, UHF, or 800 MHz, conventional or trunked radio systems operating on standard, narrow, or ultra narrow band frequencies. CoPilot SDR Plus is compatible with Analog, EDACS, LTR, MotoTRBO, Nextel, NXDN, OpenSky, P25 and Passport radio systems!

So what does it cost? The standard CoPilot costs less than a good quality portable or mobile radio, or about half the cost of a P25 mobile or portable radio, or a THIRD the cost of a typical public safety digital trunked radio!

No installation is required. There are no costly maintenance contracts or costly repairs, installation or removal charges. There are no long term contracts, and we'll prove it works BEFORE you purchase. That's the nice thing about CoPilot - no surprises (except the one you get when you find out how affordable this system is)! Want to know more? Send us an email to sales@falcondirect.com. You are in for a very pleasant surprise!

Have you seen my new 2-way radio?

Looks like a Blackberry doesn't it?

That's because it IS! It could just as easily be an iPhone, or any Windows Mobile compatible PDA.! What makes my Blackberry different is that I can use it as a Push-to-Talk 2-way radio - kind of like a Nextel on steroids. You see, it's actually a LOT more powerful than a Nextel or any other phone with PTT capability.

The reason that my Blackberry can perform a worldwide PTT function is that it is set up with SDR Plus software, exclusively available from Falcon Direct! That means I can talk to ANY 2-way radio system regardless of band, brand, or location. Yesterday, I was in Indiana talking to 2-way radio users in Illinois, South Dakota, New York, and AFRICA! And, you know what? I didn't have to upgrade my rate plan. All I did was add SDR Plus software along with a low cost server at my office. Not only can I talk to any 2-way radio, I can talk over any cellular carrier system and I can talk simultaneously to a huge group of people and I don't pay anything extra for this "group" calling.

Want to know more? Send me an email to burch@falcondirect.com. Tell me about yourself, like what you have now, and what you would like to do. We would welcome the opportunity to tell you how to do it! In the meantime, more information is now available at www.info4u.us/Extender.pdf.