1st Round of AFG grants released on January 29th!

The long awaited release of the first round of 2009 AFG grants began on January 29, 2010! This was good news for fire departments all over the USA who were awaiting funding for communications equipment, turnout gear, and vehicles.

If you are one of the fortunate few among the first to receive a grant that includes communications equipment, vehicle cameras, or intercoms, we've got some very special offerings just for YOU! In particular, we think you will be impressed with five different models of pager/radios that convert to narrow band at the push of a button! Learn more at www.info4u.us/OurBest2U.pdf.

ADECA Grant Update Information

Alabama law enforcement agencies have been given a unique opportunity to apply for a twenty five thousand dollar electronics grant which can include mobile data terminals for use with eCrash and eCite programs, vehicular cameras and related items. Sheriffs departments began submitting applications on January 11, and municipalities on the 18th. And THEN the confusion began.

Some thought that applications had to be submitted on the aforementioned dates - Not true. These were the OPENING DATES. There are no closing dates. Applications can be submitted throughout the year with the understanding that those who apply early have the best chance of being approved since the grant is subject to the availability of funds. When the funds are gone - the program is over.

The second misunderstanding deals with ELIGIBLE equipment. Cars, uniforms, and other equipment not listed in the ADECA notification letter will not be given preference. The two top items are mobile data terminals and vehicle cameras according to Tom Goree at ADECA. If in doubt, call Tom. On the subject of vehicle cameras, we have a package system that provides four of our best camera systems with an administrative computer for viewing and archiving data for twenty five thousand dollars. Additional information, along with other electronic items, is available at www.info4u.us/lawgranthelp.pdf.

On the subject of "help", we understand that there are grant writers promising to get ADECA grants on a contingency basis with the condition that they receive approximately 10% of the proceeds after the grant approval and that they have exclusive rights to select equipment and administer the grants. Such practices are frowned upon by federal funding practices. If you are approached with such an offer, be VERY careful before proceeding.

On the subject of mobile data terminals compatible with eCrash and eCite, we presume you are aware of some of the issues relating to the use of a laptop computer for on-scene use. The new iPad introduced by Apple Computer on January 27th appears to be the absolute best solution for law enforcement mobile computing. If you didn't see the announcement, we invite you to review the information at www.apple.com/ipad. This IS the future of mobile/personal computing. Applications for use of the iPad are being reviewed for eCrash and eCite at this time. If you already have a grant submitted for mobile data terminals, call us at 205.854.2611 before purchasing a standard laptop. There may be a better way - a MUCH better way!

ICOM F4021 portables, just $225!

One of our customers just got approved on a FEMA grant for a new VHF P25 radio system. They had just purchased a quantity of the popular ICOM F4021 UHF portables which they no longer need. If you want a great UHF portable with all the features you want at an unbelievable price; give us a call at 205.854.2611. They won't last long!

Technical specifications available at www.info4u.us/F3021.pdf.

Switch to narrowband at the touch of a button!

Switching to narrowband doesn't have to be a problem - not if you have (or plan to have) any one of our three most popular radios. All you have to do is reprogram your existing F50/60, F3161/4161 or F70/80 for single button switching from wide to narrow band. We'll do the job for only $15 for the first radio and $5 for each additional.

If you don't have one of these fine radios, we are offering very special pricing at www.info4u.us/DisplayHTs.pdf including an offer to sell the full featured P25 analog/digital radio with text messaging capability, submersible and intrinsically rated for just $895 including an extra high capacity battery, free programming and shipping! This is our lowest price ever on a P25 portable and it's only good through March 31, 2010. Don't miss out! Call us at 205.854.2611 and order yours TODAY!

Our Twitter Tweets can save you money!

We've got a new Twitter page dedicated exclusively to passing along EXCEPTIONAL savings to those we serve.

From time to time, we post super special pricing on overstock, closeout, or introductory pricing on items of interest. For example, we are currently offering like new Motorola Minitor V UHF pagers with stored voice and message replay for just $275 while quantities last. We will be announcing other products on an unscheduled basis as we feel inclined.

To be sure that you don't miss out on these one time specials, go to www.twitter.com/falconspecials and click on the RSS symbol at the bottom right side to automatically receive out tweets as they are issued. You'll be glad you did!

Law Enforcement Grant Assistance

In Alabama, we have a grant program administered by ADECA which at this time of the year makes available a $25,000 grant that can be spent pretty much at the discretion of eligible law enforcement agencies.

To assist those we serve, we have defined nine qualifying products and supplied budgetary pricing information with prepared narratives to make the grant submission process simple and successful. Alabama agencies don't have much time to respond, but we think it would be worthwhile to review our offerings which are VERY unique and affordable.

Agencies outside Alabama likely have similar programs in your home states. Feel free to use the information provided at www.info4u.us/lawgranthelp.pdf. Hopefully, it will be of benefit to those we serve or want to serve, where ever you may be. If you have any questions, we are as near as your phone (205.854.2611) or your PC (sales@falcondirect.com).

Illegal Use of Amateur Radios

Many of our fire department users require radios capable of operating in the VHF and UHF frequency bands. Several amateur radios have this capability but the use of such devices on commercial or public safety frequencies is ILLEGAL! The following is an excerpt from a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Public Notice.

It is a violation of the Commission's regulations to: (1) import or market a transmitter that is designed or intended to operate on frequencies outside of the Amateur Radio Service (ARS) bands, if it has not been issued a grant of equipment authorization for the radio service(s) in which the transmitter is capable of operating; (2) import, market or operate a transmitter that requires a grant of equipment authorization but for which no grant has been issued; or, (3) transmit on a frequency allocated to a licensed radio service without the appropriate Commission-issued station license.

Violation of the Commission's regulations will subject manufacturers, importers, vendors and users of this equipment to appropriate criminal penalties as provided for by federal law(s), including fines and/or imprisonment. In addition, the equipment described above can be seized by, and forfeited to, the government.

If anyone attempts to sell you an amateur radio product for commercial or public safety use, please contact the FCC Toll Free at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) and file a complaint. Help yourself and others by putting a stop to these activities by those who profit from a lack of knowledge by innocent purchasers.

If you have a need to communicate on both VHF and UHF channels, give us a call at 205.854.2611 for a LEGAL solution.

Falcon Direct introduces XTenna!

If you are not getting the performance you need from your 2-way radio, you need an XTenna from Falcon Direct. This incredible mobile antenna works on VHF or UHF with no cutting or tuning required! Unlike other mobile antennas, the XTenna can be directly mounted on fiberglass since no ground plane is required!

Most importantly, the XTenna talks where others fail, with a nominal gain of 3 dB on VHF (2X power over a standard quarter wave antenna) and 6 dB on UHF (4X power gain over a quarter wave. The price? Only $29.95 plus $6 shipping. The guarantee? It will outperform ANY other mobile antenna, or we give your money back! Need a low cost base station antenna? Add our optional ground plane kit for $29.95 and you will have an antenna that will equal performance of antennas costing up to TEN times more - guaranteed!

So how do you get an XTenna? Order it on line by clicking here. Try the XTenna. You'll be glad you did!

The votes are in! Firefighter's favorite radio!

We recently surveyed a group of fire chiefs and asked them which portable radio they liked better than any other. Their answer may surprise you! The radio they selected has 5 watts of power in VHF or UHF, 256 channel capability, LCD display, keypad programmable, man down alert with automatic open microphone, user ID display, selective call, 2-tone paging (decode and encode) and both audible and silent vibrate alert, yet it costs LESS than a monitor pager with comparable features.

The fire chief's choice is MIL-SPEC 810F and IP54 approved, has audible announcement when channels are changed, a built in scrambler for HIPAA compliance, and comes with a 4 year warranty, free programming, shipping, and tech support - ONLY from Falcon Direct! Want to know more? Give us a call at 205.854.2611 for more information.

The New Year is Here!

It's the New Year, and the beginning of a new decade! We are excited over the potential opportunities available in these challenging times. We've kicked off the New Year by introducing a brand new word. It's called Vodaeo! You can learn more about Vodaeo in our January eNewsletter, now available on line by clicking here.

There are new products, new services, and new ideas that we will be sharing with you over the coming year. Among other things, we are currently in the process of completely rebuilding our primary web site at www.falcondirect.com to make it easier for you to get the information you need and giving you purchasing choices available nowhere else. This is going to be a GREAT year!