Rapid Deployment Repeater - A Study in Economics

Once upon a time, a very recent time actually, there was a county.  In this county was a municipal fire department who was a Falcon Wireless customer.  In that same county was a Sheriffs Department who would not even consider Falcon as a supplier.

The reason for our disqualification was allegedly that we were to far away to provide "good" service. After all, we are several hours away, and once when the fire department repeater went down, it took us three hours to replace their repeater with a loaner.  The Sheriff recently had a problem with one of his new repeaters (top of the line big brand, don't you know).  His local sales and service provider didn't keep spare units.  He was told he would have to wait at least three weeks for the necessary parts to repair the malfunction.  

The curious thing is that this Sheriff has multiple repeaters (four as I recall), each covered by a service contract (daytime only, 5 days a week, weather related and electrical irregularities excluded - anything else is "extra").   My understanding is that he pays $100 per month EACH for this "service agreement".  Now back to our story.

The fire department had asked us if we could provide a BETTER solution than a three hour response.  We told them about a thing called a Rapid Deployment Repeater System.  These handy little gadgets are totally transportable, can be operated from AC power or batteries and they can do some absolutely incredible things like operating on VHF, UHF, or 700/800 MHz.  You can even set them up to simulcast on all three bands and they can function in either (or both) analog AND digital P25 operating modes.  Did we happen to mention that it is made in the United States of America?

We showed our fire department user how to get a grant that paid for the whole thing.  The net result is that he has a portable tactical repeater plus a backup repeater for any radio system in the county INCLUDING the Sheriff and it didn't cost him a dime!  Within less time than it took the local dealer to diagnose the problem, the fire department rapid deployment repeater was on scene and operational with no technician required to set it up!

Would you like to know what it cost?  LESS THAN $8,000! And you know something else?  Even if the fire department didn't get a grant, they could have set it up on a governmental extended purchase plan which would have allowed them to pay only $200 per month INCLUDING all maintenance for five years which is less than HALF the cost the Sheriff is paying for his "service agreement".

Who do you think has the better value?  Who do you think they got it from?  Would you believe that we can do the same thing for YOU?  Like to know more? Just give us a call at 205.854.2611 or drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com.

DetectCall Cell Phone Detection and Notification System Now Available!

DetectCall system by Falcon Wireless can detect the presence of cellular calls, polling, and messaging. Electronic sensors coupled with switch activated illuminated warning signs with audible alerts and/or voice annunciating VHF or UHF transmitters provide both local and remote notification as desired.

The all American made DetectCall  system has been developed especially for the needs of those who need to be silently notified when cell phone use is detected or to alert users that they are in a cellular restricted area or both notifications as desired.

The system is based on the highly reliable Model 810 cellular detection technology, developed by Enterprise Electronics, integrated with the Ritron RQT switch activated voice announcement system.  The calls can be received by the WatchDog personal alerting receiver, the 2TR9 fixed monitor receiver, or the JMX-142D  with 2-way transmit/receive capability.  The system can also be used with most Analog VHF and UHF radio systems or optionally integrated into DMR, NXDN or P25 digital communications systems.

Initially developed for the US military installations for a variety of applications, the technology is now available for commercial, educational, and institutional use. In addition to the direct radio notification models, Falcon Wireless offers models capable of transmitting alerts to cell phones, pagers, or tablet PC's with reporting by GPS location, street address or location ID.  Personal models are available for use in classrooms, offices, and other restricted areas at very reasonable cost.  If you would like to know more about cell phone detectors, click here.

Additional information is available on request by calling 800.489.2611 or dropping us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com.  Falcon Wireless, a sister organization of Falcon Direct, is an approved small business federal government supplier (CAGE Code 1CK23).  We are an approved vendor for payment by Wide Area Workflow (WAWF). Government and commercial credit cards are also accepted.

Brevisfasciasyndroma reported at mountain top repeater sites!

Our regular readers know that brevisfasciasyndroma (or narrow band syndrome to our non Latin speaking friends) is a serious malady affecting 2-way radio users who have switched to narrow band. First reported by portable users and rural fire departments (Click here for details), the condition was later reported by Midwestern farmers (Click here for details).  Fortunately, cures were found for both outbreaks.  Now we have new reports from repeater users that they are experiencing brevisfasciasyndroma symptoms.

The first reported repeater case was by a county school bus radio transportation director who discovered that the repeater they were using could not be upgraded to narrow band.  Replacement costs for narrow band capable repeaters ranged from several thousand dollars up to twenty thousand dollars plus service contracts ranging from a hundred dollars per month to nearly two hundred dollars a month.  Fortunately, they checked with us before purchasing a new repeater with a service contract.

We've got a better idea.  We call it the Service Lease Program.  Here's how it works!  We replace your old repeater with a new narrow band repeater.  You have a choice of analog, DMR (Hytera and MotoTRBO), or NXDN (ICOM or Kenwood).  All are nominally rated at 45/50 watts depending of whether VHF or UHF is applicable.  The cost is just $100 per month, payable annually, then renewable on annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly terms as you choose.  

$100 per month is all you pay for equipment AND on-site maintenance. You can cancel at any time.  There is no up front cost and no long term contract.  There are no hidden costs.  If you have a problem, we fix it within 24 hours!  Want to know more?  Call us at 205.854.2611 or Email us at ServingU@falcondirect.com.  Do it today!  You'll be glad you did! 

Narrow banding out on the farm.......

Got an email from a mid-western farmer with a comment along the following lines: Hey Burch - We just narrow banded our UHF radio system and lost half our portable range.  What do we do now?   

As most of our readers know, we recently made the world aware of a terrible plague that is sweeping the heartland of the USA called  brevisfasciasyndroma. You can read more about it by clicking here.  Fortunately, we found a cure which involves a number of different treatments.  One of those remedies is to increase the efficiency of portable antennas.

Unfortunately, we could not use our premier solution for our farmer friend since it is currently available only for VHF users.  As it turns out, our friend could not use VHF radios since VHF radio harmonics can cause serious problems with GPS (Click here for more information).  So, we had to come up with a solution

Actually, we came up with two solutions.  The first was to replace existing antennas with antennas capable of doubling performance.  Additional information is available by clicking here.  Another sensible solution was to simply replace the analog portables (he only had four) with digital portables.  At a cost of only $499 including a five year warranty, the digital portables would be ideal for direct portable-to-portable communications while still being able to operate in the analog through his repeater and mobiles.  Additional information is available by clicking here.  And for first time purchasers, we are offering an instant rebate of $100 which lower your net cost per radio to just $399!

Simple solutions for serious situations is what we are all about.  Can we be of service to YOU?  Just give us a call at 800.489.2611 or email ServingU@falcondirect.com for assistance.  We welcome the opportunity to be of service!

The Doctor is in! Cure found for brevisfasciasyndroma!

There's a new virus going around called brevisfasciasyndroma.  It's pretty serious and it is being experienced nationwide by VHF and UHF 2-way radio users who have converted their radio systems to narrow band.  The symptoms involve diminished radio operating range, frustration, lack of efficiency, and in some cases, this virus can be life threatening.  Fortunately, there is a cure!

The treatment ranges from inexpensive over the counter prescriptions available for Falcon Direct such as the OmegaTenna and the AlphaMic.  In some cases, additional treatment may be necessary as prescribed after a full examination by the Falcon Direct treatment specialists.  This may require consultation and further diagnosis.  The good news is that payment plans are available that will allow all who are afflicted to be given the care needed.

If you would like to know more about the treatment of brevisfasciasyndroma, just drop us an email to ServingU@falcondirect.com.  In the meantime, VHF portable radio users may be able to obtain immediate relief through a trial program that has been clinically tested and found to significantly increase the range of portable radios using SMA antenna connectors.  If you would like to be a part of the study, the cost is only $80.  Call us at 800.489.2611 for more information.  When you call, we'll be glad to give you the English translation for brevisfasciasyndroma.  

Once upon a time.......

At noon today, Falcon Direct will open up our booth at the Alabama Association of Volunteer Fire Departments (AAVFD) conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Unlike our competitors, we will NOT be offering the cheapest radios ever built or even the newest, greatest, most wonderful, mutually exclusive radios ever built.


What we WILL be introducing will be a selection of 2-way radios, both analog and digital, portable and mobile, for LESS than $500.  We will have information available to assist you in making the right decision in upgrading to narrow band as well as some incredible alternatives to replacing existing repeaters.  You will have choices ranging from just paying $100 per month on an open rental agreement that includes a new narrow band repeater with your choice of Kenwood or Motorola DIGITAL capability.  That $100 per month INCLUDES 24 hour on site maintenance!  We are also introducing a Tri-Band repeater that can SIMULTANEOUSLY operate on VHF, UHF, and 700 MHz P25 analog or digital for LESS than the cost of a typical single band P25 repeater!


We will also be introducing two incredible new products, designed and built right here in Birmingham, AL that can help fire departments get better ISO ratings.  We'll even show you how multiple departments can work together to share costs and potentially benefit ALL citizens in each county with lower insurance rates.


And, we are introducing a desktop console that costs only $795 per channel INCLUDING the associated control station radios.  This secondary PSAP system is ideal for placement in municipal, county, or EMA dispatch centers as a backup for E911.  And, speaking of E911, we are offering a complete RF communications backup system for E911 that can provide communications capability on VHF, UHF, 700 or 800 MHz, conventional or trunked, analog or P25 digital for LESS than $7,500.  We can even throw in a phone and radio voice recorder for less than $1,500. And, it's all available at the Falcon Direct booth at AAVFD today and tomorrow!

As to the glitzy offerings of our big name competitors, we have a story to share with you from a land far away. Click here for a modern day fairy tale.  In the meantime, if you would like to know more about what WE offer, just drop us an email to sales@falcondirect.com or call us at 800.489.2611.

Introducing AlphaMic!

Your next mobile radio will be able to do things you never dreamed of until now!  It could be an ICOM, a Hytera, a Kenwood, a Maxon, or a TecNet.  It may be analog narrow band, as is the case with Kenwood, Maxon, or TecNet, or it could be DMR digital (Hytera) or NXDN digital (ICOM).

The thing that makes all these radios special is the microphone shown above.  Notice that it has no cord!.  That's because it is wireless.  Big deal you say!  Well what if we told you it was a SPEAKER-MICROPHONE?  It even has it's own adjustable volume controls, on/off switch and an internal rechargeable battery which has a five hour TRANSMIT life.  It comes with it's own charger and it has a THREE YEAR WARRANTY! We call it an AlphaMic!

So what's the big deal about an AlphaMic?  Not much, unless you happen to be a police officer, fire department incident commander, or utility bucket truck operator who might be having problems talking back to dispatch from your portable VHF or UHF 2-way radio.  The AlphaMic speaker-microphone has a 300 foot range from the associated mobile radio!  That means you have the full power of a mobile in the palm of your hand at distances of up to 300 feet away from the vehicle.  That IS a big deal!

So what does it cost?  Just $695 INCLUDING a brand new Maxon or TecNet mobile radio or $326 if you are adding it to an existing Maxon or TecNet radio. If you want to add it to an ICOM, Kenwood, or Hytera radio, the price is $399.  Is it worth the money?  We don't know, but if it is YOUR life on the line, we'll bet we know the answer.  Want to know more?  Just click here.  Want to see one or try one?  Give us a call at 800.489.2611.