Coverage considerations will dictate the number and locations of your radio sites (also referred to as towers). Together with frequency availability and traffic patterns, they will determine whether the system should be simulcast, multicast or a hybrid of the two.

Coverage engineering may be the most complex area of the radio system specification and design process and is one critical area where your investment in a competent consultant will be well justified.

Measuring coverage
There are many ways to describe coverage performance. It is typically... Continue Reading

When Jim Wells County, an expansive county in South Texas and home to more than 40,000 citizens, first met us, they faced the threat of an outdated analog radio communications system that was unreliable and endangering the lives of the County’s law enforcement and emergency responders.

We committed to understanding the issues the County faced – a unique geography, limited funds, dated equipment and a tight schedule and delivered a three-site hybrid P25 digital and analog simulcast system. The Tait solution is now helping the County’s 400 law enforcement and emergency response agencies operate more effectively and safely. Continue Reading

We’ve talked about the dangers of getting locked into the wrong P25 solution before. And yet, we still hear about people getting tangled in the proprietary web some vendors weave.

Genuine open standards are non-proprietary, so you are never under the control of one vendor. Choosing open standards will increase your choice of certified vendors and bring down prices, improve technical quality, and avoid the risk of being locked into a sole supplier. Continue Reading

The main difference between P25 Phase 1 and Phase 2 is system capacity, so the primary reason for opting for Phase 2 is additional capacity.

Phase 2 TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) doubles the number of talk paths compared with Phase 1. P25 Phase 2 TDMA creates two logical channels in one 12.5kHz physical channel. Because the Phase 2 control channel is unchanged from Phase 1 there is compatibility between the phases. Continue Reading

Purchasing and using Intrinsic Safety equipment? Here’s what you need to consider.

If you are a user or purchaser of small, portable equipment in hazardous environments, then Intrinsic Safety (IS) is likely to be a key requirement. Dave Spalding, Senior Systems Engineer (Intrinsic Safety), talks about what IS is, and how to get the best when purchasing and using it. Continue Reading

Decisions used to be easy in the world of analog conventional systems – just add channels/base stations when and where needed, at the existing or new radio sites, maybe re-program some radios, and you were done.

With the advent of digital networks and wide area trunking technology, the answer is no longer so clear. Ever-increasing technical complexity and continuous competition make the situation even more challenging. Even securing ball-park estimates for your options may be very difficult to obtain.

Replace or upgrade?
At first sight an upgrade... Continue Reading

The International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) was held a couple of weeks back in Las Vegas and it was a busy time at the Tait booth and the speaker sessions.

Lots of attendees, partners and dealers stopped by our booth to learn about the latest technology innovations at Tait and participate in our demos. So much so that at times we even heard people mention that the Tait booth was too “crowded”! Continue Reading

Whether you are protecting your critical communications from natural disaster, human error or terrorism, deciding on the level of backup you need is a balancing act between your perceived risk and how much you can afford to spend.

How many levels of backup do you need? What industry or legislative regulations are in place? What options will give you the most resilience for your investment? Richard Winter, a Senior Systems Engineer at Tait, considers some of the ways your network design can eliminate single points of failure and increase the resilience of your network. Continue Reading

You know the feeling. Your shiny new phone is in your hands, with all its miraculous, life-changing features and apps. But no matter how tech-savvy you are, you’re never quite prepared for the learning curve. It doesn’t respond how your old one did. You missed the first few calls. The menus are different, and those crazy factory settings! Even worse if you are over A Certain Age – the icons are tiny and they all look the same!

In a few days’ time, all’s well, and you are using your new toy like you were born to it.

When your officers get issued with new technology, they... Continue Reading

It’s International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) next week, and we’ll be there at Booth #7071. Visit us if you are going to be there too. And if you are not attending the event, you can follow all the live action on Twitter. Follow us: @TaitRadio.

We’ll have our latest solutions and products on display at the booth. Drop by to check out our P25 and DMR demos. We also have some very cool interactive displays showcasing the latest innovations at Tait. You do not want to miss these. And as always, our experts will be at hand to answer any of your questions on wireless communications. Continue Reading