Increasingly, public buildings, institutions, industrial plants and commercial complexes demand critical communications that keep their workers, infrastructure and operations, and the public safe. Tait coverage expert Craig Given takes Connection Magazine through some of the issues that radio network operators face, in providing seamless coverage across their area of operations.

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Last week, in Part I of DMR Tier 2 FAQs, we covered the features of Tait’s DMR Tier 2 solution and compared it to our DMR Tier 3 offering. This week, we delve deeper into specifics like location services, console support, interoperability, and encryption.
Q. Why does Tait require a node to support multi-site DMR Tier 2 solutions?
To create a multi-site IP linked system, we use a Tier 2 Node. This centralized architecture is very useful for system connectivity/application, as with DMR Tier 3.

  • The node reduces the bandwidth required by the supporting multisite IP network.... Continue Reading

Over the last few weeks, we have been covering some technical aspects of our DMR Tier 2 solution like Connecting DMR Tier 2 with a Voice Recorder, Console and AVLThe layout of a Multi-Site Tait DMR Tier 2 network and How to set up the Tait DMR Tier 2 Node. During this time, we have received a few inquiries on our DMR Tier 2 solution and have decided to also answer them on our blog. This will be done in two parts. In the first part this week, we will discuss the basics of the Tait DMR Tier 2 solution and how its features compare to the our DMR Tier 3 solutions. Next... Continue Reading

Dr. Russell Watson, Tait Solutions Marketing Manager for Public Safety

The second Tait podcast has arrived. Today we talk with Dr. Russell Watson, the Solutions Marketing Manager for Public Safety at Tait. Russell has spent years studying the P25 standard and is an expert in open standards.

When the P25 standards were outlined, one of the primary goals was to ensure open standards and interoperability. But still, many public safety agencies find themselves with P25 equipment that has proprietary features and forces them to stay with the same vendor. In this podcast, we... Continue Reading

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

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

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

While it’s certainly true that P25 Open Standards make P25 system procurement more competitive, there is still some due diligence you need to apply, to make sure you get the full benefits.

Your “must-comply” criteria might be technical, commercial, legal or financial. For example, you might exclude vendors for:

  • an unacceptable level of technical non-compliance
  • proposed technology that is not P25-compliant
  • equipment that lacks CAP certification
  • proposed solution has not yet been commercially deployed
  • commercial terms and conditions are not compliant with your RFP
  • poor customer references. Continue Reading