You've done your research, you're convinced your company needs to upgrade to digital radios, now your obstacle is to convince your boss. How do you explain to them the benefits of using digital radios. Here are 6 things that they want to and need to know about converting to digital.
1- You do not have to convert all of your radios at once (but you can) - Many digital radio models also function in analog mode. What this means is you can slowly replace radios as the need arises and have the radios programmed in analog mode. Once all of your radios are purchased and you're ready to flip over to digital all it takes is reprogramming the radios. If you want to purchase all of the radios at one time but financing is an issue, inquire about leasing options.
2- Long term costs will be reduced - Digital radios and analog radios use about the same amount of power in stand by mode however once you begin transmitting and receiving, digital radios are much more energy efficient. On average their battery life is increased 40% over analog. This leads to long term savings since you won't have to replace your batteries as often.
3- Better Voice Quality - When you transmit using an analog radio every sound, every background noise is transmitted. When you transmit using a digital radio voice clarity is exceptional. The noise suppression technology allows the transmittal to come through without the background interference. Watch this quick demonstration to see (and hear) what I mean.
4- Better Coverage - Depending on your environment and your frequency band, your radios only cover so much area. When you use an analog radio, the closer to the end of your coverage area you are, the weaker your quality is - think similiar to a cell phone in a poor signal area. While your coverage area with a digital radio will be about the same as your analog, the sound quality will not. The features of the digital software, the built-in error correction, will allow you to communicate clearly throughout your entire coverage area.
5- Better Capacity - Spectrum efficiency has been a hot button issue lately. The FCC required commercial two-way radios to be narrowbanded which means operating on 12.5 kHz instead of the previous 25 kHz. Digital repeaters allow for two talk paths - in essence two "channels" while only using one repeater with one channel. This not only allows you to have more users but also less equipment and less licensing which decreases your costs.
6- You Can Connect Multiple Locations - In the past, in order for your multiple locations to be able to communicate with each other, you would have had to install a very complicated, very complex, and very expensive system. Now you have the ability to link your locations using IP Site Connect. What this means, simply put, you put a digital repeater at each location and then connect them over IP. Think of the possibilities. Your maintenance workers in your lower Manhattan facility talking to the security officers in your Jersey City location. Your boss will think you are brilliant!
Take these points to your boss. Explain how you will increase quality while decreasing long-term spending. Digital Radios are the future, make sure your company is on board. Go ahead and take credit for figuring it all out - we won't tell.
