This is a guest blog by one of our newest team members Jim Vogel.  He talks about his background and what he's learned about wireless technologies in a few short weeks.

I am one of the new Telecom Communications, Inc. Account Managers and I have just completed my third week on board.

As way of introduction, I'll give you a quick synopsis of my background.  For the last fifteen years I have developed data and voice solutions for a group of Fortune 100 businesses as a Global Account Manager for a major US Telecommunications provider and for a software developer that provided Speech Recognition and Unified Messaging software solutions to Enterprise businesses.  I plan to occasionally post to this blog as a guest.

I am in the unique position that many of you are also probably in, trying to understand technology that Telecom Communications provides and figure out what benefits it has so I can provide my clients with the best value and the best solutions available.  Many of you are probably in a similiar position, since this is not your core business.  Technology is something you need to keep your business competitive and maybe give you that edge over the competition.  Technology is usually not your focus, it's a necessary evil to run your business.

Let me share what I have  discovered at this point.  Many of the people reading this know Telecom Communications as a top-notch Motorola Authorized Repair Facility and Reseller of Two-Way Radios.  That's only half the story.  Telecom Communications also has a wealth of unique solutions including Bar Coding and RFID (Radio Frequency ID) technology.  Bar Codes and RFID has a place in many businesses not just in supermarkets.  Telecom Communications has been a close partner of Motorola for decades.  Motorola, which acquired Symbol Technologies a few years ago, is a leader in the field.  They are best in breed.  You definitely want them on your team.

You can use this technology to benefit your business in many ways you might not realize.  I certainly didn't and I have worked with technology and IT executives for years.  It can be used for asset tracking and control.  Businesses that have expensive products which are mobile can benefit from bar coding or RFID.  Your business can have requirements to manage and track assets ranging from steel I-beams for buildings or perfume or lobsters, from furniture to paint, from trucks to computers to blood.  Telecom Communications has the complete technology solution that can help you.  Help you do what?  For starters, help you by providing a complete technology solution to help you track information including:who has your product, help you increase your efficiency by reducing inventory shrinkage, or help you manage your inventory to reduce losses through spoilage.

Is RFID or bar coding something that might give your business that edge over the competition that you need?  If you think it might help, or you're not sure and you want more information, call me.

Thanks for reading!  I hope you enjoyed it.  Please drop Amy a note if you have a question or an idea for a future post.

Press Release:

(Plainview, NY) May 10, 2011 -

Telecom Communications, Inc. is proud to announce our sponsorship of the New York State Fire Department Drill Teams as the 2011 Primary Series Sponsor and Exclusive Communications Sponsor.  2011 will be the biggest New York State Racing Season ever with firefighters from departments across Long Island and New York State competing in challenges designed to test their skills in the pillars of firefighting such as climbing ladders and positioning hoselines.  

“We’re happy to announce our partnership with Telecom Communications, Inc. in making the 2011 FD Drill Team season the biggest ever.  Telecom Communications, Inc. continues to show their commitment to the firefighters of Long Island and across New York, with the number one reputation in the state for professional radios and installations, we can think of no better company to call the Exclusive Communications Sponsor of the NYS FD Drill Teams, and our 2011 Primary Season Sponsor!” – Paul Susskind, President Suffolk VFP+DTCA  

Telecom Communications, Inc., a leading Motorola dealer of two way radio sales and service, with offices located in Plainview, NY and New York City has been serving the wireless communications industry since 1959.  Generations of firefighters have relied on Telecom Communications, Inc. and Motorola radios when lives are at risk; radios that deliver interoperability on demand; superior audio, and simple, intuitive operation.  Telecom Communications delivers communication solutions that allow fire departments to focus on their mission, making technology second nature.

“We are excited about our partnership with the 2011 NYS FD Drill Teams.  Volunteer firefighters are an integral part of the community, devoting their time and selves to protecting others.  Firefighters and Motorola go hand in hand so this sponsorship was a natural fit.” – John W. Bos – President, Telecom Communications, Inc.

 

With the FCC's mandate of 12.5 kHz by January 1, 2013, there have been many questions.  I wanted to take a minute to address 5 of the most common.

1 - What is Narrowbanding?

In an effort to promotoe more efficient use of spectrum, the FCC mandated all VHF and UHF Public Safety and Industrial/Business licensees using 25 kHz land mobile radio (LMR) systems migrate to narrowband 12.5 kHz efficiency technology by January 1, 2013.

2- What will happen if I fail to comply with the FCC Naroowbanding Mandate?  Can I continue to operate at 25 kHz efficiency on a secondary status after January 1, 2013?

No.  The FCC will prohibit licensees from operating 25 kHz efficiency equipment on a secondary basis.  Non-compliance will be considered a violation subject to FCC Enforcement Bureau action, which may include admonishment, monetary fines and loss of license.

3- Does Narrowbanding require me to change frequencies or obtain new channels?

No.  Narrowbanding does not require moving to another frequency band or different channels.  Licensees stay on the same channel center(s), but reduce the bandwidth of the channel(s) currently used, from 25 kHz to 12.5 kHz and change the emission designator on the license.  Alternatively, licensees stay on the same 25 kHz channel but implement a 12.5 kHz equivalent technology on that channel.

4- If I currently have a license for a 25 kHz channel, will I automatically be entitled to license two 12.5 kHz channels?

No. Your 12.5 kHz channel will remain on the same 26 kHz channel center.  Your current 25 kHz channel will not be split into two 12.5 kHz channels.  You will need to justify and apply for any additional 12.5 kHz channels to the FCC through a certified frequency coordinator.

5- Will migration to 12.5 kHz change my system coverage?

Maybe.  Condust tests during the conversion to ensure your system continyes to provide similiar coverage.

For a more complete listing of FCC Narrowbanding FAQ's visit http://www.telecomny.com/narrowbanding/faq.htm 

eCitations is becoming increasingly popular with police departments around the county.  By automating the ticket writing process, departments are able to create higher revenues, increase productivity and increase officer safety.

How eCitations works:

By using a device such as Motorola's MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant an officer has, in the field, everything they need to process a citation in real-time.  They scan the bar code on a drivers license and all the recipients information is auto populated.  A real-time wireless connection allows the officer to connect to the Department of Motor Vehicles to verify the information including the photo of the citizen.  They are also able to connect to National Criminal databases which would allow them to check if the vehicle has been reported stolen, if there are any arrest warrants for the citizen etc.  When the form is completed, the citizen signs the screen which provides proof of receipt.  If the department adds wireless printers, the citation can be printed on the spot and a copy handed to the recipient.

Benefits of eCitations:

Increased Productivity - with less time spent on each citation, the officer is able to cite more violations in the same time frame as previous

Increased Data Accuracy- Because of the automated process, illegible handwriting, missing information and incorrect information will be alleviated.  This will allow for less tickets to be thrown out

Increased Revenue - With more citations being accurate the revenue from the fines will increase

Reduced Costs- The eCitation process saves time which saves money.  It also allows for a decrease in administrative tasks required to process each violation

Increased Officer Safety - The process of citing a violation is simplified and requires less time spent.  This reduces the amount of time an officer is required to stand on the side of the road.  Most officer deaths in the line of duty stem from roadside accidents while citing violations. 

Increased Community Service - Because of the decrease in time spent writing citations, officers have more time to patrol the community increase the safety of the citizens.

Telecom Communications in conjunction with Motorola will be holding a seminar on Friday October 29, 2010 in which eCitations will be a topic of discussion.  For more information or to register for the event Click here

Motorola, Inc. in conjunction with Telecom Communications, Inc. will be hosting an informative seminar and showcase on October 29, 2010.  This event will highlight Wireless Point to Point and Point to Multipoint to replace public circuits, AirDefense to provide continuous network security, indoor/outdoor wireless LAN applications and a host of other solutions to meet virtually every wireless need.

This one day, two-part free seminar has been created to assist and inform the Education and Public Safety markets with solutions available for common issues.

Attendees of the education session will hear from Motorola on how to incorporate WLAN infrastructure, Point to Point Wireless, and TEAM products that will integrate a variety of communications platforms into their existing or new systems.  They will also learn how to leverage various governmental contracts and funding programs while developing the best solution for their organization's needs.

Attendees of the public safety session will learn from Motorola about Wireless Point to Point and Point to Multipoint, eCitations using handheld scanning devices and various outdoor solutions such as MotoMESH, Video Backhaul and versatile video surveillance solutions.

"Through this seminar, our partnership with Motorola and our presence on various governmental contracts, we will help these important vertical markets understand the solutions available to them to streamline their operations and increase both their safety and the safety of the public they serve" said John W. Bos, President of Telecom Communications, Inc.

This event will be held at the Motorola offices located at 1 Motorola Plaza, Holtsville, NY  11742 on Friday October 29, 1010.  Check in for the education session begins at 8:30 am with a seminar start of 9:15 am and check in for the public safety session begins at 1:00 pm with a seminar start of 1:30 pm.  To attend this event, please register here.  For more information, contact Amy Cavaliere at acavaliere@telecomny.com or 516-777-3333 ext 438

Selecting the right two-way radio for your business is important.  The features available can help ease your job and streamline your business.  Before you can choose the correct radio to suit your needs, there are a few questions you need to ask yourself.

1- How many users and channels do you need?

The number of users that will be operating on the radio system will help determine the number of channels necessary for your organization.  For instance, if you have 5 people in maintenance and 12 in security you may want to have a maintenance channel and a security channel. If two of those users in security need to be able to speak privately then you can add a third channel as well.

2- What frequency band should you operate on?

There are three different frequency bands that are commonly used for communications.  VHF which stands for "Very High Frequency" 136-174 MHz is better suited for outdoor applications without much interference.  These frequencies will communicate a further distance.  UHF ("Ultra High Frequency") 403-512 MHz work better with indoor applications in which there may be some obstructions.  The 800/900 MHz band is generally used for trunking two-way radio system.

3- What features are necessary for your organization?

This can vary from safety features like intrinsically safe to telephone interconnect of even integrated data applications. 

Motorola has designed a spectacular radio selection guide to help you see what is available and what different terms mean.  You can download this guide here.  Also, don't be afraid to ask your local radio rep.  They are able to assist you in the selection of the proper radios for your operation.  They will help you evaluate your needs and decide which frequency band, how many channels and what features are necessary for you to operate at peak performance.