Icom America News
On a cold December day back in 1901, a faint Morse code letter ‘S’ was heard by a brilliant scientist and his intrepid assistant atop Signal Hill in Newfoundland, Canada. This was the first ever-transatlantic radio communication, received by none other than Guglielmo Marconi and George Kemp. Not long after this faithful day, enthusiasts and experimenters from all walks of life began to adopt this new wireless technology for their own use, eventually giving way to the hobby we all know and love.
How is Icom’s IP501H LTE network radio different from other offerings in the market? Wide area communications, size and a robust network design are all assets of our new LTE-Connect solution.
But what about security? The IP501H offers communications on a completely secure, sturdy and private LTE network. Here is what that means:
The LTE (Long-Term Evolution) standard is an all IP-based system. This means it can be susceptible to security weaknesses associated with IP, such as ever changing standards, risk of data loss, denial of service attacks, loss of privacy. Although security is incorporated in LTE architecture design, service providers are still responsible for ensuring their own network security. Icom has addressed these security issues by setting up a fully private LTE carrier approved network. The majority of other push-to- talk LTE devices, many of which are not approved, or certified for use on the carriers LTE Network, use the public Internet to carry voice traffic between the network and the control servers. By hosting these servers on the public Internet they become susceptible to denial of service attacks. The performance is limited to the capacity, and robustness, of the ISP network that is hosting them and the security of their physical location.
For public safety, service and security workers, communication tools are key. There are numerous devices on the market designed for these individuals. But do these devices have everything? Do they have all the features you have become accustomed to, and are they compact in size for easy handling? Or do you have to sacrifice one for the other?
The F52D/F62D series is the newest edition to the Icom IDAS™ portable line-up. This new radio has it all, impressive features, modern design and compact in size. Building on the success of the F50V and the innovation of the F3400 series, this new radio will easily fit in the palm of your hands. The F52D/F62D is the smallest series on the market, which makes it perfect for discrete use and convenient carrying.
Customer service is the heart of any successful business. It is not just about providing the basics, but going above and beyond is what makes a company’s customer service soar. We have all experienced good and bad customer service, and the good service is what creates customer loyalty.
At Icom we pride ourselves on providing top quality and service to all our customers. Anyone who does not believe in going the extra mile for a customer would have recently been proven wrong.
A couple of weeks ago, James Mueller of the King County Search and Rescue Office approached Icom’s Service Manager Dywane Black. They wanted five of their Icom F5601 radios to be interoperable. King County Search and Rescue Association (KCSARA) is a volunteer organization. Members respond to numerous incidents every year involving lost or injured hikers, missing aircrafts and assist with natural disaster incidents as well. Having interoperable equipment is vital to complete their missions.
When a fire strikes, time is of an essence for the firefighters and those trapped. Being able to have effective fireground radio communications during these situations is vital, but can be proven difficult. Firefighters are engulfed in a hostile environment filled with smoke, water and falling objects, all while in a cloud of ash-filled darkness. They have safety equipment to help combat these conditions, however during these stress-full situations everything needs to work perfectly, even their radios.
Government, public safety and public service agencies relay on digital two-way communication solutions. With such an important purchase, the most current technological and operational features should be available. Many public agencies use P25 products and Icom’s 3rd generation of P25 advances this product line to the next level!
What is P25?
P25 is a set of standards for digital radio communications. It is used by federal, state/province and local public safety organizations within North America, allowing interoperable two-way communications between agencies. With a standard in place, government agencies can choose from multiple products when selecting their communications equipment, ultimately saving money and gaining the freedom to select from the widest range of features.
A mobile interoperability platform, EMCOMM-1 is based in northeast Florida. It contains communications equipment including radios from HF thru 2.4 GHz, as well as satellite PTT with POTS interface.
EMCOMM-1 and its state-of-the-art equipment, large antenna and flashing lights made an appearance this year at IWCE in Las Vegas. Owner Mike Lee and his assistant Phil McElrath traveled over 2,300 miles and across eight states, from Florida to Nevada. It took Lee and McElrath two weeks and nearly 12-15 hours of driving time a day to make the journey. Traveling through heaving winds and rains, and the occasional traffic jam, EMCOMM-1 finally made it to Las Vegas.
The show was a great success, as EMCOMM-1 was definitely a highlight. People all around could not help but stare and inquire about this impressive communications vehicle. Excitement was all around, and it followed Lee and McElrath even as they left Las Vegas.
For either the advance or novice radio user, properly maintaining your communications equipment is essential. But what is the best way to do this?
The service department at Icom America’s headquarters has a total 131 years of combined experience fixing and servicing Icom radios. They train and support the Icom services centers throughout the county. So they know a thing or two about radios.
“We love the fact that we have a great product and that we can take care of our customers,” technician David Stoppel said.
Earlier this year a contest was introduced, giving Icom Land Mobile dealers the opportunity to earn an all-expense paid trip to Japan for them and a guest. How did they do it? By meeting their purchase goal. Twenty dealers finished in the winner’s group of their tier, and in early November they headed off to Japan for four days.
The trip to Japan was an extraordinary experience for all involved. It was not just a flight to Japan, the awarded dealers were able to visit Icom Inc headquarters, the Wakayama Factory and a number of historic sites.
The way we communicate has changed tremendously over the last two decades. As technology advances in two-way communications, so do our devices. A radio is no longer just a radio. With each new generation, additional features and functions are included. But what do all these features do? How do they fit in real-life situations and who will benefit from them?
Bluetooth®
With many states now passing hands-free laws, the ability to use a communication device while driving is changing. Two-way radios with built-in Bluetooth® provide hands-free communication. While paired with a Bluetooth® headset, commercial vehicle drivers are able to answer a call hands-free and still be complaint with FMCSA.
