In early 2019, Tait engineers embarked on a project to expand our portable radio range, with a very aggressive schedule. By December 2019, sixteen new models were in production and shipping to customers. We take a look at what went into delivering these products on time, as promised.

Tait Tough portable radios have represented an exceptional standard of rugged communications hardware for years. Our customers demand equipment they can trust, and have relied on the Tait TP9300 and TP9400 to work safely and efficiently in the most dangerous of jobs.

Technology evolves quickly, and what was once cutting edge will eventually become industry standard. Tait staff and dealers have heard regular suggestions and requests for hardware features and capabilities to add to our products, and our engineers are always looking to bring new innovations to our technology.

In early 2019 a project began to expand our portable radio range, to deliver customers the connectivity and features they need to operate in the work environments of today and tomorrow. Research was gathered from all parts of our organization, in all corners of the world. What do our users want, what do they need, and how can we make them safer and more productive than before?

The Feature List

An early CG concept render, very similar to finished product.

From a wide range of insights, an ambitious concept was designed by Tait product managers, taking what was great about our existing radio platform and building on it to present our customers with a radio they would be proud to use. Proposed improvements included:

• Greater connectivity options to connect to both existing networks, and the networks and devices industries will utilize in the years ahead.
• Best-in-class audio quality, not just a louder, clearer speaker for incoming calls, but active noise cancellation to improve outgoing calls too.
• Enhanced user experience, a bigger color screen with brightness options for light or dark environments, and more ergonomic, user-friendly controls.
• Zero compromises to the Tait Tough build quality, fleet management and worker safety tools that our existing customers depend on.

Tait engineers took those ambitious goals and ran with them, quickly turning that concept into a prototype that would be iterated upon until our demanding standards were met.

Rapid Prototyping

One critical element that contributes to our Tait Tough portable radio’s acclaimed robustness is the central aluminum chassis. This strong, stiff, heat-dissipating metal would typically be die-cast, but that represents an expensive and time-consuming process. Damian Blogg, Design Services and Mechanical Engineering Manager, speaks on the problem:

“In order to prove the robustness of the internal systems, it was critical that we were able to correctly simulate the impact forces exerted on these systems. We required representative prototype components from an early point in the development of the product.”

Tait partnered with Callaghan Innovation to utilize a metal 3D printing solution. Read more about this process here. This allowed our engineers to use accurate metal prototypes throughout the process, accelerating development time.

3D printed metal components.

“The accurate aluminum components allowed us to run representative robustness and thermal tests, and feed the results of this back into the development process to improve the product.

This in turn provided us with the confidence to commit to the manufacture of the production tool for the chassis earlier than we would have, and so contributed to the development team’s delivery of the new radio on time and within specification to a deadline which was dismissed by many initially as not realistic.”

– Damian Blogg, Design Services and Mechanical Engineering Manager

 

Project Highlights

From start to finish, the hard work and determination of the Tait team to overcome any challenges the ambitious project presented was key in delivering the new portables on time. Yoram Benit, COO at Tait, comments “It is wonderful to see people so enthusiastic and putting in so much effort to resolve the issues which are part of every project like this.”

Some key milestones in the project included:

• Prototypes of the portables for user testing were sent out late August 2019, and software updates to improve usability and audio quality followed soon after.
• The official release of the TP9500 and TP9600 radios was on 17 October 2019, with first public appearances at trade shows throughout October and November 2019, receiving great feedback.
• The positive response meant orders started to come in as soon as November, with the first orders going to existing customers KiwiRail in New Zealand, and Boddington Gold Mine in Australia.

This successful reception presented yet another challenge – to start production before the holiday season. By carefully planning and designing an efficient manufacturing process, the Tait team was ready to start production of the new radios on the 11th of December 2019.

One of our new radios being constructed in our Christchurch factory.

The production process went so smoothly that the first batches of the new radios shipped just over a week later to KiwiRail and Boddington Mine – delivering the new products before the end of the year and meeting the tight deadlines of this project.

“It is great to see a real determination to meet the deadlines we have agreed to and carry on beyond the launch, continuing to enhance our LMR portfolio.”

– Yoram Benit, COO Tait Communications

A demonstration kit of new Tait radios, ready to be shipped.

On Time, As Promised

In December 2019, meeting the projected schedule, Tait effectively released 16 new products to market:

• TP9500 DMR, available in both 4 and 16 key options, and 4 Frequency Band options
• TP9600 P25, available in both 4 and 16 key options, and 4 Frequency Band options

Delivering so many products in such a short time is a significant achievement for any company, and a record for Tait. This took a focused effort from every part of our organization. We’re proud to offer a range of products that our customers can feel confident carrying into their challenging jobs, while taking advantage of industry-leading technology.

Tait radio users have tough jobs. Police, Fire, Emergency services, Mining, Oil and Gas, and Utility workers face challenging conditions every day.

Learn more about our range of rugged radios at TaitTough.com

Organizations such as mines, transport agencies and utilities often cover vast areas, working across different sites. When these particular areas and sites operate on different networks or frequency bands, staying connected can become complicated. The new Tait TM9356 dual band mobile radio makes it easy to switch between analog and DMR Tier 2 bands, and enables you to communicate through a single control head.

Mining crews, drivers and linesmen around the world rely on Tait DMR solutions to keep them safe and connected. Our commitment to open standards means you have genuine interoperability across your network, allowing you to communicate with other organizations and operate on multiple networks.

Tait DMR radios are multimode and have the ability to operate on multiple networks such as conventional analog, MPT, and DMR, and with Tait GeoFencing, they can even switch between networks automatically!

Looking for Dual Band Radios for Public Safety? Check out the blog about our P25 Dual Band Mobile Radios here.

Tait TM9356: A Dual Band DMR Mobile Radio

Many organizations work across multiple frequency bands, making staying connected a challenge. The good news is that with the Tait TM9356 dual band radio, you can communicate on different networks and frequency bands without installing separate radios for each band.

At the time of publishing this blog post, Tait is one of only two vendors that make dual band DMR mobile radios.

The Tait TM9356 mobile provides dual frequency band capability for DMR Tier 2 and conventional analog solutions, enabling you to make and receive calls on either VHF or UHF radios from a single, easy-to-use control head.

This means radio operation becomes safer and more efficient for workers out in the field, because they don’t need to manually switch between radios or control heads, or navigate through different menu structures – allowing them to keep their focus on the job.

Benefits of being able to operate on multiple networks and frequencies include:

• Interoperability: A dual band radio enables communications between organizations that operate on different networks and frequency bands.
• Roam between different networks: When organizations rely on multiple networks for different areas of operation, their radios need the ability to work on every network. For example, UHF for better coverage in urban areas and VHF in more remote, mountainous or densely forested areas.
• Combine networks: When two separate networks are merged, it can be easier combining two radio systems than replacing or upgrading the network infrastructure.
• Network migration: Mobile radios that can operate on your current network as well as your future network give you the flexibility to roll out new networks at your own speed, saving you the cost and disruption of having to do a complete network replacement all at once.

Tait DMR: Flexible Solutions Made to Evolve

All Tait DMR products and solutions are flexible, giving you options to meet your requirements today, and easily add other features as your needs change in the future. The TM9356 is no different: it allows you to mix and match frequency bands and power outputs to suit your needs, and choose a graphical control head with in-built 3W speaker or a hand held control head with 10W or 15W external speakers.

Because different teams within organizations often have their own distinct communications requirements, they might have radios programmed with different channels, talk groups, or functions. To make it easier for teams to identify their equipment in the field, the TM9356 gives you control head color options.

Remote kits enable a flexible installation too; it allows for the control head and radio bodies to be installed in separate locations. This means radio bodies can be installed under the seat, in a glovebox, or in the trunk if space is an issue, or to make it more convenient.

Exceptional Audio Performance

Tait DMR portable and mobile radios are built to meet and exceed international standards with excellent sensitivity, range, and crystal clear audio quality. Our industry-leading RF performance creates less interference and gives better coverage, and a DMR standard-compliant vocoder digitizes your voice to reduce background noise.

To minimize background noise and enhance clear speech even further, additional Digital Noise Suppression software is used.

Tait EnableFleet: Easily Manage Your Fleet

The Tait TM9356 is supported by Tait EnableFleet, our configuration management system that gives visibility and control of your radio fleet from a central point of control. It delivers real-time, accurate and reliable fleet information, making it easy to quickly identify, support, and solve issues.

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The post Dual Band DMR: Stay Connected on Multiple Networks and Frequencies first appeared on Tait Communications Blog.

Telent is a leading technology specialist in the design, build, support and management of the UK’s critical digital infrastructure. Telent has partnered with Tait Communications to transform infrastructure for more than 1,500 buses across England’s West Midlands by implementing DMR Tier 3 and TAIT AXIOM converged solutions.

Tait and Telent Partnership

Telent’s secure digital radio managed service will deliver increased flexibility and performance to support National Express West Midlands bus operations, integrating vehicle systems with its distributed control rooms.

Buses and control rooms across the West Midlands are set to receive transformational communications upgrades over the next 12 months, as Telent has been awarded a contract by National Express West Midlands (NXWM) to implement upgraded Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) communications and services to more than 1,500 buses in the region.

Communications Upgrades

The major contract will cover nine bus depots, including all routes across the West Midlands conurbation. The new communication solution includes the phased replacement of the existing analogue technology and core communications infrastructure currently used in the vehicles, control rooms and associated radio base station sites. Upgrading to a DMR Tier III system will provide NXWM with digital speech clarity and system resilience. It will also deliver enhanced features and the capability to add increased functionality to meet business needs.

The long-term contract, valued at an estimated £14 million GBP ($18 million USD) will be provided as a managed services agreement. The migration will be fully managed and delivered by Telent and includes GPS positional tracking, emergency call prioritization, status messaging, ticket machine integration, dynamic group call allocation and smartphone PTT application.

“As an engineer who has been working on analogue and digital communication solutions, and in particular this customer, for more than 35 years, I am thrilled that Telent will be playing such an integral part in modernising public transport in the West Midlands. It is essential that public transport receives the most up to date and sophisticated technology, and by migrating to DMR systems, this will ensure that buses in the region stay fully connected and maintained.”
Adrian Philips, Solutions Architect at Telent.

Telent is partnering with radio solutions manufacturer, Tait Communications for the migration from analogue to DMR technology. The new radio systems will be initially deployed in analogue mode. When all vehicles in the fleet have been upgraded with the new technology, the system will be switched over to digital mode. This will ensure minimal disruption to regular bus services, and a seamless transition for the customer’s end users.

“When identifying suppliers to work with for this major upgrade project, we identified Telent’s fully managed service as, in our opinion, the most comprehensive and reputable solution. Working with Telent as a long-term partner will enable us to take advantage of the latest and most innovative radio technology for our fleet, which is critical to the smooth delivery of our operation and quality of service to our customers. The transition will increase overall passenger and bus driver experience by providing added protection on all of our bus services.”
Steve Smith, Operation Technology Manager at National Express West Midlands

The initial roll out of the upgrades will start later in 2022. As the biggest bus operator in the West Midlands and one of the largest in the UK, NXWM services are used by more than 2.8 million people across the region.

Telent has an impressive background in large fleet deployments, and is currently working with the Ambulance Radio Programme to deploy next-generation Mobile Data communications upgrades in ambulances across England and Wales.

Article Courtesy of Telent.

Learn more about the TAIT AXIOM Broadband Solutions

Learn more about Telent and how they are keeping the UK & Ireland connected and protected.

To effectively manage commercial worksites, recreation parks or retail outlets, work personnel need access to reliable comms 24/7. The Tait Dispatch Software Solution ensures staff stays connected to the Dispatch Team through multiple bearers.

The Tait Dispatcher Software centralizes your critical communications network. Utilizing real time location data from Tait mobile and portable DMR and P25 radios to display real time location of work personnel between work sites and zones.

Tait Dispatcher Software features:

• Full visual control
• Customizable interface
• Individual and group calling
• Emergency override
• Logging and reporting
• Continuity of service

Additionally, Tait Dispatcher Software supports the use of CCTV Surveillance, Fire Systems, Intruder Alert Systems, Access Control, and Intercom & Refuge.

The Dispatcher Software’s core functionality is Location Services. With the features above, work personnel are able to communicate instantly with Dispatch in the event of an emergency and ensure a consistent flow of information between work groups. The key benefits of integrated location solutions include enhanced worker safety, increased productivity of field operations, and shortened incident response times.

Lone Worker and man-down functionality are compatible when Utilizing Tait Dispatcher Software with a Broadband Enabled Tait Mobile or Portable as an additional alert on the software’s full visual control.

Tait Dispatch Software is helping to keep people, sites and assets safe.

Location Services to improve Worker Safety

When combined with Man Down and Lone Worker, Location Services make it easy to quickly send help to the exact location and cutting down response times when it matters. Learn more about how location services can drastically increase the safety of your work personnel.

Tait GeoFencing

Portable and mobile radios that support Tait GeoFencing can be programmed to independently and automatically use their location data to trigger pre-configured actions, such as alerting work personnel of equipment requirements on worksites, potential hazards, and much more.

Location Awareness

The key element of a location solution is location awareness or Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), which is reporting the current geographic position of mobile assets on a visual control. Tait’s Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) compatible equipment transmits location data across analog and digital networks. Read more about Location Awareness, our partners and how we can improve the efficiency of operations and significantly enhance work safety of your work personnel.

Learn more about Dispatch Solutions available from Tait

Need assistance or have a query? Contact our friendly customer service team.

Workers in critical industries rely on clear, instant communications. The right choice of accessories for each role can mean calls are heard first time during both normal operations and emergencies.

Lets take a look at some examples of how using the right accessories can improve safety and productivity in a number of mission critical industries.

Mining is an incredibly demanding job which exposes workers to various physical risks such as extreme temperatures, extended hours and rigorous shift work. Mining personnel are often out in the field, unable to charge their battery powered equipment. Tait offers Battery and charging options for long shifts, to help workers stay connected all day in remote environments, ready to communicate at a moment’s notice, should an incident occur.

Oil and Gas utilities workers operate in remote environments alone, at great heights, and with flammable substances that can cause small fires or large explosions if ignited. It’s important that their portable radio equipment and accessories are Intrinsically Safe and don’t create sparks. Tait offers Intrinsically Safe accessories for explosive environments, keeping teams safe and connected wherever they work.

Law enforcement officers have a highly mobile work environment. They are on wheels one moment, then hitting the ground running the next. It’s crucial that their communications equipment is readily accessible to use at a moment’s notice. Tait offers easy to use and instantly accessible wearable audio accessories.

Fire services are first responders to forests, buildings, and vehicles set ablaze. In situations where oxygen is limited, and using conventional handhelds is not an option; emergency responders require a wide range of comms equipment that is compatible with their breathing apparatus. Tait offers specialist communications accessories that fit safety gear required by unique roles.

Paramedics respond to serious accidents where seconds count. It’s crucial that they are able to move quickly to provide lifesaving aid without being obstructed by their equipment. Tait offers carry options that allow the user to move freely with their device still being accessible for efficient use.

Optimize and tailor your communications equipment with portable radio accessories. View the full catalog of Tait Portable Radio Accessories.

Not sure what accessories you need for your communications equipment? Take a look at our Accessory Selector Tool to find a wide range of accessories compatible with your portable radio.

What should you look for in a portable radio? Download our Portable Radio Selection Guide.

Have a question or query? Contact us.

The travelling public of Greater Manchester UK will enjoy the benefits of modern, clear and reliable digital communication when a large part of their bus network moves over to a Tait DMR Tier 3 radio system, developed with a focus on safety.

Starting in early 2022, the transition will make the fleet of First Manchester buses one of the most well connected in the UK, providing enhanced features to manage real-time communications, bus movements and passenger safety needs, for passenger transport organizations in the UK, as Tait has done in the past. This adoption of a digital mobile radio network stands to impact the reliability and accuracy of bus services in the Greater Manchester area, that serves a population of 2.85 million citizens.

What is Manchester and how big is it? Courtesy of Urbinfomanc.

Tait DMR is a digital communications platform that delivers commercial and worker safety benefits for mission critical users. The move to a Tait DMR tier 3 digital radio system will include First Manchester’s entire operational fleet, including the Vantage buses operating along the traffic-free guided busway route from the city centre to Atherton and Leigh and areas around Manchester city centre, Salford, Oldham and Rochdale.

The new system being designed and installed by industry leader TES Communication Solutions brings enhanced voice and data capability and connectivity via independent infrastructure ensuring continuous communications even in the event of outages or high traffic on cellular networks.

By choosing the adopt a Tait DMR Tier 3 system, the Greater Manchester metropolitan area will benefit from:

• Flexibility, control and freedom of choice – Our support for open standards means that our multimode radios, systems and software options extends the operators freedom to choose from a range of location, dispatch and recording solutions among others to suit specific needs.
• Easy, future-proof evolution options – Tait DMR is the most flexible DMR platform, with a wide range of options to meet requirements today, alongside easy future additions of features as the needs of the operator change overtime. Our flexible network makes it easy to migrate through various sizes of DMR Tier 2 & Tier 3 systems, making it the ideal solution for organizations of all sizes.
• Industry leading network performance – Our base stations are engineered for optimum performance, surpassing minimum requirements set by regulation. Tait’s systems can run on fewer sites with no reduction in reliability, saving on cost without compromising your network.
• Decades of trunked radio experience – Tait DMR excels thanks to our decades of experience in designing and deploying MPT systems around the world which our engineers have transferred to DMR resulting in a better, stronger DMR offering.

Tim Jenkins, Engineering Support Manager of First Manchester, said:

“One of the major benefits of this upgrade, as the operator, will be to manage our services more efficiently, handle any incidents faster thereby improving the service to our customers in Greater Manchester”.

The agreement between TES Communication Solutions and First Manchester is for a comprehensive managed service including the provision of airtime on the new city-wide digital system and 24/7 support for vehicle hardware, multiple control desks, and Ofcom license compliance.

Steve Smith, managing director of TES, said:

“Ultimately, this technology helps the bus users to travel more efficiently and safely around the region with a future-proof system that can be enhanced as we progress through the development of the system. We will be working very closely with the team at First Manchester to make sure this is as smooth a transition as possible as we deploy this proven market leading technology.”

TES Communication Solutions’ systems have been installed in transport and infrastructure systems around the world where there is a need for mission critical communications including in Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Manchester Metrolink, Midland Metro, and Blackpool Transport in the UK, as well as deployments for organisations such as the MOD, UBS Bank and Astra Zeneca.

Article Courtesy of TESradio.com.

Improve your communications with the powerful combination of flexibility, control and resiliency with Tait DMR Tier 3.

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When disaster strikes, you will find first responders willing and ready to serve. Firefighters, utility workers, police officers, rescue crews, EMS and many others put their lives on the line to protect and provide for their own communities. In this article we cover the need for resilient people and mission critical communications systems in times of disaster.

Tough Calls : White Paper
This blog is an extract from the White Paper, ‘Tough Calls’ targeting the roles and responsibilities of first responders and comms operators in the face of disaster.

Download the Full Whitepaper Here

Every day, disasters threaten lives, homes, and property around the world. 59,000 wildfires swept across the U.S in 2021, burning over 7.1 million acres (28,732 square kilometers), and Hurricane Michael causing 25.1 billion dollars worth of infrastructural damage. In the background, there are teams of workers supporting, directing, feeding, managing and communicating during disastrous times like these.

Dedicated Workers, Dedicated Employers

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, over 40,000 utility workers were mobilized. Many of these people’s own homes were flooded, their loved ones evacuated or in shelters. Yet they were tasked with eliminating live wire danger, ensuring power to critical infrastructure was restored as quickly as possible.

This kind of response demands extreme dedication. Knowing that their communities needed power restored and went to work regardless of unpleasant of treacherous conditions.

“Crews in the field worked 16 hours a day” – Gay Johnson, Four County Electric Membership Corp.

Giving – And Receiving – Mutual Aid

Some events are so large that local first responders are overwhelmed and need reinforcements to effectively respond to a disaster. Often this is between neighboring counties, but it can also occur on a global level.

When the city of Christchurch, New Zealand was struck by an earthquake, almost 700 rescue workers came from all over the world to search for, and rescue survivors. Urban search teams from the UK, US, Japan, Singapore, and Taiwan arrived within hours to assist.

While some arrived with their own communications, other equipment critical to the rescue effort was made available on the ground. With the beleaguered city the headquarters for Tait International Ltd, local Tait technicians worked round the clock setting up, training and supporting crews as they arrived. For many, it provided valuable first-hand experience of what Tait customers face.

In response to Hurricane Michael, neighboring states in the US offered assistance, even ones also affected by the storm:

Disaster-Ready Communications

Storms and other disaster have a nasty habit of knocking out power, and very often, public communications networks go with it. In a major disaster, telephone systems (especially cell phone systems) frequently fail. As wildfires raged across California, mobile phones went silent as towers and lines succumbed to the flames, leaving citizens unable to receive automated warnings or call 911 for help.

“We had to drive through neighborhoods with sirens and public address systems to alert residents and visitors” – David Katz, Malibu Search and Rescue Team

A consistent theme echoes throughout most, if not all disaster scenarios is without communication, we’re alone and isolated; effective communication ensures we’re able to help and support others when they need it most. Check these 10 tips to make sure your communications are disaster-hardened.

1. In a major disaster, you cannot rely on public cellular systems which are frequently overloaded, or fail entirely.
2. Disaster planning must limit access to critical users only. You will not have enough channels in extreme situation.
3. Identify, protect and prioritize critical user groups in advance, and build them into your talk-group structure.
4. Define you interoperability needs – who needs to talk to whom?
5. When will you use encryption? Can you communicate effectively with all the necessary agencies and groups?
6. Consider investing in transportable repeater systems that can be rapidly deployed.
7. Train and practice your communications in simulated emergencies at least annually.
8. Plan for a scenario in which your computer systems are not available. Ensure all your procedures are thoroughly documented in electronic and hard copy formats, east to follow and easy to find by everyone who might need them.
9. You will lose power to your system – plan for it with dual redundancy (AC then battery then generator)
10. Eliminate single points of failure at the system design stage. Invest enough to stay on air through critical events, ensuring power to sites throughout.

Learn more about Tougher LMR Systems: 10 Ways to Protect and Strengthen your LMR system. 

Explore Tait’s industry-specific expertise and valuable knowledge with our free to download White Papers.

Tait Communications expertise is at the heart of a large public-safety investment in southern Spain, which is connecting the region’s emergency response agencies and national bodies with a single highly reliable mobile communication system.

Andalusia Digital Emergency Network

In announcing the overall project in late 2022, the Andalucian Regional Government (Junta de Andalucia) said its Digital Emergency Network (REDA) would be the largest in Spain and the first of its kind in Europe. The mobile radio network is engineered to work across more than 120 sites. Built on a Tait Digital Mobile Radio standard (DMR) system, the network is expected to include more than 6,000 portable radio terminals in the field. Officers and managers outside the network coverage area can join in or monitor communications using broadband applications on smartphones and TAIT AXIOM equipment.

The Spanish Emergency Military Unit (UME) is one of the agencies who will benefit from this new network.

Junta de Andalucia said its Digital Emergency Network will provide a single umbrella system for communications among and between the region’s frontline responders (police, fire fighters and ambulance), other emergency groups such as specialist forest firefighting services, the region’s water management agency and remote organisations such as ski fields which may need emergency support. As well, it said, the system would “further strengthen our work with the state security forces and bodies, as it will allow interconnection with other networks such as those of the Emergency Military Unit (UME), national Police and Civil Guard.”

Terminals on the network will further support safety by logging each unit’s location in real time and provide alerts if it detects the user has collapsed and my need help. The network is designed to deliver high coverage and is encrypted. It includes a facility to record all calls during an event, a service which is often used to review event management and to support improvement.

Tait and Sistelec Partnership

For this project Tait is represented by Spanish channel partner Sistelec. The 120-site Tait-engineered DMR Tier 3 mobile radio system purchased for Andalucia’s Digital Emergency Network also features support services, a large number of Tait’s TP9300 portable radios built to the intrinsically-safe standard, TAIT AXIOM Mobiles (vehicle-mounted devices which switch seamlessly between mobile radio and cellular, depending on which provides the best carrier solution), 850 TAIT AXIOM Wearable devices, instances of Tait’s applications for smartphone users who do not need to carry a frontline radio, and the Tait GridLink data terminals, which are used to remotely monitor and control fixed equipment in the field (supervisory control and data acquisition – SCADA – use cases).

With a land area of 87,000 square kilometres and almost 8.5 million people, Andalucia is Spain’s the most populous and second-largest autonomy.

For this project Tait Communications is supplying its long-time Spanish representative Sistelec, which is a supplier to the project’s main contractor UT Cellnex-Axion.
Sistelect Chief Executive Iker Murillo says the fundamental role that communication technologies play in keeping people safe is a deep responsibility, particularly in complex projects such as this one. “For this reason Sistelec always aims to use industry-leading technology and suppliers such as Tait Communications.”

Learn more about TAIT AXIOM Broadband Solutions on our website.

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Tait Communications’ launch of its 9700 two-way radio series expands the capabilities of the digital mobile radio (DMR) standard with a world-first range of frequencies and network standards in one compact, rugged unit.

Available now, the Tait TP9700 DMR Multiband portable radio offers immense flexibility to adapt to a wide variety of scenarios.  Users can more easily talk to people from other organizations, roam across multiple radio networks and have more options to expand their network in the face of spectrum shortages. It is also a great preliminary investment for organizations planning a phased migration to a new radio network with an entirely new frequency band.

Tait Communications in 2012 was the first to bring to market a full DMR Tier 3 solution (network infrastructure and radio terminals). The company is a long-time advocate for open standards, as it offers customers maximum flexibility to select from a range of vendors to build the critical communications solution which best fits their needs. Tait actively contributes to communications standards and product development – in DMR since its inception, in P25 since 2005 and in WiFi and 3GPP LTE.

Tait applies its deep knowledge of mission-critical radio communications to ensure its DMR solutions deliver similar levels of flexibility, performance and reliability as its higher-tier P25 equipment predominantly used by first-responder agencies. Organizations  such as London Fire Brigade, Alliant Energy and Boddington Gold Mine all depend on Tait DMR communications to help keep their people safe.

Paul Martin, the Tait Communications senior architectural design engineer representing the company on the DMR Association, says the association’s commitment to improving standards and elevating the user experience conforms with Tait’s approach. “Tait is proud to be a long-term contributor to the development of the DMR standard,” Paul says. “The open-standards approach to technological development allows contributions from across the industry to improve the value to all our customers,” Paul says.

Technically, the TP9700 Tait multiband DMR portable radio series enables:

• The ability to operate in conventional FM analog, MPT1327, DMR Tier 2 conventional digital and DMR Tier 3 digital trunking modes
• Configuration to operate across one or more frequency bands, including VHF, UHF, 7/800MHz and 900MHz
• Single-band operation across the UHF radio spectrum from 378-520MHz (normally two bands)
• Direct-mode calling between radios (while the usual network might be, for instance, VHF, direct mode allows off-network calls using UHF at a particular site)
• Inter-network roaming (you may normally work in UHF 1 but at times want to talk to colleagues at other organizations whose radios are operating in UHF 2 or VHF)
• Expandability (where more spectrum and channel capacity in your existing band is hard to get, you can add channels on a new band and use the multiband radios to operate across the bands)
• Rebanding (you are migrating to an entirely new band. With multiband you can access both the old and new channels, allowing a phased transition to the new network).

 [1]  The mobile (fixed in-vehicle) TM9700 version will be available from Tait Communications from October 2023 – the world’s first DMR single-body multiband mobile radio that can communicate in conventional FM analog mode, MPT1327, DMR Tier 2 conventional digital and DMR Tier 3 digital trunking modes. It can be configured to operate across one or more bands including VHF and UHF.

Learn more about Tait DMR

Have a question or query? Contact us.

City of Gainesville, Texas, is taking a significant step forward in enhancing public safety and municipal communications. The Gainesville City Council has approved an important agreement with Tait Dealer, Stolz Telecom for the implementation of a Tait Communications Project 25 Phase 2 Trunked Radio System. This pivotal move reflects the city’s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficiency of its police and fire departments.

The decision to choose this particular system was not taken lightly. Gainesville conducted a comprehensive evaluation, considering factors such as the durability of portable radios, communication range, system performance in similar locations, and cost-efficiency.

The project, with a budget of $1,183,000, is a strategic investment that will address all the communication needs of the city’s fire and police departments.

Gainesville is also fostering collaboration with neighboring Sherman, which utilizes the same system. This partnership aims to establish seamless communication between the two cities, further enhancing emergency response capabilities and coordination.

Matt Jackson, Area Sales Manager for Stolz Telecom, commented on this partnership, saying, “We are excited to be part of Gainesville’s journey to modernize its public safety communications. Stolz Telecom has a proven track record of delivering cutting-edge communication solutions. Our commitment aligns perfectly with Gainesville’s vision to enhance safety and efficiency for its residents. We look forward to providing top-notch support and technology to help achieve their goals.”

Stolz Telecom, a trusted name in advanced communication solutions, brings its expertise and dedication to this project. With a history of successful implementations, Stolz Telecom is well-positioned to ensure that Gainesville’s public safety agencies have the best tools at their disposal for effective communication and response.

These forward-looking initiatives reflect Gainesville’s dedication to leveraging technology and partnerships to enhance public safety, streamline city operations, and provide the best services possible to its residents.

Article courtesy of Stolz Telecom via LinkedIn

Learn more about how P25 standards continue to address networks users needs…

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In this edition of Tait Talks, we feature Critical Comms magazines’ interview with Tait Communications’ Asia-Pacific Managing Director – Dr. Paul Elmes, asking a few questions regarding the state of the communications industry, growth opportunities, and the industry’s biggest challenges.

What opportunities do you predict for the growth of your industry in 2024?

The land mobile radio (LMR) industry is set to continue to grow in 2024 – and at least for the next decade and potentially beyond. LMR technology remains unparalleled in delivering real-time, mission-critical voice communication. This assertion may challenge the convictions of some within the telecommunications community, but I firmly believe that both LMR and cellular technologies have their roles in ensuring the safety of emergency services and critical infrastructure workers.

Voice communications remains the primary means by which we communicate with mobile field workers. Despite the preferences amongst our younger generations, text messaging is not an effective or efficient form of communication. Voice offers a far richer medium. The human ear has evolved to detect auditory cues, such as variations in tone, pitch and volume, which can convey emotional nuances. The ability to discern emotions like fear through tone of voice is hardwired into our biology. Identifying distress in a colleague’s voice triggers an instinctive response, with potentially life-saving immediacy.

LMR networks have undergone continuous refinement over five decades, tailored to the precise needs of the public safety community. One-to-many, all-informed group communications aligns with the standard operating procedures of the emergency services. Features developed by manufacturers often find their origins in real-world use cases, with the operating requirements specified by the radio users themselves. Quality of service and quality of experience are not just defined but vigorously demanded by end users.

In contrast, cellular networks were originally designed for consumer-grade one-to-one communication. While there have been strides in developing push-to-talk and off-network capabilities, these features are yet to be proven at the coalface, so to speak. Evaluating a feature in a controlled environment is one thing, but relying on its performance when lives are on the line is an entirely different matter. Cellular technology has its place, but LMR has been forged and refined in the heat of real-world experience. It stands as the only serious choice.

New 5G radio network telecommunication equipment smart radio modules mounted on metal tower providing power for radio antennas to radiate strong signal waves over the dense urban city

What are the biggest challenges facing your industry in 2024?

The foremost challenge facing the LMR industry in 2024, as it has been for the past five decades, is the lack of interoperability. Interoperability is the ability for different agencies, from different jurisdictions, to exchange voice communication on demand and in real time – usually to coordinate the response to an accident of natural disaster.

1974: Cyclone Tracy hits Darwin – Image courtesy of National Museum Australia

This challenge has been a known issue in Australia since the time of Cyclone Tracy’s devastation of Darwin in 1974. Subsequently, it has been repeatedly cited in inquiries and Royal Commission reports following natural disasters, particularly during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, as a significant impediment to coordinated response efforts. So what limits interoperability?

The transition from analog to digital technology has brought the adoption of open standard protocols. In Australia, public safety organisations opted for the North American P25 standard, while non-public safety entities turned to the European Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) standard as a more cost-effective alternative to P25. This divergence has leg to a diverse array of user groups, including utilities, local government authorities, transportation organisations and mining operations, embracing DMR technology for their critical communications. However, there is no inherent interoperability between the P25 and DMR standards.

Moreover, due to constraints in device technology, it was not feasible until relatively recently to manufacture a single device capable of spanning the frequencies most commonly user for radio communication. The industry has thus adopted internationally recognised frequency bands. Numerous factors, including licensing regulations and spectrum availability, dictate the choice of a particular frequency band for any given network. Even when two adjacent networks use the same technology (such as P25), if their frequency bands differ, they lack native interoperability. While workarounds exist, technology choices and frequency band selections have resulted in the creation of ‘islands of operation’.

What is your company doing to make critical communication accessible and affordable in the current economy?

Tait has recently introduced the TP9800 multiband P25 and TP9700 multiband DMR radios. These devices encompass a transceiver spanning 136 to 941 MHz, thanks to advancements in semiconductor technology. These radios are expected to significantly enhance interagency and interstate radio communication, potentially rendering moot to recurrent recommendations for interoperability in the inquiry and commission reports.

Next year, Tait will release the TP9900, a multiband and multi-protocol P25 and DMR radio. With the TP9900, any first responder agency in need of interoperability between P25 and DMR can effortlessly achieve it through a mode change – simply switch from a P25 VHF channel to a DMR UHF channel, or vice versa, with the turn of  a knob. The TP9900 represents a substantial stride towards eliminating the existing ‘islands of operation’ and bridging the interoperability requirements of both P25 and DMR users who need to exchange voice communication.

An engineer by training, Paul began his career as a research scientist at the UK’s Defence Evaluation and Research Agency while also completing his doctorate. Paul has a broad background across both the public and private sectors, holding senior positions in government, education and commercial enterprises. Paul has held senior product management roles at Tait Communications; most recently, he was the VP of Product Management, responsible for Tait’s global product portfolio. 

Article Courtesy of Critical Comms Magazine, view the full November & December 2023 release here.

Read the previous Tait Talks topic: Technical RF Expertise is Hard to Find

While the importance of broadband technology for critical communications solutions cannot be overstated, the criticality of voice in industries where wireless users face life and death situations continues to drive technology decisions. Both technologies have their place in our industry. Join Sandra Wendelken – Tait Market Insights Manager as we reiterate the criticality of mission-critical voice communications.

Having access to reliable data is essential for police officers, firefighters, utility workers, transportation agency employees, field staff at energy firms, and many other employees in mission-critical industries. The number of options for broadband services is increasing, the technology is evolving, and new use cases will continue to help workers be prepared to do their jobs more safely and efficiently.

While we all know broadband is here to stay, mission-critical voice services are not going away either. For years, some broadband proponents have suggested the death of voice-only services and technologies is imminent. That prediction has not played out, however. Voice remains the “killer app” for enterprises and the public sector, even in the era of 5G technology.

Consider a police officer who is pursuing a fleeing suspect. The officer needs to quickly speak to dispatch for backup; there is no time to send a text or photo or pull up background information in that moment. The officer needs to be able to immediately describe the situation through voice via police radio communications. For firefighters, if a building diagram cannot be sent, there is no immediate danger, but if a voice call for backup does not go through, lives are at stake.

As my colleague Paul Elmes said so succinctly:

“Voice offers a far richer medium. The human ear has evolved to detect auditory cues, such as variations in tone, pitch and volume, which can convey emotional nuances. The ability to discern emotions like fear through tone of voice is hardwired into our biology. Identifying distress in a colleague’s voice triggers an instinctive response, with potentially life-saving immediacy.”

Coverage goes hand in hand with mission-critical voice. Without a signal, an officer or firefighter cannot call for help. Mission-critical voice networks are private networks that provide coverage wherever users need to be able to communicate with the lowest latency and highest reliability. Workers rely on real time communication networks that offer tailored coverage in tunnels, mines, stairwells, and basements for efficient daily communications, as well as emergency communications during unforeseen incidents.

Cellular networks sometimes have outages. Major cellular system failures have happened already in 2024 to more than one mobile operator around the globe. Having a parallel LMR voice-centric network helps avoid a total operational blackout during emergency scenarios.

The Public Safety Communications Research (PSCR) program, part of the U.S. federal National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) organization under the Department of Commerce, has been conducting research and development into public safety communications for decades. In the early 2000s before PSCR was established, NIST public safety researchers set up the first interoperability testing program among Project 25 (P25) vendors, now called the P25 Compliance Assessment Program (CAP) under the guidance of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

PSCR’s researchers now focus on several areas of public safety broadband, including unmanned aerial systems (UAS), location-based services, augmented reality (AR) and other areas. Even with all the focus and funding for public safety broadband research, mission-critical voice is still one of PSCR’s five research portfolios. The PSCR team has done years of work around mouth-to-ear (M2E) latency, device-to-device modeling, voice intelligibility, mission-critical push to talk (MCPTT), and ensuring interoperability between P25 and broadband technologies such as LTE, Wi-Fi, and 5G services. Another PSCR research portfolio is user interface/user experience (UI/UX), and even that portfolio includes voice elements. One UI/UX project is designed to investigate the use of virtual reality (VR) training for public safety by focusing on one of the most natural things first responders do: talk. (PSCR is conducting a three-day summit in June in Chicago called 5×5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit if you want to learn more.)

While Tait Communications has evolved its portfolio with the TAIT AXIOM Broadband Solutions to address the expansion of mission-critical communications into broadband technology, the company was founded on principles to address customers’ requirements for mission-critical voice communications. Tait has not forgotten the importance of emergency services voice during the decades since, while also acknowledging the complementary role that data plays with mission-critical voice networks.

That is why Tait continues to innovate around voice. From the TP9800 multiband portable radios to the multimode TB9400 P25/DMR base station with industry-leading RF performance and flexibility to upcoming products including a multiband, multiprotocol P25 and Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) portable radio, Tait is proud to be the most reliable mission-critical voice equipment provider. We go beyond for a safer world.

Blog authored by: Sandra Wendelken – Market Insights Manager | Tait Communications

Read the previous Tait Talks: New Year, New Funding Resources

Tait is excited to announce the TP9900 Multiprotocol Multiband Portable, the lightest portable radio on the market with the ability to access P25, DMR and analog channels in multiple frequency bands. Designed to be rugged, compact and reliable, the TP9900 significantly improves community safety outcomes with enhanced interoperability between first responders, schools, utilities and other public sector organizations.

Safer Communities with P25 and DMR Operation

During emergencies and critical events, multiple organizations cooperate to coordinate effective response efforts. Communications are essential for the coordination efforts, but unfortunately first responders often face many challenges in interagency communication. Different organizations may operate on different frequency bands and radio standards based on their specific needs.

P25 is the dominant Public Safety communications technology in North America, Oceania and is also used in many other countries around the world. However DMR technology is widely used by the local government, utilities, schools and other organizations in these regions. More effective communication between these organizations would significantly improve safety outcomes for the community, but there is no inherent interoperability between the P25 and DMR standards.

By supporting both P25 and DMR standards, the TP9900 enables communication between police and fire agencies with other Public Sector organizations, including schools, utilities, local government, surf lifesaving, coastguard and transportation. With improved coordination between agencies, first responders are able to respond quickly, ultimately contributing to the safety of the community.

Tait Product Manager Bob Shepheard says “Our focus has been to keep the operation simple for users,  changing between P25 or DMR or VHF or UHF is as easy as changing channel – they don’t need to worry too much about which frequency or protocol the radio uses, and can just focus on which channels are the right ones for different groups of users or situations.”

Following product previews at selected events in 2023 there has been a buzz in online radio forums with interesting discussions about how Tait solutions compare to other products on the market.

We’re very excited to demonstrate the TP9900 Multiprotocol Multiband Portable at IWCE 2024, in Orlando Florida, ahead of the official product release in mid-2024.

Seamless Multiband Performance

Connect across all your bands from one dynamic portable. The TP9900 Multiband Portable is configurable to operate on any combination of VHF, UHF and 700/800MHz and 900MHz bands. Flexible and simple ordering and deployment of single, dual, and multiband operation at time of purchase. Bands are not locked and can be reconfigured at any time.

Rugged, Lightweight, Ergonomic Design

Experience the lightest P25 & DMR multiband portable radio on the market with high capacity battery and compact design. Bridge communications between agencies, or roam between network coverage areas, without the need for several bulky devices.

The TP9900 features an enhanced ergonomic radio grip and controls for easy operation with or without gloves. The distinct radio controls can be easily adjusted by officers without needing to look down, assisted by Voice Annunciation to confirm the channel settings.

Full Featured P25 and DMR Capabilities

Over-The-Air-Programming (OTAP) makes it easier to optimize and upgrade your fleet features without having to physically connect to each radio. OTAP is supported over P25 and DMR trunked networks, or WiFi can be used to program radios that operate in any mode – conventional or trunked, analog or digital.

The TP9900 shares the same features as TP9600 and TP9800 P25 portables, such as Over-The-Air-Rekeying (OTAR) for encryption management via conventional or trunked P25 networks. The TP9900 also shares the same features as TP9500 and TP9700 DMR portables – DMR Tier 2 conventional is a standard feature and DMR Tier 3 Trunking is optional. MPT1327 capability also comes as standard for connection to any older analog trunked systems.

All TP9000 series portables share the same audio accessories, batteries and chargers, making it easier to upgrade radios and retain existing accessories, or to operate a fleet with a mix of TP9000 models.

Why Choose TP9900 Multiprotocol Multiband Portables?

The TP9900 features the same Tait Tough build, connectivity options, enhanced work safety, and exceptional audio that our clients expect from the Tait 9000 series, with added P25 & DMR multiband capability in one portable. To learn more about Tait TP9900, follow Tait Communications LinkedIn or Facebook for more updates on this exciting product.

Want to know more?

Features and details on the Tait TP9900 Multiband Portables can be found on our website.