This post is a quick look at four of the most common communications challenges that organizations across the country encounter on a daily basis. These aren’t industry-specific, as they relate on some level to multiple industries. For more information on how your organization can overcome these challenges, contact us today!

Here are four of the most common communication challenges:

1) Poor coverage/call quality

Without a doubt, one of the most frustrating issues an organization can face is poor coverage or call quality. The causes for this can vary, but the most common culprit is typically the building in which you communicate.

For example, if you are working in a hospital or hotel, the walls are so thick that regular cellular or wireless signals don’t travel as well as they should. Another example is when a plant manager in a factory can’t communicate with his crew due to excessive noise or the breaking up of the call.

Fortunately, this issue can be solved by implementing new digital devices like two-way radios or even a bi-directional amplifier.

2) Connecting with a remote team

In today’s workplace, you don’t just need to be connected with those in your office or building, as you may have an extended team in the field, at another campus, or even in a different city. And in many cases, you can’t just send an email and wait for a response, as you need instant communication with a variety of stakeholders.

3) Depleted battery life

For those organizations that currently rely on smartphones for your communication, you’ve most likely encountered issues due to poor battery life. Since the average smartphone will only provide you with a day’s worth of battery life (assuming you are using the device for multiple calls, texts, emails, etc.) it can easily die on you in your time of need.

Not only can a dead smartphone cause delays in communication, but it is also a risk when an emergency hits, as you and your team won’t be able to communicate. That’s just one of the reasons why two-way radios are the recommended device over smartphones for professional communication.

4) Device durability

If you are working in an environment that calls for “heavy duty” equipment (public safety, manufacturing, etc.) then you need your communication devices to be as durable as the rest of your equipment. After all, your devices may get wet, dropped, or even exposed to intense heat, and you still need to be able to rely on it after a hard day – your device needs to be rugged.

If you are encountering any of these common communication challenges, you can download our free guides below to learn how you can overcome them!

BATTERIES ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED, AS WE PLACE A TWO-WAY RADIO ON THE CHARGER AND FORGET ABOUT IT

Managing a two-way radio battery will allow you to get the most out of each battery before purchasing new ones. In addition, your two-way radios’ health is dependent on healthy batteries.

As a safety precaution and since battery power diminishes over time, new two-way radio batteries come with almost half of their capacity charged. Therefore, it will drop below its maximum load when you start using the battery. Accordingly, before using your new battery, charge it overnight. This is known as initializing, and it allows you to get the most out of your battery.

Charge batteries only when they are completely depleted.

One of the worst habits we develop is putting two-way radios back on the charger at the end of a workday, regardless of how much energy they have. Instead, we should only charge two-way radio batteries when they are completely depleted.

Charging an empty two-way radio battery helps condition it, allowing it to last longer and get used up slower. Your two-way radio batteries can last 18 months when correctly managed and maintained. However, it would help if you replaced them when they lose efficacy or reach the 18-month mark.

You must use Battery Conditioners:

Every NiCad cell battery experiences a memory effect, and two-way radio batteries will not charge to total capacity if this occurs. Use a conditioning battery charger to avoid this. This charge is capable of detecting and correcting the problem. Consider thoroughly draining the battery before recharging if you can’t find a conditioning battery charger.

When the batteries are fully charged, remove them from the charging plug point.

How often do you come into the room that has the two-way radio battery charger and have a completely charged light greet you? Do you unplug them from the charger? You should if you don’t already. Overcharging the battery has no benefit and may potentially cause damage.

With a trickle charge, automated shutdown, and built-in cooling, battery chargers help avoid heat damage. The two-line display on your charger indicates the serial number of a battery and its battery efficacy out of 100 per cent. When it falls below 60% efficiency, the charger alerts you with a flashing LED. When the battery is fully charged, the charger will turn down the current but continue to monitor it.

“One of the worst habits we develop is putting two-way radios back on the charger at the end of a workday, regardless of how much energy they have. Instead, we should only charge two-way radio batteries when they are completely depleted.”

Batteries Should Be Stored Properly

Your storage space should be kept dry and at a reasonable room temperature. A heated room or storing something hot, such as an oven, might be dangerous for the battery. In addition, cold storage conditions can cause batteries to drain charge more quickly.

Another aspect to consider for your battery storage is humidity. High humidity levels of more than 60% will affect the life of your batteries. Humidity ranges between 30 and 60% are ideal for storing two-way radio batteries.

It is essential to charge or drain a battery to approximately 50% of its capacity before storing it. After storing the batteries, you will lose some capacity, but maintaining the cells at a lower overall charge will minimise significant capacity loss.

The place where your two-way radio batteries are stored should be clear of anything combustible. If dust accumulates after a prolonged storage period, wipe it away with a clean, soft cloth. If you detect it, you may need to clean any chemical that has seeped into or leaked out of your battery supply.

Clean your batteries and two-way radios regularly.

All across the world, first responders use two-way radios in harsh environments. Dust, ash, or soil might accumulate in the region around the battery or charger. Using a towel, keep your radios and batteries clean. If they contain grease or liquid stains, use at least 70% alcohol concentration isopropyl alcohol to remove them.

It is a good idea to replace really old batteries

Even the most well-maintained two-way radio batteries don’t last forever. Any batteries that are more than 18 months old should be replaced. Consider trustworthy manufacturers while looking for battery replacements. Remember to discard used batteries properly. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Rechargeable batteries constitute a waste danger.

Batteries are manufactured to provide the best radio performance possible. Nonetheless, battery capacity gradually degrades over time. These two-way radio battery care guidelines are part of a larger strategy for two-way radio maintenance and troubleshooting that may keep your conversations via two-way radios clear and dependable in the future.

WHAT IS A DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM (DAS)?

A Distributed Antenna System (DAS) involves the use of several antennas as opposed to one antenna to provide wireless coverage to the same area but with reduced total power and additional reliability. Often times a DAS uses RF directional couplers and/or wireless amplifiers to split and amplify the wireless signal from the source out to the distributed antennas. In many cases a DAS will use a combination of low loss coaxial cabling as well as fiber optic cabling supporting radio over fiber (RoF) technology to distribute the wireless signals to the antennas. A Distributed Antenna System can be designed for use indoors or outdoors and can be used to provide wireless coverage to hotels, subways, airports, hospitals, businesses, roadway tunnels etc. The wireless services typically provided by a DAS include PCS, cellular, Wi-Fi, police, fire, and emergency services.

“Instant and dependable communications are a critical component in protecting guests, staff and maintaining your property.”

Hospitality is an evolving industry with recent advances in wireless technology that require increased network connectivity and user bandwidth for LTE & 5G applications. In-building wireless networks and DAS technology are deployed by Continental Wireless and used by hotel guests, large meetings, conference attendees, as well as staff to enhance productivity and increase safety.

Resorts and hotels often need dedicated and more complex wireless connectivity due to their sprawling outdoor areas and large meeting spaces. Continental Wireless DAS has you covered from the lobby to the guest’s rooms, expansive convention and meeting areas, common areas, and everywhere in between.

NO MORE DEAD SPOTS

Communicating with staff dispersed throughout a hotel, resort or retail location can be challenging. A hospitality DAS system provides reliable communications. DAS systems connect to nearby cell towers to provide seamless cell connections throughout a hotel, resort, restaurant, or retail location.

Versatile and powerful, our easy-to-use hotel and retail DAS systems integrate voice and data seamlessly and deliver critical advantages.

HOSPITALITY DAS NETWORK BENEFITS

• Increased signal coverage
• Eliminate dead zones
• Improved staff communications
• Excellent connectivity for customers
• Rapidly respond to incidents
• Constant communications with cell phone-enabled equipment sensors
• Connectivity for Internet-of-things (IoT) devices
• Easy QR code scanning for customers
• Convenient access to social media for customers
• Lower overall power use
• Can work with multiple carriers
• Improved safety and task efficiency

Whether your staff is welcoming a group at the front desk or maintaining greens on the back nine, you can keep everyone easily and seamlessly connected with a DAS system from Continental Wireless.

THE POWER OF CONTINENTAL WIRELESS

The fall of 2022 brought a continued domino effect to schools reopening their doors to educate students in physical classrooms while still facing issues stemming from 2020. According to a recent poll completed by The Atlantic,

“Only 73 percent of all parents said they are comfortable with full in-person learning for their child in the coming spring.”

Our educators and government officials around the country are doing everything to create trust and a safe environment for students as the 2023 Spring school term quickly approaches.

The past few years have been incredibly rough on our education system in the United States. The combination of the pandemic and the increase in school-related shootings and misconduct has put pressure on districts to tighten the reigns regarding their school safety protocols. This year more than ever, it’s essential to be as prepared as ever. At Continental Wireless, we are a big believer in implementing our security solutions as both preparation and emergency relief options. Below are a few of our bestselling security solutions that can be utilized in various applications, including school campuses.

School Security Camera Solutions

Continental Wireless offers video surveillance solutions for both indoor and outdoor facility requirements. Our equipment ranges from Mounted surveillance cameras to solar paneled surveillance trailers. We work with you to find the solution that best fits your needs and deliver and install the equipment on your location to ensure the equipment’s success. Continental Wireless is a proud provider of our surveillance equipment to many governments facilitated worksites and buildings and would be happy to help answer any questions you may have regarding school security.

*Disclaimer* All administrators must follow the US Department of Education’s FERPA law while putting together their surveillance protocol.

Cell Phone Boosters for Schools and Campuses

Continental Wireless offers affordable cellular amplification equipment for schools and campuses across the country. A significant part of any school’s safety and emergency protocols should be accessing emergency services in a time of crisis. Depending on the size and area of a school’s campus, signals can significantly affect our first responders’ ability to communicate with each other during a time-sensitive emergency successfully. Our Cell amplifiers immediately improve your school’s reception across all classrooms and previous dead zones which in turn, increases administrators’ confidence in their emergency plans. Another bonus is the amplified learning capability of having a stable and consistent connection.

Two-Way Radio Systems

Provide your hired security guards or on-duty police officers with the highest quality portable two-way radios for your school security solution. Continental Wireless has provided hundreds of emergency response teams, including our first responders, with two-way radio solutions and would be thrilled to provide you with the same further to protect your students during the upcoming school year.

To speak with one of our team members about any of our security solutions to better prepare your school, contact us today here.

Two Way Radios are durable and convenient forms of communication meant to be used in different ranges and environments. Two-way radios come in handy in remote areas where cell signal is lacking, but communication is required. Whether you’re taking your family on a hiking trip or need to equip your entire workforce with the means to communicate on the jobsite, we have some tips to help you narrow down the right equipment for you.

Things to consider.

 

Analog or Digital?

Not all radios are meant to be used across larger distances and in extremely remote locations. Be wary of the term “long-range” radios without researching the brand and model number. For example, analog two-way radio options are majorly meant to be used in close range and in circumstances where communication isn’t mandatory like in an emergency scenario. The closer you get to the maximum range that the analog radio can handle, the more the signal will decrease. The quality and durability of an analog radio are still equally impressive, but this wouldn’t be the radio for you if your operation requires a fleet of radios that will travel to and from different locations on the jobsite up to 60 miles wide. A better radio solution for you if you need a longer range solution would be our Digital Two-way radio options that adapt and continue connectivity as distance increases between two-way radios.

Size and Weight

Depending on what you need radio equipment for, you’ll want to know which models and brands are lighter and more adaptable to the task you need it for. If you’re hiking up a mountain, you’ll obviously need an incredibly lightweight 2-way radio that doesn’t way down your pack. On the other hand, if your fleet of radios isn’t required to be strapped to a person, instead sitting in a company vehicle, the weight isn’t as critical.

Compatibility Between Two-Way Radios

Radios communicate depending on their frequency. There are two types of frequencies, FRS and GMRS. According to the FCC, GMRS or General Mobile Radio Service equipment is a commonly used communication method. It does require a license to utilize any 2-way radio equipment on a GMRS channel. A GMRS radio solution requires compatible GMRS on the other side to communicate. Shorter Range, FRS frequency solutions aren’t compatible with GMRS equipment and vis versa.

To learn more about your options with Continental Wireless two-way radio solutions, contact us today.

THE POWER OF CONTINENTAL WIRELESS

What even are they?

Both BDA (bi-directional amplifier) and DAS (distributed antenna systems) can be categorized as Emergency response solutions in terms of enhancing communication and reception. When the ability to communicate is critical, much like in an emergency, both BDA and DAS solutions offer the reliable communication you need to interact safely and keep up operations. Both solutions have the same goal of amplifying connection, but one amplifies it from the outside of the building in (BDA) and one from the inside of the building out (DAS).

Are they just for emergencies?

Short answer….NO! There are undoubtedly adverse effects on your radio signals if you have a concrete or metal framing structure. Oftentimes, these structures interfere with the flow of connectivity and impact your signal. A perfect example is loss of signal while in a stairwell or parking garage. These types of environments aren’t suited to solely support connectivity. While they’re imperative for communications in an emergency like a fire or a bad storm, today, businesses across the country are seeking stronger and more consistent connectivity for their employee’s day-to-day work environment. To summarize, while these systems can be a life-saving measure in a pinch, they can also be the solution to maintain your organization’s infrastructure as your business ebbs and flows throughout its operations.

What’s the difference between BDA & DAS?

While they are different, it’s easier to remember the similarities than the differences between BDA & DAS. DAS is a system of antennas that distribute a connection throughout large areas or buildings. BDA is a more extensive antenna system that incorporates both systems’ functionalities. Different industries and markets call for different approaches depending on the size, area, and use cases, but essentially both systems maximize communication in interchangeable ways.

Do you need one?

If you’re not sure where to start, there are site surveys that test your building’s radio frequency as the first step before amplifying your coverage. Did you know most states are required to follow federal registration guidelines before implementing one of these solutions and require a minimum amount of coverage? To check your state’s regulations, visit the FCC’s website today. Don’t hesitate! Repair your building’s in-house cellular reception today, with BDA & DAS solutions from Continental Wireless.

THE VALUE OF BEING HEARD

In 2021, we set out to understand how workers across multiple industries communicate and what challenges are keeping them from improving operational efficiency, safety and collaboration. During the survey process, we heard from over 3,000 individuals. These invaluable responses came from high school principals, plant managers, hospital staff, security personnel, warehouse workers and many more who rely on clear communications to get the job done.

According to the 2021 Motorola Solutions Commercial Markets Survey, audio quality ranks within the top three communication challenges for organizations across the commercial landscape. With audio performance shown to boost productivity and performance and increase concentration and safety, ensuring your team can be heard loud and clear is crucial for any organization.

EDUCATION

“40% of schools reported that their personnel can’t hear clearly in noisy areas.” – 2021 Motorola Solutions education survey

Schools are a whirlwind of activity. Coordination and communication is critical to ensuring the school day runs smoothly and efficiently. And in an emergency, such as a fight, active assailant or weather event, you need to be able to communicate with your team loud and clear. But the ongoing noise of the school day can make it difficult to communicate – whether it’s the crowded lunchroom, the enthusiastic crowd at an athletic competition, the bustle of students during a passing period, or the sounds of band practice.

The MOTOTRBOR7 provides the audio capabilities your team needs to communicate in any situation. Noise cancellation cuts through the din of a bustling school while sharp, clear audio ensures messages come through loud and clear. Backed by the power of our Safety Reimagined ecosystem, team communications are taken to the next level with intelligent audio that ensures your team is heard the first time in loud, confusing or potentially dangerous situations.

BE HEARD WITH THE NEXT MOTOTRBO TWO-WAY RADIO: MOTOTRBO R7

We all rely on communication. MOTOTRBO R7 is a digital portable two-way radio that offers game-changing audio capabilities in a rugged, future-ready device.

LOUD AND CLEAR

MOTOTRBO R7 excels where audio communications can be challenging – providing next-level noise cancellation, loudness, and clarity – so your team can hear and be heard anywhere you operate – even in the noisiest environments. MOTOTRBO R7 lets your team hear and be heard the first time – when it matters most, and delivers unprecedented loudness, so your team can hear in any situation.

CONNECTED WHEN IT COUNTS

MOTOTRBO systems combine superior signal strength with the flexibility to customize site coverage, a predictable cost structure built around your needs, the control to decide which features and which devices go on your network, capacity for as many devices as your team needs, and the capabilities to ensure that your team is only a button’s push away.

BUILT TO OUTPERFORM

MOTOTRBO R7 is tested to meet military standards and built to outperform whatever is thrown its way. R7 is intrinsically safe, so you can use it in hazardous environments without the risk of ignition or fire. IP68and IP66 ratings mean that it’s completely dust­tight and protected from water immersion of up to 2 meters for 2 hours, as well as direct impact from highly pressurized water streams. Even the screen is ruggedized for impact resilience and can withstand multiple drops onto concrete.

And R7’s housing material was specially designed for the medical industry to resist disinfectants and decontamination substances.

Motorola Solutions Concealed Weapons Detection (CWD)*, powered by Evolv Technology, helps to proactively keep students and faculty safe by using advanced sensors and artificial intelligence to detect a wide range of concealed weapons and threats. It is the world’s first and only touchless security screening solution that is conducive to supporting post-pandemic security screening requirements. This solution operates up to ten times faster and far more effectively than traditional screening methods while providing a touchless experience.

Integrating Avigilon Control Center (ACC), this solution will help you see, understand and act on threats with more speed and accuracy than ever before. Once a threat is detected and confirmed by a security screener, alarms are sent directly to ACC. Cameras onboard the towers then stream live video to ACC, which gets recorded alongside the fixed video security feeds that are installed at the venue.

The call for more effective weapons detection systems on campus has taken on even greater urgency over the past few years due to the recent increase in violence, crime, and other security incidents being reported in schools and healthcare facilities, as well as in their surrounding communities.

In 2021, K-12 schools and school districts recorded 249 times a gun went off on campus, the most since 1970, according to the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security. School board meetings have also experienced a steep increase in threats and violence.

In healthcare, the rate of assaults reached an all-time high in 2020, increasing 23% compared to the previous year, according to the International Association for Healthcare Security and Safety. There has also been a significant rise in reported cases of mental health issues among K-12 and college students, as well as hate crimes and domestic extremist activities in the country overall.

Today’s weapons detection technology can help minimize the risks that all of these concerning trends pose. Depending on the technology selected, these advanced systems can more effectively reduce the number of weapons – including firearms, large knives, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) – being carried on campus or at campus-affiliated events, such as football games, basketball games, concerts, controversial speaker presentations, and more.

Metal Detectors Have Challenges When Screening for Weapons

Traditional metal detectors that are used for detecting concealed weapons have experienced significant problems over the past 50 years. The primary challenge is the slow throughput of the people they are screening. Traditional metal detection programs can make students late to class and delay patients from receiving their medical treatments. Throughput can also be challenging at stadiums holding athletic events or concerts, negatively impacting the attendee experience.

Today’s concealed weapons detection systems improve safety by speeding up the screening process, reducing officer fatigue, integrating with other security systems, and more.

There are several reasons for slow throughput. Traditional metal detectors often can’t differentiate between benign metal objects (like cell phones or keys) and weapons (like guns, knives, and bombs) that can cause mass casualties. Because of this, these detectors alarm practically everyone and everything, which slows down the screening process. They also don’t identify the specific location of a threat object, either on a person or in their bag. This leads to officer fatigue and forces campuses and venues to station a lot of security personnel at the front entrances, diverting them from other, more vulnerable locations.

Additionally, traditional metal detection systems aren’t integrated with video surveillance systems and don’t provide data, such as a number of entrants, entrance fluctuations based on day, time, and events, and analytics involving alarm rates. Without this centralized intelligence, security teams can’t correlate the data and use predictive analytics to manage risks and react in real-time to threats when they happen. If this information were available, it could also be used by security teams to improve staff efficiencies and screening effectiveness.

Another issue with traditional metal detectors, especially walk-through detectors, is aesthetics and the potential to send the wrong message to the community being protected. Their unwelcoming appearance could negatively affect some students’ abilities to learn and some patients’ abilities to heal.

Advanced Concealed Weapons Detection Systems Can Help

Fortunately, today’s advanced concealed weapons detection technology addresses these issues as well as numerous other problems associated with traditional metal detectors. These advances make a campus or venue’s weapons screening program much more effective and efficient.

One of the most impressive benefits of today’s new technology is that it dramatically speeds up the screening process. Systems like Evolv’s Express® enable students, patients, employees, and guests to enter a campus or venue at a regular walking pace. It does this by using sensors and artificial intelligence (AI) with flexible sensitivity settings to distinguish everyday metal items from weapons that can be used to commit mass casualty attacks. Furthermore, Evolv’s system can identify threat objects without requiring students, patients, visitors, and employees to stop, empty their pockets, and remove and open their bags.

As a result, crowded entrances and long lines outside a campus or event are eliminated, which also eliminates them as soft targets for individuals who might want to inflict harm.

Evolv’s Express solution also integrates with other security systems, such as video surveillance, and incorporates AI to comprehensively review, analyze, and gather insights captured during the concealed weapons detection process. The information that Express can provide includes visitor arrival curves and counts, including how many people entered the campus and at what time. Other data available for review include system performance, alarm statistics, and detection settings.

All of this information can help campus security and public safety executives make evidence-based decisions that streamline operations, improve student, patient, employee, and visitor flow, and optimize ingress safety and experience. It can also help campuses comply with incident reporting laws and regulations, such as the Clery Act and the Joint Commission’s new workplace violence reporting requirements.

Touchless Features Protect Security Staff, Reduce Officer Fatigue

Today’s advanced weapons detection systems enable officers to reduce their physical interactions with the individuals they are screening because the systems reduce the number of people and bags that must be physically inspected. If the technology integrates with video surveillance, the weapons detection process can be monitored remotely on a tablet across campus or in a security operations center in another state or country.

This hands-off approach reduces security staff exposure to communicable diseases… a significant advantage that was appreciated by officers, students, patients, parents, and visitors during the pandemic. Less physical interaction and remote monitoring also free up security personnel to address more pressing concerns and reduce officer fatigue.

When selecting a new weapons detection system, other features that should be considered include if the technology is user-friendly. For example, Evolv’s Express system is easy to learn and use, which cuts down on the time an organization needs to spend on training.

The technology is also lightweight, portable, and can be used indoors and outdoors. This enables the school,  university, or hospital to strategically deploy the system, such as only when the risk of a security incident is high.

School Campuses Shouldn’t Look Like High-Security Prisons

Perhaps the biggest advantage to today’s concealed weapons detection systems is their non-threatening appearance. They’re not intimidating like traditional walk-through metal detectors. In fact, depending on the system being used, students, patients, visitors, and employees might not even realize they are being screened.

This low-key but effective approach to security helps schools, colleges, healthcare facilities, and other venues find the right balance between making the student, patient, and guest experience a welcoming one and providing strong campus security.

That being said, the appropriate level of security and its visibility vary greatly, depending on the campus or venue type. But even at locations where security needs to be more obvious, today’s advanced weapons detection systems, like Evolv’s Express, promise to provide even better and more resource-friendly protection.