Times are changing.......

There was once a time when a 2-way radio was just used for voice communications.  All radios were analog (we hadn't heard about digital yet).  APCO was an association of police radio technicians who went off to state, regional, and national conferences to renew old acquaintances and loosen up after imbibing in a few shots of legal mind altering beverages.  Narrow band was a wedding band worn by those who couldn't afford a wide band. There were three major communications manufacturers - General Electric, Motorola, and RCA, all of which were made in the USA!  To say that things have changed would be a mild understatement.

You've heard about P25.  Additional information is available on P25 technology at www.the-end-of-confusion.com  In a condensed way you can say that many users are converting from analog communications to digital communications, much like the cellular industry has been doing since the late 90's.  There are some compelling reasons for going to digital.  To be sure, for now if costs more than analog but the benefits compensate for the relatively small difference in price.   You actually have a choice with ICOM.  You can switch to a full digital model now, or you can purchase a similar model at lower cost that can be upgraded later.

Like it or not, APCO P25 is the benchmark for evolving digital compatibility.  As our need for coordination for disaster response increases, there will be greater demand for coordinated communications between the private, local government and military sectors.  One of the major suppliers of military communications equipment (Harris Corporation) is committed to support of P25 technology.  The following is an excerpt of a late 2006 press release by Harris Corporation.

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, demonstrated a new software-programmable waveform that enables its Falcon^® III AN/PRC-152(C) to interoperate with the commercially available APCO P25-based radios. This waveform allows communications interoperability among military users, civil authorities, and first responders. The AN/PRC-152(C) will be the first tactical radio to use the APCO P25 waveform.

The Harris AN/PRC-152(C) radio, now deployed by the U.S. military, provides Type-1 secured SINCGARS, Havequick II, HPW, VHF/UHF, and MIL-STD-188-181B UHF SATCOM communications capabilities. It is a Software Communications Architecture (SCA)-based, Software Defined Radio (SDR) with an optional embedded GPS module. The radio is also part of the AN/VRC-110 system that is used by U.S. forces to provide vehicular communications.

The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International, Inc. (APCO International) is dedicated to the enhancement of public safety communications and has been working to provide interoperable communications through its APCO P25 initiative.

"The addition of the APCO P25 waveform to tactical radios enables military and agency users, including the National Guard and Reserves, the FBI, and FEMA, to communicate with first responders," said Andy Adams, vice president of Product Line Management, Harris RF Communications. "The addition of this new waveform validates the flexibility of the AN/PRC-152(C) SCA-based architecture and demonstrates the Harris commitment to continually add features to the Falcon III family."

Be sure and check our our web site dedicated to helping you get the full facts on P25.  Check it out at www.the-end-of-confusion.com.  You'll be glad you did!

Copyright 2009 - Falcon Direct, Inc.
This page was last updated on 09/03/2009