At any time, a fire emergency could break out on a ship. Is your fire team prepared to battle the flames and protect the safety of all crew members?  The right communications equipment helps ensure your team is prepared for anything. Intrinsically safe fire team radios are required onboard ALL vessels as of July 2018 according to the latest regulations put into place. 

Why Fire Team Radios are More Important Than Ever

Not only do fire team radios protect your team, they are now required. In 2016, SOLAS updated regulations regarding radio communication for fire teams onboard ships. It was realized that current systems lacked important safety features. That’s why they implemented several new rules, including: all ships must carry at least two 2-way radios rated as intrinsically safe and explosion proof. All ships built on July 1^st, 2014, or thereafter, must comply with this new regulation. Ships built prior to this date have until July 1^st of this year (2018) to comply.

Intrinsically Safe Radios

One of the first requirements radios must meet to be considered appropriate for fire teams is that equipment is intrinsically safe. By its official definition, intrinsically safe is defined as equipment that “is incapable of releasing sufficient electrical or thermal energy under normal or abnormal conditions to cause ignition of a specific hazardous atmospheric mixture in its most easily ignited concentration.” In other words, radios, wiring, and other equipment must be capable of withstanding high-heat environments and other emergency situations.

SOLAS Marine Fire Team Radios

SOLAS stands for the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, this organization sets safety standards for vessels, including the types of two-way radio communication systems employed. SOLAS has an entire Chapter dedicated to Radiocommunications and the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

Chapter IV outlines the importance of all cargo and passenger ships with 300 + gross tonnage. While navigating international waters, these large ships must carry the proper equipment to increase the chance of a rescue following an unexpected accident or emergency. This includes satellite emergency position to indicate radio beacons, as well as search and rescue transponders. First Responders must be able to identify the geographical location of the ship and its survival craft.

Other chapters outlined by SOLAS include:

The subdivision and stability of machinery and electrical installations (construction)

Fire protection, detection and extinction measures and practices

Lifesaving appliances and arrangements available onboard

Safety of navigation

Carriage of cargos

Carriage of dangerous goods

Nuclear ships

+so much more

What is a Good Fire Team Radio for Vessels?

Motorola makes a variety of top-notch two-way radios that meet Marine Fire Team radio requirements. The Motorola XPR-7550 is a fine example of incredible engineering, reliability, and durability. All packed into an easy-to-use radio with a color screen and optional keyboard.

Our SOLAS Marine Fire Team Radios Package comes with the MOTORBO XPR7000e Series, a family of DMR standard digital radios and communication systems. Flexibility is key and this radio offers your crew the option to operate on UHF or VHF communication systems, or marine VHF channels.

The fire team radio package includes the following accessories: a firefighter chest pack, and a submersible IS Remote Speaker/Mic. Learn more

Update Your Vessel Before July 1^st—we can help!

We want to help you meet the latest Marine Fire Team radio standards set forth by SOLAS. We have everything you need to get up to speed, including TETRA radio systems specifically designed for Mission Critical Communication. Contact us today to learn more!

Public safety departments and other mission critical agencies rely on the highest-level communication system design for consistent contact that doesn’t cut out when it’s needed most. When it comes to ships and vessels, TETRA is the most reliable and proven all-digital radio communications platform. In proof, it is used by many Police Departments, Fire Departments, and other First Responders around the world—there are over 2-million TETRA radios currently in use.

What Sets TETRA Apart from Other Mission Critical Communication Solutions?

Mission-critical communications demand a stable, flexible, and reliable system. Hence, why Motorola Solutions created innovative TETRA infrastructure and radios. The TETRA Standard is trusted around the world, here’s why:

• Option for private calls

TETRA allows users to make a private phone call to other on-board radios. With larger vessels, it’s common to carry around two devices—a two-way radio and a Wi-Fi phone. In most cases, a TETRA network eliminates the burden of carrying around two different devices. That’s because the vessel’s PBX can be integrated so that radios perform ship-to-shore calls, as well as receive shore-to-ship calls.

• Integrate ship alarms

TETRA systems allow the intelligent integration of ship alarms with radio networks. This produces a hierarchy of alarms that can alert the on-call engineer all the way up to the Chief Engineer and Ship Captain. Authorities are reached on a per-shift basis until a response has been input to the alarm system.

• TETRA radios are SOLAS Compliant

Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) enforces an international maritime treaty that requires minimum safety standards regarding construction, equipment, and operation of merchant ships. SOLAS compliant radios must meet all radio communication requirements set forth, including fire and water proof radio qualities. A

• Durable & waterproof

TETRA radios are ergonomically designed to increase performance and ease-of-use with a color screen and manageable interface. Rated IP67, these radios are incredibly durable and can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for as long as thirty minutes. Radios are outfitted with several emergency features, such as Emergency Call and Man Down. Additionally, architecture incorporates no-single-point-of-failure redundancy configuration.

• 24/7 monitoring & technical support

TETRA radio systems come with 24/7 monitoring of network and remote analysis of network, as well as additional options for technical support. The optional support is available 24-horus a day and grants an experienced technician the ability to remotely access your TETRA network to conduct diagnostics and problem solve any issues. Even if you are hundreds of miles off shore and it’s 1 am. System failure is not an option with TETRA radio systems.

What Does Vessel Size Have to do with It?

Vessel size helps determine if one or several repeaters are necessary for full coverage on the TETRA network. Larger vessels require more repeaters to secure consistent coverage.  All repeaters are linked together via a Cat4 network cable. We are more than happy to discuss vessel size and specific requirements to help you determine the right TETRA network setup for yachts of all sizes and specifications.

TETRA radio solutions offer reliable, secure, and efficient communications that can be tailored to meet a wide variety of needs for different industries. In proof, there are more than two-million TETRA radios being used right now around the world. Learn more about the highest level of communication available, contact us today.

The Motorola XPR-5550 offers everything you could ever want from a commercial-grade two-way radio. The sound quality is impeccable! Plus, the radio has an adjustable multicolor LCD screen, integrated GPS, and Bluetooth capabilities. It can be used on 2m or 70cm bands. The adjustable audio feature allows clear messages to be communicated across the noisiest environments. The internal speaker has a rated output of 3W, hence why sound quality is so sufficient. 

Winning Features of the Motorola XPR-5550

• GPS
• Bluetooth
• Superior sound quality, sounds like the person on the other end is sitting next to you
• Easy to use and set up using the licensed programming software. Users can customize what each button does based upon their needs.
• Reaches or exceeds stated specs for sensitivity, power output, distortion and IM
• Incredibly durable—can stand up to just about anything, built to MIL Spec standards
• Pre-formatted and ad-hoc text messaging capabilities
• Part 90 approved for licensed commercial or GMRS
• High quality RX and TX specifications

Ease of Use 

This radio makes DMR easy. The knobs and buttons are easy to identify and operate. A single knob adjusts volume, and then there are nine additional buttons. One is the power switch, four buttons are dedicated to navigation, and the remaining four can be programmed any way you’d like using the MOTOTRBO CPS. Buttons are backlit to improve usability in all lighting conditions.

What Do People Like Most About the Motorola XPR-5550? 

Customers regularly mention crisp and clear audio quality as one of the nicest features of this radio. While many people say the earlier 45550 works just as good as the newer 5550 model, the 5550 comes with additional bells and whistles.

The Durability of a Commercial Motorola Radio

Nothing beats the durability of a commercial Motorola radio. Approved for MIL Spec standards, the XPR-5550 is made to work no matter what happens—from rain, to fire, to harsh falls, you might be surprised just how durable this radio really is.

This radio is made from a combination of die-cast aluminum and plastic. The aluminum works as a heat sink to prevent the radio from overheating by more efficiently expelling heat.

No matter if you need reliable two-way radios onboard a large ship, at a dusty and dangerous construction site, or for security to communicate across a large and loud concert, this radio is up to any challenge.

Monolog or DMR

The modes this radio can be used with include: DMR and analog, narrow band. It can also be used with wideband with a 25KHz entitlement key. You can enjoy access to DMR networks as well as the analog system in your region. Furthermore, it can access 1000 channels and as many as 256 zones.

Accessories include:

• Power cable
• Mic hang-up clip
• Microphone
• Mobile mounting bracket

The mounting bracket can be used to mount radios in vehicles or to a wall. You can purchase an optional remote mount kit that allows you to mount the display head in a different location from the main chassis. A variety of other accessories are available.

How Much Does the Motorola XPR-5550 Cost?

Motorola Radios are built to commercial standards in terms of durability and functionality. They are worth every penny in terms of what they put out. You don’t have to spend a bunch of money buying a fleet of Motorola radios to reap the benefits. Instead, simply rent two-way radios from Highland Wireless. Save money, reduce hassles, and enjoy seamless communication. Contact us today to learn more.

Greater oversight lends itself to better fleet management, which leads to higher productivity. The million-dollar question is, how do you improve fleet management and gain the insight necessary to do better? At Highland Wireless, we offer three different ways to make better fleet management a reality: reliable two-way radio networks, iDrive fleet cameras, and Mobotix IP Network Cameras.

#1. Enjoy clear & consistent communication with two-way radios & Florida Fleet Talk

We set our clients up for success by tailoring our services to their needs. From full two-way radio systems to our Florida Fleet Talk network, we make it easier for teams to communicate and improve productivity. We can develop on-site radio and network systems, taking care of everything from consulting and engineering, to installation and maintenance.

Our work is specifically engineered to CAT5 hurricane standards, as well as installation standards in Miami-Dade County. We are the experts when it comes to installing and maintaining networked on-site systems.

Need to rent reliable two-way radios to gain greater management and oversight? No matter if you need radios for a weekend or an entire season, we’ve got you covered with affordable two-way Motorola and Kenwood radio rentals.

Did we mention we have our own two-way radio network in Florida, Florida Fleet Talk? This all-digital network lets you communicate by radio from Jacksonville to the Florida Keys. Our secure and reliable radio waves work with both Kenwood and Motorola radios. Give the latest two-way radio technology a try and see for yourself how incredible sound quality truly is—even 300 miles apart. 

Learn more about Florida Fleet Talk

#2. Watch your fleet of vehicles with iDrive Fleet

The only way to know what goes on out on the road is to see it for yourself. Our Fleet Surveillance Cameras offer the ultimate oversight opportunity for managers. It can also help protect your drivers in the event of an accident. The camera records all day and can be viewed in real-time. It is set to automatically store footage 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after an accident. Footage can be viewed in real-time, plus built in GPS shows a record of driving routes.

Benefits include:

• Identify both good and bad employee behaviors
• Saves hard drive space by only storing important incidents
• Recording 24/7 to capture anything that happens on the road, or parked in your lot
• When WiFi is accessible, you can view camera footage in real-time online via the central home data base
• Helps cut costs and secure assets
• Reduced claims lead to lower insurance premiums
• Protect employees in unwitnessed traffic incidents

Learn more about iDrive Fleet Surveillance Cameras

#3. Secure Your Property with MOBOTIX IP Network Cameras

We offer MOBOTIX IP Network Cameras to increase oversight and security of your business or home. Cameras are optimized for web based applications, which means you can watch in real-time using a variety of devices. Cameras are water and weatherproof, so you never worry about them cutting out when you need them most. There are even options for low-light areas. In fact, the thermal camera is great at detecting and reporting any moving objects when it’s pitch dark outside.

Learn more about MOBOTIX IP Network Cameras

At Highland Wireless, we offer a free site survey with pre-testing of signal strength to determine if you need an in-building radio enhancement system. We offer this service because it’s important to identify if a building or space can support cellular connectivity, as well as First Responder Radio Networks. A growing number of cities are starting to enforce mandatory in-building radio enhancement systems for new construction as a safety precaution for first responders and the public.

What is Signal Strength?

In telecommunications, signal strength (or field strength) is used to indicate the transmitter power output as established by a reference antenna at a distance from the transmitting antenna. When high-powered transmissions are used, they are expressed in dB-millivolts per minute. Alternatively, low-power system signal strength is typically referenced in dB-microvolts per meter.

Different signal strengths are required for unique circumstances. For instance, signal strength is lost when transmitted through a plasterboard wall; if the transmitted power is 20 mW, or 13 dBm, it will be reduced to 10 dBm when it exits the wall. That means a plasterboard wall decreases signal strength by 3dB. That’s not bad compared to a glass wall with a metal frame or a solid metal door, which causes signal attenuation of 6 dB. A cinder block wall decreases signal strength by 4 dB, and an office window takes away 3 dB.

The terrain of an office, outdoor space, or ship must be carefully assessed to determine appropriate signal strength.

How to Improve Signal Strength

SNR of 10 is considered low quality signal connection. There are several potential ways you can improve signal strength.

-Increase RSI

-Use higher gain antenna to increase the power transmitted

-Remove interference and Noise level

-Add in-building radio enhancement system (learn more here)

There are different solutions for each circumstance. We help you determine what you need for reliable signal strength.

Issues with Noise

“Noise” is a term used to define any interferences in a signal. It can be caused by other wireless devices, as well as other things. Lower Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) is better because it signifies clearer communication. In general, SNR should be over 20-25. The goal is for the transmitted signal to be of higher power than the interferences, or noise. This makes it easier for people to communicate and understand messages without static, cutting-out, etc.

The use of enhanced building materials in South Florida has grown considerably, but these hurricane and weather-proof buildings lead to increased signal strength loss. As a result, radio and cell reception is terrible and even non-existent in many buildings. 

We combat this issue by designing and installing Radio Enhancement Systems to help amplify signals for Fire Department radio networks, as well as cellular carriers.  In-building Radio Enhancement systems usually consist of a Donor antenna system, Bi-Directional Amplifier, and Distributed Antennae System. 

At Highland Wireless, We Take Care of Everything

Renting or buying two-way radios has never been easier. We are here to assist every step of the way to determine the best telecommunication solutions for your needs. Contact us today to schedule your free site assessment and signal strength testing.