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.

If you want greater oversight than ever before, simply hook up wireless security cameras to your fleet of vehicles, or any location you manage. We offer iDrive Fleet Surveillance Cameras for vehicles, helping you better manage your fleet. Additionally, we are a proud distributor of the popular MOBOTIX IP Network Cameras, which can be used just about anywhere. Both wireless security cameras offer a valuable investment that can help you cut costs and better protect what matters.

What are iDrive Fleet Surveillance Cameras?

Do you operate a fleet of vehicles? Employing iDrive Fleet Surveillance Cameras can give you a leg up, offering greater safety and security. iDrive cameras are commonly added to a wide variety of vehicles including taxi cabs, semi-trucks, and so forth. Each camera has built in GPS, smart incident detection, and video storage. That means you can access important footage as needed.

Benefits of iDrive Fleet Surveillance Cameras

• Reduced Insurance Premiums

Installing fleet cameras often leads to a reduction in claims, which leads to reduced insurance premiums.

• Protects Drivers

The camera backs the word of drivers in the instance they are wrongly convicted of causing an accident. This is one of many ways cameras help to better protect drivers.

• Pinpoint & Stop Bad Driving Habits

Managers with this level oversight of drivers can stop reckless driving or unsuitable tactics right away. That way, something bad doesn’t have to happen before you find out about it.

• Records & Stores Important Events

The iDrive camera is trained to detect emergency situations. It records, and can be viewed live, 24-hours a day. But, it only keeps the 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after an accident occurs. As a result, you can access important clips as needed without wasting hard drive space.

• Easy to Access Footage

Videos can be saved and stored in one easy to locate area. It’s just as easy to extract files and move them elsewhere, as needed.

• Wi-Fi Capabilities

Thanks to Wi-Fi, you can automatically upload data to a central database where footage can be viewed on the spot.

What About MOBOTIX IP Network Cameras?

Since 2000, MOBOTIX has been offering leading security cameras with low bandwidth. Used everywhere from residential homes to large businesses, these cameras offer peace of mind, as well as greater security and oversight. These smart and autonomous IP cameras offer alarm messaging, auto event detection, video analysis, remote functions, and direct NAS ring buffer storage.

There are a variety of options and price points to choose from, including a 6-megapixel indoor camera that can be mounted to the wall or ceiling. Need to add a camera to a parking lot or other area exposed to harsh weather on a regular basis? MOBOTIX makes cameras that can stand just about anything the weather throws its way—working in temperatures that range from -22 degrees to 140 degrees F.

There’s a reason so many schools, prisons, airports, stadiums, and other busy locations employ MOBOTIX Network cameras. In fact, there are several reasons.

The Benefits of MOBOTIX Cameras 

• Weatherproof with IP66 rating—one of the industry’s highest standards of quality.
• Easy to use + full user control
• Optimized for cloud-based technology and remote application—the camera can reduce video size and bandwidth by scaling size and frame rate thanks to the virtual PTZ functionality.
• Cameras store high-resolution video internally, and can deliver on demand low-bandwidth live images, as well as low-bandwidth playback—all from your phone!
• Watch multiple vantage points at one time.
• Works in low-light areas thanks to thermal camera technology. It can spot and auto alert you to objects moving in complete darkness.
• Cameras are made to resist vandalism and damage—in proof, they are often used in prisons.

Contact us today to learn more about wireless security cameras and all they can do for your business.

There are three different tiers of Marine communication platforms: Mission Critical, Professional, and Commercial. So, how do you know which of these tiers offers what you need? 

The Commercial Tier is the most commonly used, and has been around the longest. Easily the most affordable option, this tier should only be used for smaller yachts and less critical missions. It does not offer the same reliability or advanced features as the two other tier systems.

The Professional Tier System is the middle option, offering better coverage and security than Commercial Tier. It’s a solid option but it’s not as reliable as the Mission Critical Tier System.

The Mission Critical Tier is the top option offering guaranteed performance. Hence, why it’s used by First Responders like Police Departments and Fire Personnel.

Continue reading to learn more about all three tiers of marine communication platforms.

1. Mission Critical Tier System

Best performance option

This is the top system used for mission critical tasks and to protect public safety, as performance is guaranteed. Regarding ships, TETRA is the main platform used; it is the same network employed by many Fire Departments and other First Responders. And for good reason. This network is proven to offer reliability for digital radio communications. Keep in mind, larger vessels require several repeaters that synch together via a Cat5 network cable.

What are the benefits of TETRA? 

• Smart Integration with the ship alarms (telemetry)
• Make private calls to on-board radios without having to carry around two different radios. Integrate radios with the ship’s PBX to make and receive ship-to-shore/shore-to-ship calls.
• All TETRA radios are rated IP67, allowing for submersion up to 1m for as long as 40 minutes. They are durable, waterproof, full feature, and intrinsically safe.
• You can opt in for 24/7 Network Monitoring and Support, as well as Remote Analysis of Network.

2. Professional Tier System

Better system, professional tier

After the most secure Public Safety tier comes #2 on our list, the Professional Line of Digital Mobile Radios (DRM) radios. This tier radio is used on yachts of all sizes. A DMR network may be made up of one or several repeaters joined together with a Cat5 network cable. Vessels that measure over 50m typically need to add at least one repeater for full coverage across the boat.

This is a more affordable option with a lot to offer, but when compared to the Mission Critical Tier System, it offers decreased reliability and coverage.

What are the benefits of DMR?

• Features include Bluetooth, caller ID, call alert, TDMA spectrum efficiency, UHF band communications, migratable static-free communication
• You have options with several different manufactures including Kenwood, Motorola and Hytera.
• Option for Trunking, or multiple talk groups

3. Commercial Tier System

Lowest option, but still good in some cases

Commercial Tier radios are the most commonly used on yachts today, and they have been around the longest. They offer traditional radio-to-radio analog communications via VHF or UHF bands. While this can offer good coverage, it doesn’t necessarily offer the coverage necessary for larger yachts and more intricate vessels.

Analog radio-to-radio communications cannot offer the same level of coverage or the same rich features offered by digital radios. This type of radio will work good to communicate across the deck, but not necessary all throughout the vessel.

We recommend only using this tier system in yachts that measure less than 50m in length. In some cases, higher tier communication platforms can be beneficial to smaller ships as well. 

Have additional questions or concerns? Contact us today!