We recently made a presentation to a group of volunteer fire chiefs where we explained to them that under current Department of Homeland Security Guidelines, the opportunity then existed to completely upgrade old analog radio systems to P25 digital with up to 95% funding.

Incredibly, virtually none of the questions were about the benefits.  Most were concerns about cost (remember I said 95% could be paid for by the grant).  Some had read about noise problems inside structures (P25 can be operated in the analog mode to eliminate this alleged problem if desired).  Still others questioned whether P25 was as good as MotoTRBO or NXDN.  We thought maybe it was time to set the record straight.

The fact is that P25 is the ONLY system approved for federal grant money funding so any further discussion of this subject is pointless.  The budgetary, operational, and technical issues have all been addressed and resolved.  Having said that, the BENEFITS of digital communications technology far exceed the capabilities of the best analog products available.  Digital is a reality in cameras, cellular phones, TV, Broadcast radio and virtually everything electronics.  While there are some issues that may be discussed on the relative merits of competing technology, the simple truth is that P25 is the mandatory system of choice for public safety use involving federal grant funds.

If you are curious about the other technologies, in particular NXDN (also known as IDAS as it relates to ICOM products) and the Motorola MotoTRBO system, you are at the right place.  This web page is all about the new digital technology.  Additional information is also available by clicking here.

For now, we thought it might be useful to share a plan that has been developed to help our public safety users in making a cost effective migration from analog to digital.  Additional information is available at www.info4u.us/PathwayPS.pdf.

As a closing thought, we thought it might be useful to share with you the pricing and specifications on our top selling portable radios to public safety users by Falcon Direct.  Check out www.info4u.us/PSRadios.pdf. We think you are in for a very pleasant surprise!

Candice Sutterlin

At your service!