Who says you haveto switch to digital?
If you are not quite ready to make the move to digital, you are not alone! Analog radios will be in operation at least until 2018. As always - you have choices! Here's what it all boils down to.
If you contemplate applying for, or have a grant pending, for communications equipment funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), you must purchase equipment that is compatible with the nationwide interoperability standard known as APCO-25 or simply P25. With Falcon Direct, you have a choice of four GSA and State Contract approved vendors at www.the-end-of-confusion.com.
Aside from grant funding, you have any one of five available choices. As far as mandatory compliance with federal regulations, the only requirement for communications users is that all radios operated after January 1, 2013 must be capable of operating at 12.5 kHz (narrow band) channels spacing (the current standard is 25 kHz). There is NO requirement to convert to digital. This means you can use either analog (the current technology) or digital (the advanced technology).
You will note that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules call for USERS to operate at 12.5 kHz after January 1, 2013. Manufacturers must build equipment that is CAPABLE of operating at 6.25 KHz (known as Very Narrow Band or VNB) in 2011. The fact is that VNB operates efficiently ONLY in a digital mode. That's an important point to remember. Additionally, you should remember that with the imposed VNB standards, every communications equipment manufacturer will be placing their emphasis on increasing market share and reducing cost to the consumer by focusing their attention on the new (in 2011) digital technology.
The net conclusion is that the cost for analog equipment may go UP and the cost for digital equipment goes down. That is a proven theory, but it is worthy of consideration. Both ICOM and Kenwood are betting on a digital technology known as NXDN to become the new world standard. Motorola is betting on MotoTRBO, even though it won't yet operate at 6.25 kHZ. You can learn more about NXDN and ICOM at www.icomfuture.com or for more information on MotoTRBO, please visit http://motosbest.com/mototrbo.aspx. One point to keep in mind - ONLY the NXDN system and the DTR System (See next paragraph) meet proposed FCC 2018 operating standards.
If your needs are within a church, school, or other limited area, you may want to consider an unlicensed digital radio system that has no technical deadlines. If it works today - it will work tomorrow! For additional information, please go to www.dtr2way.com. If your intended application is for PERSONAL use, we invite you to visit www.mursradios.com
Now that you know all about the digital offerings, let's take a look at the ANALOG offerings (see selections on the upper left side of this web page). You will find that analog can cost considerably less. It works well, and it may just be the right solution for YOU!