Modern portable radios can meet first responders’ needs today and into the future

What does that mean? Well, how long has it been since you cared whether your smartphone used 700 or 800 MHz? Smartphone design has changed, allowing a wide range of frequencies to be used. There is no reason why public-safety radios shouldn't support diverse frequencies that enable responders to talk to neighboring counties and jurisdictions. As history has shown us, a failure to communicate between departments can amplify a genuine disaster.

So, as the cost of multiband technology drops, manufacturers are urged to produce radios with more bands that allow unprecedented interoperability. If the manufacturer will pre-program the Department of Homeland Security's National Interoperability Frequencies, that’s even better. After all, it’s the recommendation of the federal government that these frequencies be programmed in first-responder radios at all times, rather than waiting until a disaster is imminent.

Agencies nationwide are working to deploy broadband voice and data to first responders. Yet while broadband is moving into the first-responder toolbox, it’s not intended to prevent or all together replace the use of traditional LMR communications.

Many jurisdictions are looking for radios that have an optional, replaceable LTE transmitter, allowing flexibility to upgrade or change as broadband service comes into play and becomes more powerful.

Then, whenever a system that supports LTE is available, users can simply activate the option. Or if they ever need to change broadband contracts to a new service supplier, just change the LTE board. Meanwhile, first responders can continue to use the radio on their existing LMR system without retraining to use new equipment.

It is true that many details of how digital technology will progress are not clear, but thanks to industry standards and regulations forecast by government advisors and experts, the future is clear enough to anticipate the needs for the next generation of radio devices.

It’s the aim of this article to help public safety administrators, officials and first responders confidently embrace the uncertainty of LTE and broadband, knowing that today’s next-gen radios are, in fact, capable of supporting the evolution of public-safety communications.

The key is in combining tried-and-true methods; choose a platform that is optimized for today's trunking users while anticipating and planning for imminent migration to new data connectivity. With new tools at their disposal, users trained on existing voice systems will be able to intuitively integrate LTE and broadband technology, ultimately increasing safety and preparedness for themselves and those they serve.

Mark Tesh is a senior product manager with Harris, charged with adapting new communication technology into useful tools for first responders. His career has focused on improving and extending the capabilities of both radios and smartphones, and the interplay of new technology with users. Tesh has a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Atlantic University.