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PCE is warning two-way business radio users to migrate to digital solutions as manufacturers continue to phase out the production of analogue radio equipment. The Exeter-based two-way radio experts have been informed that leading manufacture Motorola is in the final stages of cancelling production of analogue radios, with the entire process due to be complete in less than six months. Motorola have already cancelled the manufacture of their GP320, ATEX GP340, GP344 and GP388 handsets with the GP340 model due to follow in February 2015. Other manufacturers will no doubt follow suit leaving many businesses and public sector organisations with obsolete analogue radio equipment. PCE’s National Account Manager Stephen Smith said: “PCE would advise business radio users to consider this as the ideal time to migrate to a digital two-way radio solution. It is not as costly or alarming as it seems and we offer a consultancy approach that will ensure your solution will guarantee best value for money. “Our expertise means we can support clients with demanding, mission-critical, real-time communication environments while offering a solution that offers enhanced coverage, sound quality, security and battery life.” PCE’s engineers can continue to support analogue solutions but it will be on a best endeavour basis as they will no longer be any escalation process as support from manufacturers will be withdrawn. If you are concerned about your analogue radio equipment, please call PCE today on 01392 445040 or email enquiries@pce-uk.com #digitalradio

Premier Communication Electronics (PCE) has given its support to a charity event held in Exmouth to raise money for the Ryan Edwards Appeal. Ryan, from Exeter, has been fighting a form of aggressive childhood cancer since he was two. Ryan needs immediate treatment to try to shrink a new tumour on his spine.  Ryan’s best chance of beating the disease is to travel to Germany for a stem cell transplant but this will cost in excess of £300,000. Exmouth hosted two fun days during the wet bank holiday weekend which included a table sale, live music, a Martial arts demonstration, BBQ and visits from Mickey Mouse and In The Night Garden’s Iggle Piggle. PCE, based in Osprey Road on Exeter’s Sowton Industrial Estate, loaned the event six two-way radios to enable the events co-ordinators to remain in contact throughout the weekend. Karen Langley, managing director of PCE, said: “Everyone in Exeter has been touched by Ryan Edwards’ story and it was our pleasure to contribute to this charity event in some way.” Event organiser Marion Baker said: “We had a fab day and we raised £1,400 with special thanks to PCE for the loan of the radios. “It was fantastic to have the radios for the event. We used them as we walked around all the shops to let others know where we were.” Donations can still be made to http://www.justgiving.com/teams/ryanedwards. #Industrynews

The Handsfree R5 is a modular, scalable solution for use in Emergency Service vehicles. Designed and built by the experts at Handsfree Group, the R5 fixed vehicle device is a leading vehicle communication, safety and security solution used by a wide range of first response clients including police, ambulance and fire services.

We are all currently hyperaware about the critical importance of keeping our hands, homes and workspaces clean and germ free. But how do we make sure that our two-way radios and accessories aren’t harbouring dangerous germs or viruses? With two-way radios not normally being personal issue, the risk of cross contamination is high. Not only do radios get passed from colleague to colleague, but are veritable reservoirs of pathogens as they held close to faces, ears and mouths, and touched with hands of different users with different health conditions, infections and viruses. Guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting your radios Leading critical communications manufacturer, Motorola Solutions, has put together these guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting your communication equipment to reduce the risk of spreading infection: General cleaning: Apply 0.5% detergent-water solution with a cloth, then use a stiff, non-metallic, short-bristled brush to work all loose dirt away from the device. Use a soft, absorbent, lintless cloth or tissue to remove the solution and dry the device. Make sure that no solution remains entrapped near any connectors, cracks or crevices. Disinfect: Devices may be disinfected by wiping them down with over-the-counter isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) with at least 70% alcohol concentration. When cleaning with isopropyl alcohol, the alcohol should never be applied directly to the device. It should be applied to a cloth, which is then used to wipe down the device. Do not use bleach, solvents or cleaning sprays to cleanse or disinfect your device. The effects of certain chemicals and their vapours can have detrimental effects on plastics and the metal platings. It’s important to remember that the above cleaners, disinfectants and processes, although approved by Motorola Solutions, may not be effective in removing specific foreign substances (including viruses). Please consult the chemical manufacturers’ documentation for specifics on cleaning product efficacy. More important now than ever Keeping your two-way radio devices clean and hygienic is not only good practice for extending the life-span of your products, but for generally reducing workplace sickness. However, during this unprecedented pandemic, keeping your radios and accessories germ and virus-free could reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, and keep those around you safe and healthy. #digitalradio #Industrynews #twowayradio

Hearing interference on a two-way radio (walkie talkie) solution is a common complaint which people come to us for help and which, happily, we can find a solution to. But to understand the solutions, you need to understand the issues that are causing the walkie talkie interference in the first place. The first is background noise. The audio on your radio (walkie talkie) is fine in theory but it is being drowned out by activities in the background. This is particularly pertinent in a work environment where heavy machinery and vehicles are in use. The radio (walkie talkie) user ends up having to shout to try to make themselves heard. Fortunately, modern two-way digital radios have background noise cancelling capabilities built in, so that conversations can be clearly heard. Losing coverage is the second issue, whereby conversations are lost, cut short, or sound like a strained whisper. Sometimes this can be down to batteries in that they are not charged up properly or have not been replaced at the recommended time. In our experience, it is more likely that your site does not have enough coverage and requires a repeater to boost the signal. We have designed many replacement solutions where this has been the case, especially in challenging topographical areas. Overhearing other conversations is number three on the irritants’ list. It also means that other people can probably hear you too. This occurs when you have unlicensed radios as they share their frequencies with others. If you want to avoid this, you need a licence from Ofcom so you can enjoy your own private network. At PCE, we handle the licencing process for our customers to remove the hassle of this administrative task. Number four – lack of discretion. With the most basic walkie-talkies, it is clear that everyone around you can hear your conversation. The simplest solution is to purchase one of a range of ear-pieces. You can also use text messaging on most models of digital two-way radios for true one-to-one communication when privacy is really needed. The last issue is the location you use your radio in within your workplace. Similar to the coverage issue, interference can occur when you use two-way radios in the basement or in a lift. These are known as black spots and these can be potentially dangerous in an emergency. We were faced with this very issue when installing a solution for an aquarium. We used a bespoke antenna system to boost the signal throughout the multi-floored building which is largely underground. Similar solutions would be required for businesses with multiple floors and lifts . So here are your five main issues, but they all have solutions. There is no reason why your business should suffer any interference on your two-way radio solution (walkie talkie) . Marius Coetzee Senior Engineer

Trial our radios for free! Two-way radios can dramatically improve your on-site communications, as well as delivering valuable health and safety benefits to your staff and customers. As the South West’s leading supplier of two-way business radios, we help lots of businesses improve the way their staff communicate on-site. We are so sure your site would benefit from a business radio solution we’re offering you a chance to trial our two-way radios for free! One of team will pop over, show you how to use them and leave them with you to see how you and your team get on. Hire radios when you need them To ensure all your staff  stay in touch for that one-off event or festival, you may need additional radio solutions. We stock a range of digital and analogue hand portable radios and you can hire these from as little as a week at a time.  Find out more > #digitalradio #twowayradio

Do you work in a high-risk industry that is at risk of fire or explosion? If so, you are probably aware of the ATEX Directive – a set of EU regulations that cover equipment and protective systems, including two-way radio, intended for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. This directive provides regulations to protect and safeguard employees in hazardous environments such as oil rigs, gas mains, mines, chemical plants, airports or factories. If you work in such an environment you will need a radio for hazardous location. This blog will look at what actually makes a radio ATEX, or intrinsically safe, the hazardous industries that need this type of radio, and the clear health and safety benefits to your staff. We will also cover the ATEX zones and their definitions so you know type of cover you need for your business. What are ATEX or Intrinsically Safe radios? The ATEX Directive 94/9/EC was introduced in 2003 to protect workers in potentially explosive atmospheres use the correct and safe equipment. ATEX radios, also known as intrinsically safe devices are defined as “equipment and wiring which 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.” ATEX radios are manufactured to the highest industry standards. The devices are fully sealed and operate at a lower power output. ATEX radios are often coloured blue and marked with an ‘EX’ indicating its certification. Below the ATEX level are a range of ‘Hazardous Location’ (Hazloc) standards laid out by the TIA-4950 directive (published by the Telecommunications Industry Association), each covering different levels of fire or explosion risk. The Hazloc standard gives two-way radio manufacturers a less stringent option of certifying hazardous location radios and accessories. High-risk hazards. Which ATEX zone? Is your workplace likely to be exposed to any of the following? Acetylene and equivalent gas groups Hydrogen and equivalent gas groups Ethylene and equivalent gas groups Methane and equivalent gas Conductive dust (mechanical – factories, recyclers) Combustible carbon dust (charcoal & coke dust) – above ground only Grain dust In high-risk locations, even the smallest spark caused by an imperfect connection between a two-way radio and its battery terminal can cause an explosion. The frequency and duration of risk present in hazardous areas can differ dramatically depending on the form of flammable gases or dust materials present. ATEX approved radio equipment must comply with the correct ATEX zone: ATEX zones for gases/vapour: Zone 0 (gases/vapours): an area in which an explosive mixture is continuously present or present for long periods. Zone 1 (gases/vapours): an area in which an explosive mixture is likely to occur in normal operation. Zone 2 (gases/vapours): an area in which an explosive mixture is not likely to occur in normal operation and if it occurs it will exist only for a short time. ATEX zones for dust: Zone 20 (dusts): an area in which an explosive mixture is continuously present or present for long periods. Zone 21 (dusts): an area in which an explosive mixture is likely to occur in normal operation. Zone 22 (dusts): an area in which an explosive mixture is not likely to occur in normal operation and if it occurs it will exist only for a short time. Reducing risk for your staff ATEX radios are invaluable in high-risk environments: they keep your staff safe by enabling them to stay in touch and coordinate works, raise an alarm for help if needed, without exposing them unnecessarily to the risks of explosion. Even if the risk of exposure under normal conditions is low, if you do experience an incident and your radios are shown not to meet the required ATEX or Hazloc standards, your insurance company paying out for damages will be the least of your concerns. Given that such an incident may have serious or fatal consequences, it’s important your two-way radios meet the correct standards, and continue to do so with regular maintenance and safety checks. Don’t have two-way radios but keen to explore the benefits? Got a radio communication system but want to understand how it can work even harder for you? Not sure if you need an ATEX solution at your business premises? Please contact our team for an obligation-free chat. #ATEX #digitalradio #Manufacturing #twowayradio

If you have been tasked with purchasing two-way radios for your business, you would be forgiven for feeling a little confused. Digital or analogue; licensed or unlicensed; VHF or UHF; portable or fixed…and where do walkie-talkies fit in? Chosen with care, two-way business radios are a very flexible form of communication. They can provide simple one-to-one conversations within a small group of users or you can increase the number of channels, so you can have one for everyone, one for management, one for security, etc.  You can use each channel like an intercom system that lets you call individual people or groups instead of broadcasting a message to everyone. We hope this guide will answer all your questions, but if you do have any more please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Types of two-way business radios: •    Handheld two way radios are the walkie-talkie type of radios you see people carrying around. •    Vehicle-mounted mobile two-way radios are used in a cars, vans, etc and use the vehicle’s battery for power. They will achieve better range by using an externally mounted antenna on the vehicle. •    Desktop base station radios use mains power and can be connected to a cable that leads to an external mounted antenna. The higher the antenna is mounted, the better the range. The vehicle mounted mobile radio are often used as base station by adding an AC to DC power converter. •    Two-way radio repeaters are radios that increase the operational range of your PMR radio system. Repeaters can be used to cover areas in your business where a two-way radio will not transmit or receive. A repeater receives the transmission of a two-way radio and rebroadcasts it further. Difference between UHF and VHF: The choice here will depend on where you want to use them – in buildings, out on site, in vehicles, etc – and how much coverage you require. VHF travels furthest outdoors whereas UHF is better for local on-site use. Choice of analogue or digital two-way business radio: There is nothing wrong with purchasing an analogue radio and they will still be around for some considerable time, but there is a clear business case for digital business radio. •    Spectrum efficiency – doubling the number of potential users •    Outstanding audio and noise cancelling •    Longer battery life •    Extended range •    Improved privacy Extra features to consider: •    Security –emergency call or man-down will immediately notify all other radios on the same channel. •    Selectable power – allows you to switch between high and low power modes to extend the life of the battery. •    Accessories – such as headsets, spare batteries, belt clips, speaker microphones complete the business radio package. Licences: You will need a radio licence to operate your two-way business radios and these are issued by the Government agency, Ofcom. Licensed frequencies are allocated on a case by case basis. We can apply for these on your behalf and programme your equipment for you. Alan Macdonald-Brown Technical Sales Consultant #analogueradio #businessradio #digitalradio #twowayradio

Premier Communications Electronics (PCE) has signed up to sponsor The Tomahawk Tour. This event began on Wednesday, September 3, with 10 volunteers cycling almost 300 miles around the borders of Devon to raise money for Exeter Youth Rugby and the Exeter Foundation. The cyclists will be joined on the last leg on September 6 by other riders who are partaking in a family bike ride from Exmouth to Exeter Youth Rugby’s new ground at Oil Mill Lane. In addition to financial sponsorship, two-way radio specialists PCE is also providing and driving the support vehicles required for the event. Karen Langley, PCE’s CEO, said: “We have long been a support of Exeter Chiefs and see this as an extension of that commitment by hopefully helping to nurture new young talent through the club’s youth section. “We have also been an Exeter business for nearly four decades and are more than pleased to support the civics aims of the Exeter Foundation. We wish the cyclists all the best for their ride in September.” Adrian Williams, event organiser, for the Tomahawk Tour, said: “We are grateful to PCE for their early show of support. We are aiming to raise £10,000 from this event and PCE’s contribution and offer of a support team will no doubt help us reach that target.”