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Wireless News Aggregation

Friday — December 23, 2016 — Issue No. 737


Welcome

Wishing a safe and happy weekend for all readers of The Wireless Messaging News.


— CONGRATULATIONS


Ira Wiesenfeld

Ira Wiesenfeld was elected to serve as Chairman of ETA® International for the 2017 and 2018 calendar years.

The 2016 ETA Technician of the Year award was presented to Jay Thompson.

Both of these gentlemen are friends and subscribers to this newsletter.

More details follow in the press release below.


Please don't miss the important video from Swissphone in the first article below.

Now on to more news and views.

Wayne County, Illinois


Wireless Messaging News

  • Emergency Radio Communications
  • Wireless Messaging
  • Critical Messaging
  • Telemetry
  • Paging
  • Wi-Fi
Wireless
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Messaging

About Us

A new issue of the Wireless Messaging Newsletter is posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon central US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the web. That way it doesn’t fill up your incoming e-mail account.

There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world’s major Paging and Wireless Messaging companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers — so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It’s all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology.

I regularly get readers’ comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the Paging, and Wireless Messaging communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my web site. I am very careful to protect the anonymity of those who request it.

I spend the whole week searching the Internet for news that I think may be of interest to you — so you won’t have to. This newsletter is an aggregator — a service that aggregates news from other news sources. You can help our community by sharing any interesting news that you find.


Editorial Policy

Editorial Opinion pieces present only the opinions of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of any of advertisers or supporters. This newsletter is independent of any trade association.


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There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. It’s all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology.


The Wireless Messaging News
Board of Advisors

Frank McNeill
Founder & CEO
Communications Specialists
Jim Nelson
President & CEO
Prism Systems International
Kevin D. McFarland, MSCIS
Sr. Application Systems Analyst
Dartmouth-Hitchcock
Medical Center
Paul Lauttamus, President
Lauttamus Communications & Security
R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Wireless Consultant
Barry Kanne
Paging Industry Veteran
Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Allan Angus
Consulting Engineer

The Board of Advisor members are people with whom I have developed a special rapport, and have met personally. They are not obligated to support the newsletter in any way, except with advice, and maybe an occasional letter to the editor.

Back To Paging

Still The Most Reliable Protocol For Wireless Messaging!




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Advertiser Index

Critical Alert
Easy Solutions
Hark Technologies
Ira Wiesenfeld & Associates a/k/a IWA Technical Services
Leavitt Communications
PageTek
Preferred Wireless
Prism Paging
Product Support Services — (PSSI)
Paging & Wireless Network Planners LLC — (Ron Mercer)
RF Demand Solutions
Salcom
Swissphone
WaveWare Technologies

South Tyrol Opts For Separate Alerting And Voice Communication Networks

Not only do public safety organisations face new challenges but also a variety of new threats. This requires solutions that work reliably even in case of a major crisis. One precaution for a major crisis is to separate voice communication and alerting networks.

December 19, 2016

When is a communication system safe enough? What happens if a voice communication network reaches or even exceeds its capacity due to an unplanned event? How can you still alert your intervention forces; even if the connection to the control and monitoring systems are interrupted? Several incidents with dedicated voice communication networks being jammed during unplanned events in the last years illustrated how important these questions are.

Markus Rauch, Civil Protection Agency of South Tyrol, takes a stance. His experience: A network uniting both alerting and voice communication devices can suddenly fail during unplanned events. South Tyrol therefore decided to separate alerting networks from voice communication systems. Their solution offers several fallback modes and end-devices that are comparably inexpensive, compact, robust, with a long battery life and great indoor-reception.

Learn more in the video.

Source:

Swissphone Holding AG

Philipp Zimmermann, Head of Marketing



Salcom


Salcom


PageTek

Be sure your infrastructure is up and running with the ProTek Flex Site Monitor from PageTek.

ProTek Flex—reliable, adaptable, expandable, affordable—and no surprises.

PageTek.net
919-518-1828


PageTek


WaveWare Technologies

wavewear
Enhancing Mobile Alert Response

sales@wirelessmessaging.com
800-373-1466
2630 National Dr., Garland, TX 75041


New Products

OMNI Messaging Server

  • Combines Nurse Call Monitoring and Browser Based Messaging
  • Combines Radio Paging with Smartphone and E-mail Integration
  • Embedded System with 2 RS-232 Ports and Ethernet
  • Browser Based Messaging and Configuration
  • Smartphone Alert Notification Using Low-Latency Communication Protocols
  • TAP, COMP2, Scope, WaveWare, SNPP, PET and SIP Input Protocols
  • PIN Based Routing to Multiple Remote Paging Systems
  • 2W, 5W Radio Paging

MARS (Mobile Alert Response System)

  • Combines Paging Protocol Monitoring and Wireless Sensor Monitoring (Inovonics and Bluetooth LE)
  • Improves Mobile Response Team Productivity using Smartphone App
  • Low-Latency Alerts using Pagers, Smartphones, Corridor Lights, Digital Displays and Annunciation Panels
  • Automated E-mail Based Alert Response and System Status Reports
  • Linux Based Embedded System with Ethernet and USB Ports
  • Browser Based Configuration

STG (SIP to TAP Gateway)

  • Monitors SIP protocol (engineered for Rauland Responder V nurse call)
  • Outputs TAP protocol to Ethernet and Serial Port Paging Systems
  • Linux Based Embedded System
  • Browser Based Configuration

WaveWare Technologies

ad


A Problem

The Motorola Nucleus II Paging Base Station is a great paging transmitter. The Nucleus I, however, had some problems.

One of the best features of this product was its modular construction. Most of the Nucleus' component parts were in plug-in modules that were field replaceable making maintenance much easier.

One issue was (and still is) that two of the modules had to always be kept together. They are called the “matched pair.”

Motorola used some tricks to keep people in the field from trying to match unmatched pairs, and force them to send SCM and Exciter modules back to the factory for calibrating them with precision laboratory equipment.

The serial numbers have to match in the Nucleus programing software or you can't transmit. Specifically the 4-level alignment ID parameter contained in the SCM has to match the Exciter ID parameter.

Even if someone could modify the programing software to “fudge” these parameters, that would not let them use unmatched modules effectively without recalibrating them to exact factory specifications.

So now that there is no longer a Motorola factory laboratory to send them to, what do we do?

I hope someone can help us resolve this serious problem for users of the Nucleus paging transmitter.

Please let me know if you can help. [ click here ]


Easy Solutions

easy solutions

Easy Solutions provides cost effective computer and wireless solutions at affordable prices. We can help in most any situation with your communications systems. We have many years of experience and a vast network of resources to support the industry, your system and an ever changing completive landscape.

  • We treat our customers like family. We don’t just fix problems . . . We recommend and implement better cost-effective solutions.
  • We are not just another vendor . . . We are a part of your team. All the advantages of high priced full time employment without the cost.
  • We are not in the Technical Services business . . . We are in the Customer Satisfaction business.

Experts in Paging Infrastructure

  • Glenayre, Motorola, Unipage, etc.
  • Excellent Service Contracts
  • Full Service—Beyond Factory Support
  • Contracts for Glenayre and other Systems starting at $100
  • Making systems More Reliable and MORE PROFITABLE for over 30 years.

Please see our web site for exciting solutions designed specifically for the Wireless Industry. We also maintain a diagnostic lab and provide important repair and replacement parts services for Motorola and Glenayre equipment. Call or e-mail us for more information.

Easy Solutions
3220 San Simeon Way
Plano, Texas 75023

Vaughan Bowden
Telephone: 972-898-1119
Website: www.EasySolutions4You.com
E-mail: vaughan@easysolutions4you.com

Easy Solutions


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Andrea Cumpston Phone: 703-797-5111
Email: andrea.cumpston@enterprisewireless.org

LMCC Supports Priority Access to 800 MHz Spectrum

December 22, 2016 (Herndon, VA) — In Reply Comments filed today, the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) noted the broad support within the Private Land Mobile Radio (PLMR) community for the proposals made by the FCC in WP Docket 16-261, to improve access to PLMR spectrum. The only area of significant controversy in the industry involves the rules governing priority access to the 800 MHz Expansion Band (EB) and Guard Band (GB) spectrum. The LMCC urged the FCC to revisit its 800 MHz EB/GB proposal which is more restricted than the LMCC’s original proposal.

While not all members supported the proposal, particularly with respect to SMRs, the LMCC’s Reply Comments nevertheless recommended that all existing 800 MHz incumbents, whether Business/Industrial Land Transportation (B/ILT), Public Safety or Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) should be afforded time-limited priority access to available channels within the EB/GB. Other recommendations confirmed by the LMCC in its Reply Comments included:

  • The LMCC offers to work with the FCC in developing protocols that would support the efficient use of all the UHF spectrum under consideration in the NPRM. “UHF spectrum that can be assigned on an exclusive basis is simply too scarce to be sequestered, unused by any entity, if effective coordination procedures would permit its deployment,” the LMCC commented; and
  • The LMCC recommends adoption of the Central Station Alarm Association proposal, which represents a balance between the future spectrum needs of the central station alarm monitoring providers and those of other PLMR constituencies.

The LMCC Reply Comments may be viewed at www.lmcc.org.

About LMCC

The Land Mobile Communications Council is a nonprofit association of organizations that represent the wireless communications interests of public safety, critical infrastructure, business, industrial, transportation, private and common carriers as well as manufacturers of wireless communications equipment. Learn more at www.lmcc.org.

Source:The Land Mobile Communications Council

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Contact:
Michele Lawson, CSS
ETA International
Phone: (800) 288-3824
Fax: (765) 653-4287

5 Depot Street
Greencastle,IN 46135
www.eta-i.org

ETA® International


PRESS RELEASE

ETA Selects Award Recipients and Elects New Board of Directors

ETA® International is proud to have the most respected industry leaders as members of the not-for-profit professional trade association who share the mission to foster excellence in electronics through certification. ETA recently selected the annual award winners who made outstanding contributions to the electronics industry during the past year and elected the board of directors to lead the association for the next two years.

Greencastle, December 21, 2016: ETA recently recognized the contributions of an outstanding technician, educator and local chapter, all dedicated to the highest standards of electronics excellence with ETA’s annual awards. Members also voted on the new ETA Board of Directors to promote the arts and sciences of electronics technology and to educate the members and the public in the advancement, improvement and uses of the services of trained and certified electronics technicians.

Those deserving recognition for their dedication and enthusiasm for the electronics industry and their willingness to volunteer at a moment’s notice to represent their association include:

Technician of the Year — For outstanding service to electronics technicians, this award is given in honor of the late Norris R. Browne, president of the National Electronic Association (NEA) and a service business owner who worked hard to assure that the professionalism of the independent technician be maintained and championed. This award is presented annually to an individual who is recognized as having similar passion and character. The 2016 ETA Technician of the Year award is presented to Jay Thompson, CETsr; San Diego CA; Senior Field Technician, IWATSI.

Educator of the Year — This prestigious award is named in honor of Wallace “Wally” Medeiros, PhD, CETma, a US Veteran and retired communications worker who spent his retirement working as in instructor at Honolulu Community College and the U.S. military at Barbers Point, HI teaching, inspiring and working on course development. For outstanding dedication and devotion in the education of those pursuing careers in electronics and related fields, this award goes to Clarence Owen Jackson, FOT; Martinez GA; Ordnance Electronics Maintenance Training Department, US Army.

Chapter of the Year — For active involvement in the world of electronics, this award recognizes registered student and local chapters of ETA International and also supports a continuance of dedication to both the association and the electronics field itself. Center Point High School, Birmingham AL, is this year’s ETA Chapter of the Year.

ETA members elected their fellow member technicians and educators to promote and guide the not-for-profit professional trade association. ETA Board of Directors includes professionals dedicated to the electronics industry willing to serve the association with the highest standards of excellence. The volunteers selected to serve ETA International for the 2017 and 2018 calendar years include:

Chairman — Ira Wiesenfeld, CETsr; Dallas TX; IWA Technical Services
Vice Chairman — John Baldwin, CETs; Faribault MN
Secretary — Christopher Miller, CETsr; Towanda IL; Heartland Community College
Treasurer — Tommy Bonner, Ph.D.; Townsend TN; Viavi Solutions
Communications Division Chair — Shane Morris, CETma; Buckley WA; Motorola Solutions
Communications Division Secretary/Treasurer — Richard Agard, CET; Philadelphia PA; Philadelphia Fiber Optic Training
Education Division Chair — Douglas Hubert, EdD; Norton OH; University of Akron
Education Division Secretary/Treasurer — James ‘Joe’ Goudy; CETsr; Fairfield, IA; Indian Hills Community College
Certified Technician Division Chair — Judy Hill, CETsr; Oak Harber WA; Green Lion Training Services; ICOM
Certified Technician Division Secretary Treasurer — John Zieliniski, CETma; Lackawanna, NY
Shop Division Chair — Kim Bozman, CSS; Salisbury MD; Teltronic Inc
Shop Division Secretary/Treasurer — Roderic Taylor, CET; Birmingham AL; Center Point High School
Cabling Division Chair — Paul Neukam, FOT-OSP; Huntingburg IN; SiteWise Systems
Cabling Division Secretary/Treasurer — Sean Sheedy, FOT-OSP; Meridian ID; Optical Resources
Renewable Energy Division Chair — Jay Warmke, PVI — Lv1, SMI — Lv1; Philo, OH; Blue Rock Station Director of International Relations — John Bakkeren, CETma; Brampton ON Canada; Peel Regional Police
Director of Student Chapter Relations — Sherrie Ferguson, EM1; Norfolk, VA
Board of Masters Chair — J. Shane Morris, CETma: Buckley, WA; Motorola Solutions

About ETA — Since 1978, ETA has delivered over 200,000 professional certifications plus nearly 40,000 FCC license exams. Widely recognized and frequently used in worker job selection, hiring processes, pay increases, and advancements, ETA certifications are often required as companies bid on contracts. ETA’s certifications are personal and portable worldwide, thus traveling with the individual, regardless of employment or status change. ETA certifications measure and validate competencies of persons, not products or vendors. All ETA certifications are accredited through the International Certification Accreditation Council (ICAC) and align with the ISO-17024 standard. www.eta-i.org.

###

ETA® International • 5 Depot Street Greencastle, Indiana 46135 • P: (765) 653-8262 • www.eta-i.org eta@eta-i.org

Source: www.eta-i.org/pr/ETA_Selects_Award_Recipients_and_Elects_New_Board_of_Directors.pdf

Prism Paging


Product Support Services, Inc.

Repair and Refurbishment Services

pssi logo

pssipssi

Product Support Services, Inc.

511 South Royal Lane
Coppell, Texas 75019
(972) 462-3970 Ext. 261
sales@pssirl.com left arrow
www.pssirl.com left arrow

PSSI is the industry leader in reverse logistics, our services include depot repair, product returns management, RMA and RTV management, product audit, test, refurbishment, re-kitting and value recovery.


RF Demand Solutions

Codan Paging Transmitters

  • The smart choice for Critical Messaging
  • Proven performance in extreme conditions
  • Trusted by the World's largest mission critical security, military, & humanitarian agencies

Flexible Modern Design:

  • Analog & Digital
  • VHF, UHF & 900 MHz
  • WB, NB, & Splinter Operation
  • Multiple Frequencies & Protocols
  • High Power Output Configuration available
  • Integrates with Motorola & Glenayre Simulcast
  • Compatible with most popular Controllers

codan

Time to Upgrade?

 Thousands In Use...

  • Utility Load Demand
  • Healthcare
  • Enterprise

Your US Distributor for Codan Radio Paging Equipment
847-829-4730 / info@rfds.biz / www.RFDS.biz


A flight was late because someone named their Wi-Fi hotspot ‘Galaxy Note 7’

by Chris Welch Dec 22, 2016, 5:16pm EST


Photo by George Frey/Getty Images

Airlines aren’t taking the ban against Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 lightly. A clever but highly irresponsible troll by a passenger aboard a Virgin America flight out of San Francisco nearly resulted in the plane being grounded and searched for the recalled smartphone. According to BBC News, someone switched the name of their portable Wi-Fi hotspot to “Galaxy Note 7_1097,” which gave other passengers (and the flight’s crew) the impression that Samsung’s device was somewhere on the plane — and actively being used.

This resulted in numerous urgent announcements from the crew demanding that the owner of the Note 7 speak up. The captain warned that the flight would need to be diverted and land in Wyoming (far from its Boston destination) for an emergency search if no one stepped forward.

Lucas Wojciechowski was on the disrupted flight and took a screenshot of the Note 7 SSID. I can’t speak for the accuracy of his transcriptions, but it certainly sounds like the crew wasn’t happy. “This isn't a joke,” someone reportedly announced to the everyone on board. “We're going to turn on the lights and search everyone's bag until we find it.”

Remember that the Galaxy Note 7 is a potential fire hazard and is officially barred from flight by the FAA. We’re talking a federal crime, here. So while the reaction might strike some as extreme, this is definitely how a crew should respond when they believe a potentially dangerous and banned anything is somewhere on their plane mid-flight. The culprit ultimately fessed up and explained the stubborn prank. iMore’s Serenity Caldwell was at the airport a few hours after the flight arrived in Boston — late.

Source: The Verge

Leavitt Communications

leavitt

Specialists in sales and service of equipment from these leading manufacturers, as well as other two-way radio and paging products:

UNICATIONbendix king
ZETRON

motorola blue Motorola SOLUTIONS

COMmotorola red Motorola MOBILITY spacer
 usalert
Philip C. Leavitt
Manager
Leavitt Communications
7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail: pcleavitt@leavittcom.com
Web Site: www.leavittcom.com
Mobile phone:847-494-0000
Telephone:847-955-0511
Fax:270-447-1909
Skype ID:pcleavitt

Swissphone

Disaster-Proven Paging for Public Safety

Paging system designs in the United States typically use a voice radio-style infrastructure. These systems are primarily designed for outdoor mobile coverage with modest indoor coverage. Before Narrowbanding, coverage wasn’t good, but what they have now is not acceptable! The high power, high tower approach also makes the system vulnerable. If one base station fails, a large area loses their paging service immediately!

Almost every technology went from analog to digital except fire paging. So it’s time to think about digital paging! The Disaster-Proven Paging Solution (DiCal) from Swissphone offers improved coverage, higher reliability and flexibility beyond anything that traditional analog or digital paging systems can provide. 

Swissphone is the No. 1 supplier for digital paging solutions worldwide. The Swiss company has built paging networks for public safety organizations all over the world. Swissphone has more than 1 million pagers in the field running for years and years due to their renowned high quality.

DiCal is the digital paging system developed and manufactured by Swissphone. It is designed to meet the specific needs of public safety organizations. Fire and EMS rely on these types of networks to improve incident response time. DiCal systems are designed and engineered to provide maximum indoor paging coverage across an entire county. In a disaster situation, when one or several connections in a simulcast solution are disrupted or interrupted, the radio network automatically switches to fall back operating mode. Full functionality is preserved at all times. This new system is the next level of what we know as “Simulcast Paging” here in the U.S.

Swissphone offers high-quality pagers, very robust and waterproof. Swissphone offers the best sensitivity in the industry, and battery autonomy of up to three months. First responder may choose between a smart s.QUAD pager, which is able to connect with a smartphone and the Hurricane DUO pager, the only digital pager who offers text-to-voice functionality.

Bluetooth technology makes it possible to connect the s.QUAD with a compatible smartphone, and ultimately with various s.ONE software solutions from Swissphone. Thanks to Bluetooth pairing, the s.QUAD combines the reliability of an independent paging system with the benefits of commercial cellular network. Dispatched team members can respond back to the call, directly from the pager. The alert message is sent to the pager via paging and cellular at the same time. This hybrid solution makes the alert faster and more secure. Paging ensures alerting even if the commercial network fails or is overloaded.

Swissphone sets new standards in paging:

Paging Network

  • It’s much faster to send individual and stacked pages digitally than with analog voice.
  • If you want better indoor coverage, you put sites closer together at lower heights.
  • A self-healing system that also remains reliable in various disaster situations.
  • Place base station where you need them, without the usage of an expensive backhaul network.
  • Protect victim confidentiality and prevent unauthorized use of public safety communications, with integrated encryption service.

Pager

  • Reliable message reception, thanks to the best sensitivity in the industry.
  • Ruggedized and waterproof, IP67 and 6 1/2-feet drop test-certified products.
  • Battery autonomy of up to three months, with a standard AA battery.
  • Bluetooth enables the new s.QUAD pager to respond back to the dispatch center or fire chief.

Dispatching:

  • Two-way CAD interfaces will make dispatching much easier.
  • The new s.ONE solution enables the dispatcher or fire chiefs to view the availability of relief forces.
  • A graphical screen shows how many of the dispatched team members have responded to the call.

Swissphone provides a proven solution at an affordable cost. Do you want to learn more?
Visit: www.swissphone.com or call 800-596-1914.


BlackBerry to make a comeback at CES 2017 courtesy of TCL

The new BlackBerry-branded smartphones will debut at the CES 2017.

By Kul Bhushan | Published: December 23, 2016 5:09 PM

BlackBerry has already confirmed that it is not going to make smartphones anymore. But it certainly does not mean no new BlackBerry-branded smartphones will hit the market. Shortly after announcing that it won’t manufacture phones, BlackBerry tied up with TCL to allow the latter to sell BlackBerry-branded smartphones. Now, TCL has confirmed that it is going to launch new BlackBerry-branded devices at CES 2017, which will be held between January 5 and January 8 in Las Vegas.

“We’ll unveil more news at CES around our plans, showcasing the legacy of the BlackBerry smartphone brand, while also giving a glimpse into what new BlackBerry smartphones will offer as part of our bold new brand portfolio within TCT. These are just the building blocks of our new growth strategy, with additional announcements to come in 2017,” disclosed the company in a release .

It is worth pointing out here that TCL has semi-exclusive rights to build and distribute BlackBerry devices globally excluding key markets like India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh and Indonesia. That said, TCL has already made BlackBerry’s last two smartphones, the DTEK 50 and DTEK 60, which are believed to be re-branded version of the Alcatel Idol 4 and Idol 4S.

TCL’s partnership with BlackBerry is very similar to the arrangement HMD Global and Nokia have. Moreover, Nokia-brand has already made a comeback in the mobile phone market with a feature phone and some new smartphones are expected to be launched early next year. Just like Nokia, BlackBerry too ruled the mobile phone market a few years ago with its unique offerings like physical QWERTY keyboard and popular instant messenger, BlackBerry Messenger (BBM).

Both Nokia and BlackBerry failed to keep up with the evolution of the mobile phone market which was swayed away by the likes of Samsung and several other Android brands which offered better products and at much more affordable prices. Not that BlackBerry didn’t try to bounce back in the market with smartphone likes Priv, also its first full-fledged Android smartphone. But BlackBerry goofed up the pricing of the smartphone, which later the company admitted too. Its recent DTEK 60 and DTEK 50 , despite with competitive price tags, failed to prove themselves as the compelling products. ALSO READ: BlackBerry DTEK50 and DTEK60 hands-on and first impressions: Too little, too late.

So far, TCL hasn’t hinted at what the new BlackBerry-branded smartphones will be like. But a new BlackBerry phone has leaked multiple times in the recent weeks. Dubbed as BlackBerry Mercury, the smartphone is also believed to be the final BlackBerry device. Interestingly, BlackBerry CEO John Chen has confirmed that the company is indeed working on its final in-house smartphone, which also features its iconic QWERTY keyboard. Based on rumors and leaks so far, the smartphone is expected to come with a 4.5-inch display and be powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor along with 3GB of RAM. Other expected features of the smartphone include 32GB inbuilt storage, 18-megapixel rear camera, 8-megapixel front camera and fingerprint scanner.

Published: December 23, 2016 5:09 PM IST | Updated: December 23, 2016 5:09 PM IST

Source: BGR

Leavitt Communications

its stil here

It’s still here — the tried and true Motorola Alphamate 250. Now owned, supported, and available from Leavitt Communications. Call us for new or reconditioned units, parts, manuals, and repairs.

We also offer refurbished Alphamate 250s, Alphamate IIs, the original Alphamate and new and refurbished pagers, pager repairs, pager parts and accessories. We are FULL SERVICE in Paging!

E-mail Phil Leavitt ( pcleavitt@leavittcom.com ) for pricing and delivery information or for a list of other available paging and two-way related equipment.

black line

Phil Leavitt
847-955-0511
pcleavitt@leavittcom.com

leavitt logo

7508 N. Red Ledge Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
www.leavittcom.com


Friday, December 23, 2016   Volume 4 | Issue 250

GOP FCC Commissioners to Review Net Neutrality ASAP

GOP Commissioners Ajit Pai and Michael O’Rielly intend to revisit Net Neutrality regulation “as soon as possible.” The rules passed under the Tom Wheeler FCC prohibit Internet Service Providers, some of whom are wireless carriers, from “throttling” or slowing internet speeds based on payment size. The rules affect what providers like Verizon and AT&T can do concerning free data wireless plans powered by towers.

Rural ISPs especially oppose the rules while giants like Netflix and Google support them. GOP members of Congress have said they’d help the new FCC eliminate or at least relax the restrictions.

Pai, presumed to be named interim FCC Chairman, and O’Rielly, explained their plan this week in a letter to the Competitive Carriers Association, the Rural Broadband Association, the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association and the American Cable Association. Noting the exemption relieving small broadband internet access service providers from the enhanced transparency rules under Net Neutrality expired December 15; they urged the agency to extend the exception, “affording at least a short-term and warranted economic relief to thousands” of providers.”

The associations told the FCC “to comply with enhanced network performance requirements, some small providers would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to upgrade their network equipment or pay a third party to take granular network measurements.” Compliance includes paying more legal fees and consultant fees, they added.

There’s support from both sides of the aisle in Congress, according to the associations, noting the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act was passed unanimously by the House, twice, and out of committee in the Senate; both versions of the Act would protect broadband providers serving 250,000 subscribers or less.

The Republican Commissioners told the associations they wouldn’t support action against small business ISPs for “supposed non-compliance” with the disclosure rules.

Source: Inside Towers  


Hark Technologies

hark logo

Wireless Communication Solutions


USB Paging Encoder

paging encoder

  • Single channel up to eight zones
  • Connects to Linux computer via USB
  • Programmable timeouts and batch sizes
  • Supports 2-tone, 5/6-tone, POCSAG 512/1200/2400, GOLAY
  • Supports Tone Only, Voice, Numeric, and Alphanumeric
  • PURC or direct connect
  • Pictured version mounts in 5.25" drive bay
  • Other mounting options available
  • Available as a daughter board for our embedded Internet Paging Terminal (IPT)

Paging Data Receiver (PDR)

pdr

  • Frequency agile—only one receiver to stock
  • USB or RS-232 interface
  • Two contact closures
  • End-user programmable w/o requiring special hardware
  • 16 capcodes
  • POCSAG
  • Eight contact closure version also available
  • Product customization available

Other products


Please see our web site for other products including Internet Messaging Gateways, Unified Messaging Servers, test equipment, and Paging Terminals.

Contact
Hark Technologies
717 Old Trolley Rd Ste 6 #163
Summerville, SC 29485
Tel: 843-821-6888
Fax: 843-821-6894
E-mail: sales@harktech.com left arrow CLICK
Web: http://www.harktech.com left arrow CLICK

Hark Technologies


Preferred Wireless

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Terminals & Controllers:
8ASC1500 Complete, w/Spares
3CNET Platinum Controllers
2GL3100 RF Director
1GL3000 ES — 2 Chassis — Configurable
1GL3000 L — 2 Cabinets, complete working, w/spares
35SkyData 8466 B Receivers
10Zetron M66 Transmitter Controllers
10C2000s
2Glenayre Complete GPS Kits
3Motorola 10W, 900 MHz Link TX (C35JZB6106)
  
Link Transmitters:
7Glenayre QT4201 25W Midband Link TX
3Motorola 10W, 900 MHz Link TX (C35JZB6106)
1Motorola Q2630A, 30W, UHF Link TX
 Coming soon, QT-5994 & QT-6994 900MHz Link TX
  
VHF Paging Transmitters:
7Motorola Nucleus 125W CNET
3Motorola Nucleus 350W CNET
7Motorola Nucleus 350W NAC
14Motorola Nucleus 125W NAC
1Glenayre QT7505
1Glenayre QT8505
3Glenayre QT-100C
  
UHF Paging Transmitters:
15Glenayre UHF GLT5340, 125W, DSP Exciter
  
900 MHz Paging Transmitters:
2Glenayre GLT8200, 25W (NEW)
5Glenayre GLT-8500 250W
4Glenayre GLT 8600, 500W
23Motorola Nucleus II 300W CNET
  
Miscellaneous Parts:
 Nucleus Power Supplies
 Nucleus NAC Boards
 Nucleus NIU, Matched Pairs
 Nucleus GPS Reference Modules
 Nucleus GPS Receivers
 Nucleus Chassis
 Glenayre 8500, PAs, PSs, DSP Exciters
 Glenayre VHF DSP Exciters
 Glenayre GL Terminal Cards
 Zetron 2000 Terminal Cards
 Unipage Terminal Cards

SEE WEB FOR COMPLETE LIST:

www.preferredwireless.com/equipment left arrow


Too Much To List • Call or E-Mail

Rick McMichael
Preferred Wireless, Inc.
Telephone: 888-429-4171
(If you are calling from outside of the USA, please use: 314-575-8425)
rickm@preferredwireless.com left arrow


Preferred Wireless


New Pa. alert system to connect with stranded motorists

December 22, 2016 11:12 PM

Photo courtesy of Tim McNeil
Buses at standstill on PA Turnpike Saturday morning, Jan.23.

By Ed Blazina / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When big rigs jackknifed on the westbound Pennsylvania Turnpike during a January snowstorm, more than 500 vehicles were stranded for over 24 hours with little information on when help would arrive or when they might start moving again.

The state can’t stop such emergencies from happening, Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday, but it can do a better job of communicating with those who are stranded. Mr. Wolf and other officials announced a new system — believed to be the first in the country — that will allow officials to communicate directly with groups that are stranded for more than two hours.

The system, known as 511PAConnect, will operate similarly to the Amber alert or weather alert systems by sending a message to all cell phones in a specific area when a standstill occurs on a limited-access highway.

The system, which will be enacted by emergency management personnel in consultation with police and road officials, will encourage motorists who are stranded to register with the emergency operations center with basic information about their vehicle and passengers as well as any information they might provide about the incident.

Once registered, motorists will receive updates every 15 minutes either through texts or prerecorded audio messages about the incident that led to the stoppage until traffic starts moving again. Anyone with an emergency still should call 911 to report their situation.

The key element, emergency management director Richard D. Flinn Jr. said, will be that emergency personnel will be able to use GPS to immediately locate any vehicle that is registered.

Once the incident is over, the state will scrub all of the contact information out of its computer system.

Mr. Wolf, who ordered improvements in communications after the January incident, called the system “a new tool” that would “solve a decades-old problem” of communicating with stranded motorists. In large part, he said, it will involve sharing information the state already has collected with stranded motorists, so there will be minimal cost.

“After two hours, people will know their government is working for them,” he said.

Leslie S. Richards, secretary of the Department of Transportation, said 511PAConnect will supplement other services such as 511PA that provides traffic information and the system that allows motorists to see where snowplows have cleared roads during the winter.

The new system will plug “a key gap” in emergency response by providing “direct communication with the folks involved,” said turnpike CEO Mark Compton. He said every post-event review of an incident that he has ever been involved in centered on the need for better communication.

In addition to the communication system announced Thursday, the turnpike commission has developed an extensive playbook to guide its actions in an emergency, is storing more food and other supplies at maintenance stations, and has revised its contract with AccuWeather to get better weather information more often.

“We’re better prepared today than we have ever been” to deal with emergencies, Mr. Compton said.

Ed Blazina: eblazina@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1470.

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  

Critical Alert

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Critical Alert Systems, Inc.

Formed in 2010, CAS brought together the resources and capabilities of two leading critical messaging solutions providers, UCOM™ and Teletouch™ Paging, along with lntego Systems™, a pioneer in next-generation nurse call systems. The result was an organization that represented more than 40 years of combined experience serving hospitals and healthcare providers.

CAS was created to be a single-source provider for hospitals and healthcare facilities in need of advanced nurse call and communications technologies.

Unlike our competitors, our product development process embraced the power of software from its inception. This enables us to design hardware-agnostic solutions focused on built-in integration, flexibility and advanced performance.

LEARN MORE

Nurse Call Solutions

Innovative, software-based nurse call solutions for acute and long-term care organizations.

LEARN MORE

Paging Solutions

To this day, for critical messaging, nothing beats paging. It’s simply the best way to deliver a critical message.

LEARN MORE

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© Copyright 2015 - Critical Alert Systems, Inc.


BloostonLaw Newsletter

Selected portions of the BloostonLaw Telecom Update, and/or the BloostonLaw Private Users Update — newsletters from the Law Offices of Blooston, Mordkofsky, Dickens, Duffy & Prendergast, LLP — are reproduced in this section with the firm’s permission.


BloostonLaw Telecom UpdateVol. 19, No. 46December 14, 2016

In lieu of holiday cards this season, BloostonLaw will be making a donation to Healthcare for the Homeless, a local charity program. We wish our clients a happy and safe holiday season! In observance of the holiday, our next newsletter will not be published until Jan. 4.

This newsletter is not intended to provide legal advice. Those interested in more information should contact the firm. For additional information, please contact Hal Mordkofsky at 202-828-5520 or hma@bloostonlaw.com .

Friends & Colleagues

Complete Technical Services for the Communications and Electronics Industries


Technical Services Inc.

Texas Registered Engineering Firm #F16945

“It's more than Push-To-Talk”

7711 Scotia Drive
Dallas, TX 75248-3112

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.

President • Principal Engineer
CETsr CA GROL IEEELSM
WA5GXP

Cell: 214-707-7711
E-mail: ira@iwatsi.com
Toll Free: 844-IWA-TECH (844-492-8324)
E-mail: support@iwatsi.com
www.iwatsi.com

Design  •  Installation  •  Maintenance  •  Training

Consulting Alliance

Brad Dye, Ron Mercer, Allan Angus, Vic Jackson, and Ira Wiesenfeld are friends and colleagues who work both together and independently, on wireline and wireless communications projects.

Click here left arrow for a summary of their qualifications and experience. Each one has unique abilities. We would be happy to help you with a project, and maybe save you some time and money.

Note: We do not like Patent Trolls, i.e. “a person or company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question.” We have helped some prominent law firms defend their clients against this annoyance, and would be happy to do some more of this same kind of work.

Some people use the title “consultant” when they don't have a real job. We actually do consulting work, and help others based on our many years of experience.


“If you would know the road ahead, ask someone who has traveled it.”
— Chinese Proverb


Consulting Alliance


Wireless Network Planners

Wireless Network Planners
Wireless Specialists

www.wirelessplanners.com
wirelessplannerron@gmail.com

R.H. (Ron) Mercer
Consultant
217 First Street
East Northport, NY 11731

ron mercer
Telephone: 631-786-9359

 


Wireless Network Planners

 

Almost

“Is Paging Going Away?” by Jim Nelson

  • Click here for English.
  • Click here for German. (Berlin Revision: November 8, 2016)
  • Click here for French.

Volunteers needed for translations into other languages.



LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

From:Ing. Jimmy Acosta
Subject:Passing of his father
Date:December 17, 2016
To:Brad Dye

Hello Brad,

Thanks for your message. Attached is the obituary you asked for.

Jimmy

Con gran dolor queremos informarles que falleció nuestro querido padre
SANTIAGO ACOSTA RIVERA
(DON JIMMY)
Le sobreviven sus hijos: Delma, Jimmy, Santiago y Luz María
Sus nietos: Shiraly, Sherezada y Shakira Acosta, Alison y Siena Acosta, Victoria y Matthew De La Paz
Sus biznietos: Kallen y Kaden Graham, Christian y Elizabeth Mattson

El velatorio se llevará acabo el sábado, 3 de diciembre desde
la 1 :00 p.m. en la Funeraria Borinquen Memorial en Caguas.
A las 6:00 p.m. habrá una misa por el eterno descanso de su alma.


With great pain we would like to inform you that our beloved father has passed away
SANTIAGO ACOSTA RIVERA
(DON JIMMY)
Surviving are his children: Delma, Jimmy, Santiago and Luz María.
His grandchildren: Shiraly, Sherezada and Shakira Acosta,
Alison and Siena Acosta, Victoria and Matthew De La Paz.
His great-grandchildren: Kallen y Kaden Graham, Christian and Elizabeth Mattson.

The wake will take place on Saturday, December 3, from
1:00 p.m. at the Borinquen Memorial Funeral home in Caguas, Puerto Rico.
At 6:00 p.m. there will be a mass for the eternal rest of his soul.

Editor's note: Jimmy Acosta (father) was really a great guy and my good friend. He and his business partner Santos Mateo, were pioneers in the Paging and Two-Way Radio industries in Puerto Rico. I first met them in 1974 and count it a privilege to have known both of them and their families.


From:Claude Everton — VE2YI ceverton@sympatico.ca
Subject:NOEL 2016
Date:December 18, 2016
To:Brad Dye

Tél. (514) 333-3400 / Fax. (514) 333-7773
www.metro-com.ca / www.groupeclr.com


From:Enterprise Wireless Alliance
Subject:Happy Holidays from EWA!
Date:December 19, 2016
To:Brad Dye

Happy Holidays!

Thank you for a wonderful 2016.
Best wishes for this holiday season from the staff at the
Enterprise Wireless Alliance.
We wish you much joy and prosperity throughout the coming year.

This message was sent to brad@braddye.com by membership@enterprisewireless.org
2121 Cooperative Way, Suite 225, Herndon, VA, 20171


From:Microspace Communications uplink@microspace.com
Subject:Microspace Wishes You Happy Holidays 2016
Date:December 16, 2016
To:Brad Dye

www.microspace.com
3100 Highwoods Blvd | Suite 120 | Raleigh, NC | 27604 | USA


From:e*Message Wireless Information Services Deutschland GmbH
Subject:Happy Holidays
Date:December 16, 2016
To:Brad Dye

EINEN TICK FRÜHER ALS ALLE AN DEREN MÖCHTEN WIR UNS AUCH FÜR IHR VERTRAUEN BEDANKEN UND
WÜNSCHEN IHNEN FROHE FEIERTAGE UND EINEN GUTEN RUTSCH INS NEUE JAHR.

AND JUST A LITTLE BIT SOONER THAN EVERYONE ELSE, WE'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONFIDENCE,
AND WISH YOU HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

DE LA MEME FAÇON, NOUS VOUS REMERCIONS POUR VOTRE CONFIANCE ET VOUS SOUHAITONS
DÈS MAINTENANT UN JOYEUX NOËL ET UNE BONNE ANNÉE

e*Message Wireless Information Services Deutschland GmbH
Schönhauser Allee 10 - 11, 10119 Berlin, Deutschland
Geschäftsführer: Dr. Dietmar Gollnick (CEO)


From: Vasu Srinivasan
Subject:Season's Greetings from Daviscomms UK Ltd.
Date:December 23, 2016
To:Brad Dye

Dear Brad,

The team at Daviscomms UK would like to wish you the best this holiday season.

Here's to your success in 2017.

Warm regards

Vasu Srinivasan
Daviscomms UK Limited
+44 1908 367722 (Office phone number)
+44 7721 409412 (Mobile)

vasu@daviscommsuk.com


UNTIL NEXT WEEK

The Wireless Messaging News
 

Current member or former member of these organizations.


Best regards,
brad's signature
Newsletter Editor
73 DE K9IQY
Licensed 57 years

Brad Dye
P.O. Box 266
Fairfield, IL 62837 USA

mensa member

If you are curious about why I joined Mensa, click here

U.S. Navy
Radioman

radioman second class
Second Class
Petty Officer

American
Radio

arrl
Relay
League

A Public Library of
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Paging Information

cmma

European Mobile Messaging Association
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Former Board Member

ZP5TQ
radio club paraguay
Radio Club
of Paraguay

Quarter Century qcwa k9iqy
Wireless Association

Back To Paging
pagerman
Still The Most Reliable Wireless Protocol For Emergencies!
CONTACT INFO & LINKS  

Skype: braddye
Twitter: @BradDye1
Telephone: +1-618-599-7869
E–mail: brad@braddye.com
Wireless: Consulting page
Paging: Home Page
Marketing & Engineering Papers
K9IQY: Ham Radio Page

Institute of Electrical and
ieee
Electronics Engineers

Wireless
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Messaging

Radio Club
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Life is good!

I am a person in
long-term recovery.


THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

by Matt Slick

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus who lived in Israel 2000 years ago and who died on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15 1-4; 1 Peter 2:24 ). More specifically, when we use the word "meaning", we're talking about the purpose of his birth that Christmas is supposed to celebrate. His purpose was to enter into the world and become one of us, that he might deliver us from our sins. Jesus is not just any man. He is God in flesh ( John 1:1 , 14 ; Colossians 2:9 ). He is the second person of the Trinity who, by being born of the Virgin Mary, was made under the law ( Galatians 4:4 ) and subject to the same temptations and limitations that we are. Christmas is the celebration of the historical event of where God entered into our world so that he might display the perfection and holiness of God and that through his work of living perfectly and also dying on the cross for our sins, that all who trust in him would be saved from the righteous judgment of God.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him,” ( John 3:16-17 ).

So, Christmas is supposed to be the time of year where we celebrate the birth of Christ. But, unfortunately, it's become a commercial holiday rather than a religious one. Is mostly known as a time for businesses to make money, for people to give gifts, for children to be excited, for parties, etc. The “reason for the season” is supposed to be Jesus, not gifts, not parties, and not watching “the big game.” Of course, having celebrations, attending parties, and watching the big game or not wrong. It's just that the meaning of Christmas is supposed to a recognition of and appreciation of the birth of the one who loves us and died for us in our place.

Source: Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry  

PHOTO OF THE WEEK



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