The future in Motorola TRBO radios is here!

Integrating Bluetooth data and audio capabilities into a two-way radio device creates the perfect storm of advanced technology, customer insights and engineering.

While people often associate Bluetooth features with mobile phone usage, it is actually widely used throughout many industries to accomplish other enterprise-critical work. When Bluetooth technology is paired with our new MOTOTRBO digital radios, it changes how people work, making hands-free, wireless communications possible in industries from manufacturing to hospitality.

There are four different Bluetooth profiles built into the new MOTOTRBO SL 7550 portable and XPR 5550 mobile:

• Headset Profile (HSP) – This is the most traditional use, where a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) headset or operations critical wireless earpiece equipped with remote PTT can be wirelessly connected to the radio to act as the device’s audio input and output mechanism.
  
  In the scenario below, a PTT press of the Bluetooth mission critical wireless earpiece sends audio to the Bluetooth-connected radio over the radio link to a remote mobile radio:
  
  

• Personal Area Network (PAN) Profile – The radio supports a PAN access point and provides IPv4-based networking capabilities for the connected Bluetooth devices (e.g. PC).
  
  In the scenario below, the MOTOTRBO radios provide the standard IP networking data communication over the Bluetooth PAN connection between the two connected PCs:

Does your aging communications solution have you thinking about what’s next? When it comes to unified communications, analog radios have long been a reliable option, but today, digital two-way radios offer a range of benefits that make them the undeniable next step. Here’s why it makes sense to upgrade now.

Next-Level Efficiency and Productivity

Remember when you had to carry around multiple devices, one dedicated to email, one for phone calls, and a laptop for business applications? Today, smartphones combine the best features from each device. But smartphones are not always the best solution on the job and where they fall short, digital two-way radios pick up for reliable, unified communication and collaboration.

With WAVE™ Workgroup Communications, workers can instantly communicate with one-button push-to-talk access across any device ranging from two-way radios, smartphones and landlines to intercoms and PCs. So, someone using a smartphone off-site can instantly communicate with an employee using MOTOTRBO, onsite. Since data and voice features are all on one device, both management and employees can receive real-time information, the location of people and assets, and other critical data that drives much more informed decision-making, previously not possible on analog.

The Basics, Evolved

Moving to a digital network also offers some exciting advances to core communications functionality, including better voice quality, increased radio capacity, better signal coverage, and longer battery life.

Just like the jump from cellular phones to the modern smartphone, the jump to digital two-way radios allows users to hear and be heard much more clearly, without static or distortion. This is because when you use a traditional analog radio, every sound that's picked up by the microphone is transmitted. Digital offers much clearer sound, with features such as background noise-cancellation and intelligent audio. The result is extraordinary voice clarity that stays sharper, even as the signal gets farther out of range.

Digital networks are also very efficient with spectrum requirements, so they can accommodate two completely separate "channels" in one 12.5 kHz channel, allowing you to double the number of devices on the same channel, without fear of interference.

Plus, because digital technology is more energy-efficient than analog, MOTOTRBO radios can last much longer on a single charge, up to 40% longer, so users can communicate the entire day without recharging.

Managing your radio fleet is an important part of day-to-day operations. But it can also be expensive and time consuming. Updates to add or remove channels, upgrade firmware, or add purchased features through FLASHport upgrade, take substantial time and resources because each radio has to be programmed individually. Motorola’s Customer Programming Software Radio Management application simplifies APX™ radio configuration and management, saving you time and money while ensuring your users can accomplish their mission without interruption. The APX CPS Management application can program up to 16 radios at one time and track which radios have been successfully programmed, providing a clear view of the entire radio fleet and a codeplug history for each radio

BENEFITS OF MOTOROLA REMOTE SPEAKER MICROPHONES (RSMs) 

Two-way radio offers users reliable, instantaneous communications and the addition of a Remote Speaker 

Microphone (RSM) can make a portable radio even easier, safer and more effective to use. Motorola radios 

are built to withstand knocks and bumps, but keeping the radio on the belt helps protect it from the drops 

and misuse that can occur when users hold the radio in their hand. Using an RSM allows the user to make 

and receive calls without the need to remove the radio from their belt, leaving their hands free to hold guard 

rails, climb ladders, carry equipment or operate machinery. The RSM clips to a collar or epaulette making it 

easy to access when needed and since the speaker is then closer to the user’s ear, it’s easier to hear calls 

so helps prevent missed messages

One of the most interesting things about working at Motorola Solutions is hearing from its engineers and designers, the magicians who conjure up new ways to invent or improve devices and solutions that end up delighting our customers and capturing design awards. Today, Product Engineer David Chambers will talk about his adventures with the APX radio platform.

Trucking company Wentworth Carrying, using mobile phones to communicate between drivers and with head office was creating headaches. Calls were expensive, as well as impossible during certain activities such as loading and unloading times. Texting was inconvenient: texts were delayed if the phone was out of range and drivers had to pull over to text, wasting time and effort. The new solution, combining Motorola CP200D portable two-way radios operating on TL Parker’s Connect Plus (Orion Network) has revolutionised communications for the business. Drivers, even those who found hands-free too challenging, readily embraced the easy functionality of the new radios. Owner-operator Angela Chambers is thrilled by cost savings, increased productivity and greater operational efficiency. The difference is so immense that Chambers compares it to “like going from being mute to being able to talk”

Customer Overview Cauayan City is the agro-industrial capital of Cagayan Valley and the commercial centre of the Province of Isabela. Founded in 1740, Cauayan antedates the establishment of Isabela by 116 years. Originally a town of the province of Cagayan, it became a town of the Isabela province by a Royal Decree issued on May 1, 1856. Cauayan was a large municipality in terms of land area. When the neighbouring municipalities of Luna (Antatet) Cabatuan, Reina Mercedes (Callering), Aurora and San Mateo were created, the city’s land area was reduced to 336.40 square kilometres. The latest census shows a population of 114,254 residents in 21,143 households living in the city. The local government comprises of 60 over Barangay Captains per town acting as heads of the small community, Councilors, a Vice Mayor and a Mayor who holds the highest office in the municipality. Situation: Disparate Radio Communications Hinder Efficiency For a city to prosper, local governments must be equipped with the resources and powers to act decisively in all situations. Their work greatly impacts people’s daily lives as they manage the infrastructure and services that directly influence quality of life. An important role of local government is to provide public safety and emergency services when the need arises. Both require speed and mobility. In public safety, receiving timely, vital information can make the difference between a safe or deadly outcome. Collaboration between the law enforcers and emergency services team is often the key. Over the years, Cauayan’s local government has deployed several brands of radio system. While these radios have served their needs, the lack of coordination between these radio users has hindered communication efficiency. Solution: Implement One Radio Technology That Meets All Requirements In October 2010, the City of Cauayan, Isabela called for a tender to acquire a new radio system. The plan was to equip its Barangay contingent of 80 public safety officers with a newer and robust radio technology. The tough specifications of the new radio must match the tough nature of their job that included: • Roving patrol’s mobility to ensure law enforcement for the community • Public administration to ensure peace and order for all constituents • Efficient back office for direct communications with the mayor’s office • Coordination with the Barangay contingent on duty During an extensive review of radio brands, the Mayor and his tender committee noticed that the Vertex Standard radio’s audio quality and price affordability stood out distinctly. Interviews were scheduled to evaluate the Vertex Standard’s proposal closely.

FASTER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATIONS INCREASE PATIENT SATISFACTION HOW MOTOROLA TWO-WAY DTR550 RADIOS ENABLE RUTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER’S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT TO STREAMLINE FRONT END OPERATIONS AND INCREASE PATIENT SATISFACTION. MOTOROLA TWO-WAY RADIOS SEITE 2 CASE STUDY RUTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER PAGE 2 SITUATION: SIGNIFICANT PATIENT SERVICE CHALLENGES IN THE ED WERE CAUSING A SERIOUS DETERIORATION IN PATIENT SATISFACTION RATINGS. Rutland Regional Medical Center’s Emergency Department (ED) had been using a patchwork system of communications. With only a few technicians having cell phones, communications consisted mainly of using overhead paging or physically tracking down personnel as quickly as possible. This resulted in service slowdowns, less-than-optimum use of personnel and resources and longer waits for treatment by physicians or physicians’ assistants. The result was a substantial deterioration of patient satisfaction scores. One of the department’s highest priorities became improving satisfaction rates, beginning with streamlining patient service and care through better and faster communications between nurses, technicians and staff. SOLUTION: IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS BY EQUIPPING THE ED TEAM WITH MOTOROLA TWO-WAY DTR550 RADIOS WITH PUSH-TO-TALK CAPABILITIES. Understanding that the key to improving patient service was to significantly improve communications, and drawing on past experience, the new Emergency Department director installed a new communications system featuring powerful, affordable Motorola DTR550 radios operating in the 900 MHz ISM spectrum, and offering instant push-to-talk capabilities and comfortable swivel earpieces. Radios were provided for nurses, technicians and staff, enabling the department to create talkgroups that allowed for private, secure and virtually instant communications. RESULT: SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO BE SEEN BY A PHYSICIAN HELPED THE ED IMPLEMENT “IMMEDIATE BEDDING” AND INCREASE SATISFACTION RATES. With personnel quickly adapting to and embracing the new two-way radio communications, service in the ED has significantly improved. Talkgroups facilitating one-tomany communications help ensure fast response—from Level 1 chest pain to Level 5 broken digit. Personnel can respond directly to the group, indicating their status and availability. This improved communication, coordination and more efficient use of resources helps eliminate wasted time, enabling the ED to optimize front end operations. The two-way radio system also helps make it possible to implement the concept of immediate bedding, the ability to assign a bed to patients as soon as they enter the ED. As patient service has been streamlined, patient satisfaction has greatly improved. “I’ve watched them. A tech can have a catheter in one hand and reach up with the other to hit PTT and say, ‘I’m just starting a line,’ then another tech can chime in and say ‘I’ll be able to come and put in that IV for you.’” - Thomas Rounds, Director, Emergency Department, Rutland Regional Medical Center SEITE 3 CASE STUDY RUTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER methodology, in which a patient is first placed in triage to be checked by a technician or nurse before being sent to the next available bed to be seen by a doctor. “Going in the triage booth is just a stopping off point and in most cases, a waste of time,” says Rounds. “With immediate bedding, we begin to observe and triage patients the moment they walk in the door, then send them to an available bed right away, enabling them to be seen by a doctor faster.” Across the country, immediate bedding programs have proven to be exceptionally successful at reducing the time the patient stays in the ED, while at the same time, improving care. SERVICE ISSUES The hospital’s Emergency Department treats about 100 patients a day, which can substantially increase during ski season. With 26 beds and four trauma rooms, the department has 24 physicians and a staff of 64. The ED has earned a reputation for excellent care, exceeding for example, national guidelines for heart treatment and stabilization. In the national hospital satisfaction index, however, the department showed considerable weakness in the area of patient service. Patient satisfaction ratings were in the bottom quartile. EFFICIENCY AND FLOW In the past, patient perceptions of the ED had been, essentially, ones of “good care, not-so-good service.” The department set about to turn those perceptions around, based largely on Studer evidence-based tools and tactics, Lean Sigma management concepts and improving process efficiency and flow. Says new Emergency Department Director Thomas Rounds, “We had two fundamental goals. First, to increase throughput by reducing the length of stay, and second, to reduce the time between patient arrival and examination by a doctor or physician’s assistant.” IMMEDIATE BEDDING One of the best strategies for improving ED patient satisfaction is the implementation of “immediate bedding” practices that help streamline front end activities, that is, the flow from arrival to examination to discharge or admittance. It’s a solution designed to be faster and more efficient than the classic “triage room” PAGE 3 “We’re trying to break down all the barriers to getting patients from the door to the bed and in front of the physicians as rapidly as possible.” - Thomas Rounds MOTOROLA TWO-WAY RADIOS HELP IMPROVE ED TEAMWORK, EFFICIENCY AND FLOW SEITE 4 CASE STUDY RUTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IMMEDIATE COMMUNICATIONS One of the most important facilitators of immediate bedding is immediate communication across the ED front end, involving nurses, technicians and staff. The primary challenge for ED management was replacing the inefficient status-quo system with continuous, reliable communications among all staff members. The hospital had a modified system that consisted of looking for people, basically having to track them down. In addition, some technicians had cell phones. Even cell phones were inefficient. The nurse had to open her cell phone, punch in a number, then wait for the tech to reach and open his phone to answer. This consumed precious seconds. All in all, it was an inefficient, time-consuming process and it was the cause of significant slow downs in front end processes. THE DTR550 TWO-WAY RADIO SOLUTION What the Rutland ED needed was the instant communication and instant response they could get from a powerful two-way radio system with push-to-talk (PTT) and talk group capabilities. Based on previous experience with the DTR550 radios at another healthcare facility, Rounds was confident of the benefits they could bring to Rutland. “Instead of having to chase everybody down or call multiple cell phones, when you have radios and you use a talk group, everybody immediately hears and understands the urgency of what you need. They can acknowledge that they are going to respond, or if they are unavailable, other members of the group can offer to respond instead.” PUSH-TO-TALK With PTT, the nurse can say, “This is triage, we have a Level 1 chest pain, we’re going to Room 10.” All the people who need to respond hear the call and can respond immediately. The nurse assigned to the room goes there, a tech brings in an EKG machine, the physician is notified. If someone is unavailable, the team knows it right away and can immediately make other arrangements. MOTOROLA DTR550 RADIOS The hospital chose to deploy the affordable Motorola DTR550 radio system in the ED, equipping nurses, techs and staff. Results have been outstanding. The radios not only offer clear audio communications, PTT, talkgroup and all other essential capabilities, they are also wearable, lightweight and ergonomically easy to use. Before full implementation, of course, the hospital vetted the radios in a wide range of locations to ensure they would not put patients at risk by interfering with crucial equipment. The DTR550 is certified to operate in the 900 MHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band. PAGE 4 “In one instance, nurses were transferring a patient who coded as they were riding in an elevator; the radios remained operational and help arrived in time to save the patient.” - Thomas Rounds PAGE 5 CASE STUDY RUTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER SEITE 6 CASE STUDY RUTLAND REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER The department set up a system that utilizes three Motorola multi-unit chargers, each holding six radios. Employees take a radio at the beginning of the shift, then return it at the end, so there are always fully charged radios at the start of the next shift. Employees also use Motorola swivel earpieces that are comfortable and easy to wear, and, because they do not go inside the ear, pose fewer sanitation issues. Users simply use wipes to clean the units, and the PTT and earpiece wires, before their shifts. EMBRACING THE CHANGE How have Rutland ED employees adapted to the new technology? “They adapted very quickly,” says Rounds, “and now the staff rave about them. The reality is, to work efficiently in our ED, you must have a radio or else you’re out of the loop.” There were even a few surprises. “One day the housekeeper assigned to the ED said ‘Do you mind if I wear a radio?’” Rounds recalls. “That linked another department into our team. Now she can know immediately when to turn a room around, to clean up a spill or perform a total cleaning. That was a surprising bonus.” PROGRESS REPORT The Rutland ED has been using the two-way radio system for more than six months, and the department is quite satisfied. Performance has been excellent. “At times when we have a Code 99, which involves the entire hospital,” says Rounds, “our radios have been operational throughout the entire five-story building.” The success of the system is being noticed throughout Rutland Regional Medical Center. After other personnel have seen the DTR radios and how well they work, other departments have gotten their own radios. For example, reception has gotten three units, and the oncology department now has 14 radios. WHAT’S NEXT? The Rutland ED’s next steps include expanding capacity, outfitting more employees with radios, including the scribes who shadow the Rutland physicians. This will effectively keep doctors in the loop, too. These radios are planned to be next generation DTR radios. The Rutland Emergency Department is very pleased with their Motorola two-way radio system. “I’ve been a director for 12 years in large facilities, and I’ve looked at a lot of products,” says Rounds. “Overall, I can tell you these radios make the patient experience fabulous.” Most important, however, customer satisfaction scores have risen for the ED. “We’ve had tremendous improvement with satisfaction,” concludes Rounds, “and I credit a lot of that to the radios.”

At radiotwoway.com we only sell Motorola Original Batteries, here's why:

Radios use batteries that can be recharged enabling them to be used again and again. Radio batteries use up power depending on how much they are used, and what they are being used for. So, for example, if they are being used a lot to transmit,  they will run out quickly. If, however, they are only used to run the radio on standby, or for short calls and text messages, they can last for many days before needing to be recharged. Whatever the case, few people will find that a single charge lasts more than a couple of days, so being able to recharge the battery regularly is very important. OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer, and these differ from non-OEM in several ways, primarily in where they are made, and who makes them.

Hospitals provide a unique communications challenge. Many hospitals today use a variety of competing communications systems - pagers, mobile phones, landlines, even public address systems - to connect their various departments and units. In addition to that, the hospital itself can be a barrier to efficient communications. For example, shielded areas such as a lab or a basement can prevent electronic devices from receiving full cellular coverage. These issues can indirectly impact the experience patients and their families have on the hospital campus, which can have serious consequences for everyone.