Whelen’s SurfaceMax Series

I was working my way through some Whelen literature when I came across these new lights. They’re awesome!

The new SurfaceMax Series mounts on anything with four wheels and is available in Warning, Brake/Tail/Turn,and Turn Arrow models. The lights have the versatility and performance of the Hundred Series. SurfaceMax Series lights feature a full-fill optic and all-new patented mounting technology, providing a clean look with easy installation.

Additional features include:

• Meets SAE, ECE, and Title XIII specifications
• Available in Warning, Brake/Tail/Turn, Turn Arrow models
• Hard-coated lenses minimize environmental damage from sand, sun, salt, and road chemicals
• 100% solid-state electronics
• Rated IP67 for dust and water resistance
• Hi/Low power
• Patented mounting technology snaps into place and provides a clean look
• Chrome or Black flange
• Lack of metallic fasteners prevent galvanic corrosion, preventing paint defects
• Includes 6” pigtail
• Fits existing mounting footprint of Hundred Series
lightheads (backwards compatible to existing mounts)
• 12 VDC
• Five year warranty

Take a look at the Whelen SurfaceMax Series video!

Digital Spring Cleaning

I recently had the chance to read “How To Spring Clean Your Digital Clutter To Protect Yourself” by LH Newman in WIRED. I thought the article was not only timely, but informative as well, and so worthwhile sharing.
The basic idea: Even though you may be following all the best practices to protect your digital self (strong, unique passwords; watchful for phishing attacks; using two-factor authentication) you can help yourself further by deleting “digital junk”. Here the author is referring to old email accounts, thumb drives tucked in a desk, a chock-full downloads folder. Any of these (and more) may be lost and/or stolen (hacked), exposing you to any number of risks.
The additional proactive steps you can take to protect yourself are to protect yourself are:

Review your physical devices – destroy old CDs, thumb drives, external hard drives, and any other device (an old PC, perhaps) that may contain personal information. Back up what you truly need, wipe the rest. On your current devices, delete old docs (credit card statement pdfs …) or back them up to a secure device and wipe it.

Review your applications – email (most of all). Delete the ones you no longer need, export the ones you have to save. Don’t forget old (Yahoo, Google) email accounts that are still out there. What is in the free storage you use … Box, Google Drive, Dropbox? Again, save what’s important, wipe the rest.

Cancel unused or duplicate accounts – How many applications do you have that are no longer used? Get rid of them. Before you do … close the account with the company. How many locations do you use to store images/videos/documents? Consolidate and clean up.

After you’re done with the Digital Spring Cleaning, stay proactive. Think twice about downloading an application you want, but don’t need. Back up what you must save, then delete before you move on. The more control you exercise over a digital footprint, the more secure you’ll be.
You can read the original article here.

 

Whelen’s CenCom Carbide

Whelen’s CenCom Carbide has been engineered to maintain situational awareness of the officer. It delivers highly effective visual and auditory warnings. Designed for simplistic, hands-free usage, Carbide provides what Whelen calls Situation Based Integration. This feature allows for scene specific functions using various vehicle components, such as the horn or brakes, allowing officer’s priorities to be configured and controlled.

Carbide provides the capability to sync all lights together, including a Traffic Advisor™ or WeCan® Inner Edge®. Carbide is easily reproducible from vehicle to vehicle, and optional expansion modules and the WeCan dual siren amplifier are available to further customize functions. The integrated Load Manager  reduces the chance of a drained battery by shutting off outputs as vehicle battery voltage declines. Also, the Integrated Auto-Off  timer Keep Carbide functioning even if the ignition is turned off. When used with the Integrated Load Manager, this provides a safe way of maintaining critical warning functions even if the keys must be removed from the ignition

Additional features include, but are not limited to:

• Control warning lights, siren, and Traffic
• Advisor™ functions from a single keypad
• Fully supports all WeCan® Series products
• Supports up to 2 of the following: front WeCan
• Inner Edge®, rear WeCan Inner Edge, or optional
• remote 16 output modules
• Supports one or two 100 watt speakers
• LED indicator lights allow for simple troubleshooting
• of outputs and WeCan network
• Five year warranty

Get Whelen’s CenCom Carbide pdf from the Fleet Knowledge Base.

Watch the WeVision video.

Subscriber Preventative Maintenance Program

2-Way’s Subscriber Preventative Maintenance Program (SPMP) provides annual preventative maintenance as well as ongoing asset management and tracking for an organization’s mobile and portable radios. 

The development of a regular, reoccurring maintenance program means the customer enjoys proper radio performance; is assured of operational compliance; and realizes increased service life. The preventative maintenance optimizes performance and improves ROI. The subscriber database allows for rapid subscriber identification, reassignment, and individual unit reprogramming as required throughout the year. 

The SPMP program is made up of three principal parts, Subscriber Tracking, Annual Preventative Maintenance and Ongoing Support.

Subscriber Tracking provides a detailed database of all subscriber assets, which includes in part:

• Equipment Make
• Model Number
• Serial Number
• P25 digital ID
• Codeplug File Name
• Last Serviced Date

The annual preventative maintenance provides a comprehensive assessment of the subscriber condition, performance and compliance.  Results of the PM checks are recorded for each subscriber and will be provided to the customer upon completion. PM checks include but are not limited to:

• Transceiver compliance check
• Operational check of buttons/switches
• Clean control surfaces and accessory contacts
• Antenna sweep and physical check/cleaning

The data collected by this program, provides a convenient means of ongoing support at no cost to the participating agency.  Ongoing support includes services such as:

• Individual PM checks
• Minor programming changes
• Unlimited frequency updates

For additional information about the Subscriber Preventative Maintenance Program, give 2-Way Communications a call at (603) 431-6288.

John recently spent a day at Portsmouth Fire Department, processing all the department’s mobiles and portables through the SPMP. While he was onsite, he took a couple of minutes to go more in depth about the program. Take a look!

Staying Safe – Protect Your Company Against Ransomware

I recently read “4 Ways to Protect Against the Very Real Threat of Ransomware” by Kim Zetter, published in WIRED on 5/13/2017. Given the recent WannaCry ransomware event (200,000 computers in 150 countries infected, and a new version called “Uiwix” which does not have the kill switch used by Malware Tech, according to C/NET), I thought the article was a good one to share. The article is not only timely, but provides good advise for staying protected.

The article initially identifies ransomware’s prime targets. They cover the characteristics of organizations that could reasonably expect to be subject to a ransomware attack.

Then the author then provides four ways to protect your organization against a ransomware attack. They are:
1. Back up important data on a daily basis so you’re not vulnerable to the attack in the first place. This includes disconnecting any external hard drive in use.

2. Recognizing and correctly reacting to suspicious emails and links. Phishing attacks and malvertising are the primary means of infection. If your employees are not up to speed with security 101 basics, stand by for trouble.

3. Patch software security holes to prevent malicious software from exploiting them.

4. Disconnect – If you do get an infection, shut down most of the organizations network to prevent infection spread – this includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. After that, ID the type of strain and reach out to anti-virus companies for a decryptor.

Getting back to security 101 basics, the Network Division at 2-Way communications can help. We’ll provide you with the integrated Security Awareness Training and Simulated Phishing platform used by more than 8,000 customers nation-wide. Contact The Network Division for more information or to set an appointment today. Give them a call (603-431-6288) or send an email to NetworkSolutions@2-way.biz.

Whelen Pride

“Whelen products are manufactured in America by over 1,500 workers who take great pride in the work that they do to keep people safe. They’re serious about the trust placed in them by those who use Whelen products every day when lives are on the line.”

This is how Whelen Engineering represents itself to the world via it’s YouTube channel. And that resonates very well with the people at 2-Way Communications. You don’t get to be a third-generation family-run business competing in a market space against national heavy-hitters unless you do things the right way, the best way, each and every time.

The guys at Fleet Division have many years of experience in mobile electronics installation and graphics and more … and they train and cross train and help each other … because they know that the vehicles that leave the shop floor need to be right for the customers they serve. And it shows, literally … look behind a dash or under the hood and you can tell if it’s a 2-Way product by the quality of the work.

The folks at Whelen seem to be of a like mind. That’s why we use their products.

Take a look:

 

I you’d like to come tour the newly expanded shop, give Jim (x-1755) or Rick a call (x-1753) using (603) 431-6288.

Etiquette Tips for Two Way Radios

 

 

Commercial two-way radios are used in a variety of enterprises, including large hotels and resorts, schools, warehouses and more. They have a number of advantages (discussed in recent blog articles) that make them useful in these environments, including strong battery life and lack of reliance on cell towers.
Every industry has its own specific language and communication rules. Adding two-way radio communications into the mix necessitates some basic rules for effective communication. Learning radio etiquette will help your organization achieve the maximum benefit while your employees are on the air.
New users of two-way radios should try to observe these best-in-practice guidelines:

Identify yourself when beginning a transmission. You can use your name or a call sign.

Be brief and to the point. Don’t let long-windedness block the channel from others.

Divide long messages up into points and say “break” at the end of each point. Wait a few seconds before continuing.

When you finish and want a reply say “over” to indicate this.

Know and use the NATO phonetic alphabet; when spelling out names, use it. The phonetic alphabet will help avoid spelling confusion and is as follows: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, X-ray, Yankee, Zulu.

Indicate the end of a transmission by saying “out”.

Don’t say anything you wouldn’t feel comfortable saying in front of your boss, spouse, or kids. You are speaking on a radio frequency; more than just your intended audience may be listening.

Adjust your two-way radio to avoid squealing noises and crackling. These noises can impair other users’ ability to understand what you’re saying.

By mastering two way radio etiquette, you r employees will enjoy efficient and effective two-way radio communications, whichever radio you choose to benefit in-house or site-to-site communications. 2-Way Communications Services provides a wide selection of Motorola radios for businesses, municipal government organizations, and consumers. Contact your account manager to learn more.