How Digital Radio Can Be Used By Taxi Companies

Taxi companies can now take advantage of Motorola’s MOTOTRBO digital two-way radio system to improve dispatch efficiency and enhance the safety of its drivers and passengers.

The system comprises a MOTOTRBO DM3600 base station which is connected to a computer at the taxi’s control centre. The dispatch software provides GPS location and text messaging services, along with many other features available for expanding the system to meet future needs. It is easy to use and simplifies the tracking of vehicles. The system also generates reports based on data received from the radios regarding the taxis’ location, speed and direction.

Taxis have been fitted with MOTOTRBO DM3601 radios that support text messaging and can transmit GPS co-ordinates to the control room in real time. A second DM3600 base station is dedicated to voice communication between dispatchers and taxi drivers.

Operators can now locate a taxi based on a number of pre-determined search criteria, which reduces waiting times and maximises the use of vehicles to maintain optimum levels of service and profitability. The system has also increased safety by allowing operators to pinpoint the exact location of a driver in the event of an incident.

MOTOTRBO’s use of Time Division Multiple Access technology allows taxi companies to benefit from expanded call capacity, eliminating congestion in the control room. The ability to transmit voice and data simultaneously has reduced the amount of time taken to allocate and dispatch vehicles, enhancing customer service.

PRODUCTS USED

MOTOTRBO DM 3601 mobiles (80)

MOTOTRBO DM 3600 fixed mobiles (2)

SOLUTION FEATURES

PS location, text messaging, reports

Reduced waiting time

Maximised use of vehicles

Increased profitability

Eliminated congestion in control room

Simultaneous transmission of voice and data

Increased safety

 

 

How Digital Radio Can Help Tourist Attractions

Digital two way radio has shown how useful it can be at leading tourist attractions around the UK. At a 900 year old castle the managers already used Motorola analogue two way radios and with visitor numbers growing every year it was becoming increasingly important for staff to be able to communicate instantly to maximise productivity and customer service as well as ensure both staff and visitor safety. It was vital for staff to be able to communicate from any location within the castle and grounds, as well as to be able to communicate securely without scanners being able to eavesdrop, particularly important whilst hosting private weddings or high profile concerts. The managers wanted to boost the radio coverage to the outer areas of the castle grounds where staff often work alone and outside of normal opening hours. It was also beneficial for them to be able to communicate via text message to provide a silent and discreet method of communication in busy customer facing environments.

The castle managers chose MOTOTRBO for its wide coverage, larger capacity, unrivalled audio clarity and security. The new system was installed in less than 24 hours and included MOTOTRBO DP3600 hand portables and desk mounted DM3600’s to keep managers in contact with mobile staff. A single DR3400 repeater ensured strong signal coverage across the whole of the castle and grounds area as the digital signal is stronger than analogue.

Black spots were eliminated and clear voice communications over the whole 500 acre castle grounds mean that calls get through first time which has improved response times, customer service and security.

MOTOTRBO allowed for 10 different user groups to be set up to enable staff in each area of the castle to communicate instantly on a one to one basis by selecting names in the radios display screen. Staff were also able to communicate to large groups as well as make emergency broadcasts – if a staff member or visitor requires emergency help the emergency button can be pressed to broadcast to all live radios in a user group. Before changing over to the digital system users were only allowed to communicate within their group and emergency calls had to go through a switchboard. Response times to emergencies were cut to just a few minutes after changing to the digital system.

The ability of MOTOTRBO to use text messaging allowed staff to communicate discreetly without the risk of being overheard by visitors. Pre-set text messages were set up to provide rapid responses such as ‘What is your location?’ or ‘I’m in a meeting’.

As the digital radios are compatible with analogue radios it allowed the castle staff to switch to analogue mode to communicate with production or event companies that may hire the castle or grounds for events and have their own analogue radios. This provides seemless communications between security, customer service staff and event organisers.

 

Saving Man Hours By Installing MOTOTRBO

From a large warehouse in the UK a retailer supplies thousands of shops, handling a huge number of products and operates six days a week. Employees were using various methods of communication in the warehouse including mobile phones but poor coverage in some areas and the time taken for the call to connect were impacting on the productivity of the staff.

The warehouse managers decided that efficiency, productivity and safety all needed to be improved and decided to replace the various methods of communication with a MOTOTRBO system. The slightly higher network costs of digital compared with analogue were compensated by its lower set up, hardware and licensing overheads. The ability of digital to provide two slots on a single channel meant that only three DR3000 repeaters were needed to provide complete coverage in all areas.

The long battery life of the DP3600 handhelds means that most staff members are able to work for 16 hours without the need to recharge the battery. As the DP3600’s are dustproof and waterproof they are also suitable for heavy use in an environment where they may receive knocks and bangs.

The warehouse managers have estimated that the new MOTOTRBO system saves five minutes per person per day using the radios, which add up to almost six hours per day or nearly five man-days each week.

PRODUCTS USED

MOTOTRBO DP 3600 hand portables (55)

MOTOTRBO DM 3600 fixed mobiles (18)

MOTOTRBO DR 3000 repeaters (3)

SOLUTION FEATURES

Single on-site communications system

Five programmable feature buttons

Users competent after 20 minutes training

140 users working 16 hour, 2-shift a day benefits

Talk time extended by 40%

Hardware costs cut by 50%

Licensing costs halved

Five man-days saved each month

 

Digital Radio Increases School/University Security

Keeping students and staff safe wherever they are on university or school grounds is a priority. However the security department at a university in the UK had to cope with an old and unreliable two way radio system, making their jobs harder and despite the security team’s best efforts to maintain the best security practices its old radio system was hindering this.

The old system had unreliable audio, constant interference and black spots where there was no reception. The university chose to replace their old analogue radios for the new MOTOTRBO system. This system provided the university with reliable coverage, crisp audio and eliminated black spots. It enabled the team to talk privately one to one or make a group call for emergency alerts to the whole team.

Due to the dual band capability of the MOTOTRBO radios it allowed the university to first purchase radios for the security team and then gradually replace radios for other members of staff throughout the campus such as maintenance and IT departments. A simple switch on the radios allows them to change between analogue and digital, allowing the new radios to seamlessly communicate with the old radios until they were replaced.

With the new MOTOTRBO radios the security team now has the system they need in place to keep the university safe for all students and staff.

PRODUCTS USED

MOTOTRBO XPR™ 6500 portable radios

MOTOTRBO XPR™ 8300 repeater

SOLUTION FEATURES

Single on-site communications system

Enables university to cost effectively migrate to digital radios

Reliable communications between main and satellite campus

Seamless coverage across campus, inside buildings, and into tunnels