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System Types 
 
 
What you know or don’t know about communications technology can make a great deal of difference in what your communications system does for you and at what cost. So we thought it might be a good idea to provide a general overview of the most commonly used technology and how it is applied to address specific needs.
 

30-50 MHz Conventional Low Band
Still used by utilities, forest products users, construction, and even a few public safety users. Uses analog technology. Primarily for long distance Base/mobile operation. Generally simplex (i.e. not repeater). The oldest of the available frequency bands. Provides exceptional range between mobiles. Main disadvantage is cost, limited product choices, long distance interference, and lack of compact portables.

150-174 MHz Conventional High Band
Best performance overall in wooded areas. Analog. Base/Mobile as well as repeater and portable operation. Best suited for average outdoor use. Good coverage in pine forests. Doesn’t work as well inside industrial plants as UHF or 900 MHz. Cost of portable radios is very reasonable.

450-470 MHz Conventional UHF Band
Well suited for plant use. Available for trunked use to allow more efficient use by large system users. See www.usa-radio1.com/LTR_Theory_of_Operation.pdf for more information on trunking. Both analog and digital systems are available. See www.falcondirect.com/digital for more information on digital communications systems.
Ideally suited for repeater operation. Best suited for in-plant use or in major urban areas. Alabama Forestry provides multiple UHF repeaters for use by volunteer fire departments. Cost would not generally be justified for wide area rural commercial use.

900 MHz Unlicensed ISM band
Extremely well suited for plant use. Digital portable system. No mobiles or repeaters available. Functions much like a Nextel without the monthly airtime charges with coverage up to several hundred thousand square feet. Voice and text messaging capability with audible or silent alerting. Great plant radio system
 
Additional information on the products offered by Falcon Direct for each of the different systems above is available by clicking on the Mobiles, Portables, Repeaters, or Special Products selector tabs at the above left.