Alive Telecom, a broadcast and public safety antenna manufacturer based in Mokena, IL, has launched AntennasNow, an online store which makes it “faster, easier, and more accurate” for suppliers and installers to procure public safety antennas, according to the company. It says AntennasNow offers virtually any antenna configuration to meet mission-critical communication network requirements and guarantees shipment within 21 days or less.
When an antenna fails due to damage or end-of-life, communications can be impacted and lead to delays which jeopardizes public safety response where every second counts. Timely replacement of public safety antennas is critical for first responders (fire, police, EMT).
There are multiple public safety antenna configurations based on frequency, antenna type, polarization, azimuth, and other factors informed by the municipality, topography, and network design. Moreover, the public safety network comprises approximately 140,000 sites nationwide with multiple antenna configurations at each site to provide 360-degree wide area coverage, according to estimates by consultancy Mindshare Advisors.
Alive Telecom says that there are few, if any, suppliers capable of stocking such myriad options. Unless the service provider is working with a specialist, it can be a gamble whether their supplier can deliver in a timely manner the right antenna that meets their exact specification.
“The clock starts ticking as soon as there is a disruption in vital communication,” said Dan Barton, President of Alive Telecom. “Replacing a public safety antenna is typically a scramble and a gamble that requires multiple calls to multiple suppliers as well as the good luck to land on one that understands the exact specifications, has the unit in stock, and can ship it within a reasonable amount of time.”
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