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Since December of 1901 when Guglielmo Marconi successfully sent radio signals across the ocean, a Morse code tap from England to Canada, the wireless communication industry has expanded in ways the forerunners of this technology may never have dreamed of.

Over the past century, radio wave uses have ingrained themselves into history. They were used to broadcast Morse code messages from ships to land such as in the fated Titanic, to transmit wartime orders, or even to fool Americans into believing they were under attack by Martians.

Mike Blalock, CEO of Compucom Engineering, a Rockledge based company that has been designing telemetry products for more than 20 years, said he has seen quite a few changes in trends in the radio communications industry. Equipment has shrunk, while the number of frequencies available for use has grown, allowing for a more secure system.

“Technology (in this industry) is constantly at the forefront,” Blalock said.
Blalock’s systems are used for application in the water and wastewater industries. Remote data tracking alerts officials by phone if their equipment has been damaged or is failing. This type of system has virtually eliminated the need of manpower during graveyard shifts.

“It’s about as secure as a thing can be,” Blalock said.

However, as it is with technology, what was once state of the art often takes second position to new developments. For instance, Compucom recently lost their contract after 20 years with Rockledge when the municipality opted to switch to a cell phone system in 2005. The new system places its data collection directly onto a web site.

Blalock said he believes the Internet system may be convenient, but not necessarily cost effective. He said he has no short term plans to switch his operations over to the net.

Brian Jones, Engineer Support Manager at Relm Wireless a veteran land mobile radio supplier and developer based in West Melbourne, said while some businesses may be opting for cell phones over radios, he believes switching is more costly in the long run. For example, investing in a radio system carries no monthly fee.
“It’s still a very costly technology,” he said.

Jones also points out that cellular technology is also no match for two-way radios, especially in crisis situations. His company has seen very little in the way of competition from the cellular manufacturers, Jones said.

“ Most of our customers are in areas where there is no coverage.”
For instance, Relm Wireless, which has been in business since the late 1940s, provides equipment to first responders and public safety workers such as military, law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and fire rescue.

“If they need to communicate, it (a radio) could be their lifeline,” Jones said. “When these guys are out there fighting fires, it’s critical. These guys need to be informed in a real-time basis. Cell phones don't cut it.”

Don Smith of Terrycomm, a Melbourne based wireless communications system and equipment supplier, agrees that cell phones are not a threat to the two-way radio. Smith said since the late 1990s, with the onslaught of Nextel’s Direct Connect and similar style cell phones, he did see a slight dip in his business. However, he said he sees the tide spiraling back.

“A lot of businesses are turning back to mobile,” Smith said.

From what Smith has seen, price and the ability to control that employees are speaking are factors on the side of radios.

One other trend that Brian Jones said he has seen, namely since the Okalahoma bombing in 1995, is a need for standardized communication system.

This state has answered a call for interoperability with Florida’s Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System. The system, provided by M/A-COM, is a dedicated statewide wireless network. The unified network is available to all local and regional public service agencies.

At a recent press conference held in Miami, Governor Jeb Bush announced the full implementation the system. More than 6,500 state law enforcement officers now have the ability to communicate with their peers throughout the state.

Before the implementation of the system, officers traveling outside of their home areas had to switch equipment to talk with other officers due to the lack of interoperability between the systems. They are now able to talk with colleagues in all 67 of Florida’s counties.

In addition, the 800-MHz-radio-system provides encrypted communications for greater security and digital voice quality. It covers 59,000 square miles of Florida and 25 miles off the coastlines.

Bill Tinsley, M/A-COM’s director of operations for the state of Florida said the system switch began in 2001 and is funded through a 20-year contract- $1 yearly surcharge on state license plates. The surcharge will equate to about $17 million per year for the length of the contract. TYCO, M/A COM’s parent company funded the $200 million dollar cost to build the system’s statewide infrastructure.

“That was a great thing for the state (TYCO funding),” Tinsley said. “It was painless for the state of Florida and the citizens of Florida.”

All state law enforcement agencies are required to use the system, but Tinsley said he is seeing more county level agencies getting on board as well.

“We’ve got about 12 counties who have switched,” he said. “It’s cheaper than having their own system, they don’t have to build and maintain an infrastructure.”
Tinsley said the interoperability rating for the system as at Level One, which is the highest of six. Previously, state law enforcement used a variety of systems that varied from agency to agency, Tinsley said.

“They had a hodgepodge of different systems,” he said. “This is uniform. All state agencies have it, anybody with a gun and a badge on the state level.”