Hendon Publishing - Article Archive Details
PRYME®Radio Products deliver wireless communication in the field
Brea, Calif.,-based PRYME® Radio Products is a manufacturer of high quality products for professional users of two-way radios. Its product line serves many markets, including public safety, police, fire, emergency services, tactical and HazMat professionals. PRYME has introduced a wide variety of new products, including the WTX-4100 Series™ and GPSMIC™ Speaker Microphones, enabling the location of users in the field via GPS, as well as Bluetooth adapters. The complete line of professional two-way radio audio accessories is compatible with virtually every two-way radio platform. According to Dave George, president of the company, PRYME is not an importer of third-party products. “We invent, design and build virtually all of our own products,” George stated.
WTX-4100 Series
PRYME’s new WTX-4100 series tactical remote speaker microphone spent two years in development and was designed to provide more options for first responders. The WTX-4100 series supports three different methods of Push-to-Talk (PTT) activation: a traditional side-mounted PTT switch; a patented front-facing PTT that can be easily activated by pressing on the microphone; and a secure wireless PTT button that can be worn on the finger, attached to any convenient location (such as a rifle or firearm) or hidden in clothing. For even more flexibility, the WTX-4100 series also features a waterproof threaded accessory jack that can be used to connect an earphone, noise-reducing throat microphone or other audio accessory. The PTT-4100W Wireless PTT unit is included, and optional accessories are sold separately.
In addition to being feature rich, the WTX-4100 series is engineered to meet the demands of first responders in rugged scenarios. The microphone has waterproof housing, and heavily reinforced cable and strain-relief. Plus, the WTX-4100 series has all the qualities of other products from PRYME, including a loud built-in speaker; clear transmit audio quality; and a strong, 360-degree rotating clothing clip reinforced with metal. It also meets MIL-STD-810 requirements and works off a common coin-cell battery that lasts thousands of hours.
PRYMEBLU®
The PRYMEBLU wireless Bluetooth adapters allow first responders to use a compatible wireless headset or other audio accessory with a two-way radio. They pair easily with thousands of off-the-shelf Bluetooth headsets and remember paired connections even if the radio is turned off. If used with a headset that supports multiple pairings, the PRYMEBLU adapters enable operation of both a cellular phone and a two-way radio with the same headset. The accessory jack allows you to connect any PRYME QuickDisconnect (QD™) series wired audio accessory, such as a remote Push-to-Talk (PTT) or lapel microphone, in combination with the wireless headset.
Jim Newcomb, vice president of sales for PRYME, said the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the Santa Barbara Search & Rescue use the PRYMEBLU. As Motorola’s “Turbo” series of handheld digital radios didn’t come with Bluetooth built in, the PRYMEBLU solves that. “A lot of agencies and counties are buying these out of their own pockets,” Newcomb said. They are bundling them together with the Motorola Turbo.
The “smart switch” is a three-way switch that automatically overrides the Bluetooth if it detects an emergency situation.
GPS-4100 Microphone
The GPS-4100 Series is the next generation of PRYME’s patented GPSMIC location reporting device for portable radios. According to George, PRYME’s GPS-4100 mic is a microphone for use in public safety as well as forestry work, from the South Pacific to Canada. Worldwide, there are more than 2,000 units already in commercial service. For example, San Diego Gas & Electric uses PRYME’s GPS microphone with Motorola Smartnet radios. And over 300 units are used in Colorado for Natural Gas exploration, George said.
The GPSMIC operates as a normal remote speaker microphone attached to a two-way radio but also contains a GPS receiver and FSK modem. The GPSMIC sends data reports over the voice radio channel, allowing the dispatch operator to know the current location of each GPSMIC unit. Because GPSMICs integrate into an existing voice radio system, they do not require any additional channels or licensing, and there is no monthly fee involved for real-time GPS tracking.
The mic functions as both a remote speaker microphone and a highly configurable GPS location device. The GPS-4100 works with virtually any portable two-way radio, including conventional and trunked. It helps keep track of assets down to the level of the individual radio operator and integrates into existing analog voice radio systems; it does not require a dedicated data channel. Location reports are sent as short, audible data bursts at programmed instances.
The GPSMIC is capable of reporting the location of the user based on several different criteria. Reporting modes can be combined to customize the system. Different GPSMIC units can use different reporting options. The Polling feature reports the location of the GPSMIC when requested by the base station dispatch operator. The Push-To-Talk (PTT) reports location of the GPSMIC whenever the user presses the PTT key to send a voice transmission. The Elapsed Time option automatically sends a location report after a programmed amount of time has passed. Relative Distance sends a location report after the unit has moved a predetermined distance away from its last reported location.
Fixed Distance (Geofence) sends a location report and alert whenever a user moves outside of a programmed perimeter. The Mute function turns the internal speaker off while data reports from other GPSMICs are received, reducing the amount of data heard by voice users. The Base-Enabled feature allows GPSMICs to view location reports graphically when connected to a PC running mapping software, such as PRYME’s own CheckPoint (supplied free with every order).
The GPS-4100 has been upgraded with an integrated USB port, and an internal GPS antenna. All accessories are interchangeable (headsets, mics, etc.) among the speaker, wireless and GPSMICs. The GPSMIC includes three mapping software programs. It’s a two-way device so users can receive and reprogram data over the air. This PRYME mic has not only GPS, but a micro controller (computer) and a two-way modem. Users can program it to record every hour, which is ideal if an officer leaves a certain area.
Additional features include water resistant construction for long life under heavy use, and compatibility with other GPSMIC system devices, including the original PRYME GPS-5100 series GPSMIC and the GPS-4100M AVL Box. An LED alerts the user to battery and GPS status. Also included is a 3.5mm earphone jack for listen-only accessories, a fully rotating metal-reinforced clothing clip, a replaceable lithium-ion battery pack, and an alarm button that alerts dispatch of GPSMIC locationduring an emergency.
Photos courtesy of PRYME Radio Products.
Published in Public Safety IT, May/Jun 2010
Rating : 10.0
Article Images
Click to enlarge images.