We deeply appreciate the opportunity to share and learn more about the cutting edge of public safety communications equipment among peers and fellow public safety organizations including emergency communications personnel, law enforcement, fire service, and EMS professionals. 

We would also like to thank all of those who came by our booth! We are excited and proud to share our line of public safety products and what is up and coming on the horizon for our company. We would also like to extend a special thank you to all of those who came by our booth and enjoyed the free beer! We enjoyed the great conversation surrounding public safety, and everything you do for the industry. We look forward to your collaboration in the future.

 Did you come and see us? What was your favorite thing you saw or learned and what was your favorite part of APCO 2019?

Didn’t have the chance to make it out to APCO 2019? From free baseballs to free beer, check out some photos of our booth below and some highlights from the event.

The post Thanks for Coming to See us at APCO 2019 first appeared on BK Technologies.

The post Thanks for Coming to See us at APCO 2019 appeared first on BK Technologies.

BK Technologies is a proud exhibitor and sponsor of APCO 2019. APCO International’s Annual Conference and Expo is the premier event in the emergency communications industry, where professionals gather for in-depth education and industry networking in the ever-evolving space of public safety. We will be featuring our BKR and KNG product line, as well as showcasing what is on the horizon for BK Technologies.

BK Technologies will be exhibiting from Aug. 12-13th at booth number 1121. Come and see how we are on the cutting edge of industry technology with a demonstration of our BKR and KNG product lines. These products are built to be lightweight, yet robust in their capabilities, and are depended on by the military, fire, and police departments alike.

In addition to demonstrating our products, we would also like to invite you to grab a beer and network with us. On August 12th, our exhibit will be hosting a free beer promotion from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm, all you have to do is like our Facebook or Instagram page! Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network on and offline with BK Technologies at the APCO 2019 conference. For more information and to register for this four-day event, visit: https://www.apco2019.org/

Stay tuned on our social media channels and follow the hashtag #APCO2019 all week for more information!

The post Don’t Miss BK Technologies at APCO 2019 first appeared on BK Technologies.

The post Don’t Miss BK Technologies at APCO 2019 appeared first on BK Technologies.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant meets the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations. The goal of this grant is to provide firefighters and first responders with updated equipment, gear, radios, training, and emergency vehicles to better protect themselves and the community. The AFG assists over 2,000 fire departments nationwide each year, with grants reaching over $3,000,000 for personal protective equipment, and gear that may be otherwise unattainable by its recipients.

The AFG will be launching a new system, the Grant Outcomes (GO) system, for its 2019 application. This new system is meant to streamline the application process with a more user-friendly interface. This interface will require that the information entered matches your SAM and DUNS information, including your grant’s point of contact.

The 2019 cycle is projected to begin in the late summer or early fall season. We encourage all of our partners in fire and public safety to assess the needs of their department, obtain estimates, and apply for this opportunity to enhance their fleet of equipment to better protect the public while keeping themselves safe. Follow the link below to begin your grant assistance form and best of luck from BK Technologies!

Fill out a grant assistance form: https://www.firegrantshelp.com/BKTechnologies-Grant-Assistance

The post The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Will be Opening Soon first appeared on BK Technologies.

The post The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Will be Opening Soon appeared first on BK Technologies.

While the Atlantic hurricane season officially starts on June 1, it really kicks into full swing in the month of September. Statistically, late August through September sees a sharp increase of tropical storms with the peak being around September 10. That makes this month critical for public safety personnel in affected areas to have P25 radios available for use.

As with any disaster, typically there is no one public safety department that can handle the effects of a hurricane by itself. Usually, it is necessary that several departments from different areas come together to help those in need. Depending on the severity of the storm damage, federal assistance may even be called in. But there are challenges that must be dealt with for things to go smoothly with the interdepartmental cooperation.

In many areas, the separate departments from separate jurisdictions, and sometimes various levels of public safety, use different types of communication devices from different manufacturers. This makes communication an issue during a time when it is essential. If the agencies all use P25 compatible devices, even though they may be from different manufacturers, they will achieve their desired interoperability to ensure that they can help as many people as they can, as quickly as they can.

Tropical storms and hurricanes have the ability to displace thousands of people. In these situations, it’s imperative that public safety personnel have the interoperability that only P25 radios can provide. RELM Wireless is a proud supplier of P25 radio to public safety officials throughout the country.

The post P25 Radios Shine During Hurricane Season first appeared on BK Technologies.

The post P25 Radios Shine During Hurricane Season appeared first on BK Technologies.

Whenever an officer is on a call, he needs his radio for communication. Contact with dispatchers to receive critical information about the people they may be coming into contact can be lifesaving. Using their radios to call for backup in dangerous situations can also be a lifesaving decision.

In 1989, the FCC asked public safety two-way radio users for recommendations on how to improve public safety radio systems. They took these recommendations and created a new standard for the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials-International, which was dubbed Project 25.

The first phase of P25 systems was an important step to providing the type of communication needed for public safety officials. Now manufacturers like Relm Wireless are producing state-of-the-art digital portable radios using P25 phase two technology.

Phase two of the P25 standard is for narrow band communications. This type of communication is an important next step in emergency communication because it means that an agency can use less of its allotted bandwidth allowing for more agencies to use the availability. This offers a greater ability for interoperability with different agencies and from different jurisdictions. If there’s an emergency where agencies from other jurisdictions are required to support, this makes the communication between the agencies much easier.

As more and more products become available using this continuously updating technology, it’s important that our public safety officials have the use of these technologies both for their own safety and that of those they have sworn to protect.

The post Importance of Phase Two P25 Radios for Public Safety first appeared on BK Technologies.

The post Importance of Phase Two P25 Radios for Public Safety appeared first on BK Technologies.