As digital and two-way radios become more and more vital for teams across a variety of organisations, the work carried out can differ. Often, employees can find themselves working independently or even on-site alone. Two-way and digital radios are designed to keep both staff and visitors safe.
The purpose of a lone worker device is for your employer to keep you safe within a team, as well as the staff who work alone. As there are more and exclusive risks with working alone, the lone worker device is an essential tool to keep you away from these risks.
What is a Lone Worker Device?
A lone worker safety device is a discreet and undetectable tool which allows for communication with employers and emergency services.
The devices themselves are usually radio systems such as two-way walkie talkie, but can also be much more discreet devices in the form of an earpiece or an app.
Lone Worker Safety
Within your team or organisation, working alone is completely legal and is usually safe to do so. Your company should have carried out a risk assessment before placing you in a situation where you would be working independently.
For an idea of what you need for your business or site, read our blog on lone worker radio systems for construction workers, here.
Lone Worker Function
The Lone Worker function, also known as a Lone Worker Alarm is designed with solo workers in mind. It is an efficient, simple and quick way of ensuring the safety of workers throughout the working day. This function will provide managers and supervisors with regular updates on their wellbeing and the smooth running of their work. This will give both workers, supervisors and visitors peace of mind that their safety is cared for and monitored.
Lone worker devices feature the Man Down function, a great way of alerting supervisors on the safety of workers. The mission sensor sends an alarm to supervisors when:
The radio holder is moving more than what is considered the usual amount for the job at hand
The radio is completely stationary
The radio is positioned at an unusual angle for a longer period of time.
Most digital radios have the ability to be updated with lone worker functions. Get in touch with one of our experts during set up for any guidance you need. Learn more about lone worker function here, in our recent blog.
The Bank Underground Station is a vital station that connects people from all across London. As part of the Central, Northern and Waterloo & City lines, the smooth and safe running of this station is vital. Situated in fare zone 1, the Bank Underground Station is one of the busiest stations in the London Underground Network, and therefore the smooth running of this station is extremely important.
Wall to Wall Communication were asked to provide this station with a new communication system in order to improve the connectivity between workers, and we were up for the challenge! No matter the project, Wall to Wall will provide your business with a tailored system design and installation to meet your specific needs, in the most cost effective way. Keep reading to find out how we provided a personalised communication system at the Bank Underground Station…
The Challenge
With the team at the Bank Underground Station working both above ground and below ground, one of the biggest challenges Wall to Wall faced was providing a communication system that could penetrate the layers of concrete between the workers whilst still providing clear and reliable communication. Multiple channels were also required to allow several different workers to be communicating simultaneously without interrupting each other. In addition to this, the workers also required a reliable radio system that didn’t falter, even during periods of maximum capacity to guarantee business was not interrupted.
Solution Provided
The solution provided to the Bank Underground Station was the installation of a multi channel Hytera System, connected with leaky feeder cables. Wall to Wall has chosen to provide the Bank Underground Station with Hytera PD605 radios with the addition of telephone connectivity. Including telephone connectivity enhances the practicality of their two way radios by allowing the workers to also communicate with those who do not have a radio, expanding their network coverage. The multi channels were installed to allow for several different departments/workers to communicate simultaneously, whilst the leaky feeder brought about reliable connectivity despite the physical signal barriers.
You can read more about how Wall to Wall can provide coverage enhancement through the installation of repeaters, antennas and leaky feeders here.
Solution Benefits
The installation of the leaky feeder cable allows for seamless communication between workers below ground and above ground. This provided the tools for the teams to increase efficiency by saving time with fast and reliable communication.
The radios supplied also include noise cancelling abilities in the radio and via Peltor headsets to ensure communication is not interrupted by background noise.
Improved voice clarity also adds an additional feature that will guarantee messages are sent and received clearly.
Wall to Wall Communications has provided a similar multi-channel solution with a leaky feeder cable and integrated telephone connectivity to Tottenham Court Road Underground. You can read more about this case study here.
At Wall to Wall Communications we know that two way radio rental can be a game changing decision for most businesses. Whether you are a large multi site business with employees that travel the country, or a family run local business, radio rental can be a big step. Which radio is right for my business? How will I train my employees on two way radios? What happens if the radios need repairs? Do I need an OFCOM licence? All of these questions can be answered by a member of the Wall to Wall team who will provide you with a one-to-one consultation using their 40 years of experience in radio rentals.
With many businesses taking the step towards seamless communication and incorporating two way radio rentals into the day to day running, can you afford not to? Two way radios not only improve efficiency and daily task management, but improve the security and safety of workers and customers as well. At Wall to Wall we pride ourselves in going the extra mile to bring you stress-free radio rental so you can focus on your customers, whilst we take care of you.
At Wall to Wall Communications we know that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to two way radios for businesses. That is why we provide a consultation where we learn about your specific needs, and design a communication system to meet them in the most cost effective way.
OFCOM is the UK regulator of communication and is responsible for managing the use of the radio spectrum. Excluding licence free radios (low power 446 units) all radio rentals and radio users require an OFCOM licence. An OFCOM licence will be allocated for the use of certain frequency, stations and site addresses.
Different types of licence
Simple UK Light– This OFCOM licence costs £75+ for 5 years. This will allow your company to use communication speech messages without a base station across the UK. All users who have a Simple UK Light OFCOM licence will have shared access to a number of frequencies and tones.
Simple Site UK- This OFCOM licence also typically costs £75+ for 5 years. This licence is appropriate for two way radio users with a base station or paging system who function within 3km of that location.
Technically Assigned (Shared and Exclusive)– This OFCOM licence can range from £75 to £1480 per year and frequency. This will allow your company to have a frequency assigned to them within a specific area or for radio rental users using a repeater. If you chose a shared frequency your business can use it up to 50% of the time, and for exclusive licence holders the frequency can be used more than 50% of the time.
Area Defined– The cost of this licence ranges from £75 to £9900 per year and frequency depending on the area covered. This allows the use of a two way radio rentals up to 50KM2.
At Wall to Wall we will provide you with assistance and advice when applying for your OFCOM licence and managing your licence when you have obtained one. To take the guesswork out of the application process, call a member of our team on 020 8770 1007.
When introducing a new piece of equipment into a business it is important that all employees know how to use it safely and effectively in order to get the best results. That is why Wall to Wall provides training for all members of staff on their new communications system. We will teach your staff the best practices and ensure you are confident in using all of your new two way radios features.
Once your company experiences the benefits of two way radio rental, you won’t be able to do without them. That is why at Wall to Wall we don’t just provide radio rentals, but radio repairs and maintenance as well. Using our 40 years of experience, our in-house team can diagnose and repair your radios using the latest technology and equipment. We can provide reliable and effective repairs when your radios falter. In addition to this, Wall to Wall provides radio services to ensure they are working at optimum efficiency in terms of signal, sound and battery life.
At Wall to Wall we can also do on-site visits to make small adjustments and repairs quickly. If your radio needs to be taken back to the workshop to be repaired further, Wall to Wall will provide radio rental to make sure the running of your business is not interrupted.
At Wall to Wall Communications we know how important it is to you that your business runs smoothly, efficiently and at optimum levels of safety. Taking the step to implement two way radios has never been more logical with the latest technology allowing you to truly customise their features. This has meant that two way radios are able to enhance the running of several industries including; construction, events, security, education, hospitality leisure, auction houses, transportation logistics, retailers, film production, banks and hospitals to name a few. With multiple options available, a two way radio can improve the running of your business in several different ways. If you would like to find out how your two way radio can be tailored to help you and your business, keep reading…
Specialised Features
Noise Cancelling
One of the main concerns companies have about using two way radios is noise interference. This is a particular concern for industries such as events, festivals, family attractions and anywhere else there may be loud noises. However, two way radios can now feature noise cancelling abilities which allow voice messages to be sent and received clearly and without interruption. This allows for communication to continue despite the surrounding situation, and for safety and security to be maintained, even in potentially loud emergency situations.
Discrete communication
If your business is dealing with the public and requires discrete communication, Wall to Wall Communications can provide radios that are compatible with earpieces and audio adapters to ensure you and your colleagues can communicate privately.
Man down
The man down function is another quick and effective way of alerting other workers when there is a risk to the safety of the user. This specialised feature will send an alarm to the base station if the radio either remains stationary for too long, the holder is moving more than what is considered normal for the job or the radio user is positioned at an unusual angle for an extended period of time.
Lone Worker
If your business involves employees working on their own, during your consultation you can request a ‘man down’ function. At regular intervals the radio will send an alert which prompts the lone worker to respond by pressing a button if they are safe and well. If the radio alert is not responded to, this will send an alarm to the base station. To learn more about man down and lone worker function, you can read our blog post here.
GPS Tracking
Many radios are equipped with GPS and Bluetooth which can allow your business to track the real time location of your workers inside your premises and while working outside. A variety of software based systems are available to display this location data and create custom alerts for Man Down and Lone worker alerts allowing you to respond to worker emergencies.
Manager Override Function
Basic radios are a great solution for businesses who need quick and easy communication between staff. However, if you have a large business with multiple radio users there may be a situation where important messages get lost amongst other communications. This is where the manager override function shines. At Wall to Wall we can set a hierarchy or radios that allows important messages to be delivered to all radio users. This can be used for day-to-day delegation and in emergency situations.
Integrated Task Management Systems
With over 40 years of experience at Wall to Wall we were finding that some industries were experiencing difficulty in task management. Typically an employee will be given a set of tasks at the beginning of the work day and won’t be able to update management until the end of the day. With Wall to Wall’s integrated task management systems, radio users are able to send an alert to the controller once a task is complete, allowing the controller to respond and delegate tasks quickly and efficiently. Learn more about how this specialised function can help your business here.
Text Messaging
Text messaging can provide even more discrete and efficient forms of communication alongside radioing. Wall to Wall can set you and your business up with preset text messages that can be sent at the touch of a button. Text messaging is also a function available with Trackitt that allows for communication to be recorded, particularly useful for training and monitoring purposes.
Caller ID
Caller ID allows for radio communication receivers to identify the radioer sending the messages. This allows for efficient communication and is particularly useful when used in emergency and time sensitive situations.
Panic/Emergency Call Functions
Similar to the lone worker and man down functions, the panic button/emergency call function allows for radio users to communicate an emergency to other radio users at the touch of a button. Radios with this specialised function are typically set up with GPS tracking and Caller ID to ensure as much information is communicated in an emergency situation at the touch of a button.
Automated Radio Alarm
Automated radio alarms can be set up to trigger alarms at particular situations. For example, if a fire alarm or an intruder alarm is activated, all radio users will be notified. This will allow for your business to run more smoothly and for faster responses when needed. Read more about how Wall to Wall’s alarm connectivity can help your business here.
At Wall to Wall Communications we have been working with two way radios for over 40 years. During our time working with two way radios we have found that one of the most frequent questions we get is ‘how do I boost my two way radio signal?. Getting a radio signal that is reliable, efficient, can penetrate obstacles and can still send clear messages to other radio users far away can seem hard to obtain. We also know that having good radio signal is imperative to the running of your business. Not only does reliable communication boost efficiency and productivity, but also safety and security as well. This is why we have written a guide to help you find the right solution for your two way radio problem, including leaky feeders, POC technology, installing an antenna or simply changing the battery.
Change Battery
At Wall to Wall we recommend that you scrap your old radio battery every 18-24 months and replace it with a new one. This will be the first thing to check if you are experiencing poor signal coverage. If you have not replaced your two way radio battery over a longer period than this, you can experience poor coverage, conversations being cut short mid-transmission and unclear communication. By using a radio with a battery that isn’t fully charged, the power rapidly decreases, inhibiting its ability to send and receive radio signals.
Leaky Feeder
If you and your business are experiencing issues with your radio signal reaching areas that are located along shafts, tunnels or underground, a leaky feeder cable will give you the signal boost you’ve been looking for. A leaky feeder is a cable that, unlike a normal feeder cable, is designed to ‘leak’ signal out in a controlled manner as well as allowing signal to penetrate the cable as well. A leaky feeder allows signal to reach areas where it would not have otherwise reached, effectively behaving like a long antenna for radios.
Repeaters
Radio signals can in fact travel around obstacles and through them, but this does however drastically affect the strength of the radio signal. If you are finding that you and your employees are dropping out of signal range when straying too far afield, or perhaps your business is located in a built up area, it may be time to install a repeater. A repeater essentially receives radio signals and re-transmits or ‘repeats’ them, giving your radios the power to reach a wider range. A repeater usually instals their antennas in a high and central location to bypass tall buildings and hilly landscapes. This will give your radio signals a clear and powerful boost.
POC Technology
If you and your business require a communication method that reaches a long distance, perhaps spanning the country, installing multiple leaky feeders and antennas can be costly and may still not achieve the coverage you need. In these instances, for businesses such as couriers, taxis and transportation, switching to a POC (Push To Talk Over Cellular) radio may be the solution you have been looking for.
Instead of communicating using radio waves, a POC radio instead utilised the mobile data network (3G, 4G, 5G) and WIFI signal to send and receive messages. Now that the mobile data network has become faster and more reliable than ever, POC radios have risen in popularity. This is mainly due to the fact that users of these radios are not limited to staying within a particular signal range, but instead have the freedom to communicate wherever there is mobile data or WIFI signal. So if you are a business that is expanding and requires a boost to your signal range, POC technology might just be the answer you’ve been looking for.
