Oxford university college deploys a MOTOTRBO™ IP site connect system
for crystal-clear, reliable, multisite communications.

The solution.

Radiocoms deployed a three-site MOTOTRBO IP Site Connect system and provided training to the relevant staff. The hardware was installed during the first COVID-19 national lockdown. The Radiocoms team installed three SLR 5500 repeaters – one at the main campus, one at the H B Allen Centre and one at the outlying sports ground – and the repeaters are linked by the college’s IP network for seamless wide area coverage and automatic roaming, with no need for manual intervention or channel changes. The IP connectivity was already in place at the main campus and the H B Allen Centre but the Radiocoms engineers had to overcome the technical challenge of integrating the older technology at the sports ground into the expanded network.

Grounds staff, maintenance teams and porters, positioned at the entrance lodges, all use the MOTOTRBO DP4601e and DP4401e radios with long-life IMPRES batteries to communicate over the MOTOTRBO network, with the DP4601e display devices being used by those needing to access the phone book and make individual calls. All users have allocated radios and access to all channels, with the option to operate the emergency button to summon help with one touch using Transmit Interrupt to clear a channel when necessary. Keble relies on the system for voice communications and there are five talk groups, with two duplicated for lone worker channels.

Jodi Thomas explains why Keble chose to deploy a MOTOTRBO network rather than rely on mobile phones: “We work in rough environments, often outdoors, and mobile phones just aren’t cut out for that type of usage. We need hard-wearing, IP-rated, robust, reliable and rugged devices. Motorola radios tick all the boxes. Battery life is really important for us too. Moreover, you don’t get a mobile signal in many of our basement areas and it can be intermittent at the sports fields, whereas, with the MOTOTRBO system, we know we’ll always be in range.”

And the system has worked optimally since deployment, but the repeaters and radios are protected by a 5-year Service and Support package and Radiocoms provide ongoing support and service, should any issues arise.

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Lone worker protection.

Another key element for Keble is the one-to-all calling, which is ideal for sharing real-time information from different locations when coordinating incidents, such as a burst pipe, and for day-to-day operations, like grounds inspections, organising on-site contractors and fire alarm practices.

Lone Worker is also enabled on the radios used by the maintenance and grounds teams for staff working alone, often handling machinery like tractor-style mowers at the sports ground. These lone workers need to respond to a tone set on the radio at regular intervals, by pressing the PTT button; if he or she fails to respond within the predefined time, the radio sends a pre-alert to the supervisor radios, so college protocol can be followed.

Benefits.

• Efficient, fast installation fully managed by experienced Radiocoms team during COVID-19 lockdown
• Maintenance, grounds and porter teams can communicate reliably in real time, work more productively, and coordinate complex jobs effectively
• Robust radios, suited to outdoor grounds staff and maintenance work enhanced safety with features such as Lone Worker

And users have praised the ease of use of the system, the improved, crystal-clear audio across the three sites and the freedom that the wide-area coverage and roaming affords them.             

Conclusion.

Jodi Thomas explains why Keble chose to deploy a MOTOTRBO network rather than rely on mobile phones: “We work in rough environments, often outdoors, and mobile phones just aren’t cut out for that type of usage. We need hard-wearing, IP-rated, robust, reliable and rugged devices. Motorola radios tick all the boxes. Battery life is really important for us too. Moreover, you don’t get a mobile signal in many of our basement areas and it can be intermittent at the sports fields, whereas, with the MOTOTRBO system, we know we’ll always be in range.”

Terry Staff, account manager at Radiocoms, summarises: “We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver for our customers, whatever the situation. It’s fantastic to see the improved coverage and functionality that this MOTOTRBO system is delivering for Keble and how it is supporting new workplace strategies, worker safety and operational efficiency. And, as always, MOTOTRBO is easily scalable, as and when the college needs to grow the numbers of users.”

  Connect with Terry Staff.