A Beep, Chicago, U.S. - Case Study

Features

When NEXEDGE was introduced at IWCE in 2007, A Beep saw that the simple system layout, which did not rely on a single server, as well as the ease of management and proven KENWOOD quality, made the decision to deploy NEXEDGE an easy one. A year later, they conducted a detailed comparison of all competitive products and chose NEXEDGE for their new Diga-Talk service. Other wide-area solutions did not offer everything they needed. Other solutions required excessive operator intervention to select sites, whereas KENWOOD offered a user-friendly, automated system for transparent roaming that delivered superb voice quality. IP networking eliminated the need for expensive T1 lines, and the 6.25 kHz modulation enabled them to make good use of their exclusive spectrum.

Coverage

After purchasing 50 repeaters, A Beep now has 9 sites linked by an IP network with another 3 sites ready to be deployed. They expect to have 16 sites running in the near future. This means the Diga-Talk system can offer seamless wide-area roaming across the entire Chicago metropolitan area, home to 9 million people. With an estimated 25% increase in coverage, their NEXEDGE digital system can utilise portable radios, whereas in the past only mobile radios provided the necessary range.

Appeal

With this expanded portable coverage, A Beep can satisfy the needs of smaller companies with just a few employees, as well as large fleet customers with more than 100 vehicles. The opportunities for messaging and GPS, as well as group calls and individual calls, are also attracting a wide variety of new clients, such as limousine services, cab companies, and landscapers. According to sales manager Jeff Chrastka, “Customer response has been phenomenal.”

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