Local Authorities
Supporting the delivery of services that improve community wellbeing
The range of services provided by a local authority are typically dependent on the type of council it is, but in essence, they are responsible for delivering social, housing and environmental services that improve the outcomes for people and businesses in defined geographic areas.
Social care, housing, planning, education, libraries, waste collection and recycling, parks and recreational amenities, and parking control are among the most typical services delivered while larger authorities support additional services including fire, police and public transport, licensing, leisure centres, business support, registrar services, allotments, pest control, school crossing patrols etc.
Many local authority community and maintenance services require workers to operate outdoors and remotely which has led to more councils adopting two-way radio as the preferred communication method to manage activities and support worker safety despite the ubiquity of smart phones and the introduction of Push-To-Talk-over Cellular (PoC) devices.
Two-way has proven to be the communication tool of first and last resort that continues to provide instant, reliable voice and data communication at the push of a button without being affected by cellular network overloads and IP service outages; they are also simple to operate, easily configured and operate without subjecting the user to additional steps and distractions.
The ability of management to coordinate the efficiency of operations carried out by functional teams located in different places is critical to enabling workforce mobility, underpinning health and safety policy and maximising productivity especially when circumstances change, for example, in the event of an incident requiring urgent assistance or the implementation of emergency, evacuation or lockdown procedures.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
The purposes in which radio systems are applied to are as varied as the services offered by a local authority but in essence, radiocommunication supports the safety of staff working in the community or across multiple sites, for example:
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- Protection of staff |
- Monitor and log workforce activities |
PROVEN PERFORMANCE
The use of KENWOOD two-way radio communication by local authorities to coordinate services is widespread and employs solutions ranging from the simplicity of license-free digital dPMR446 walkie-talkies to highly flexible, voice and data enabled digital conventional, IP networked and trunked DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems.
KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems can also be integrated with existing building and maintenance systems including fire and security, access control, telemetering systems etc., so offers a failsafe and future-proofed communication solution.
SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Having access to real-time data is critical to operating council services safely and efficiently. The utility of DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems can be greatly extended with the addition of GPS (standard on NX-3000 and NX-5000 Series radios), applications and software to include dispatch and location capabilities, automated and event triggered audio and text alerts and real time asset tracking and monitoring, event logging and reporting. Features include:
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KAS-10 & KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch Suites |
- Low-cost KAS-10 and feature rich KAS-20 Voice & Data Dispatch Suites |
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Trackuracy Asset Tracking and Monitoring |
- Real-time Bluetooth, Low-Energy (BLE) advanced asset monitoring and tracking across single and multiple sites, indoors and out |
SELECTION & VALUE
The key consideration in selecting a radiocommunication system to support local authority services is that it is able to provide coverage across the entire area, that it has the capacity to accommodate large numbers or users and groups and not least, that it is flexible and scalable to meet changing needs.
With the constant battle between increasing service demands and reducing budgets in the public sector, any capital investment in a new radio system needs to accommodate and be interoperable with legacy equipment while also providing an orderly migration path to full implementation and capability to be integrated with other enterprise solutions to ensure best value and futureproofing.
OPERATIONS SUPPORT
The many and varied services offered by local authorities range from the basic community services served by parish councils to small populations to those wide-ranging services delivered by unitary authorities, metropolitan districts and borough councils to those serving millions of people in the case of London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Glasgow.
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Parish, community and town councils |
District, borough and city councils |
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County councils |
Unitary authorities, metropolitan districts and boroughs* |
* In London and metropolitan areas some services, like fire, police and public transport, are provided through ‘joint authorities’
KENWOOD RADIO COMMUNICATION SOLUTIONS
ProTalk License-Free PMR446 – simple and effective
For parish councils and smaller localised groups of workers, for example those maintaining parks and amenities, the simplicity and convenience of analogue and digital license-free PMR446 technology has made it a popular choice where its reliability, ruggedness and ease of use has provided instant communication between individuals and groups at the push of a button.
Digital dPMR446 is by far the most popular format with professional users. It offers better reception to the full extent of the coverage area, and with 32 digital channels and 16 analogue channels, it’s particularly suited to operations in congested city areas and larger open spaces or where channels are allocated to specific teams. Durability, a long battery life between charges and simplicity of operation in all conditions are some of the key attributes of the current generation of KENWOOD ProTalk dPMR446 radios, along with many more advanced features only previously found in licensed radios.
KENWOOD licensed digital radio – the coverage and flexibility to meet the demands of larger users
For larger local authorities operating with teams across multiple sites over greater distances, a licensed KENWOOD digital radiocommunication system brings even greater benefits, including:
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- Individual, group and all radios calls |
- Flexibility to link multiple locations |
*NX-1000 Series radios require an optional GPS Microphone to enable GPS operation while GPS is built-in with NX-3000 and NX-5000 Series radio devices.
** NX-3000 and NX-5000 Series radio devices only
KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN digital protocols both offer the capability to build flexible voice and data communication systems suitable for covering single or multiple sites, while the native analogue/digital Mixed Operation capability (enabling radios to communicate automatically with existing licensed analogue radios), provides a predictable, economical migration path to full digital two-way radio implementation at a predictable cost and to build a scalable, future-proof radio system.
A KENWOOD DMR or NEXEDGE NXDN system equipped with GPS devices not only provides multiple communications channels and talk groups but also, with the addition of the optional KAS-10/20 software or Trackuracy ‘asset’ tracking suites, allow you to monitor and track every radio so you always know where staff are and can pinpoint and direct resources more efficiently or alert those best able to respond quickly to situations.
ADVANCED LONE WORKER PROTECTION
Lone workers including cleaning and maintenance teams, grounds keepers, social services, home support workers and enforcement officers can have their radios programmed and monitored so that they will be called automatically at predetermined times to check on their status and should there be no response, an alarm will be raised. Similarly, a programmable function key on the radio can be assigned to trigger an emergency alert which is transmitted immediately to all other radio users.
These advanced safety features offer added layers of worker protection with the ability to automatically send alerts and alarms to a control centre and/or other radio users, for example:
| Priority Call: |
The Priority Call feature ensures the availability of a radio channel in the event of an emergency and allows a dispatcher to interrupt all existing calls on a channel. |
| Emergency Key: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender and when the Emergency Key button is pressed. GPS equipped radios, can additionally send the location (GPS coordinates) of the user. |
| Lone Worker: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender if a user does not respond to a status prompt within a specified time. |
| Man Down: |
An alarm is triggered along with the user ID of the sender if the radio is tilted beyond a pre-determined angle indicating that the user may have fallen or become incapacitated. Other programmable features include: |
| Location Services: |
NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR radios equipped with GPS can additionally be programmed to send location information to a control centre using software such as KAS-10 or KAS-20 AVL and Dispatch suites so that the user at risk can be located quickly and response times reduced. |
| Asset Tracking and Monitoring: |
Trackuracy equips KENWOOD DMR and NEXEDGE NXDN systems with Bluetooth low-energy, real-time asset monitoring and tracking across single and multiple sites, indoors and out. Alerts, alarms delivered as audible tones, voice or data messages can be programmed to trigger automatically should the user stray off course or enter prohibited areas. |
| Remote Monitor: |
Remote Monitor allows dispatchers to listen in to a radio through its microphone in situations where an alarm is activated, and the radio user is unable to respond. This provides the dispatcher with the intelligence to assess a situation in real time and to quickly initiate an appropriate response. |
| Intrinsically Safe Radios: |
NEXEDGE NXDN ATEX/IECEx certified radios provide the solution for lone workers operating in explosive atmospheres or situations where hazardous airborne particles are present. |
Health & Safety (Including Site Lockdown and Evacuation)
Beyond the efficiency that radio communication brings to coordinating activities and service delivery, it also serves to help you with health and safety and security requirements/regulations compliance, for example, alerting staff to the presence of threats, calling for medical assistance, reporting accidents and incidents of anti-social behaviour.
However, where radio communication really excels is in the event of a major incident. Whether that be a medical emergency, staff at risk or a more serious event that requires key staff everywhere on site to be alerted instantly.
EXCEPTIONAL AUDIO QUALITY EVEN IN NOISY ENVIRONMENTS
KENWOOD radiocommunication devices benefit from JVCKENWOOD Group’s 60-years’ experience in producing consumer audio and visual equipment (Trio, JVC and KENWOOD), renowned for exceptional sound quality.
This transfer of knowledge and experience has led to the development of novel and innovative solutions which overcome the problem of cancelling ambient noise while improving the audio clarity of the transmitted voice in any operating environment.
| Ultimate noise cancellation: |
NX-5000 Series hand-portable radios achieve optimum noise cancellation with the use of two integrated microphones. The main microphone is situated closer to the desired source (front of the radio), while a second microphone in the rear of the radio receives the ambient noise. In a noisy environment, both microphones receive noise at a similar level, however, the main microphone receives the user’s voice more strongly. The processor in the radio subtracts one noise source from the other so that most of the ambient noise is cancelled which effectively enhances the quality of the transmitted audio of the user’s voice. |
| Active Noise Reduction: |
Both NX-5000 and NX-3000 Series radios feature Active Noise Reduction (ANR). ANR serves to cancel the noise component of the collected audio to improve the transmitted audio quality. Noise cancellation functions can be ‘Custom’ configured to adjust the vocoder, DSP, filters, specific noises etc. to suit the operating environment. |
| Selectable Audio profiles: |
The received audio will sound different depending on the usage environment of the radio, characteristics of the device (such as the microphone to be combined with the radio and external devices), and the tone of voice and manner of speaking of the speaker. The received audio will also sound different depending on the output method, such as using the speaker of the radio or via an earphone, to hear the received audio. KENWOOD radios feature 6 customisable audio profiles which can be configured for specific scenarios and selected by the user to suit the operating environment. |
SECURITY & PRIVACY
As more products are connected by IP and to networked information and automation systems, there is a growing risk of leakage and theft of personal and other information, fabrication or destruction of data, and hijacking of products.
As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of radiocommunication products and solutions, we take our responsibility for ensuring the security integrity of our products and the data we hold on the systems developed for our customers. Click for more information on JVCKENWOOD’s Group Privacy Policy.
Product Security
Secure encryption is an essential requirement in radiocommunications to provide security against eavesdropping, jamming and other malicious attacks on a radio system.
All KENWOOD digital radio devices are equipped with a voice scrambler feature as standard, while licenced NEXEDGE NXDN and DMR radios are further protected with more advanced encryption:
Information Security
The Communications Systems Business, Professional Systems Business and the Healthcare Business units of JVCKENWOOD Corporation are certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 international standards for information security management system and JIS Q 27001:2014 Japanese industrial standards, both of which specify standards for information security management systems and establish requirements and implementation of the framework to protect information assets.
SUSTAINABILITY
JVCKENWOOD Corporation is rolling-out ISO14001 certification as an integral part of its environmental management system. To date, it has obtained certification at all of its business centres and eleven affiliate companies in Japan, and at all of its production companies outside Japan. For further information on our environmental and sustainability policies please visit our corporate website.
BUILT TOUGH TO WITHSTAND RAIN, DIRT AND THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE OF DAILY USE
As you would expect, all KENWOOD professional hand portable walkie-talkies and mobile radios conform to MIL-STD-810 C/D/E/F/G for ruggedness and durability and are IP54/55/67 Water & Dust Intrusion rated, making them suited for use in any environment.
In addition, KENWOOD can offer ATEX IECEx devices for use in hazardous, explosive atmospheres.
EXPLORE KENWOOD SOLUTIONS FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES
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Voivvodeship of Silesia PolandA trunked NEXEDGE NXDN system provides the Crisis Management and Emergency Medical Services with digital radiocommunication capability that covers 41 cites and a population of almost 3.5 million in the most densely populated region in Poland. |
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Bulawayo City Council ZimbabweNEXEDGE NXDN provides direct radio to radio communications throughout the City of Bulawayo to enable rapid responses from fire and ambulances services and water and waste engineers. |
To discover more about the millions of Kenwood devices in use by countless customers in hundreds of applications around the world, including the innovative, multi-protocol NX-5000 Series (NXDN, DMR, P25 and FM Analogue), NX-3000 Series (NXDN, DMR and FM Analogue) and exceptional value offered by the entry-level NX-1000 Series hand portable walkie talkies and mobiles, please click on the banners below.
For more information on KENWOOD digital system solutions including, DMR Tier 3 trunking and Simulcast, NXDN Type-C, Type-D and Gen2 trunking, click here.
If you’d like to learn more about our TRACKURACY, our real-time Bluetooth Low Energy asset tracking and monitoring solution, click here.
Alternatively, please post an enquiry to us or contact an authorised KENWOOD Communications reseller.
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