Public Safety

Public safety networks MUST work. First responders use LMR systems for communications. Typically these networks use a combination of the public switched telephone network and microwave wireless links to connect the towers where transceivers are located.

We distribute public safety DAS / ERRCS (Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems). 

Public Safety DAS Networks / ERRCS

Alliance stocks a wide range of products to support public safety DAS / ERRCS (Emergency Responder Radio Communication Systems), including:

Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDA) from Comba & Westell, 700/800 PS & Cellular. Class A & Class B

Active DAS Head End/Remotes from SOLiD, Cel-Fi by Nextivity, ADRF, G-Wave & Comba.

Cabling (coax or fiber) from RFS, Wireless Supply, American Fire Wire, Corning, Prysmian

Connectors/Jumpers from RFS, RF Industries, Wireless Supply

Antennas from Galtronics, Wireless Supply, Laird, ADRF, Amphenol

NEMA 4/4x Enclosures from DDB

Back-up Power from Westell, Comba, Newmar Power & Alpha Technologies

Passives from Westell, Comba, Microlab & Wireless Supply

Lightning Protection from Polyphaser, AC Line

Grounding from Transtector, AC Line

Broadband Wireless Solutions: More Reliable and Cost-Effective than Buried Cables

For several reasons some municipalities have moved from the PSTN and built their own network using wireless broadband/ microwave equipment:

  1. Poor quality connections. Over time copper PSTN lines have degraded in quality and so sometimes they don’t provide clear signals and thus the emergency services users of the LMR network hear cracks, pops and other noises on their radios.
  2. Major price increases. In some areas the incumbent carriers have decided to build out fiber optic networks to replace the aging copper infrastructure. Because of this, the monthly recurring cost that the municipalities pay has increased substantially. We’ve heard of examples where on average for each PSTN backhaul link,  the municipalities were paying $100 per month; with fiber the cost would increase to $500 – $1000 a month. 
  3. Poor Network Reliability. The wired PSTN isn’t always as reliable as we need it to be. Reliable communications systems are paramount for public safety. Unfortunately, when the weather is bad, emergency services are needed more than ever and sometimes poor weather can cause parts of the the public safety network to go down. If one of the connections to a particular LMR tower is down, the body-worn radios of EMS most likely will not work when within the range of that tower. Body-worn radios are lower power and thus cannot get a signal from a tower than is further away. 

Broadband Wireless is the Answer!

Alliance distributes products from a number of manufacturers that can be used to build a public safety wireless backhaul network to connect the individual towers. We work with several manufacturers that make products in a number of licensed bands including the 4.9GHz network.