A typical system deployment includes training, asset control and accountability, documentation, licensing, maintenance agreements and long term budgeting.
Connect with BC Communications today and let us do the heavy lifting with your radio system deployment.
]]>We can provide private channels, link your radios to existing systems when given specifications and add open channels to your radios. We can provide additional talk groups, encryption, one-to-one radio channels, caller ID, text messaging, channel voice announcement, text to voice, and over the air programming capabilities. In addition to this, we are able to provide Motorola proprietary technologies, dual capacity direct mode (DCDM), single frequency repeaters using extended range direct mode (ERDM) repeaters, and deploy high efficiency trunking formats, GPS, and indoor GPS using Bluetooth beacons.
We can obtain frequencies from ISED, and provide extended radio coverage into your facility.
Contact us to make your radio system sing!
]]>We have many solutions available to increase the coverage and capacity for your specific needs. B.C. Communications owns the repeater network on Mount Seymour, which is available to give lower mainland wide coverage for your digital radio fleet. We can also design custom repeaters, which can be installed at your facility or at our site.
This is Motorola’s highest tier industrial grade, rack mount repeater. Designed to operate continuously for 15 years, it is the natural choice for the backbone of your radio system. It is important to choose carefully because repeaters are often a single point of failure to your system. The SLR8000 features:
Available in 136-174MHz, 403-470MHz, 800&900MHz
The SLR8000 replaces similar legacy repeater equipment such as MTR3000, MTR2000, MSR2000, MSF5000
SLR8000 Brochure
This repeater is similar to its big brother, the SLR8000. The main differences are:
The SLR5700 replaces Motorola legacy repeater equipment such as the XPR8400, XPR8300, GR1225,
GR400, GR500, R.I.C.K repeater, Desktrack
SLR5700 Brochure
The SLR1000 is similar to the SLR5000 but is packaged in a smaller outdoor rugged enclosure. The main
features are:
SLR1000 Brochure
For low power consumption operation, there is no better choice than the Codan (formerly Daniels) MT4 repeater. It is highly reliable and modular in design. We recommend and install this repeater for customers needing coverage in remote areas and sites with no access to power. Currently, the Codan does not support the DMR Motorola digital format, which means we can only install in analog mode or P25 (public safety format) digital.
Motorola Repeater Systems at a Glance
A Bi-Directional Amplifier (or BDA) is used for On-Site radio and/or cellular coverage enhancement. BDA ‘s have a few components: A donor antenna collects signal from the rooftop where it is strong and delivers it to the BDA for amplification. The amplified signal is delivered to one or more distribution antennas in areas which have poor coverage. BDA s typically have a backup power system UPS and alarm output for when there is trouble with the system. BDAs are available in many specific bands: VHF, UHF, 700MHz, 800MHz, and cellular/LTE
BDAs are the most common coverage enhancement solution for the E-Comm radio network in the Lower Mainland of BC in larger buildings to comply with the local bylaws in all municipalities in the lower mainland District of North Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Coquitlam, New Westminster, Port Coquitlam, City of North Vancouver, Whiterock, Richmond, Langley and Vancouver. All BDA must be NFPA and ISEDC approved, and provide full coverage throughout the building
B.C. Communications BDA System Installation Services
We have an expert team ready to help you with your BDA project.
Our scope of work for the installation of BDA systems include the following:
Contact us for more information and to see what B.C. Communications can do for you.
We do our own in-house radio engraving on most radios we sell to ensure that your radios look as professional as you operate. Engraving deters theft, allows better management of your radio fleet, helps you identify radios which may be causing you problems. It can work in conjunction with automatic radio number ID, so you can see what radio is transmitting. We can engrave your custom logo as well.
B.C. Communications is a factory authorized service and warranty center. We can exchange faulty accessories which are still under warranty and repair Motorola radio equipment in our well-stocked facility. We also perform on-site inspections, audits and repairs. Contact us for more information or to set up an appointment.
MOTOROLA BATTERY WARRANTY INFORMATION
Unlike aftermarket batteries, Motorola premium batteries have a 1-year 80% capacity exchange warranty. IMPRES batteries extend the warranty from 6m to 18m. Motorola Premium batteries carry a 48m construction warranty.
View the PDF for additional Motorola Battery Warranty Info:
Each battery is date coded as well to ensure you know how old it is. The 3 or 4-digit code on the battery label means YWW or YYWW (year/week)
View the PDF to learn how find your Motorola battery date code:
While Motorola radio equipment is the most rugged and reliable in the industry, it still needs to be maintained.
Let us put together a custom maintenance agreement so that your system remains operating at peak efficiency. Our typical maintenance agreement covers:
Your communications is important. Maintaining your radio fleet is important. Let us manage it for you, contact B.C. Communications, today.
]]>BCC became an industry leader through our commitment to service and technical expertise. Our team understands how to ensure systems remain reliable because we have all witnessed why things fail. We design our systems from that perspective. We ensure the systems we deploy are properly designed to provide maximum operational longevity. We have deployed a large number of digital trunking systems plus many more digital conventional systems.
We feel our approach to our solutions differ from many of our competitors because we take the time to understand the operational needs of our customers and supply the solution from that perspective. Our systems are then configured for how the radios are used by our customers.
BCC’s focus on service was the reason Motorola Canada chose us as the first ever recipient of the Pinnacle of Customer Excellence Award. Presented by Motorola Canada, this award is given to the dealer who commits the greatest time, effort and resources in pursuit of outstanding customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention.
BC Communications technical team have over 80 years combined RF, mechanical, electronic experience. They are all used to working long hours and under pressure, sometimes with little information available. In addition to our in house team, we have access to more technical resources as needed. All technicians cross train on various projects to ensure all are capable of responding to calls on their 24×7 duty phone responsibilities. A lot of the work to set up and deploy your system will be straight forward as we have other systems to use as templates for yours.
Information about Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISEDC) formerly Industry Canada (I.C.) Radio licenses
Just as it is important to have a license plate on a car, a land mobile/base (LMR) radio must have a radio frequency license to be legally operated. It is unlawful to transmit without a valid license unless the transmitter is license-exempt. Significant fines can be levied to users of LMR radios that are not licensed.
LMR radios are different from marine radios. A person must be licensed to operate a marine radio (Radio Operators Certificate). This is similar to having a drivers license. However, LMR radios do not require an individual to have a license. Rather, the company or organization must license and pay for a frequency, along with the number and types of radios in use.
The larger the area that you want to use licensed radios, the more difficult it is to get a license. This is because there is very little radio spectrum available and it must be shared amongst tens of thousands of users. ISEDC has special software to figure out what frequency to issue you so it won’t interfere with other radios. Note that most licenses are for radios to be used at a specific geographic location and radius. A one-kilometer radius is common. Unlicensed radios cause huge problems for licensed radios they interfere with.
Handheld portable radios and vehicle mounted radios (both considered “mobile radios”) are licensed differently than fixed base stations. As of April, 2024, the cost per mobile is $49.17 per year regardless of the number of individual frequencies on the license.
Fixed stations (e.g. base stations, repeaters, etc) cost a lot more per year to license and are more complex in their rates. Each frequency programmed into each fixed station is subject to its own fee. The fixed station frequency fee varies by region and other factors. This is true even if the base station has a small antenna and is used for low power applications. For larger organizations, sophisticated trunking systems such as Motorola’s Capacity Plus/Max, can save yearly ISEDC fees because it is more spectrally efficient.
Radio licenses for a specific location are usually issued as low power assignments. This means that the radio output is limited to 4 or 5 Watts. This is important to know since the default setting on vehicle and base radios are commonly 25-45 Watts.
Low power fixed base station licenses also limit antenna height to 5 metres above the ground. Indoor antennas are allowed up to 30 metres from ground level. Above this height the output is limited to 1 Watt. External antennas can only be maximum of 15 metres above ground at 1 Watt. Low power is used to allow ISEDC to reuse assigned channels to other companies just out of range.
Licensing is the responsibility of BC Communications when you rent radio equipment (unless specified otherwise) and is shown separately as a license fee (AKA: airtime). When renting radios, you are renting frequency that is licensed to BC Communications. This avoids you having to go through the hassle of getting your own license.
Licenses are issued by Industry Science and Economic Development Canada ISEDC, the government body responsible for radio spectrum. Typically, licenses are issued April 1 – March 31 which is the common billing cycle for ISEDC.
License fees are due by March 31st each year. You can reach ISEDC in the Vancouver lower mainland at 604-930-8691 if you have any billing or licensing questions.
It is very important not to let your radio licenses lapse. If you do, you will have to go through the hassle of re-licensing all your radios and probably won’t get your specific frequency back. This has the additional effect of requiring you to then re-program your entire fleet of radios when your replacement license is issued. For this reason, it is always best to pay your fee annually and on-time, so you don’t have to go through another license application process.
For a service fee, BC Communications can apply to ISEDC for a license on your behalf. It takes two to three hours to fill out the necessary forms which includes navigating the complexities of antenna beam width, decibels and effective radiated power, etc. Better to leave it to the experts.
BC Communications’ administrative service fee depends on the complexity of the application. Please contact us for a quote.
In order for us to access your profile and complete the application on your behalf, you will need to complete an Agent Retention Form.
Download the Agent Retention Form PDF by clicking the icon below, complete the form, sign, and scan it back to us. Note: you will need to download the form and open it with Acrobat Reader to view it. If you open the form in an internet browser, you will not be able to view it. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us.
Agent Retention Form
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