'Smaller and lighter', industry says

“Rapid deployment solutions should be smaller, lighter, easier to use and more cost effective,” said David Cox, PWC operations director, speaking at the launch of Pico, an ultra-compact lunchbox-size portable repeater which is said to be a ‘world record' for product miniaturisation.

“For too long transportable communications systems have been the exclusive domain of large technical service departments who must cart, set up, program and manage usually cumbersome equipment for even the simplest coverage extension,” he said.

“This logistic nightmare often means that small teams are unable to meet their most basic user needs — a little more coverage in out-of-the-way places. Pico truly meets the operational challenge of being able to be deployed by anyone, anywhere, at anytime within seconds.”

Pacific Wireless has been a driving force in delivering rapid deployable operational solutions to the public safety market with its RDX3588 and PDX3522 digital repeater systems and sees the demand for flexible, agile and user-friendly portable repeaters growing in the commercial and industrial market segments.

“Some manufacturers get it wrong by building a product with a thousand buttons and engineering features believing that users will be in awe of their capability," said Cox.

"This old world thinking has in fact held back the success of radio — it is, and must always be, about the users and how easy and effective it works for them."