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And Ivory concluded, “Bottom line: original accessories from the manufacturer are tested to work as part of a solution. If a market requires specialist accessories, often a third-party supplier is best placed to meet this need – but ideally they would be part of the radio supplier’s ‘partner programme’ to ensure best performance. If buying from a ‘low cost’, unapproved vendor, then the old premise of ‘buyer beware’ comes to mind.” Providing a choice Nonetheless, having a choice is also important – which is where reputable non-OEM suppliers such as Axess International, which supplies to end users within public services, and Sonic Communications, a leading supplier of solutions for security users, play their part. “Customers tell us our strengths are in responsiveness to their needs”, said Hari Sandhu, a director at Axess International. She explained that the company paid particular attention to product features such as cable length and type (e.g. straight or curly cables) and the comfort of ear hangers, offering more options on styles, sizes, tips, and hanger buds than OEMs. “The most popular have proved to be acoustic tube accessories to bespoke cable lengths and choice of tips and ear inserts.” She added that staying ahead of the technology was also important – her company being, for example, one of the first to introduce a Bluetooth headset. “We were the first supplier to offer the Nokia THR9 connector, offering this to the overseas market. On several models over the last 12 months we have been the first to develop the connector and offer it to both the PMR and the TETRA markets.” Far East products In regard to how Axess’s TETRA products differ from the non-OEM products flooding the market from sources such as China, Sandhu said, “Most, but not all products, are produced and supplied by a handful of Far East suppliers. However, there are still top, middle and low-end ranges offered by these suppliers, so we are fully aware of our competition. We have been a UK distributor for products from the Far East, using the same supplier, for over 26 years, so we know that we have the best products, quality, expertise and service to pass on to our customers.” Offering advice to end users looking for accessories to go with their core product, Sandhu concluded that going the cheap and cheerful route from low-end suppliers, is simply a false economy. Investing in the correct accessories from the start, she said, avoids unnecessary costs and losing the confidence of users. She stressed the importance of discussing requirements with manufacturers early on, so that a package of accessories can be ‘tailored’ for different types of users from the start. OEM portfolios Major manufacturers such as Motorola (which has installed over 300 TETRA networks worldwide) and Sepura offer end users a one-stop shop for all their TETRA requirements, from network infrastructure to handsets and accessories. Motorola For Motorola’s Dimetra TETRA solution, which is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of different markets, the company offers what it calls “a comprehensive range of convenient and affordable accessories” to accompany its various handsets. From chargers and batteries to carry cases and installation mounting equipment for use with a range of static and vehicle applications, this range has been designed to enable professional users to customize their terminals in ways specific and personal to the individual user, and often beyond the opportunities afforded by the bits and bobs which come with any of the standard terminal packages. As an example of the sort of ancillaries you can expect to support any Motorola TETRA terminal, those for the MTH 800 TETRA handportable include a series of chargers (travel chargers and multi-handset chargers with docks for charging up to six devices at a time) and charger accessories, 800 or 1500?mAh lithium-ion batteries, and in-vehicle kits with cradles, junction boxes, remote visor microphones, external speakers and associated cabling. When the same radio is shoulder-worn, suitable audio accessories include an earpiece with a short coiled cable and a 2·5mm plug, part of an accessory bundle which also offers voice-tubes low-noise or high-noise scenarios, as well as small or large earshells to suit different users. If the MTH 800 is belt-worn, suitable accessories include remote speaker microphone with a 3·5mm plug, receive-only earpiece for use with the remote speaker microphone, a breeze headset with a boom microphone and in-line push-to-talk for low noise, indoor environments. Also available are a personal hands-free kit and both two-wire and three-wire surveillance kits. Last but not least, MTH 800 users can also choose from a series of antennas which includes two combined GPS/TETRA wideband antennas, one helical and one whip. Vehicle-mounted GPS/TETRA combined antenna solutions are available, with duplexers, cables and adapters.
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