Top 5 Reasons Why Pagers Are Still Critical to Fire Departments
In today’s world of digital devices and smart technologies, it’s hard to imagine pagers still having a relevant place. Invented in the 1940s, pagers – or “beepers” as they are also known – were initially reserved for critical communications between emergency responders, like firefighters. The first successful consumer pager was Motorola’s Pageboy I, first introduced in 1964. It had no display and could not store messages, but it was portable and notified the user by tone for what action they should take.
Fire departments today employ complex communications systems that link all of their devices together such as two way radios, cell phones, in-vehicle monitors, and dispatch. With all of the high-tech communication options available, why do fire departments still rely on pagers to alert firehouse staff and volunteers?
A cell phone is only as good as the cellular or Wi-Fi network it operates on, making them prone to dead zones and poor in-building coverage. Two way radios are the standard communication tool for firefighters but supplying radios to all of the volunteers as well would become costly and difficult to manage. Pagers are low cost and don’t rely on cellular service or Wi-Fi to operate. Instead, they operate with stronger transmitters that are able to send signals much further. With pagers, fire departments can afford to equip all department members and volunteers with a reliable alerting system that contacts the right people at the right time when every second counts.
Here are 5 more reasons why fire service pagers are still the leading alert system:
- They can send the same message to multiple people at the same time
- They can record and store voice messages
- They don’t need to be plugged into electricity to charge
- They are easy to use and really hard to break
- They are encrypted to keep information secure
Since Motorola’s pager debut, they have spent over 50 years making advancements to the technology and devices. Today, the Motorola Minitor VI (6) is the leading choice in pagers for fire departments, and here’s why:
Voice Recording
The Minitor VI Two-Tone Voice Pager can record up to 16 minutes of voice messages. When a firefighter wakes up to their pager alerting for immediate response to an ongoing emergency, he/she can rely on the advantages of voice recording to get all of the incident information. The ability to record, rewind, and fast-forward messages give firefighters more control over the situation at hand to help make better decisions in the moments that matter the most.
Rugged Design
Whether it’s an urban incident or a wildland blaze, firefighters put themselves on the front lines of dangerous environments and need equipment and devices that will stand up to the harsh conditions. The Minitor VI has been tested in real-world situations and put through Motorola’s Accelerated Life Testing to continue performing after multiple drops on concrete, heavy vibrations, and extreme temperature shocks. Intrinsically Safe (IS) models are certified for hazardous environments and the non-IS models have improved field serviceability and battery options.
Smart Battery Technology
This pager features a rechargeable battery, including a charger with a built-in voice-amplifier, an alkaline battery tray for in-field replacement, and voice announcements that indicate battery level so you never miss an alert.
As a Platinum Motorola Channel Partner, Nova Communications has been supplying fire departments across Canada with all of their communication devices, systems, and accessories for over 30 years. Our team is here to help answer any questions you have about how your fire department can benefit from the Motorola Minitor VI Two-Tone Voice Pager.
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