EFJ for ITTF?

[AndrewGeil]

I see EFJ got a contract for the ITTF in Illinois... Doesn't this kind of defeat the point of Starcom? If everyone going to a big scene is on Starcom for mutal aid, or MABAS freqs, what's the point of these trailers?

 

[N_Jay]

I see EFJ got a contract for the ITTF in Illinois... Doesn't this kind of defeat the point of Starcom? If everyone going to a big scene is on Starcom for mutal aid, or MABAS freqs, what's the point of these trailers?

1) High density communications in a localised area.
2) Interopperability with the many jurisdictions not on (or not yet on) Starcom.
3) Reliable local communications in an area that could have insuficiant coverage or building penetration.
4) Additional capacity for an area that may not have the channels available to support a significant event.
5) Interoperability with Federal entities not on Starcom

You sure the contract was for a communications trailer?

 

[dbljack]

Irving, TX – March 3, 2005 -- EFJ, Inc. (NASDAQ: EFJI) announced today that its EFJohnson subsidiary has received an order from the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association. The order, valued at $1.3 million, calls for the company to provide its Project 25 compliant Netelligent Infrastructure System, radios and repeaters for the national Terrorism Task Force to be used in Illinois.

“Our mission is to provide the tools for our first responders to keep us safe,” said Michael E. Jalbert, chairman and chief executive officer of EFJ, Inc. “We are pleased to provide our solutions to the Illinois Emergency Services Management Association to assist them in protecting our homeland and providing much needed critical communications in times of emergencies.” In this national homeland security-funded initiative, the EFJohnson equipment is to be used in 9 trailers that will be deployed throughout the state of Illinois. Each trailer will contain repeaters, portable and mobile radios, satellite uplinks, along with other communications and first responder equipment. The trailers will provide interoperable communications at the site of a disaster response.

EFJohnson is a leading provider of two way radios and communication systems for law enforcement, fire fighters, EMS, and the military. Founded in 1923, the company has a lengthy history of leadership in numerous communication industry standards initiatives and organizations and was one of the first developers of wireless communications products to be fully compliant with federal government Project 25 interoperability standards. EFJohnson offers a comprehensive portfolio of digital and analog radio communications solutions which assist in effectively and affordably managing the transition to digital P25 compliant systems. For more information, visit www.efjohnson.com.

EFJ, Inc. is the Irving, Texas based parent company to industry-leading wireless telecommunications solutions businesses. EFJ, Inc. is home to the EFJohnson Company, one of the first developers of Project 25 mobile communications products compliant with federal government interoperability standards, and Transcrypt International, a leader in secure voice communication solutions. For more information, visit www.efji.com.

Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other matters, anticipated sales growth. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed, suggested or implied by the forward-looking statements due to a number of risk factors including, but not limited to, the level of demand for EFJ’s products and services, the timely procurement of necessary manufacturing components, dependence on continued funding of governmental agency programs, and other risks detailed in EFJ’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003. EFJ undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

 

[AndrewGeil]

I've been using EFJ for a year now; reliable isn't the best word I'd use for their system...

But I still don't understand the point of this. Why does the DHS insist on spending money on something like these trailers, which in a mass incident will be pretty useless as everyone will likely be on the MABAS or I-TAC channels (since thats their purpose, isn't it?).

Rolling into a scene with a trailer, and going "here, use these radios!", which many people won't be familiar with, some people won't be able to receive (you try distributing a bunch of radios as a mass event. Its hard enough at a simple fire scene), just seems like a receipe for disaster.

 

[N_Jay]

I've been using EFJ for a year now; reliable isn't the best word I'd use for their system...

But I still don't understand the point of this. Why does the DHS insist on spending money on something like these trailers, which in a mass incident will be pretty useless as everyone will likely be on the MABAS or I-TAC channels (since thats their purpose, isn't it?).

Rolling into a scene with a trailer, and going "here, use these radios!", which many people won't be familiar with, some people won't be able to receive (you try distributing a bunch of radios as a mass event. Its hard enough at a simple fire scene), just seems like a receipe for disaster.

Try putting the even at a site which does not have solid coverage, or sufficiant channels and you will see what the systems are for.

Try an even that takes down the existing system and you will see even better.

Are these a "fix-all, be-all", NO.
But they are part of a bigger solution.

 

[AndrewGeil]

The point of MABAS and I-Call channels are they can't be taken down; short of full blown interference.

 

[N_Jay]

The point of MABAS and I-Call channels are they can't be taken down; short of full blown interference.

If they are simplex then you may or maynot have communications out of the area, if they are repeated then youy may or may not have good coverage where you need it.

A good comm system has MANY different pieces working together.

 

[kc0rnp]

Also keep in mind that in a mass event that the following would be used as I think each state is required to have access (at lest I know in MO the VCALL and VTAC are the same as IL)

155.75250 BM CSQ VCALL
151.13750 BM 156.7 PL VTAC1
154.45250 BM 156.7 PL VTAC2
158.73750 BM 156.7 PL VTAC3
159.47250 BM 156.7 PL VTAC4

If Search and Rescue is involved in IL the I-WARN freqs would be used as well.

And I know there are UCALL and UTAC freqs as well, but I am a VHF guy so I don't know what the UHF freqs are.

 

[N9JIG]

I may be mistaken, but I think EFJ has a license from Motorola to produce Astro radios.

As long as we are talking of Mutual Aid, here is a recent CARMA profile on IL Mutual Aid operations.