WiFi Systems?

[K6GBW]

Has anyone noticed if Hotels, Casinos and other businesses are switching to the WiFi network radio systems? It seems the DOT frequencies are less crowded than they used to be. I also saw that most of the ambulance services in Los Angeles are switching to PoC LTE systems. I saw the little radios on the dash of several ambulances at UCLA and it was weird. They look like just a control head with a tiny antenna on the back.

So is all this just my imagination or is this switch becoming more pervasive?

 

[Reconrider]

I notice around me, CT, that a lot of hotels and other businesses as such are getting into the MURS and business frequencies as most of them aren't really that close by who actually use them.
I haven't seen a lot of wifi networked radio systems.
I know home depot has a frequency system for the walkie talkies they have but I know it goes over the wifi also because it goes through there zebra phones. I think lowes is the same way. Don't have a lowes close to me to actually go there

 

[mmckenna]

For the LTE PTToC radios, it's about shifting the costs from a Capital Expenditure (building large radio system) to an Operational Expenditure (Paying a bit each month). The financial people really like OpEx, since it's predictable and steady costs that are easy to predict. A lot of systems I use at work used to be major Capital Expenditures. Funding and building out the system was a huge cost.
To the vendors, it was one big sale, then nothing.
Shifting to an OpEx model benefits the vendor, also. Easier to predict income. Sell add ons that are activated by remote. Locking in the customer.

Doesn't necessarily make for great radio systems, but it is a totally valid option for some users. There's numerous risks with using a cell carrier for this stuff, but for some operations, those risks are acceptable.


As for WiFi, So many systems rely on WiFi for connections, reporting, etc. For a large casino, their clientele all want reliable WiFi. If you have to build out a robust WiFi network anyway, and tossing a few WiFi radios on it solves the need, then it's a good option.

 

[K6GBW]

mmckenna, yeah I totally get it. If I had a location, like a hotel or hospital, I'd want to run WiFi if I could. I mean, no licensing and you keep total control? What's not to like? As for the business model, I get that too. When we went from buying our patrol cars to leasing them my life got much easier.

I know you're up north of me. I was basically the radio guy at UCLA PD for years. I'm retired now so I'm sort of out of the loop on things in the business world now.

 

[KC3ECJ]

With the recent FRS/GMRS changes, it seems the FRS radios are more popular now here for businesses.