tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20742968509153830132024-03-05T08:31:12.475-08:00Dolce VittoriaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-31028438084005281032017-07-20T18:46:00.001-07:002017-07-20T18:46:58.038-07:00Don't Spend A Lot Of Money On Food For Your Outdoor Wedding<iframe width="560" height="315" align="right" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OAqSbZE3lDs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br><br>Many of us lead very quite busy and hectic day-to-day lives. That's just life today. But in spite of this we do not have to settle for frozen foods or other boring meals in a box. Not anymore. The crock pot was designed mainly for everybody having busy lives who still are looking for superb dishes. You will find a huge selection of easy slow cooker recipes which you could make in the morning and be able to have a terrific home cooked meal in the evening. It is really effortless and uncomplicated.<br><br>Beef, lamb, chicken, pork, and fish can be added to the macaroni in so many ways that you might not even have ever heard of. Everyone has heard of meatballs, but you can also make <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqbsxseyBAc&t">meatballs in the crockpot</a> with ground lamb, or ground veal. They will each have different flavors and if cooked with your sauce, your sauce will have a deliciously different flavor, as well.<br><br>Nothing is sadder than a child that thinks cheese only comes in a can or in its own little plastic wrapper. Forget the individually wrapped slices of cheese food Check the label that's what it says Instead swedish meatballs buy real cheese from the deli or from the dairy section. Do not buy cheese food or processed cheese.<br><br>I added 3 times as much water to the beans just to be safe, (poured off the extra when done and measured it, could have only used twice as much rather than three times as much and it would have been the correct quantity). From dry beans to properly cooked in approximately 30 minutes. My next attempt was a pork sirloin and it was slow cooker meatballs great also about as tender as you can most likely get a pork sirloin. My third attempt was some chicken fajitas.<br><br>Add two cups of vinegar to 2/3 cup sugar to two herring filets and add chopped onions and two teasp oons of pickling spices. The actual pickling process takes two weeks in jars but if you can't wait that long you can eat the filets after 4 hours when the meat is completely saturated. The spices haven't quite worked their way into the meat yet but it will still taste good. Serve pickled herring cold.<br><br>Place liner in slow cooker. Add ham, chicken stock, onions, celery, carrots, green and yellow beans, potatoes, tomato paste, ketchup <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/hotels/stay-the-night-treehotel-swedish-lapland-2296336.html">swedish meatballs jakarta</a> seasonings. Cover, set on low, and cook for 6-8 hours. Cook cut spaghetti according to package directions until it is al dente. Rinse in cold water and coat with olive oil. A half hour before serving, add cooked spaghetti to soup and re-cover. Spread French bread with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Broil until the cheese buggles and edges of crostini start to brown. (I use a toaster oven for this.) Ladl e soup into bowls and serve with crostini. Makes 6-8 servings. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-64818045983252054292017-05-26T00:22:00.001-07:002017-05-26T00:22:11.671-07:00What exactly is Radio Frequency CommunicationRadio frequency (often abbreviated as, RF), can be described as any <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/waves/soundandlightrev2.shtml">frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum</a> with radio wave propagation that lie in the range extending from about 3 kHz to 300 GHz; this includes the frequencies that are used for communications or the radar signals. That said, you should know that RF generally refers to electrical rather than the mechanical oscillations.<br><br>RF communication utilizes radio waves rather than wires to exchange signals, and this is where the term "wireless communication," comes from. RF modules generally use frequencies to distinguish the different radio signals, therefore, in order for the RF modules to communicate, they have to be operating on the same exact frequency. That said, you should know that radio frequency is normally measured in units known as hertz (abbreviated as Hz), which represent number of cycles/second when the ra dio wave(s) is transmitted. 1 hertz (Hz) equals 1 cycle/second, and 1 megahertz (abbreviated as, MHz) equals 1 million cycles/second.<br><br>A radio frequency (RF) signal basically refers to the wireless electromagnetic signal that's utilized as a form of communication, when talking about wireless electronics. As mentioned earlier, radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation which have identified radio frequencies which usually range from about 3Hz to 300 GHz. Not every radio wave is the same; they can be small or big, or they can be far apart or close together. On the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_radio_stations_in_the_United_Kingdom">radio stations we normally listen to</a>, every station uses waves which are on a slightly different frequency from the other stations. Whenever you happen to switch from one radio station to another, your radio picks up and then plays waves of that particular frequency.<br><br>Frequency normally refers to the <a href="http:// minerva.union.edu/newmanj/Physics100/Color,%20Eye,%20&%20Waves/oscillations_and_waves.htm">oscillation rate of the radio waves</a>. It can also refer to how close together or far apart the waves are. When the radio waves are too far apart, that is known as low frequency, and when the radio waves are close together, that is known as high frequency. That said, you should know that radio frequency propagation happens at speed of light, and doesn't need any medium (such as air) in order for it to travel. Radio frequency waves occur naturally from lightning, the sun flares, and even from stars which radiate radio frequency waves as the get older. However, people usually communicate with man made radio waves which oscillate at various select frequencies.<br><br>The man made radio frequency waves are produced by oscillating current for a certain number of times, and radiating it off the conductor (which is referred to as the antenna), into an empty space (this is the space that's occupied by air and not the outer space), as electromagnetic radio waves. The RF signals are received and sent using conductors via the phenomenon that's called the skin effect, where radio frequency current latches itself and then flows through the conductors' surface; this effect is actually the basis and the core of radio technology.<br><br>The best thing about RF communication, is that it's omnipresent (that is to mean it's all around us). It plays a crucial role in many of the communications systems which we depend on a daily basis, such as fire and police radio systems, TV and radio broadcasts, and satellite communications. Cordless phones, cellphones, Wireless internet (Wi Fi), and Bluetooth also operate in the radio frequency spectrum. In addition to that, there are other appliances outside of the communications field that use RF. They include; microwave ovens, garage door openers, among others. Some wireless devices such as TV remote controls, cordless computer mice, computer keyboa rds, and even two way radios also operate using RF frequency.<br><br>2 way radios are based on the RF frequency and they perform group communication using minimum radio frequency channel resources. This is to mean that if all the users are in the same location or area (most of the time), you will only need a single channel resource in order to talk to them. By using RF, <a href="https://www.2wayradionline.co.uk">2 way radios have the capability</a> of facilitating one to many group communication (which is also known as a group call), very efficiently. By efficient, I mean that 1 user can communicate/talk to 1, 5, 10, 100 or even 1000's of users at a go. The 2 way radio user doesnt need to keep on repeating the same message if he/she needs to convey to many users.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-52364940549694047472017-05-14T03:33:00.001-07:002017-05-14T03:33:11.564-07:00NFL investigating Giants for using two-way radio during game against Cowboys<em>Apparently using a two way radio during an American football game is frowned upon over in the good old US of A, <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/nfl-investigating-giants-two-way-radio-cowboys-article-1.2912399">This article</a> is about a game between the Giants and the Cowboys. During a Game the coaching staff and Quarterback are not allowed to communicate if there is 15 seconds or less on the clock, this rule might have been broken with the use of a walkie talkie. </em> <br><br>The NFL is investigating the Giantsâ potentially rule-breaking use of a two-way radio during the teamâs recent 10-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. <br><br>The use of a two-way radio by a coach during a game is strictly against league rules, <a href="http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18287921/nfl-investigating-new-york-giants-possible-illegal-use-walkie-talkie-dallas-cowboys">according to ESPN</a>. <br><br><img src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2912398.14818495 37!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/giants-cowboys-football.jpg" alt="In the fourth quarter of the Cowboys game, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo was spotted using a walkie-talkie to communicate play calls with Eli Manning after his headset malfunctioned." /> <br><br>In the fourth quarter of the game, Giants head coach Ben McAdoo was spotted using a walkie-talkie to communicate play calls with Eli Manning after his headset malfunctioned. <br><br>The Cowboys issued a formal complaint to the league over the radio use, but the NFLâs investigation was already underway by the time Dallas contacted them. <br><br>The NFL has a rule against coaches using two-way handheld radios because the league cannot control when both parties are communicating. <br><br>A coach using a walkie-talkie makes it harder for the NFL to monitor a league rule that states communication from the sideline to the quarterback must end when 15 seconds are left on the play clock. <br><br>With headsets, the NFL has the power to shut off communication at will with a âcutoff switch operator,â ESPN reported. <br><br>The Giants had no comment when reached Thursday night. <br><br>McAdoo used the walkie talkie in question, however, for about four or five plays on the Giantsâ fourth-quarter drive that ended in an Eli Manning interception on a pass intended for Victor Cruz. <br><br>McAdooâs normal equipment malfunctioned and as the Giants worked to fix it, the coach was handed the walkie talkie temporarily because its signal was reaching Manningâs helmet. <br><br>As the Giants worked to correct McAdooâs equipment, Odell Beckham Jr. could be seen running to the sideline to bring plays back to the huddle and Manning was heading over to the sideline, as well. <br><br>There is no evidence in reviewing the game film that demonstrates McAdoo was on the walkie talkie for longer than the allowed 15 seconds of communication with his quarterback. <br><br>There is also, of course, no evi dence that the Giants gained any advantage even if he was. The drive ended in a turnover and the Giantsâ offense stunk most of the night. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-77687895719048161302017-05-14T03:31:00.001-07:002017-05-14T03:31:08.740-07:002016 year in review: Motorola's resurgence<em>Motorola have always been a brand we have looked up to, in our eyes they produce some of the <a href="http://www.earpieceonline.co.uk/98-motorola-earpiece">best equipment on the market</a>, sometimes they donât sell as well as they should do. The business has been split and sold several times over the last year, but they are now on the rise and business is going well, as <a href="http://www.in.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/2016-year-in-review-motorolas-resurgence/articleshow/56292591.cms">this article shows</a>.</em> <br><br>2014 saw Motorolaâs ownership change hands from the west to the east. Lenovo acquired the company off Google on January 29, 2014 but it was not until 2016 that the fruits of Lenovoâs ownership started showing up. <br><br>The year started off with Motorola in a slightly vulnerable position with the relative failure of both the Moto X Style and Moto X Play. The Moto X line was fading and even the third generation Moto G had f ailed to impress. <br><br>These first devices under Lenovoâs ownership however, had been in the pipeline much before Lenovo took over and it was not until the Moto G4 and the Moto Z in 2016 that we saw what the new Motorola could deliver. <br><br><strong>Moto G4 series: Ushering in a renaissance</strong> <br><br>The Moto G4 Plus was one of two variants of Motorola's fourth generation Moto G, the firm's bestselling smartphone range ever. This was the first time Motorola (now owned by Lenovo) launched more than one smartphone in the G range, with the Moto G4, Moto G4 Play and the Moto G4 Plus. <br><br>At a starting price of Rs 13,499, the Moto G4 Plus made for a compelling buy, and continued the G series of smartphone's tradition of providing good smartphones at an affordable price. With a superb display, a fast and accurate fingerprint sensor, stock android and great performance, it ticked all the right boxes for a mid-range device. <br><br><img src="http://www.in.techradar.com/p hoto/56292729.cms" /> <br><br>In comparison to the regular Moto G4, the Moto G4 Plus featured an improved 16MP rear camera with phase auto detection, laser autofocus and a dual LED Flash and also came with a fingerprint sensor. <br><br>Motorola also released the Moto G4 Play which was the cheapest device in the G4 lineup at Rs 8,999 and packed a 5-inch 720p HD display, a 2,800mAh battery, 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable internal storage. <br><br>The Moto G4, G4 Plus and G4 Play were critical as well as commercial hits and announced the comeback of Motorola in the smartphone game. The Plus in particular, presented a fantastic blend of features and affordability that saw it shoot up the sales charts. <br><br><strong>Moto E3 Power: The odd one out</strong> <br><br>Lenovo also unveiled the Moto E3 Power in India which was a more powerful version of the third generation Moto E3. In a surprising move, the company decided against releasing the regular Moto E3 in the country. <br><br>The Moto E3 Power came with a massive 3,500mAh battery, 2GB of RAM, a 5-inch HD display and nearly stock Android Marshmallow. <br><br>At Rs 7,999, the Moto E3 Power found itself in as odd situation with the much more capable Moto G4 Play priced at just a thousand rupees more. <br><br><strong>The attack of the Modular smartphones</strong> <br><br>Motorola then cemented its position in the smartphone world by releasing the striking Moto Z, the companyâs most exciting smartphone in years. <br><br>The Moto Z came packed to the gills with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4GB of RAM, a 13MP rear camera with OIS and 4K recording, a 5MP front shooter and a 2,600mAh battery along with TurboCharging support. <br><br>The âWorld's thinnest premium smartphoneâ came with a 5.5-inch QuadHD display protected by corning gorilla glass, a sleek and suave metal/glass body and unlimited feature expansion through the Moto Mods. <br><br><img src="http://www.in.techradar.com/photo/56292624.cms" /> <br><br> The distinguishing feature of the Moto Z were the âMoto Modsâ: snap-on accessories that could be attached to the back of smartphone through magnets in order to increase its functionality. <br><br>Alongside the flagship Moto Z, Motorola also launched its younger brother, the Moto Z Play which came with a 5.5-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, a downgrade from the QuadHD resolution of the Moto Z and the largest battery Motorola ever put in any of its smartphones. Just like the Moto Z, the Moto Z Play also supported the innovative Moto Mods. <br><br>The Moto Z and Moto Z Play helped bring Motorola back into the spotlight. The Moto Mods in particular were greatly appreciated and were hailed as one of the best implementations of the modular concept in recent years. <br><br><strong>The stunning all-metal Moto M</strong> <br><br>The end of the year saw Motorola launching the stunning all-metal Moto M in India. <br><br>The Moto Mâs full metal unibody design with antenna bands on the top and bottom edges was a complete departure from the design language of previous Motorola smartphones and was again an indication of the company's new ownership. <br><br>This is what Sudhin Mathur, Executive Director, Lenovo Mobile Business Group, India had to say about the company's performance in 2016: <br><br>âThe Moto G franchise continues to be much loved and we witnessed an extremely high conversion from early Moto G buyers opting for the new Moto G 4th Generation. But, our real game changer and technological breakthrough was the Moto Z and Moto Mods series that redefined the evolutionary progress of the smartphone industry. The Moto Z and Moto Mods system is designed to provide connected, intelligent and mobile consumer experiences in a seamless fashion and the power to transform your (Moto Z) smartphone in a snap is revolutionary. We started with four Moto Mods and are continuously working with multiple partners to develop more Mods for smartphone users in 2017.â <br><br> <strong>What's next?</strong> <br><br>2017 will be a crucial year for the company as it prepares to build upon the success of the G4 and Z range. It is pivotal for Lenovo to make sure that it retains the essence of the company while at the same time push new boundaries of design and innovation. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-44929340675682310872017-05-14T03:30:00.001-07:002017-05-14T03:30:37.911-07:00The arrival of 5G, cognitive radio and the future of connectivity<em>We are very excited about 5G, we have already reported on how the UK emergency services are moving over to a LTE network, and inevitably 5G is the next step for better, faster and more capable communications.  Not planned to be deployed until the next decade, we believe that 5G will allow us to communicate better with our Walkie talkies. The original article can be found <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2016/dec/08/5g-cognitive-radio-future-connectivity-business">here</a>.</em> <br><br>With faster and more reliable connections, we look at what the next generation of communications could mean for business <br><br>From smart cities to the internet of things (IoT), virtually every aspect of the modern world is becoming closely connected. <br><br>The extent to which we rely on our devices and the exchange of information means new systems are needed that not only handle far greater bandwidth, but that are capable of being deployed to cover areas that were previously unreachable. <br><br>The potential benefits for business are huge, with faster and more reliable connectivity not only enhancing how firms interact with customers and each other, but also lending itself to greater flexible working among staff. <br><br><strong>The arrival of 5G</strong> <br><br>One development that many industry observers believe could be revolutionary is 5G. Following on from 4G, the fifth-generation mobile network is in its early stages of development and is expected to be rolled out between 2020â"25. <br><br>Any tech that contributes towards the next phase of mobile connectivity is covered by the term 5G. And although there are still no set standards or specifications, the <a href="http://www.gsma.com/">GSMA</a> â" a trade body that represents global mobile operators â" has outlined eight key criteria, stipulating minimum requirements for speed, capacity and energy in order for something to be considered 5G. <br><br><a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/about-of com/latest/media/media-releases/2015/6ghz">According to Ofcom</a>, once operational 5G could provide between 10â"50 Gbps (gigabit per seconds) in download speeds (as compared to the 5â"12 Gbps of 4G), and although most experts expect it to be at the lower end of the range, that would still mean you could download an HD movie in seconds. <br><br>But rather than simply being faster than the current 4G, it will also allow more devices to access the web â" an essential requirement if the IoT is to take off â" meaning it could be transformative for business. <br><br><img src="http://www.orange.com/var/orange_site/storage/images/media2/images/actualites/infographie5g-fr_960/827401-2-eng-GB/infographie5G-FR_960.jpg" width="385" /><br><br>Raj Sivalingam, executive director of telecoms for <a href="http://www.techuk.org/">techUK</a>, the trade association for the tech sector, says: âThe potential of the IoT, particularly in the enterprise environment, has been hugely debated but its i mpact is almost certainly still undervalued. <br><br>âMass deployment across sectors will boost efficiency and safety with pre-emptive fault correction; enable automatic reporting of accidents and allow real-time asset tracking, reducing crime and increasing productivity, to name just a few benefits.â <br><br>One potential bottleneck for 5G is spectrum availability â" or lack of it. Radio frequencies for both 3G and 4G are already overcrowded. The provision of a new bandwidth will require widespread cooperation between operators, manufacturers and governments. <br><br>Infrastructure is also an issue, says Sivalingam. âMaking the leap to 5G mobile services and getting more fibre into the fixed telecommunications networks will require substantial amounts of investment. <br><br>âWe need the government and industry stakeholders to work to shift the UK from good levels of connectivity to great levels so that we continue to attract investors and startups, and to foster innovation from within the UK.â <br><br><strong>Cognitive radio</strong> <br><br>One possible solution is cognitive radio. An adaptive radio and network technology, it can sense and respond to its operating environment and automatically tune itself to the best available frequencies, this makes it more reliable in extreme locations where signals are weak, potentially providing dependable, robust connections that are not hampered by interference or geography. <br><br>Finland-based KNL Networks has developed a system using the technology that uses short wave radio to transmit internet access to sites in remote locations ranging from oil rigs to polar research stations. KNL Networks CEO Toni Linden says: âWe can provide similar connectivity to those from satellites but with a terrestrial radio system. Our radios receive the whole spectrum all the time, so rather than scanning, real-time broadband receiving is going on. Thus we can see and measure everything thatâs going on in the spectrum a nd we can maintain the network connectivity that way.â <br><br>The tech opens up the possibility of providing seamless connectivity anywhere, giving business reliable online access to markets in parts of the world that have otherwise been unreachable. It could also enable media and other companies to broadcast without the need for expensive satellites. <br><br><strong>Quantum key distribution</strong> <br><br>Itâs not just data transmission, speeds and connectivity that pose challenges in the future, but the safety of that data too. Cybercrime is ranked alongside terrorism as among the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/62484/Factsheet2-National-Security-Risk-Assessment.pdf">most serious threats to the UK</a> [pdf], and with data now the lifeblood of modern business, securing that data is of paramount concern. One technology that could provide the answer is quantum communications. <br><br>Conventional encryption relies on sending a decryption key alongside your secret data. The receiver then uses that key to decode your secret information. But problems arise because hackers can also copy this key and steal your data. <br><br>Quantum key distribution (QKD) is different because it encodes this key on light particles called photons, and an underlying principle of quantum mechanics means that a hacker trying to read or copy such a key would automatically alter its state, effectively leaving a hacker fingerprint so the sender and receiver know their information security had been breached. <br><br>China recently launched a quantum satellite to further research into this technology, with the hope of developing an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/16/china-launches-quantum-satellite-for-hack-proof-communications">uncrackable communications network</a>. <br><br>In the UK, the Quantum Communications Hub is part of a national network of four hubs led by the universities of Birmingham, Glasgow, Oxfor d and York. Director Tim Spiller says: âWe are developing quantum communications technologies along a number of different directions, notably short-range free space QKD, where the transmitter could be in future mobile phones, and chip-to-chip QKD through optical fibre, where the chips could be in future computers and other devices.â <br><br>With <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-thirds-of-large-uk-businesses-hit-by-cyber-breach-or-attack-in-past-year">two thirds of British business falling victim to cybercrime</a> in the past year the need for better encryption is clear. <br><br>Several companies currently offer commercial quantum key distribution systems include ID Quantique, MagiQ Technologies, QuintessenceLabs, SeQureNet and Toshiba, although its high cost and limited range means mainly banks and governments are its main users, with mainstream adoption still some way off. <br><br>Spiller added: âCertainly it would be desirable to improve the size, weight, po wer and cost points of current technologies and our work in the hub and elsewhere is addressing all these factors.â <br><br>Paul Lee, head of technology, media, and telecommunications research at Deloitte, highlighted a number of improvements which he expected to see coming down the line, including improved mobile antennae and base stations, as well as improvements to fixed networks such as <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-37705435">G.fast</a> that would enable copper cable to operate at much higher speeds. <br><br>âAs they get steadily faster, new services emerge to exploit these greater speeds, which then requires the deployment of even faster networks. This tail chasing has been going on for decades and wonât stop in 2017.â<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-2715205511352908892017-05-14T03:24:00.001-07:002017-05-14T03:24:08.729-07:00Why We Still Choose Wired Covert Earpieces Over Wireless OnesAdvancement in technology has changed the form of how electronic devices look like, how they operate and consequently how we handle them. Devices such as radios have become smaller, lighter and wireless. The <a href="http://www.techradar.com/how-to/computing/what-is-bluetooth-1323284">advent of Bluetooth</a> has enabled radios to connect without any physical connections; notably saving us from the fuss of tangled and visible wires. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-ear_monitor">The wireless earpieces are in use</a>, but it is important to note that they have not completely taken over from the wired covert earpieces. With the convenience and technological advancement they offer, why is it that they have not replaced their wired counterparts especially in fields of operation? Here are a few thoughts: <br><br>Reliability <br><br>Wireless earpieces are not as reliable as the wired ones. The technology that supports Bluetooth communication has it that the source device (radio) and the receiving device (earpiece) have to be at a certain distance from each other and nothing should come in between the path of transmission of the two devices. This means that if any of the two requirements are not as anticipated, functionality is compromised. Wired earpieces do not have the complication of interference and limited bandwidth. When you are in a situation where reliability is crucial, where you cannot afford to lose connection, say you are out in the field on operation, it would make sense to use wired covert earpieces as they are easy to handle, making them more reliable. <br><br>Limited Operational Lifetime <br><br>For a wireless device to be operational, it needs to be charged. When out on assignment, the crew will need to ensure that they have fully charged the wireless earphones and carried a fully-charged extra battery. The batteries work on a limited operational lifetime which burdens the crew as they have to keep replacing the batteries every time. When pack ing batteries for replacement, one should pack enough to cater for both the radio and earphone. This is not the case with the wired pieces. For wired pieces, the crew only has to worry about a single cable that will connect the radio to the earphones. The wired option is therefore less of a burden to handle than the wireless ones. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://image.dhgate.com/albu_239123987_00-1.0x0/hidden-spy-earpiece-fbi-wireless-earphone.jpg" width="359" /><br><br>Necessary Visibility <br><br>In some instances, the visibility of the wires, which the wireless earpieces work against, is crucial in making a statement. In a security situation, the wired pieces are visible to the human eye; they make the <a href="http://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-having-security-guard-business-2386.html">public aware of the security</a>. The visibility in itself reinforces security, deterring any harmful or criminal practices that may take place. In such a situation, wireless pieces are of no use as no security statement will be made. <br><br>Disruption and Negative Interference <br><br>Wireless earpieces are vulnerable to signal disruption and negative interference. It is possible for a wireless-transmitted signal to be compromised- an activity that may cause threats and anomalies. A signal transmitted by wireless means may be decrypted and accessed by unauthorized people. At the same time, the signal may be compromised in a way the end product that is received as sound is not what was initially transmitted. Bluetooth is open to any form of interference, be it purposeful or accidental. The wired covert earpiece on the other hand greatly reduce the possibility of such malpractices as it would be hard to physically interfere with transmission without anyone noticing. <br><br>Misplacing earpieces during an incident <br><br>In the event of an incident, it would be hard to misplace a wired covert earpiece. This is because, when an agent is on the move or if they make any vigorous movements, the security earpiece might be detached from the ear but will not fall; it is tethered to the radio using the wire. On the other hand, a Bluetooth earpiece would probably detach itself from the ear, fall down and be misplaced as it has no physical tethering to the radio device. This will cost an agent a lot of time in looking for a misplaced device and even the responsibility of a lost device. <br><br>When it comes to technology, the feature advancements are normally made to our convenience and efficiency but in some cases, the old way of doing things would prove to be better. Wired covert earpieces have major advantages over their wireless counterparts, making them hard to phase out. What the wireless earpieces can function as at this point is as a complimentary device to the wired one.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-63708205423948799632017-04-03T13:20:00.001-07:002017-04-03T13:20:55.757-07:00Sepura Contributes to Success of Worldâs First Cross-border TETRA System<em>We take it for granted that when we move around the country our mobile phones connect to the nearest mast, or we go abroad and our phones automatically connect to the network, with tetra, this is not as easy, but this article is about a test that Sepura completed connecting two TETRA networks in Norway and Sweden, interesting stuff.</em> <br><br>Sepura radios have successfully participated in interoperability trials for the worldâs first cross-border TETRA communication system, linking RAKEL and Nødnett, Sweden and Norwayâs public safety networks. <br><br>More than 350 first responders were involved in the trials, which took place in MerÃ¥ker, close to the Swedish border, in a crisis response exercise involving public safety users from both countries. <br><br><img src="http://www.svbforsaljning.se/sites/svbforsaljning.se/files/products/stp8000.png?1317105777" width="337" /><br><br>The cross-border system utilises TETRA Inter-System Interface (ISI) functionality to connect ne tworks together, effectively allowing users to roam to another network. This allows first responders to use their radios in both countries â" vital for smooth collaboration in emergency situations. <br><br>The initiative to strengthen co-operation between national emergency services started in 2013 with the EU-funded Inter-System Interoperability project, designed to improve the ability to respond to natural disasters and security threats. The RAKEL and Nødnett networks are scheduled to be ready for bi-national operational use in early 2017. <br><br>Sepuraâs STP9000 hand-portable radios and SRG3900 mobile radios were used by both Swedish and Norwegian emergency services during the exercise, although all Sepura radios â" including the new flagship SC20 range â" meet the technical requirements of the ISI system. <br><br>âThis is one of the most advanced multinational radio communication projects in Europe,â said Tariq Haque, Product Manager for Sepura. <br><br>âAfter two y earsâ development, bi-national interoperability has become a reality, bringing cross-border mission critical communications to Sweden and Norway. <br><br>âWe are extremely pleased to have played a part in this ground-breaking event.â <br><br>Source - <a href="http://www.tetra-applications.com/33643/news/sepura-contributes-to-success-of-world-s-first-cross-border-tetra-system">http://www.tetra-applications.com/33643/news/sepura-contributes-to-success-of-world-s-first-cross-border-tetra-system</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-6401274868810701632017-03-13T12:42:00.001-07:002017-03-13T12:42:09.960-07:00WiFi Enabled LTE Small Cell Gateway Market to Register a Strong Growth By 2021 - PMR<em>On paper, connecting walkie talkie radios to a Wifi networkis is the most obvious method of controlling and communicating within a business. But the reality is that there arenât many radios on the market that have the capability to do this and many wifi networks arenât robust enough to manage lots of radios, <a href="http://www.openpr.com/news/386536/WiFi-Enabled-LTE-Small-Cell-Gateway-Market-to-Register-a-Strong-Growth-By-2021-PMR.html">this article</a> predicts that this technology will be a growth market, we will wait and see.</em> <br><br>WiFi enabled LTE small cell gateway is a type of a base station. Base station uses cellular wireless network for communicating with mobile phones or terminals. Base station connects mobile phones to a wireless carrier network and offers local coverage for a wireless network. The area of coverage varies from several miles to few city blocks. Each base station is typically owned by one carrier or wireless company and gives coverage only fo r that company's network. It may also offer roaming coverage for other networks in case carriers have agreement for roaming and technology is compatible. Base station comprises of an electronic cabinet which connected by means of cables to a group of antennas. The antennas may be mounted on an existing structure or on dedicated tower structure including top of a building, church steeple or smoke-stack and water tower. <br><br>In radio communications, base station refers to wireless communications station implemented at a fixed location and used to communicate as wireless telephone system including cellular GSM or CDMA cell site, part push-to-talk two-way radio system, terrestrial trunked radio and two-way radio. A single location often operates several base stations owned by a different carrier. Smaller types of base stations or small cells include picocells, femtocells and microcells. WiFi enabled LTE small cell gateway is promising network element. A wide variety of base station d eployments are in a small cell configuration. It has WiFi interface at end-use device and LTE interface at the carrier network. <br><br><img src="http://www.ccrane.com/images/Default-Image/1000/808/RAD-WIFI-CC-WIFI-2R.jpg" width="384" /><br><br>Small cell is low-powered radio access nodes (operator-controlled) that operate in carrier-grade Wi-Fi (unlicensed) and licensed spectrum. Small cells normally have a range from 10 to numerous hundred meters. Small cell base stations are expected to play vital role in expanding the capacity of wireless networks due to increasing mobile data traffic. Mobile operators are increasingly looking forward to this technology in order to meet the rising demands for data, video and application access generated due to smart phones and other devices. Small cells aid mobile service that detect presence, interact wand connect with existing networks. Small cells offer increased quality of service and flexibility at an affordable cost. Small cell infrastruct ure implantation is an environmentally friendly approach as it reduces the number of cell towers and offers a cleaner signal using less power. <br><br>Rising numbers of wireless carriers or companies are taking dedicated interest in this industry owing to the proliferation of embedded WiFi features in fixed and mobile devices. Growing demand for more advanced handheld devices such as smart-phones and tablets is expected to create demand for technologies with high internet speed. This in turn, is expected to drive the growth of WiFi enabled LTE small cell gateways.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-76451154899883461172017-03-08T20:22:00.001-08:002017-03-08T20:22:31.542-08:00Virtual Reality Coming to Your In-Flight Entertainment?<em>2016 was the year of the Virtual reality headset, we are seeing the first versions of a technology that can, and possibly will, change our lives, much like the smart phone has. VR has the potential to improve our Games, TV programmes and Movies and allow us to experience things and places better. <a href="http://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/articles/virtual-reality-coming-to-your-in-flight-entertainment-w457512">This article is about</a> how your in-flight might be improved by a VR headsets.</em> <br><br>No one likes flying during the holidays. Between having to leave two hours ahead of time and getting through security, just getting to your flight feels like a trip in itself. And then you get on the plane and have nothing to do for three hours except watch reruns of <em>Friends</em> on the little TV in front of you. <br><br>Thatâs probably about to change, thanks to VR. For a little while, of course, passengers can plug into their own Samsung Gear VR sets and tune out, but airlines might be offering <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/business/communal-tv-screens-in-a-binge-watching-age-wont-do-airlines.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share">their own complimentary variety</a> so you can forget youâre stuck on an airplane. <br><br><img src="http://ps4daily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/sony-vr-headset.jpg" width="255" /><br><br>A French start-up, <a href="http://www.skylights.aero/">SkyLights</a>, is developing the tech. Itâs a headset with a six-hour battery life, and it comes with noise-cancelling headphones. The headset looks pretty sleek and simple, because theyâre made to be: Thereâs none of the neater interactions you get with an Oculus or Samsung headset. It really is just a movie beamed right into your face. Youâll be able to watch the newest 2D and 3D movies, and the set comes with 128 GB of storage â" about 40 movies. Weighing only slightly more than half a pound, itâs easy to visualize the headset propped on the back of the seat in front of you, and after paying the fee, you can flip it on and enjoy hi-def movies right in front of your face. <br><br>The headsets are being tested in France right now: XL Airways became the first headset to offer a commercial version of the headset to passengers last week, for $16 per flight. SkyLights has also partnered with AirFrance and Airbus. Content-wise, there are partnerships in the works with 20th Century Fox and Dreamworks. <br><br>The general lack of viable in-flight entertainment has been plaguing the airline industry for a while; broadband Internet is an extra cost (<a href="http://maphappy.org/2014/11/this-is-exactly-how-much-in-flight-wi-fi-will-cost-you/%3E">roughly $10 per flight</a>, depending on your airline), and the movies and TV they show are typically outdated. <br><br>It wasnât until recently that airlines began attempting to match the broadband speed youâd find on the ground. (As of last year, youâd get <a href="h ttp://gizmodo.com/every-major-airlines-wifi-service-explained-and-ranked-1701017977">speeds of around 3.1Mbps</a>, as opposed to the roughly 30Mbps that smartphones on the ground are capable of). Since so many people use their own devices for entertainment, airlines are in desperate need of upping their Wi-Fi speed. But they also need ways to entertain their customers in an inexpensive manner, without the heavy screens and cables that come with TVs. Virtual-reality headsets â" light, not-too-costly, and wireless â" could offer a way for airlines to draw their customer base back in. But there are challenges: VR headsets are a relatively new and untested technology. <br><br>âAirlines are difficult players to deal with because they are risk-averse and slow to innovate,â David Dicko, SkyLightâs CEO, told the <em>Times</em>. <br><br>One potential problem for in-flight VR in your face is the nausea it causes. VR (even if itâs just a film) can be very disorienting, and itâs no t hard to imagine people getting sick from it on a moving plane. <a href="https://static.oculus.com/documents/310-30023-01_Rift_HealthSafety_English.pdf">Oculusâ health and safety documentation</a> is a laundry list of potential concerns, from warnings of dizziness and nausea to seizures and sweating. <br><br>Another potential issue could be that hundreds of folks tuned out to a VR movie with noise-cancelling headphones have, at the least, limited awareness of the outside world. That means slowness to react in plane emergencies â" another potential lawsuit on an airlineâs hands. <br><br>For now, weâre skeptical that VR headsets will take off as in-flight entertainment in the U.S. anytime soon. Early adopters might be eager to try them â" but they also have their own headsets that they can use for free. Customers would have to pay over the price of a movie ticket, the technology is unstudied when it comes to usersâ health, and everyone has their own phone or tablet to ent ertain themselves. We love the idea, but, as Dicko noted, the airlines are a pretty risk-averse industry. They should prioritize Wi-Fi bandwidth first (and make it at least cheaper), which is what the majority of customers undoubtedly want. <br><br>Anyway, itâs hard to imagine a more <em>Black Mirror</em>â"esque image than a hundred people, arranged into rows, their heads leaning back, eyes hidden behind a headset, plugged in to a world that isnât there.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-66239555017329366542017-02-26T19:31:00.001-08:002017-02-26T19:31:45.218-08:00Spy Earpiece: A Micro Earpiece That Will Help You Through Presentations, Interviews, Speeches + More<em>When you think of a spy earpiece, the first thing that comes to mind is inspector gadget or Mission impossible, well it does for us anyway. But there are real world applications for these earpieces are wide. As this article explains, when you need a little help with prompts on a big presentation or you need to receive instructions during a lecture, then a micro earpiece could be the answer.</em> <br><br><p class="caps">This device originally developed for covert operations is now made available for the public to use. Each earpiece kit can provide a way for you to transmit and receive audio information without anybody in the room knowing. Whether you want to receive pre-recorded messages or information from another party to assist you during your presentation / interview or speech, the earpiece can be set up with your phone, audio recorder, radio, or MP3 player to send the message to your earpiece , placed in your ear channel so that it is undetectable .. All kits also include a built in microphone so that you can engage in 2 way conversation should you wish</p> <br><br><strong>So how does it work?</strong> <br><br>The key is the inductive transmitter that will transmit audio from a phone / mp3 player to the earpiece. The transmitter itself is available in many forms. For example the transmitter may be included within a neckloop to be worn around the users neck, this may connect to your phone or mp3 player via its earphone socket. Or you may have a Bluetooth are often included in everyday objects such as a pair of glasses, a Pen or even a bluetooth watch. The transmitter acts as the aerial for reception and signal transmitter from phone to earpiece. At the same time, output sound picked up by the tiny microphone attached to the neckloop / pen / glasses is sent through your phone just as if the user is talking directly into it. <br><br><strong>How to Use The Spy Earpiece?</strong> <br><br>Depending on what kind of information you wish to receive the earpiece can be set up to suit. For example during a presentation or speech you may wish to pre-record your speech or presentation on an mp3 player, then play it back to yourself during the presentation / speech. Or simply record a simple prompt for each point you would like to make. You could then connect up your mp3 player to an inductive neckloop included in most earpiece kits, and wear a spy earpiece. So long as the battery is inserted into the earpiece you will hear the audio from your mp3 player in the earpiece. <br><br>Alternatively you may prefer to have a team prepped in another room to assist you during your speech. This can be achieved by simply starting a mobile phone conversation with your team just before the speech starts. You would then need to either connect an inductive neckloop to the headphone output of your phone, or pair your phone with a bluetooth induction neckloop / pen / glasses. Insert the earpiece into your ear making sure the battery is inserted correctly. Your team should be able to hear your speech in real time over the phone, and can give you tips in your earpiece along the way. The same may apply in an interview situation, you may wish to have a third party issue you advice during your interview. <br><br><div class="mobile-ad-container">Each Inductive transmitter whether it be a neckloop or a bluetooth device like a pen, glasses or bluetooth neckloop, will also include a built in microphone so you can also talk back to your colleagues should you wish during your speech / presentation or interview.</div> <br><br>Lets not forget the original intention of the Spy Earpiece which is for security and covert surveillance. The Spy Earpiece excels in these situations where the requirement is for a security operative to communicate covertly. <br><br>The key to success is in the careful planning and preparation so that everything runs smooth. <br><br><img src="http://www.bluetoothspyearpiece.in/img/banner1.jpg" width="270" /><br><br>The way I see it, when the challenge is great and the results mean everything, why not try the Spy Earpiece and take the risk out of the equation? <br><br>Source - <a href="https://techfeatured.com/1592/spy-earpiece-a-micro-earpiece-that-will-help-you-through-presentations-interviews-speeches-more">https://techfeatured.com/1592/spy-earpiece-a-micro-earpiece-that-will-help-you-through-presentations-interviews-speeches-more</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-22496437944925344622017-02-26T19:00:00.001-08:002017-02-26T19:00:06.922-08:00Spy Earpiece: A Micro Earpiece That Will Help You Through Presentations, Interviews, Speeches + More<em>When you think of a spy earpiece, the first thing that comes to mind is inspector gadget or Mission impossible, well it does for us anyway. But there are real world applications for these earpieces are wide. As this article explains, when you need a little help with prompts on a big presentation or you need to receive instructions during a lecture, then a micro earpiece could be the answer.</em> <br><br><p class="caps">This device originally developed for covert operations is now made available for the public to use. Each earpiece kit can provide a way for you to transmit and receive audio information without anybody in the room knowing. Whether you want to receive pre-recorded messages or information from another party to assist you during your presentation / interview or speech, the earpiece can be set up with your phone, audio recorder, radio, or MP3 player to send the message to your earpiece , placed in your ear channel so that it is undetectable .. All kits also include a built in microphone so that you can engage in 2 way conversation should you wish</p> <br><br><strong>So how does it work?</strong> <br><br>The key is the inductive transmitter that will transmit audio from a phone / mp3 player to the earpiece. The transmitter itself is available in many forms. For example the transmitter may be included within a neckloop to be worn around the users neck, this may connect to your phone or mp3 player via its earphone socket. Or you may have a Bluetooth are often included in everyday objects such as a pair of glasses, a Pen or even a bluetooth watch. The transmitter acts as the aerial for reception and signal transmitter from phone to earpiece. At the same time, output sound picked up by the tiny microphone attached to the neckloop / pen / glasses is sent through your phone just as if the user is talking directly into it. <br><br><strong>How to Use The Spy Earpiece?</strong> <br><br>Depending on what kind of information you wish to receive the earpiece can be set up to suit. For example during a presentation or speech you may wish to pre-record your speech or presentation on an mp3 player, then play it back to yourself during the presentation / speech. Or simply record a simple prompt for each point you would like to make. You could then connect up your mp3 player to an inductive neckloop included in most earpiece kits, and wear a spy earpiece. So long as the battery is inserted into the earpiece you will hear the audio from your mp3 player in the earpiece. <br><br>Alternatively you may prefer to have a team prepped in another room to assist you during your speech. This can be achieved by simply starting a mobile phone conversation with your team just before the speech starts. You would then need to either connect an inductive neckloop to the headphone output of your phone, or pair your phone with a bluetooth induction neckloop / pen / glasses. Insert the earpiece into your ear making sure the battery is inserted correctly. Your team should be able to hear your speech in real time over the phone, and can give you tips in your earpiece along the way. The same may apply in an interview situation, you may wish to have a third party issue you advice during your interview. <br><br><div class="mobile-ad-container">Each Inductive transmitter whether it be a neckloop or a bluetooth device like a pen, glasses or bluetooth neckloop, will also include a built in microphone so you can also talk back to your colleagues should you wish during your speech / presentation or interview.</div> <br><br>Lets not forget the original intention of the Spy Earpiece which is for security and covert surveillance. The Spy Earpiece excels in these situations where the requirement is for a security operative to communicate covertly. <br><br>The key to success is in the careful planning and preparation so that everything runs smooth. <br><br>The way I see it, when the challenge is great and the results mean everything, why not try the Spy Earpiece and take the risk out of the equation? <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.spyearpieces.co.uk/59-189-thickbox_default/bluetooth-watch-and-wireless-spy-earpiece.jpg" width="371" /><br><br>Source - <a href="https://techfeatured.com/1592/spy-earpiece-a-micro-earpiece-that-will-help-you-through-presentations-interviews-speeches-more">https://techfeatured.com/1592/spy-earpiece-a-micro-earpiece-that-will-help-you-through-presentations-interviews-speeches-more</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-90544899865225140302017-02-23T14:15:00.001-08:002017-02-23T14:15:17.960-08:00Offering workers hearing protection options<em>Much Like Protecting your sight or looking after your health, your hearing should also be protected, <a href="http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/14961-offering-workers-hearing-protection-options">this article</a> tackles hearing protection within the workplace and what type of earplugs are best, Enjoy.</em> <br><br>OSHA regulations dictate we offer a âvarietyâ of hearing protectors to noise-exposed workers. What is best practice for providing a variety while keeping inventory to a minimum? <br><br>Per CFR 1910.95(i)(3), âEmployees shall be given the opportunity to select their hearing protectors from a variety of suitable hearing protectors provided by the employer.â But does âvariety of suitable hearing protectorsâ mean two or 10, earplugs or earmuffs, different colors or different sizes? <br><br>The wrong approach is to choose a variety based on factors that have no effect on protecting hearing, including the published noise reduction rating. Some safety managers offer several different large foam earplugs that are yellow, green and orange â" mistakenly assuming they meet the âvarietyâ requirement and not realizing that a significant portion of their workforce will never achieve an adequate fit with a large foam earplug. In those cases, their supposed âvarietyâ actually limits the number of workers adequately protected. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://cdn.sweatband.com/Aqua_Sphere_Silicone_Ear_Plugs__2000x2000.jpg" width="374" /><br><br>This bad assumption is often codified into company safety policies that require a minimum NRR: âApproved hearing protectors must have an NRR of at least 32 decibels,â or similar criteria. By definition, that typically means a large foam earplug. Despite the higher NRR based on 10 laboratory test subjects, workers with smaller ear canals will never achieve an adequate fit with those large foam earplugs to stop noise-induced hearing loss. <br><br>What are the factors that affect good fit of an earplug? <br><br><ul> <br><br><li><strong>Size: </strong>Like a cork in a bottle, an earplug that is too large or too small will never achieve an acoustic seal to protect hearing. Offering a variety of sizes significantly improves the percentage of employees obtaining a good fit.</li> <br><br><li><strong>Shape: </strong>Ear canal openings may appear round, oval or slit. A foam earplug often fills an oval or slit opening better than pre-molded earplugs.</li> <br><br><li><strong>Ease of insertion: </strong>Some workers have difficulty rolling or inserting foam earplugs due to lack of mobility. For these workers, an earplug with a stem may be easier to insert.</li> <br><br></ul> <br><br>Based on thousands of fit tests administered to workers in the field, the following four earplug styles provide a selection that would adequately protect nearly every worker: <br><br><ul> <br><br><li>Large foam earplug</li> <br><br><li>Smaller foam earplug</li> <br><br><li>Large reusable earplug</li> <br><br><li>Smaller reusable earplug</li> <br><br></ul> <br><br>The good news is that offering a variety does not necessarily increase cost. Buying 1,000 earplugs of one style or 250 earplugs of four different styles is fairly equivalent in cost. But the bigger variety significantly increases the probability that more workers will be adequately protected. <br><br>Many worksites adjust their inventory based on results of their fit-testing of hearing protectors. By reviewing which earplugs repeatedly provide the best fit, these companies identify the gaps or duplications in their offering and can adjust accordingly. Sometimes, this means adding a smaller-size earplug, but many times companies find they can remove some less-effective earplugs from their inventory. Itâs not necessary to carry a dozen different earplug styles. <br><br>Finally, any offering of hearing protection needs a hands-on training component. How can a workers determine whether their ear canal is large or small, round or oval? Itâs impossible to view your own ear canal opening in a mirror. A quick glance by a safety trainer can be of tremendous benefit in helping workers select the right earplug the first time.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-7881648102590988332017-02-06T15:10:00.001-08:002017-02-06T15:10:11.698-08:00How To Select The Right Radio EarpieceWhen choosing a radio earpiece, there are several factors that should be considered. A radio earpiece should not only aid in communication it should also protect the userâs ear against cumulative ear damage that may eventually result in ear loss. Below are the factors that you should consider <a href="https://www.earpieceonline.co.uk">when buying a radio earpiece</a> ; <br><br>1) Clarity of communication <br><br>The most important reason as to why you have a radio is for clear communication and this is what your radio earpiece should enhance. Although there are several radio earpieces out there, many of them use bone conduction when transmitting the userâs speech meaning that they heavily rely on vibrations of oneâs skull as they talk. This does not help much in ensuring that the communications are clear especially when one is on the move. <br><br>You should therefore go for a system whose in-ear microphone does not use <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_conduction">bone conduction</a> and this will enhance the sound clarity. Such a system can even transmit speeches when one is whispering and this comes in handy especially when in an environment where secrecy is very crucial. <br><br>2) Comfort <br><br>It is very important to select a system that you feel comfortable with most importantly when you are to wear it on your head. Note that, you will probably be wearing the gear for long hours and that is why it should be of lightweight and should not in any way interfere with your eye wear or helmet. <br><br>Avoid heavy, sweaty and coiled tube earpieces that are very uncomfortable and will cause ear fatigue. Instead, go for a radio earpiece whose microphone is built into the earbud itself. Such earpieces come in various shapes and sizes and can even be customized to fit the specific needs of a user. Note that, military-grade materials are specifically designed to be of lightweight. <br><br>3) Durability <br><br>Durability is a very important factor that should be considered when choosing a radio earpiece. You obviously donât want to be wasting your time and money going back to look for another earpiece just because the one you chose did not last. This is why it is very important to select a system that is durable and has been tested for rugged use of a soldier or a SWAT officer. Go for one whose manufacturer is experienced in manufacturing earpieces that can withstand water, dirt, shock and even extreme temperatures. <br><br>4) Ease of use <br><br>Your radio earpiece should be easy to use because you canât afford to mess up with the push-to-talk or the on & off buttons especially when on the move. Your gear should immediately fit into your actions with minimum effort. Look at the operational and the ergonomic features of the various radio earpieces and make sure that all its features are both of the right sizes and in the right places. <br><br>5) Hearing protection <br><br>Claims related to hearing loss and its related disabilities is on the rise among police & military veterans and this has led to the need for hearing protection for officers. Note that, hearing loss occurs cumulatively over time and it is irreversible. This is in addition to the fact that it has been associated with cognitive decline and that is why even the minor hearing loss can have a huge impact in the course of time. Select a radio earpiece that not only ensures effective communication, but also the <a href="http://www.hse.gov.uk/noise/regulations.htm">hearing safety of the user</a>. <br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.copybook.com/media/security/profiles/phonak-communications-ag/migrated/images/Profilo-Covert-Earpiece.jpg" width="353" /><br><br>6) Situational awareness <br><br>An earpiece is basically meant to keep you focused and keep your hands free. You should be aware of what is happening in their surrounding and that is why a radio earpiece should allow one to hear sounds that are outside, to stay alert with their surroundings. <br><br>In order to have full communications (just like one would have without anything in their ears), it is wise to choose a radio earpiece that has an external microphone. There are systems that even enable you to adjust volume of the external microphone and this ensures that you are aware of the happenings in your surroundings. <br><br>7) Modularity & Compatibility <br><br>There are several systems that are available out there and you should look for one that fits your requirements. As mentioned above, some of them can be customized to fit an individual userâs specific needs so you can never run out of options. <br><br>A radio earpiece that has a modular connector is good as you can change it to match even a different radio without having to replace the entire system. Some systems can even go with both earbuds and over-the-ear earpieces so depending on your needs, select the appropriate system. <br><br>8) Affordability <br><br>Many years ago radio earpieces cost £100 and upwards, these days you can get a D-ring earpiece for less than £15 and an acoustic tube for about £25. Bone conductor earpieces that were previously and expensive piece of technology, can be yours for about £40.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-7749671705815991722017-01-24T01:19:00.001-08:002017-01-24T01:19:05.358-08:00Far offshore windfarms present communications challenges<em>This is <a href="http://www.owjonline.com/news/view,far-offshore-windfarms-present-communications-challenges_44887.htm">an interesting article</a> debating the different types of communication that can be used over a long distance, and as they distance moves further and further, the different types of communication drop off or become part of an infrastructure. As engineers battle with this problem, knowledge of how radio frequencies and applications becomes paramount. </em> <br><br><strong>As offshore windfarms are built further and further from land, alternatives to conventional VHF communications are going to be required</strong> <br><br>A cornerstone of any major project is clear communication between all parties. As we move windfarm construction further offshore, maintaining efficient voice and data communications becomes essential. With many projects now being constructed beyond the range of VHF radio and cellular telephone, such as a Gemini or Dudgeon offshore windfarms, crew transfer vessel (CTV) operators and their clients are experiencing challenges achieving practical and affordable offshore communications. My experience on two far offshore projects in the last 15 months has shown that creative thinking can work together with existing equipment such as TETRA radio to reduce the risks and stress that poor communications can generate. <br><br>Communication solutions on offshore windfarms depend on the phase that the operation is in, the size of the project and the distance from shore. Many smaller, older windfarms rely on VHF radios to communicate between shore and vessel and shore/vessel and work team on the turbines. However, VHF is limited in range being a line-of-sight system, and the signal has trouble penetrating structures such as wind turbines due to the Faraday cage effect. Conventional cellular telephone coverage is also possible on nearshore sites, with some windfarms installing a cellular mast within the windfarm. Vessels at anchor off the Dutch port of IJmuiden can thank the windfarm industry for good connection when waiting for a pilot if they have contracts with the provider KPN. <br><br><img src="http://www.offshorewind.biz/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/New-Offshore-Wind-Farms-Lift-RWE-1024x760.jpg" width="263" /><br><br>When moving further offshore, luxuries such as a cellular mast will not be installed during the construction phase, and it is most likely that VHF radios will not be sufficient. It is common for the developer to install a TETRA radio network â" similar to those used by national emergency response services such as police and fire departments. <br><br>TETRA, or terrestrial trunked radio as it is properly termed, is a secure network allowing one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many communications. This means that the marine controller can speak directly and privately to one party or to the entire offshore spread depending on what is needed. It transmits on a lower frequency than VHF so covers a greater range. This still is not enough to cover the distances experienced on far offshore windfarms. If multiple base stations are used, each base station can then automatically rebroadcast a message thus expanding the network coverage. On a recent construction project, it was found that there were communications blackspots in the area of the sea passage from the base port to the site. This was later eliminated by fitting full base station units rather than just handheld transceivers on the CTVs. The CTVs then became vital links in the communications network and ensured the blackspots were reduced or eliminated altogether. <br><br>TETRA has many other advantages, including the ability to penetrate the tower of a wind turbine, and calls are not dropped when moving between base station carriers due to the network configuration. This is especially important if vessel-carried base stations are relaying far offshore. The network is also secure, which ensures that commercially sensitive information cannot be intercepted. With the one-to-one mode, it also means that managers can have detailed conversations on sensitive subjects. <br><br>However, anecdotal information received from vessel crews in the field appear to indicate that TETRA, although a good system, is not foolproof. One vessel master reported that, after 15 months on site, they still had blackspots with TETRA and sometimes have to use the cell phone application WhatsApp to request that turbines be started or stopped so that he can land a team. <br><br>TETRA does not solve the operational problems experienced by vessel-operating companies who require frequent voice and data communication with the CTVs to ensure a smooth delivery of service. As most sites far offshore are outside of cell phone coverage and clients demand that daily reports are issued on time, creativity is needed. There is a simple solution that could solve all of the communication problems far offshore â" installing VSAT satellite communications on each CTV, which allows instant telephone and data transfer. <br><br>However, the practicalities of chartering in todayâs windfarm industry eliminates this option, as the client will not want to pay for installation and operation, and a vessel owner cannot afford such a luxury. Charterers therefore need to make a decision: either they assume responsibility and the costs for practical workable satellite communications on their vessels or look for practical alternative solutions to deliver what is needed far offshore. <br><br>One practical solution to maintain communications between the marine co-ordination centre and vessels is to step back a generation and use medium frequency/high frequency single side band radios, which are common equipment on larger CTVs and is standard on service operation vessels (SOVs) or installation vessels. <br><br>When used in conjunction with the digital selective calling (DSC) function of the GMDSS standard, voice communications can be maintained at long distance without operating cost. Unfortunately, current guidance for the marine co-ordination in windfarms as found in the G9 <em>Good practice guideline:</em> <em>The safe management of small service vessels used in the offshore wind industry</em> does not yet consider marine co-ordination and communications in far offshore windfarms. <br><br>Another practical solution to improve data communication is to install powerful WiFi antennas on the decks of SOVs and other major offshore assets to allow CTVs to have internet access when they are in close proximity. CTVs can then download passenger manifests and weather reports and upload the daily progress report and synchronise planned maintenance and email systems. <br><br>CTVs spend considerable time in close proximity to the SOV during passenger transfer, bunkering or waiting for the next assignment, and it is relatively easy to set up the computers to connect and synchronise without operator input, thus reducing the risk of distraction. SOVs should be designed with space for CTV crews to use as a secure office so that laptops can be left connected to the network. In this way, crews can have two computers and prepare work when on shift, transfer via a data stick and upload when they go off shift. <br><br>One of the most effective tools that we have identified is WhatsApp, which seems to require very low signal strength to connect and transfer brief messages. On recent projects, we have found that most vessel/office communication occurs in this medium, including fault finding and incident reporting and investigation. Crews have found it quicker to video a CCTV system playback and send via WhatsApp than download the CCTV video and send it via a file transfer service. As synchronising an electronic planned maintenance system offshore is very time consuming, our superintendents have taken to sending the worklists via WhatsApp to the vessels who then confirm back with text or images when a job is complete. The superintendent then does the PMS administration from their office with the advantage of high speed network connections. Experience with WhatsApp has led me to believe that agile, low data applications will form part of the future of offshore communication. <br><br>Far offshore projects have moved from planning and dreaming to reality. However, effective and cost-efficient communication solutions have not moved with them. Like most challenges with far offshore windfarms, there is no single solution, but experience has shown that, with creativity and flexibility, projects can communicate with their teams and operators can manage their vessels. <br><br>Better equipment earlier on in the construction phase, such as MF/HF radios in the MCC and on the vessels, TERA base stations on the vessels and open deck WiFi on construction assets will all assist in improving safety and reducing stress while ensuring that unnecessary costs are not incurred.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-46382890841059857232017-01-18T11:37:00.001-08:002017-01-18T11:37:59.585-08:00MIT's new method of radio transmission could one day make wireless VR a reality<em>VR is the Buzz word for this year, every technology company clambering to get their headset out on to the market. Much of the market needs to catch-up though, the power of home computing needs to improve and removing the inevitable extra cabling and wires that come with current headsets. Luckily <a href="http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/11/28/13763912/mit-radio-transmission-millimeter-wave-wireless-vr">this article is about the future technology of VR headsets</a>, see what we can expect as this technology grows.</em> <br><br>If you want to use one of today's major VR headsets, whether the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, or the PS VR, you have to accept the fact that there will be an illusion-shattering cable that tethers you to the small supercomputer that's powering your virtual world. <br><br>But researchers from MITâs Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) may have a solution in <a href="http://news.mit.edu/2016/enabling-wireless-virtual-reality-1114">MoVr, a wireless virtual reality system</a>. Instead of using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to transmit data, the research teamâs MoVR system uses high-frequency millimeter wave radio to stream data from a computer to a headset wirelessly at dramatically faster speeds than traditional technology. <br><br>There have been a variety of approaches to solving this problem already. Smartphone-based headsets such as <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/18/13670182/how-google-daydream-view-vr-headset-was-made">Google's Daydream View</a> and Samsung's Gear VR allow for untethered VR by simply offloading the computational work directly to a phone inside the headset. Or the entire idea of <a href="http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/11/10/13588864/msi-vr-one-backpack-newegg-price-availability">VR backpacks</a>, which allow for a more mobile VR experience by building a computer that's more easily carried. But there are still a lot of limitations to either of these solutions. <br><br>THE MOVR PROTOTYPE SIDESTEPS TETHERED VR ISSUES <br><br>Latency is the whole reason a wireless solution hasn't worked so far. VR is especially latency-sensitive, along with the huge bandwidth requirements that VR needs to display the level of high-resolution video required for virtual reality to work. But the MIT team claims that the millimeter wave signals can transmit fast enough to make a wireless VR headset feasible. <br><br>The issue with using millimeter wave technology is that the signal needs a direct line of sight, and fares poorly when it encounters any obstacles. MoVR gets around this by working as a programmable mirror that can direct the direction of the signal to the headset even while itâs moving to always make sure the signal is transmitting directly to the headset's receivers. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://gadgetynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sony-virtual-reality-headset.jpg" width="297" /><br><br>For now, the MoVR is simply a prototype, with the team hoping to further shrink down the system to allow for multiple wireless headsets in one room without encountering signal interference. But even as a proof-of-concept, it's an interesting perspective on how virtual reality could one day work.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-7200930453614133362017-01-05T11:49:00.001-08:002017-01-05T11:49:18.273-08:00Could hearing loss be a hidden cost of gaming?<em>Is this is a real problem? Do you use a set of headphones whilst gaming? <a href="https://tiga.org/news/could-hearing-loss-be-a-hidden-cost-of-gaming">This article</a> has information on how damaging wearing gaming headphones is and what the future impact might be. Read this, examine how you use your headphones and get on with life⦠</em> <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://images.bit-tech.net/content_images/2007/05/gaming_headset_head_to_head/b2.jpg" width="376" /><br><br>According to the Q1 2016 GameTrack report, 18.8 million people between the ages of 6 and 64 game and those between 11 and 64 spend an average 8.8 hours per week doing so. <br><br><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> Amongst Gamers the largest group is 15 to 24 year old males who are most at risk of permanently damaging their hearing. This group spends the most amount of time gaming and are also the most attracted to the âloudâ games. Furthermore a majority of them live in a shared accommodation and use headphones so as not to disturb others. This group also the most likely to take part in other activities which can be harmful to their hearing such as listening to music through headphones, going to gigs and festivals, and nightclubs.</span> <br><br><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> Unfortunately the price of their enjoyment could well be significant and permanent hearing damage. Whilst there is clearly a risk to the Gamer, it could transfer as a liability to the games companies in the form of legal action relating to their duty of care.</span> <br><br><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> The first significant step is to make Gamers aware of how much sound exposure they are experiencing and what they can do to prevent hearing damage, because hearing damage is permanent</span> <br><br><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> Hearing damage is caused by the combination of how long you listen (time), how loud you listen (volume), and what you listen to (energy content). The combination of these three factors create a âsound doseâ, if the dose is too high it starts to damage your hearing.</span> <br><br><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> The UNâs World Health Organisation and hearing conservation organisations are increasing awareness of the risks and advise users to restrict their daily sound dose to less than 85dB average over 8 hours.</span> <br><br><span style="font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit;"> Gamers who use headphones currently have no realistic way to indicate what level they are listening at and how much of their daily sound dose they have used. The answer will be to provide them with an intelligent sound dose measurement app or software, giving them their individual sound dose exposure information and guidance, with optional protection, so that for the first time they can make informed decisions about their hearing health.</span><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-79815139158775640502017-01-04T13:04:00.001-08:002017-01-04T13:04:57.417-08:00Army to Launch Another Competition for New Soldier Radio<em>In the modern world the army has to have perfect communications, from coordinating attacks to communicating with other platoons, on the battlefield it really could mean the difference between life and death. <a href="http://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/21/army-to-launch-another-competition-for-new-soldier-radio.html">This article</a> plans to find the next Military radio. </em> <br><br><a href="http://www.military.com/army">U.S. Army</a> tactical radio officials plan to launch a competition for a new handheld radio next year that would give soldiers twice the capability of the current Rifleman Radio. <br><br>The Army currently uses the single-channel AN/PRC 154A Rifleman Radio as its soldier handheld data radio. It runs the Soldier Radio Waveform, which small-unit leaders use to download and transmit maps, images and texts to fellow infantry soldiers in a tactical environment. <br><br>If they want to talk to each other, they often rely on another single-channel handheld -- the AN/PRC 148 MultiBand Inter/Intra Team Radio, or MBITR, which runs the Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio, or SINCGARS, for voice communications. <br><br>The Army plans to release a request-for-proposal in 2017 for a two-channel radio that will allow soldiers to run the Soldier Radio Waveform, or SRW, for data and SINCGARS for voice on one radio, according to Col. James P. Ross, who runs Project Manager Tactical Radios. <br><br>The change will mean that soldiers will no longer need the 148 MBITR and be able to rely on the new, two-channel radio for both data and voice communications, Ross said. <br><br>"We know industry can meet our requirements. ⦠We know it's achievable," he said. <br><br>The move represents a change in strategy for the Army since the service awarded contracts in 2015 to Harris Corporation and Thales for a next-generation version of the Rifleman Radio. <br><br>"We went out with a competition for the next generation of the [Rifleman Radio]. Two companies, Harris and Thales, competed," Ross said. "We went through testing, and we were on the verge of being able to buy more of them when the Army said, 'Our strategy now is two-channel.' " <br><br>The Army had planned an initial buy of about 4,000 Thales AN/PRC-154B(V)1 radios and Harris AN/PRC-159(V)1 radios, according to Army program documents for fiscal 2015. <br><br>"We will not be taking action on those," Ross said. <br><br><img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Flickr_-_The_U.S._Army_-_Radio_check.jpg" width="314" /><br><br>The current Rifleman Radio was developed as part of the Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Fit, or HMS program. HMS radios are designed around the Army's tactical network strategy to create secure tactical networks without the logistical nightmare of a tower-based antenna infrastructure. <br><br>It's also a key part of the Army's Nett Warrior system. It hooks into an Android-based smartphone and gives soldiers in infantry brigade combat teams the ability to send and receive emails, view maps and watch icons on a digital map that represent the locations of their fellow soldiers. The concept came out of the Army's long-gestating Land Warrior program. <br><br>The Army purchased about 21,000 Rifleman Radios under low-rate initial production between 2012 and 2015. <br><br>Army officials maintain that are enough single-channel, handheld radios already produced under the low rate initial production that are sitting waiting to be fielded. The service plans to field another two brigade combat teams per year with the single-channel Rifleman Radios through 2019. <br><br>The Army will conduct testing of two-channel radios in 2017 and early 2018 and then down-select to one or two vendors sometime in 2018, Ross said. Operational testing is scheduled for 2019 and fielding will begin in 2020 if all goes as planned, he added. <br><br>For now, the Army intends to field four BCTs a year with two-channel handheld radios, Ross said. <br><br>Small-unit leaders would then be able to retire the MBITR radio from their kit -- a weight savings of about three pounds, according to Army officials at Program Executive Office Soldier. <br><br>"One thing the PEO Soldier is very passionate about is weight -- driving that weight down that the soldier carries," said Lt. Col. Derek Bird, product manager for Ground Soldier Systems, which helps oversee the Nett Warrior program. <br><br>"If we can cut three pounds off a soldier by taking two radios and shrinking it to one ⦠that is a big deal."<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-37869375927818143262017-01-04T07:06:00.001-08:002017-01-04T07:06:50.449-08:00Icom America announces new series of NXDN IDAS mobiles and portables<em>The new range of Icom Radios, the 3400 and 4400 range. With a new colour screen and an SD card slot. Icom really are making strides in the radio market, We just hope that they keep the same connection types, so we can use our <a href="http://www.earpieceonline.co.uk/100-icom-earpiece">icom earpieces</a>.</em> <br><br>Icom America recently showcased a new series of multi-mode UHF/VHF NXDN IDAS radios that are designed to provide users with a flexible feature set and an enhanced user interface. <br><br>âItâs firmware upgradeable and licensed for different features,â Mark Behrends, senior manager of strategic sales at Icom America, said during an interview at the companyâs booth during APCO 2016 in Orlando. âSo, you pay for the basic radio, and you license up for the features that you want.â <br><br>While the next-generation IDAS radiosâ"the 3400 series for VHF portables, 4400 for UHF portables, 5400 for VHF mobiles and 6400 for UHF mobilesâ"continue to operate on the VHF/UHF bands with slightly more spectral range than previous models, this new series features a color screen, a âreally intuitiveâ interface and greater software-upgrade flexibility, Behrends said. <br><br>âWhat it really changes is the user interface and the usability of the radio,â he said. âSo, you can have conventional standard, or you can license up for Type D trunking or Type C trunking.â <br><br>Programming the radios can be accomplished via Bluetooth, a USB port and Icomâs standard connections, Behrends said. The Bluetooth functionality allows the radios to work with myriad accessories and third-party applications, he said. <br><br>Behrends noted that the new radios support secure-digital (SD) cards, which enable additional flexibility for users. <br><br>âAn SD card is pretty handyâ"you can record on it, you can capture GPS waypoints on it, you can program ICFS files and add new firmware through the SD card,â Behrends said. <br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://icomamerica.com/en/landmobile/idas-nextgen/images/nextgen-page-image.jpg" width="321" /><br><br>Icom America expects this series of radios to be available this fall, after the products complete FCC testing, according to Behrends. Pricing will differ based on the type of screen included, but it generally will be comparable to Icomâs âhigher-end IDAS product,â he said. <br><br><a href="http://urgentcomm.com/icom/icom-america-announces-new-series-nxdn-idas-mobiles-and-portables">http://urgentcomm.com/icom/icom-america-announces-new-series-nxdn-idas-mobiles-and-portables</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-68002842551701748222016-12-25T13:14:00.001-08:002016-12-25T13:14:26.440-08:00Cover your ears! Amsterdam Dance Event goers invited to hearing pill tests<em>Anyone will tell you, we are the first to champion hearing protection and the progress to hearing health. With all the latest technological developments, we are looking at a new era of hearing health. This supplement is supposed to âbe beneficial for reducing hearing loss due to aminoglycosides and overstimulationâ and if the test come back positive we might see further advancement in this field.</em> <br><br>The Amsterdam Dance Event is about more than top DJs and partying, reports Senay Boztas <br><br><img src="http://www.amsterdo.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/ADE.jpg" width="324" /><br><br>As 375,000 people prepare themselves for big noise at the five-day Amsterdam Dance Event, a business has asked them to listen up: Hearing Health Science is looking for recruits to trial its âprotectiveâ hearing pills. <br><br>The Amsterdam-based business, co-founded by a leading inner ear neuroscientist from the University of Michigan Dr Josef Miller, has joint US patents on a dietary supplement combination including vitamins A, C, E and magnesium. <br><br>Studies have shown some evidence that this ACEMg supplement âcan be beneficial for reducing hearing loss due to aminoglycosides and overstimulation,â according to a report in Nature magazine in February, co-authored by Miller. Hearing Health Science hopes to begin producing pills next year and is taking pre-orders at the festival, at a cost of â¬30 for a four-week supply. <br><br><h2>Pilots</h2> <br><br>It is also looking for volunteers to take part in pilot tests, signing up recruits at the Amsterdam Dance Event, which this year is putting on 2,200 acts in 140 venues and expecting a peak of numbers. <br><br>Barry Seifer, co-founder and chief executive of the company explained: âThe pill we are bringing to market is safe, and you cannot test in the lab by giving someone a problem and then offering to cure it. If you are going to do epidemiological research on something like this â" noise â" you have to do it in the real world, where the problem happens. This is a great place to do that research.â <br><br>The company is planning pilot tests with volunteers from the ADE â" although Seifer said they wonât be handing out pills at the door â" and hopes to invite some of these to a modified crossover study. This should take place when the âfestivalâ season begins from March next year, and subjects will be followed for a period, taking the drug and a placebo at different times, and measuring their hearing through a special app developed at the University of Michigan. <br><br>Tinnitus <br><br>âWeâve done it once with a tinnitus trial and now we want to do real-world studies in the music industry,â says Seifer. âOur initial idea was to recruit 20 or 30 people but we have such intense interest that I think weâll have 500 who sign up. We would love to be able to give this to people now because millions need help, but weâre not quite there yet. Weâre not going to stand at the doors and hand out pills.â <br><br>A spokesman for ADE said the festival has worked with Hearing Health Science in the past and invited it to speak at an event on Thursday. âWe believe you need to protect your hearing and welcome initiatives in this field,â he said. âHHS has been working on this hearing protection for a long time and at ADE we are always looking out for innovations in the field of (electronic) musicâ¦we also actively offer earbuds to visitors.â <br><br>Highlights of the event this year include Afrojack, Hardwell and Martin Garrix, and the festival expects 3% more clubbers, with a steadily pattern of growth over its 10 years. House music and techno are currently the most popular genres. <br><br>Seifer adds: âWe would never tell you to turn the music down. Entertainment goers are trying to keep the music to lower volumes and encourage people to use filters and party plugs â" these are good. The problem is that this is supposed to be fun!â <br><br>Read more at DutchNews.nl: Cover your ears! Amsterdam Dance Event goers invited to hearing pill tests <a href="http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2016/10/cover-your-ears-amsterdam-dance-event-goers-invited-to-hearing-pill-tests/">http://www.dutchnews.nl/features/2016/10/cover-your-ears-amsterdam-dance-event-goers-invited-to-hearing-pill-tests/</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-13065902500231679702016-12-21T05:42:00.001-08:002016-12-21T05:42:33.026-08:00London Gatwick Airport deploys new radio system from Motorola Solutions<em>Back in the day, around 2006, the Heathrow and Gatwick radio systems were the envy of many, many businesses, a cutting-edge Motorola analogue trunking system with individual and group setup, that could broadcast messages out across the site or talk to individual radios, something that is taken for granted these days with our digital systems. The Gatwick system has been upgraded and been given the digital touch.</em> <br><br><img src="http://s0.geograph.org.uk/photos/23/74/237405_5c2081c7.jpg" width="288" /><br><br>US-based Motorola Solutions, along with its authorised channel partner Servicom, has debuted its new digital mobile radio (DMR) system, Mototrbo Capacity Max, at London Gatwick Airport. <br><br>Designed to provide enhanced voice and data communications, the newly installed system connects 1,300 people in the airport's airside and groundside teams. <br><br>Mototrbo Capacity Max will also double the capacity of Gatwickâs current analogue network. <br><br>Various applications, such as TRBOnet PLUS and iBeacon, were given along with Mototrbo Capacity Max to improve its data performance. <br><br>TRBOnet PLUS is a dispatcher application that allows voice recording, mapping and event logging in the control room, while the iBeacon indoor positioning application sends alerts to individual radios based on location. <br><br>Gatwick Airport IT project manager Simon Telling said: âWe chose Motorola Solutionsâ Mototrbo Capacity Max system not only for how resilient and secure it is, but because of the flexibility it offers us now and into the future. <br><br>âWe have experienced significant growth over the past decade and we are now approaching the limits of our previous analogue system. <br><br>âMigrating to scalable, digital communications will double our capacity and bring new capabilities that will help us improve efficiency and safety for staff, retail partners and passengers across the airport.â <br><br>The new Motorola solution will also enable Gatwickâs central controllers to send off the closest employee to an incident, saving time. <br><br>The airport recorded more than 4.6 million in passenger traffic in July. <br><br><em>Source - <a href="http://www.airport-technology.com/news/newslondon-gatwick-airport-deploys-new-radio-system-from-motorola-solutions-5021249">http://www.airport-technology.com/news/newslondon-gatwick-airport-deploys-new-radio-system-from-motorola-solutions-5021249</a></em><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-61061270036559322692016-12-16T12:19:00.001-08:002016-12-16T12:19:26.028-08:00Motorola Solutionsâ digital two-way radio technology enhances mission-critical communications at Munich airport<em>Motorola solutions are a company well known for their robust two way radios and for building world class communication structures. Improving on the current TETRA system with an IP dispatch console and piloting the WAVE system, that allows a phone app to connect to the radio system, for communicating of site. You can read more about what Motorola are doing for Munich below and you can find the <a href="http://www.yourcommunicationnews.com/motorola+solutions%E2%80%99+digital+two-way+radio+technology+enhances+mission-critical+communications+at+munich+airport_138410.html">original article here</a>.</em> <br><br>Motorola Solutions has received an order to implement a comprehensive update and extension of its existing TETRA digital two-way radio system at Munich Airport. <br><br>The newly modernized communications infrastructure ensures greater connectivity, interoperability and collaboration between various business and operational functions at Germanyâs second largest airport. Motorola Solutions will also provide services for ensuring smooth operations. <br><br>Within the framework of the TETRA radio network refresh, Motorola Solutions is equipping the airport with a new MCC 7500 IP Dispatch Console. The comprehensive, scalable solution enhances the IP architecture to ensure optimum call set up and availability. It will also allow Munich Airport to expand its communications infrastructure in the future without interrupting existing services. As well as this, Motorola Solutions will implement two TETRA base stations for improved TETRA radio coverage in the terminal buildings. <br><br><img src="http://www.munich-airport.de/media/images/gallery/presse/download/2010-11-01-pb012.jpg" width="377" /><br><br>Alongside the improvements to the TETRA system, the airport has started a pilot project for the potential introduction of Motorola Solutionsâ broadband push-to-talk (PTT) platform WAVE. The goal of the installation is to ensure that airport staff can communicate, no matter which device or infrastructure is being used. The powerful PTT solution WAVE⢠Work Group Communications provides airport authorities with secure and reliable communications beyond TETRA radio â" including broadband devices and networks â" to enable greater workforce connectivity, interoperability and collaboration. WAVE connects the TETRA system used by administrative staff with service management employees who join the broadband platform via smartphones, computers, other radios or telephones, meaning that staff across the airport can communicate with one another from virtually any location. <br><br>âWe have been working with Motorola Solutionsâ TETRA two-way digital radio system since 2007,â said Michael Zaddach, head of the IT service division at Flughafen München GmbH. âThe update of our TETRA infrastructure enables us to further improve our communications in airport operations and make our processes even more efficient.â <br><br>âWe are collaborating closely with Munich Airport to provide a future-proof TETRA digital two-way radio network,â said Klaus-Dieter Drossel, sales director for key accounts, Motorola Solutions Germany GmbH. âWe are also pleased that Munich Airport is testing our broadband push-to-talk platform WAVE, and we are certain that it will enable airport staff to work together more closely, no matter which device or network they use.â<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-23621771164963251462016-12-13T10:23:00.001-08:002016-12-13T10:23:21.016-08:00Imtradex Aurelis Handheld Microphones Future Proof to fit all Purposes<em>We call these Remote Speaker Mics (RSM) and they have come in all different shapes and sizes over the years. Normally a staple of the emergency services, but we have seen a upsurge in general radio users using RSMâs. So it comes as no shock to us that a pro-active company like </em><em>Imtradex has designed one to suit the needs of the masses. </em> <br><br>What was originally developed as a handheld microphone for digital radios, has blossomed over the past few years to an essential equipment accessory for digital radio standards of emergency service: The Aurelis hand microphone from Imtradex. <br><br>Meanwhile with the Aurelis, the specialist for critical communications, have a whole series of hand microphones on the market, all adapted to the specific challenges of the communication in critical applications of security agencies, fire departments, dispatch and emergency services. The Aurelis series addresses the different needs of the user: based of the basic model Aurelis Base, Imtradex manufacture customized versions that are specially tailored to the range of functions that meet the customerâs requirements. <br><br>All the Aurelis hand microphones have a send button, a microphone and high quality speakers. âAll devices contain a cable attachment and also the possibility to connect external audio accessoriesâ adds Ralf Kudernak, CEO of Imtradex. Depending on the radio, different data applications can be integrated, so can ex. on the model Aurelis AudioDis, information be displayed on the LCD display. <br><br>âThe youngest member of the family is the Aurelis USB handheld microphone, which is designed for connection to computer-based communication system, especially for control centersâ informed Ralf Kudernak. âThe USB interface gives the easy integration and can be connected independently to each operation system and used with existing hardware. With the development of the Aurelis USB, we followed the desire of several control centers, which wanted to use a handheld microphone which you can also hang at the table of the workplaceâ said Kudernak. <br><br><img style="float:left;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://www.comm-spec.com/prodimages/normal/10197.jpg" width="393" /><br><br>In terms of digital communication, security and flexibility the innovative ultra-lightweight Aurelis Nexus PTT set new standards. It was specially designed for fire fighting. Thanks to it extra large PTT, with short sensing path and exactly defined pressure point, the operation with use of working gloves is possible. <br><br>The user can also be flexible in their choice of radio and headset: All Aurelis handheld microphones can be combined, not only with many headsets, for example with the monaural neckband headset from the NB Series. They are convenient and safe to wear, provide a maximum safe mobility and provide an excellent voice quality. Imtradex can also build them with the different connectors required, so they can easily be connected to different digital radios. All Aurelis handheld microphones have a robust plastic housing. Is splash-proofed and protects the device against dust and against temperature influences, so they can be reliably used in a temperature range from -30 to + 70 degrees Celsius. The 180 gram lightweight Aurelis handheld microphones are also available in different colours and optionally equipped with a car holder or cloth clip. <br><br>- See more at: <a href="http://www.tetra-applications.com/33213/">http://www.tetra-applications.com/33213/</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-24539219463462150772016-12-09T13:39:00.001-08:002016-12-09T13:39:27.373-08:00What's the Best 2 way Radio For a Long RangeWhen choosing the best 2 way radio, it is important to note that doesn't matter which brand you pick. Whether you pick kenwood, Motorola, Icom, Hytera or any other brand, you should know that they all feature the same technology. Well, you might have noticed that most consumer radios tend to advertise a range that's up to 30 miles. Truth is, the consumer FRS/GMRS radios don't even provide anything close to the advertised maximum range; the range that a two way radio advertises is normally the range that a radio can get in the ideal condition. The ideal condition is clear line of sight like from the mountain top to the valley below; without any interference or obstructions. <br><br>Two way radios generally operate within VHF (that is Very High Frequency; 130 to 174MHzz) and UHF (that is, Ultra High Frequency; 420 - 470 MHz)) wave bands. Unlike the frequencies that are below 2MHz, the waves in these particularly higher frequencies travel in a straight line (also known as line of sight signal), and generally can't travel beyond your horizon. This basically means that distance to your horizon, is the actual maximum range for your 2 way radio; that is without the use of any additional equipment to boost the signals. <br><br>VHF waves (about 5 feet wide), are generally longer than the UHF waves, and they're most commonly used for long range/distance communication. If VHF waves and UHF waves were both transmitted in ideal conditions without any barriers, the VHF waves would travel nearly twice as far; as a general rule, the lower the wave frequency, the greater the distances it can travel. <br><br><img style="float:right;margin:10px;border:none;" src="http://g01.s.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1dL8SJpXXXXaHXpXXq6xXFXXXj/Digital-Two-Way-Radio-Hytera-TC-508.jpg" width="393" /><br><br>Key to transmitting the radio waves for a long distance along the VHF waves is keeping the receiver and the transmitting radio above all possible obstructions or interfering objects. The VHF frequencies (because of the length of their waves), cannot transmit through some objects like walls, dense forests and hills. Typically, the transmissions which are sent along VHF waves are received and also sent high above earth's surface. VHF two way radios normally work better when there is a clear line of sight between the receiver and the sender. VHF 2 way radios are commonly used in marine and aviation communications where signals get sent across the open water bodies or between the ground and the sky. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_spectrum">Television and FM radios also use the VHF frequencies</a> where the signals are sent and also received high at the top of towers which are spaced all over the towns, cities and counties. VHF band walkie talkies are also perfect for landscaping, open fields, golf courses and also for outdoors security situations where there is less obstruction. <br><br>Though VHF can travel much farther, it doesnât mean it is the better option. Reason is because of the differences between how the VHF and the UHF signals tend to react around buildings or structures. As you will find out below, UHF signals are shorter than VHF, and this is very important when you're in or around buildings. <br><br><a href="http://www.caltreva.com/travel/uhf-versus-vhf-which-two-way-radio-frequency-is-better/">UHF doesn't travel as far as the VHF</a>, but has higher bandwidth occupation. One major advantage of UHF over the VHF, is that the antenna can actually be much smaller when its' used on the higher frequencies. Sometimes, a base antenna might be needed for radios using VHF frequency, but a small antenna on a radio can be comfortably used for the UHF frequency. Moreover, there are a lot more frequencies which are available when using UHF; this can be very useful in the areas which have a high population density. <br><br>The UHF radio waves are much shorter than the VHF radio waves (measuring at about one and half feet); the short length of UHF radio waves typically decreases distances at which the signals can get transmitted. This means that the line of sight between the receiver and the sender is much shorter in length with UHF waves. That being so, you should know that transmission of the UHF waves is usually high enough such that it can penetrate through the building walls and the urban outdoor settings. This is the reason why UHF two way radios usually work best for those who intend to use them in and around buildings and urban areas. A UHF walkie talkie with adequate power and a good sized antenna can reach further into the building, and push through steel, wood, concrete and earth. If you intend to use your 2 way radios exclusively indoors, or maybe indoors and at times outdoors, the the UHF is definitely the best choice. To explain this, let us use an example; assume you're trying to communicate with someone on the other side of the building and in between there's a metal wall which has a 3 foot opening. Basically, <a href="http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2007-02/1170599632.Ph.r.html">radio waves can't pass through metal</a>. However, the UHF wavelength which is about 1 1/2 ft wide, will easily pass through the opening. In contrast, the VHF signal will bounce back since it's wider than the opening. This shows you that UHF is much better when it comes to navigating through smaller spaces within buildings to reach its' destination. <br><br>When it comes to power, many people tend to think that the power output increases the range, but actually the difference in the range between, say a 25W fixed VHF, and a 5W handheld, is because the fixed mounts the antenna being taller, thus can see farther. When you are trying to increase the range, increasing the height of your antenna is far more effective than increasing the power. Increased power will generally let you push through the static and such other radio traffic much better, but only within a range that's dictated by the height of the antenna. <br><br>In regards to obstacles, there are a lot of things which affect the signal strength of the radio waves. Therefore, it's important to consider the environment <a href="https://www.2wayradionline.co.uk">you intend to use your two way radios</a> , and the actual range you need. Naturally, a football stadium will have much less obstructions as compared to a dense forest. <br><br>In conclusion, I would like to say that it is never about the radio you purchase, but the frequency, antenna and environment it will be used in. If your 2 way radio is going to be used mainly outdoors, where you will have a clear line of sight, then the VHF is the ideal choice, however, if the 2 way radio is going to be used in and around buildings, in urban areas, or in heavily wooded places, then the UHF is the best option.<br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-20176845514958332542016-11-05T12:27:00.001-07:002016-11-05T12:27:12.414-07:00Ham radio: A last resort when phone lines fail<em>We at this blog believe in radio communications and will never let it die, understanding the importance that it still plays, and during the worst catastrophes, will be the best form of communication. This story about 9-11 adds proof to this statement.</em> <br><br><img src="http://www.cqdx.ru/ham/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Screen-Shot-2013-03-04-at-9.25.36-PM.jpg" width="331" /><br><br>If disaster strikes, there is a form of communication that can still get through: a ham radio. <br><br>When 9/11 hit New York City in 2001, for instance, ham radio operators provided a connection to the outside world. <br><br>One of those people was amateur radio enthusiast Bob Kyvig, formerly of White Bear Lake, who now lives in Centerville. <br><br>âThe only communication out there on 9/11 was amateur radio,â Kyvig recalled. âThe telephone lines were jammed and no one was going in or out.â <br><br>On the days following that horrific attack, Kyvig assumed the role of messenger, relaying messages from Manhattan to loved ones in the area by calling or knocking on their door. His house calls would go like this: âI am Bob; I am a ham operator. I just communicated with your loved one; they are fine and doing well and they will talk to you soon.â <br><br>When White Bear Lake sailor Gerry Spiess landed in Samoa on his historic solo voyage across the Pacific Ocean in 1981, he contacted Kyvig, who connected Spiess with his wife Sally. <br><br>When Hugoâs tornado struck in 2008, he and wife Jill remained on the radio as long as they could but had to abandon the âham shackâ as the storm approached. The tornado did $30,000 damage to their home, including Kyvigâs outside antennas. <br><br>A ham since 1968, long before Facetime, email or Skype, Kyvig was 20 when he took up the hobby while serving in the Navy. He was stationed in Hawaii and had childhood buddies serving in Germany and aboard the USS Milwaukee. The three met on the radio at least once a week without fail for more than 40 years, until the death of one of the men in 2015. <br><br>That connection to people is what Kyvig most enjoys. He chats on the radio to people heâs never met around the world. <br><br>âItâs a worldwide network of people enjoying fellowship with other hams,â Kyvig said. <br><br>The radio operator answers calls for help in areas of âhealth and welfare,â and was on Centervilleâs first CERT (citizen emergency response team), which is now inactive. He serves as a severe weather spotter too, and gains âinsightsâ as to what is happening around the world by chatting to foreigners. <br><br>âWe talk about everything from fishing, to weather and local problems,â he said. âItâs very interesting because you find out so much about people across the world. And itâs not just the personal part but handling messages for help in disasters.â <br><br>Heâs listened to astronauts aboard the space station and scientists at the South Pole. He has talked to people in Russia, New Zealand and most of Europe. For a long time, he kept a conversation going with a man in Norway who lived close to some of his relatives. Wife Jill also has her ham license and enjoys talking to other women, known as YLs or young ladies, across the world. âLord knows what theyâre talking about,â Bob said. âI leave the room.â <br><br>Ham buffs do have opportunity to meet at events called âeyeball picnics.â The Kyvigs traveled to a picnic in Branson, Missouri earlier this summer to socialize with other hams and match voices with faces. <br><br>Without getting too technical, Kyvig explained that radio signals are bounced up through the ionosphere. The signal goes up and down several times before it hits the final destination and you donât control where it hits. People who want to contact Kyvig can tune into his call number: WA0ROH, assigned by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates interstate and international communications. The agency requires operators to keep a log of who they talk to on an electronic spreadsheet. <br><br>âWe could be talking to people the FCC thinks is a bad guy,â he said. âBecause we can transmit all over the world without a phone line, some use it to their own means.â <br><br>Other countries have comparable agencies. <br><br>Each country has its own beginning call letters. The United States uses W, K and N. <br><br>âThe concept is simple,â he added. âWe use what Mother Nature has provided: airwaves. We plug a number in for a country and anyone can answer.â <br><br>A true party line, Kyvig said 30,000 people could be listening in on a conversation. <br><br>Jill proudly pointed out that Bob earned a masterâs degree from The 3905 Century Club. Itâs not the typical academic degree, but a difficult achievement nonetheless. âThe degree was a challenge,â he said, which explains why only 68 radio operators have received the degree since 1967. <br><br>Bob inspired her to get her license, Jill said, and together they do public service events using ham radio. <br><br>Invented in the early â20s, ham equipment is evolving, but affordable. Newbies can do it for about $300, he said. There are antennas on his roof, but mostly they are horizontal wires stretched between a tree and the house. Generator backup is used if thereâs a power outage. He also keeps a mobile 12 volt transmitter that he can use in his truck to chat while heâs driving. <br><br>At one time, working knowledge of Morse code was a requirement to get an FCC ham license, but that was dropped, so more people are getting into it, he said. <br><br>When heâs not on the radio, Kyvig enjoys making furniture and fixing TVs. He retired from a career in computer operations about five years ago. <br><br>Source - <a href="http://www.presspubs.com/citizen/news/article_c147ab30-7c25-11e6-9028-679823bb75af.html">http://www.presspubs.com/citizen/news/article_c147ab30-7c25-11e6-9028-679823bb75af.html</a><br><br> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074296850915383013.post-8243031584378440542016-11-02T06:49:00.001-07:002016-11-02T06:49:06.786-07:00DJs Shouldnât Have to Live With Constant Ringing in Their Ears<em>When you think about DJs you donât worry about their hearing, but this is a real issue in the music world, they seem to be slow in picking up this issue, probably because the industry can be full of bedroom DJs, that donât consider hearing protection. As <a href="https://thump.vice.com/en_us/article/hearing-loss-tinnitus-laidback-luke-roger-sanchez-feature">the article below</a> says, it interferes with the mixing. This article was originally published on THUMP Canada.</em><em> </em> <br><br>I'm waiting to get my hearing tested and I'm scared. Most of my work as a music journalist, along with my social life, has revolved around loud music for more than two decades. While I often wear cheap foam earplugs, I haven't been as consistent as I should have been, and I'm particularly worried about is the damage I've done while DJing. <br><br>I was never a famous touring DJ, but spent many years playing long shifts on a weekly basis at Toronto bars, sprinkled with occasional club and warehouse party gigs on larger sound systems. I've never worn any hearing protection in the booth, as I found earplugs interfered too much with mixing. Gradually I've noticed that I've been turning up the monitors over the course of a long night, and the ringing in my ears was taking longer and longer to fade away after each gig. A few years ago, I started to realize I was having trouble keeping up with conversations in situations where there was a lot of background noise. <br><br>Then one day that familiar ringing never stopped. <br><br>Even though hearing loss caused by loud music is a <a href="http://www.noiseandhealth.org/article.asp?issn=1463-1741;year=2015;volume=17;issue=79;spage=411;epage=421;aulast=St%F8rmer"><strong>well-known reality</strong></a>, most working artists view it as an issue they'll deal with when they're retired, not aware of the fact that it can often impact artists at the height of their careers. <br><br>"I would go home after a gig and my ears would be ringing really badly, and then one day I noticed that they never stopped ringing anymore," says Toronto house DJ and producer <a href="https://thump.vice.com/en_ca/topic/sydney-blu"><strong>Sydney Blu</strong></a>, who's been playing regularly since 2000. "Not long after that, I noticed that whenever I'm in a nightclub and someone talks to me in my right ear, I have to stop them and put my left ear to their mouth." <br><br>She eventually got herself fitted for custom musician earplugs, but found she could never get used to DJing while wearing them. Instead, Blu just tries to keep her monitors as quiet as possible, and turns them down completely in-between mixes. "Most of the older DJs that I know all have tinnitus. I wish I had thought about it earlier, and realized how bad it could get." <br><br>There is no way to <a href="http://archotol.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2533660"><strong>reverse tinnitus</strong></a> currently, and the <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/07/human-hearing-loss-could-be-reversible/491777/"><strong>treatment options for hearing loss</strong></a> are still in their infancy. For busy DJs who are constantly touring and playing festivals around the world, many don't notice the ringing in their ears getting worse until it's too late. <br><br>"I think it's rife in the DJ field," says NYC house music veteran <a href="https://thump.vice.com/en_ca/topic/roger-sanchez"><strong>Roger Sanchez</strong></a>. "A lot of people have tinnitus and they haven't even identified it. They're just so accustomed to their ears ringing, and they think it's just because of their gig the night before. But if you're playing three or four times a week, your exposure is almost constant. Then when they step back, they realize they have tinnitus." <br><br>Sanchez has been performing for 36 years, and started to experience permanent ringing towards the end of the 90s. Like Blu, he got himself fitted for custom earplugs, and feels they've saved him from further damage. However, he admits there was a learning curve when it came to mixing while wearing hearing protection. <br><br>"In the beginning, I felt like I couldn't hear things clearly. It was like someone had put their hands over my ears. It took me a while to acclimate, but what I started noticing was that I could turn my monitors up, but it didn't sound piercing any more. I also had them put bass bins in a lot of booths, which helped compensate." <br><br>Sanchez says that it's become much more common in recent years for big name DJs to wear custom earplugs while performing. He finally got tested properly in 2010, and found there was a significant dip in upper range of his hearing around the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GexgBt_14IE"><strong>800hz range</strong></a>, but was relieved that the loss wasn't worse. The persistent ringing in his ears is still there though. <br><br>"Right now I hear the ringing, but I've just become accustomed to it. I don't notice it when I'm walking on the street, or if I'm not paying attention to it, but the second I quiet everything down, the ringing starts. It's not too loud, thank god. I think using the filters prevented it from getting to that level. I know some people who have it very loud." <br><br>Custom musician earplugs can cost more than $200, but they're one of the few options for DJs who need to be able to accurately hear the effect of their EQ tweaks and filtering. The cheap disposable earplugs you can buy at the drugstore will protect your ears the same amount, but change the sound so much that few performers use them. <br><br>"A cheap foam earplug might bring the sound down by 25db at one frequency, and 10db at another," explains Adam Rhodes, the US director of hearing protection company <a href="http://acscustom.com/uk/international/"><strong>ACS Custom</strong></a>. "They muffle the sound, because it's not a true response. You can't hear anything, it takes away the enjoyment of the experience, so you just end up taking them out. When you've got the right filter though, you're not sacrificing the quality at all: you're just turning it down." <br><br>ACS works with many of the biggest names in electronic music, from Tiesto to Zedd to Deadmau5. Rhodes says that there's much more awareness of the issue now, although too often artists come to them after they've already done permanent damage. "Pretty much every week we hear someone say they wish they'd heard about this ten years ago. We hear that often," he says. "I think it's all about education. We're at a festival every weekend in the summers, trying to make it as accessible to them as possible." <br><br>Many touring musicians have switched to in-ear monitors in recent years, which block out external sounds, while amplifying what they need to hear. In the electronic music world however, they are far less common, as they require DJs to completely rethink their approach to mixing. <br><br>"In-ear monitors haven't always worked for DJs," admits Rhodes. "They like to wear the cans over their ears, so they can take them off, and do a mix with one ear covered. There are some DJs who use them though, like Deadmau5. We have one model now that have ambient microphones built in, so that they can still hear the mix. That's kind of the next level, but it's still hard to persuade DJs to use them. They're so used to wearing headphones and it's almost part of their outfit when they're performing." <br><br>One artist who has transitioned to in-ear monitors is Dutch DJ and producer <a href="https://thump.vice.com/en_ca/topic/laidback-luke"><strong>Laidback Luke</strong></a>. He started wearing custom earplugs in the early 2000s, after becoming concerned about tinnitus and a growing lack of sensitivity to loud volume levels. Around 2008, he decided to give in-ear monitors a try and has used them ever since. <br><br>"I just wasn't getting the definition I was looking for in DJ monitors. We tried the in-ear monitoring, and I was so happy with the clarity. Even in big halls with lots of reverb, my monitoring would always stay the same," he says. "It was a revelation to me. I could keep the volume low, and still hear every little detail in the song. I couldn't hear the crowd anymore, but that just made me work harder to get applause." It wasn't until three years ago that he finally got up the courage to get his hearing tested. <br><br>Thankfully, it turns out that his early adoption of ear protection had a huge impact, and the results were completely normal. Even the constant ringing and beeping that panicked him early in his career has subsided. <br><br>My own ringing isn't nearly as bad as it was a year ago, but it sure seems loud in the complete silence of the soundproof booth in the downtown Toronto clinic where my hearing is being assessed. I struggle to hear the tones, but feel optimistic that I'm able to notice some of the very high-pitched signals they're feeding me. However, I'm also noticing that there are long pauses during where I probably should be hearing something. <br><br>"Do you work with heavy machinery?" the doctor asks me as he looks at my results, which makes my heart skip a beat. When I explain that I'm around loud music constantly, he tells me that explains what the chart is telling him, and why the highest frequency range of my hearing is still decent. <br><br>"It's not actually too bad. Your left ear has a dip at 1K, but it's still within the normal range. Your right ear has a much larger dip though, at 4K. You should really get yourself a pair of custom musician earplugs." <br><br>I leave his office feeling relief that my hearing isn't worse, but embarrassed that it's taken me this long to take it seriously. Thankfully, it's not too late for me to stop things from getting worse. <br><br><em>Benjamin Boles is on</em><em> </em><a href="https://twitter.com/benjaminboles"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><em>.</em> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01882074104298472989noreply@blogger.com0