Tait celebrates 40 years and great 2008

Tait Radio Communications is celebrating 40 years in the two-way radio communications industry on the back of a record year for sales.

"What is starting to become clear for many organizations in North America is that Tait is a real alternative," says Tait North America president Steve Cragg. "Customers turn to Tait because its people can deliver reliable equipment, open systems and tailored solutions."

Since the last IWCE these are some of the United States organizations that have chosen a Tait solution:

• MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company
• Marathon County, WI
• State of Connecticut Corrections
• State of California Highway Patrol
• MinnesotaPower
• Cochise County, AZ
• City of Augusta, ME
• WarrenCounty, MO
• RappahannockElectric Cooperative
• McKenzie Electric Cooperative
• Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative

These customers are joined by many other organizations around the globe such as Sao Paulo Police, Air Services Australia and Pilsen Bus that are turning to Tait's choice of solutions, its Tait Tough radios and world class services.

Tait was set up by radio pioneer Sir Angus Tait, whose vision to place the company's ownership into a unique trust structure now guarantees long-term stability. "While many shareholder-owned companies are struggling, Tait has been able to reinvest profits back into research and development in order to support customers like those listed above," Steve says.

"Each year Tait continue to take great leaps to show our long-term dedication to the United States market," Steve says.  "Last year, Tait announced its GSA schedule and GSA-exclusive production line in Houston, TX, which offers Federal agencies efficient access to quality solutions."

Leading interoperable communications

"Tait's commitment to developing communications systems that are interoperable with other radio manufacturers is second to none," Steve says. "At last year's IWCE, Tait demonstrated this commitment by participating in the P25 Inter RF Sub-system Interface (ISSI) Group Call using the P25 ISSI standard."

"This year's IWCE visitors to the Tait stand (#735) can expect to learn more about Tait's commitment to interoperability with dispatch console manufacturers. From digital trunked (CSSI) and conventional (DFSI) to 4-wire analog gateways to support interfacing to legacy console, Tait offers solutions that support all of these in our IP-based P25 product line."

"For example Tait is pleased to announce that Avtec consoles support DFSI connection with Tait base stations and we are prepared for other console manufacturers to follow," Steve says.

Choice of solutions

Organizations are also turning to Tait for its choice of radio solutions. Tait is one of few organizations that can deliver a P25 simulcast solution as a standard option on both conventional and trunked networks.

"Cochise County, Arizona, Oneida County, Wisconsin and the City of Augusta, Maine may have extremely different geography, but have in common a lack of frequencies. This is why last year all three turned to Tait P25 Simulcast for an economical and spectrum-efficient solution," Steve concludes.

Tait has sophisticated encryption applications for public safety teams needing secure communications. In 2008, Tait Tough P25 portables became FIPS 140-2 certified, meaning they pass the most stringent federal tests for encryption.

At this year's IWCE event, visitors will be able to view the Tait Fast Key Fill – a new application that allows non-specialized staff to securely deploy keys to P25 radios using Tait's Key Fill Device.

Visitors to the Tait stand (#735) can expect:

• An overview of network technologies including P25 and Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) migration strategies.
• Meet new Tait staff including Tait Radio Communications new global Managing Director Frank Owen.
• A demonstration of an Avtec console supporting DFSI connection with a Tait base station.
• The ever-popular Tait wine and cheese evenings.