Push-to-talk over FirstNet can provide opportunities for cost savings. Or you can keep a cache of FirstNet devices on hand to distribute in an emergency because the average person will already know how to operate one. Rather than handing out expensive radios and trying to teach someone on the fly how to use one, you can get the same communications capability by licensing a push-to-talk product on a consumer device, something that most people already have in their pocket. With some pre-planning to use or distribute matching products, FirstNet’s push-to-talk capabilities can allow you to quickly scale and deploy your communications to people who don't typically work with you-such as volunteers, agencies involved in mutual aid, or others who are essential to response coordination.

No matter who you need to communicate with from the EOC, push-to-talk can help connect you.Įmergency managers coordinate a lot of volunteers, whether from the Red Cross or for search and rescue missions. Push-to-talk is another tool in your communications toolbox to fall back on. Then we discovered that our 800-megahertz system became overwhelmed.” They turned to FirstNet, setting up talk groups using FirstNet push-to-talk so responders could easily connect with each other.īy pairing push-to-talk with land mobile radios you create two communications systems, which creates redundancy. Incident commander Gavin Babieracki said, “When I was initially getting the EOC established, I was carrying seven different 800-megahertz radios. A rare tornado hit northern Michigan, wiping out homes and businesses and injuring residents of Otsego County. Push-to-talk can also handle emergency communications. Instead of using radios for every communication-often resulting in congested networks and busy signals-non-emergency traffic can be handled via push-to-talk. When push-to-talk over FirstNet is used in a disaster, it can reduce traffic on area radio systems. Push-to-talk over broadband can also be useful inside buildings where radio signals may not get through, but broadband works. Push-to-talk apps can extend the range of a land mobile radio system, as the system can be used from anywhere in the country while still communicating with your radio network back home. FirstNet Push-to-Talk can integrate with land mobile radios to extend communication capabilities without additional expensive LMR devices. Supplementing LMRįor responders in the field, push-to-talk over FirstNet offers a way to extend and expand your communications. Instead of relaying a verbal description alone, push-to-talk apps can have the capability to let you share a picture of the missing child with all responders simultaneously. When a child is lost in the commotion of a local county fair, responders throughout the fairgrounds help with the search. Photos and videos can tell a better story of what’s happening than voice communications alone. Many push-to-talk apps can allow you to share data, including photos, videos, GPS locations, links to online resources, and more. Push-to-talk capabilities over LTE can allow you to receive robust information and help create a common operating picture for everyone. Inside the EOC, the most pressing questions for emergency managers often are “where is my stuff?” and “where are my people?”Įmergency managers rely on responders in the field to answer these questions. Push-to-talk capabilities over FirstNet deliver better situational awareness for responders in the field and in the emergency operations center (EOC). One FirstNet tool that aids communications is push-to-talk on hand-held mobile devices. Emergency management thrives on good communications.

Firstnet push to talk on iphone