With the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Championships now under way, ISSA and PBS Technologies have forged a partnership to utilise modern digital radio technology.

The recently launched digital two-way radio product is being touted as an evolution of the analog radios that are popular in Jamaica and is said to provide greater functionality than analog versions.

Shenia Wright, business development manager at PBS Technologies, said the partnership with ISSA is an important one as reliable, clear communication is critical to the safe and successful delivery of large scale sporting events such as Champs, which began on Tuesday (April 5) and comes to a close on Saturday (April 9).

ENSURING EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION THROUGHOUT EVENT

“ISSA made the decision to use our digital radios after we outlined the many benefits of digital services. ISSA is one of our anchor customers utilising radios on the new Wide Area Platform that, among other things, offer private one-to-one calling with custom call groups instead of only the traditional one to many mode on analogue systems,” Wright said.

“ISSA’s commitment to deliver a world-class event has been evident, and our radio team is simply here to ensure effective communication throughout the event.”

This technology comes with GPS, noise suppression and even text messaging. It also has a mobile application for users who may need access to other radio users without having a physical radio in hand.

“Digital radio users are guaranteed a clean, continuous stream of audio, within reception of a digital radio signal. Right now we have about 75 per cent coverage of all the populated spaces in Jamaica. We will be working assiduously to, over time, provide full coverage across the island,” Wright added.

After offering ISSA a tailor-made package to meet its needs, the company was selected as the preferred radio communication partner.

CHOICE FOR CRITICAL COMMUNICATION SITUATIONS

Digital audio broadcasting (DAB), also known as digital radio or high-definition radio, is an audio broadcasting method in which traditional analog audio is converted into a digital signal and transmitted on an assigned channel over a specific frequency.

Digital radio offers compact disc (CD)-quality audio on the FM broadcast band and FM-quality audio on the AM broadcast band.

That is why, PBS said, digital radio is the choice for critical communication situations.

The key breakthrough feature in digital radio transmission systems is that they require lower transmission power and improve audio quality with the interference experienced with analogue systems, thus allowing the same radio frequency to be reused at shorter distance.

Digital radio transmission can also carry any kind of digital information and, when needed, can integrate with business software applications and other systems.

PBS is the Motorola Radio Integrator for the Caribbean and has been in the radio business for more than 50 years.

The company serves many businesses across the Caribbean, including countries like Trinidad, Barbados and Guyana.