Rugby First (BID) MOTOTRBO & TRBOnet City Wide Radio System

Rugby First two-way radio wide area digital upgrade improves the town centre’s fight against crime and public order

Who We Are?

For the past 35 years, DCRS has been revolutionising communication systems in the UK. As market leaders for two-way radio hire and sales, our team of experts have worked with countless businesses from various industries to ensure they are provided with effective solutions tailored to their needs.

One of our success stories from the retail industry comes from Rugby First Scheme, who were experiencing issues due to outdated communication systems which we easily identified and replaced – showcasing why DCRS is a trusted name when it comes to providing world-class communications technology!

How the project started

Rugby, Warwickshire, is considered the second largest town in the whole of the UK. Considering these geographical facts, it is not hard to come to the conclusion that it is a vast area to cover – from the town centre, all the way to the outskirts. It was also important to make sure that all of the outlying retail centres have appropriate signal cover, as they have over 200 users, who need to be kept connected.

The Rugby First scheme links the town’s retailers, rangers, local police and CCTV operators by using a two-way radio system, which allows them to exchange information and warn one another of any emergencies, vandalism or anti-social behaviour in the area. This scheme makes it easier to keep the shopping area a safer place for visitors and retailers alike.

The Rugby First team had not given up on their ageing analogue radio system for a while, but they knew the time had come for it to be upgraded. However, the most critical issue they needed to improve was the poor signal areas, which were hindering their ShopNet and Pubwatch scheme, making it difficult for retailers to ask for urgent assistance in these areas.

The radio coverage challenge

The Rugby First scheme organisers wanted to take advantage of the technological advancements. The brief was to supply a turnkey solution to satisfy the present and future demands, all while abiding by a tight budget.

DCRS engineering team had to ensure that the new system will be capable of providing greater coverage and audio clarity, while finding ways to apply new improvements to operational monitoring, significantly increasing the safety of everyone in the location. They also had to overcome busy channels, prioritise real-time communication reliability, as well as enhance recorded voice transmissions.

Once our engineers were done with their investigation, the scheme organisers had been offered a plethora of tailored communication solutions. After trialling numerous manufacturers, The Rugby First team decided upon MOTOTRBOâ„¢. It was specifically chosen as it not only delivered excellent performance on-site tests but also for its cost-effective applications that provided comprehensive recording features round the clock for their CCTV operators.

Rugby First case study

The perfect radio solution we supplied

For two years the system worked across both analogue and digital frequencies whilst every member was upgraded to their new radio equipment. As MOTOTRBO is fully backwards compatible with analogue radio technology, it provided a smooth and seamless migration path.

The team chose the MOTOTRBO DP3000 and later the DP4000 series hand portables, known for being user-friendly, and robust they could take the abuse of being dropped or stood on during a security breach. With the added benefit of enhanced battery life through IMPRES technology, every user has commented on the longer talk time they now get through their extended shifts.

At the front end, a MOTOTRBO Repeater is installed. The system is monitored and recorded by specially trained CCTV operators utilising MOTOTRBO DM Mobiles allowing them to keep everyone connected at all times and alerting all users instantly. Each operator has a direct link to the police.

The power of TRBOnet

IP Site Connect was installed with the system; it showed such great advancements for all the users by eliminating all the physical barriers the BID has previously found hindered their systems allowing users to roam seamlessly without having to physically change channels.

With the guidance of DCRS the BID Team introduced a digital recording and storage solution for voice calls from the Motorola application partner TRBOnet. Working alongside their communication system, the application captures all transmissions from each channel. TRBOnet recordings are easily played back within a matter of seconds which has benefitted the team enormously when they have had to refer to a security situation. They can also run reports to review transmissions, if and when required.

If you are interested in learning more about what two-way radio systems, headsets or body worn cameras DCRS has to offer for retail sites, don’t hesitate to enquire or call 0800 043 2688. Our highly professional team will make sure you are left with no questions unanswered.