The ability to communicate is critical for first responders, and their radios are integral to keeping them safe while doing their jobs effectively. Accelerated workflows and mission-critical reliability are now standard features on many of today’s police radios. Motorola Solutions offers top-notch products to keep the lines of communication open for public safety so they can help those they are sworn to protect.
APX NEXT Smart Radio
APX NEXT® Project 25 (P25) smart radio is Motorola Solutions’ most advanced radio. It provides mission-critical voice communications on land-mobile radio (LMR) networks while using broadband networks for data applications. APX NEXT combines Motorola Solutions’ trusted line of APX radios with a rugged touchscreen and applications built for public safety. Motorola Solutions now offers new intelligent and intuitive application services for APX NEXT. These enable users to quickly find each other on an interactive map and share multimedia messages.
“APX NEXT is first and foremost a radio featuring our most advanced audio technology. Where it sets itself apart is in its ability to simultaneously use LMR networks for voice communications and broadband networks for data applications. We designed these apps specifically for public safety,” said Scott Mottonen, senior vice president of Products, Motorola Solutions.
Available in multi-band and single-band, Motorola Solutions’ APX NEXT advances usability and performance of police radios. A major advance in mission-critical voice and data, APX NEXT is designed to meet military standards for extreme ruggedness. The touchscreen works with or without gloves and in inclement weather that can result in rain, dirt, and dust. Digital microphones and high-power speakers deliver outstanding audio, and the SmartConnect keeps officers connected, even when traveling outside of their LMR coverage area. The result is a radio that works when first responders need it most.
APX NEXT is designed for reliability when lives are on the line. Intuitive knobs and buttons are easily distinguished by touch. A mission-critical touchscreen makes it fast and easy to operate the radio. APX NEXT mission-critical apps bring new intelligence to the field. ViQi enables natural language database queries to rapidly provide vital information, allowing dispatchers to stay focused on critical situations. ViQi understands a wide range of language voice commands, so officers can operate the radio with situational awareness. Every interaction is simple, fast, and logical so officers can stay focused on what is in front of them.
In addition to the end-to-end public safety ecosystem, APX NEXT data and operations are secure, and new capabilities can be added as law enforcement needs change.
APX NEXT essentially gives officers back time through a cloud-based system that prepares radios before they arrive. Remote updating keeps radios in the field, without any downtime. MyView Portal provides users with direct access to subscriptions, warranties and licenses, and a range of services to help manage their operations. Touchless key provisioning is now available on RadioCentral and significantly reduces the time spent encrypting radios.
APX NEXT’s platform allows for the introduction of new purpose-built applications that integrate with Motorola Solutions’ end-to-end command center software solutions. New features include SmartMapping and SmartMessaging:
• SmartMapping: Built on the same platform as CommandCentral Aware, this application service provides precise location information utilizing a map view on the radio’s display. This means a police officer can see the location of other officers as icons on a map, allowing them to quickly respond if they are in distress. They can simply tap on the icons to send each other alerts or communicate via the radio.
• SmartMessaging: This multimedia communication tool allows users to securely share videos, pictures, texts, and voice messages across teams. For example, a dispatcher can send pictures of a suspect to officers in a specific location, or videos can be shared with a group of officers before they arrive at the scene of an incident.
APX NEXT continues to be offered with several previously announced innovative application services including SmartProgramming, SmartLocate, SmartConnect, and ViQi™ Virtual Partner. It is certified for use on FirstNet® and the AT&T and Verizon networks in the United States and the Bell Mobility network in Canada.
V300 Body-Worn Camera
Motorola Solutions’ V300 continuous-operation body-worn camera can last well beyond a 12-hour shift, capturing crystal-clear video and audio of each encounter. Officers can easily change the detachable battery while they are in the field. The V300 body-worn police cameras work seamlessly with the WatchGuard 4RE in-car video system, capturing video of a single incident from multiple vantage points and automatically synchronizing it for playback and sharing.
For maximum clarity, the V300 features distortion-free video at up to 1080p resolution, with an electronically adjustable lens for optimal aiming. In addition, with Bluetooth and WiFi, end-to-end security, and an IP67 rating, the V300 is designed to withstand the demands of those on the front line.
First responders need the ability to prioritize an immediate threat. In some cases, pre-buffers and triggers can fail to capture a recording. The Record-After-the-Fact® (RATF) technology allows law enforcement agencies to go back in time and capture video from events that occurred days earlier. Even when the record button is not pressed, Record-After-the-Fact has the ability to recover the evidence. Now more than ever, it is imperative that police maintain trust of the community by body-worn cameras that will always perform. Record-After-the-Fact helps them recover and deliver video that can be critically important.
WatchGuard 4RE In-car Video System
The WatchGuard 4RE offers multiple camera options, high-security storage and upload, and collaborative integration with WatchGuard’s V300 body-worn cameras. Designed to work in the extreme and demanding public safety environment, the WatchGuard 4RE is easy to install and operate, with the built-in intelligence to help keep officers safe while performing their essential duties.
The system can be customized to an agency’s requirements, depending on their specific needs. For instance, some departments may prefer a zoom camera over a wide-angle panoramic camera. The camera is user-friendly with an intuitive touchscreen that complements the action buttons, which are shaped for operation by touch, even in high-stress situations. With its dual-drive architecture, recordings are saved to SSD and USB simultaneously, giving officers the best options for event transfer and backup.
The 4RE is built with advanced technology for optimal officer safety. Record-after-the-Fact allows you to go back in time to retrieve video footage even if the record button is never pressed. License Plate Recognition (LPR) gives officers vital information to keep them safer at every traffic stop. In addition, live-streaming provides command staff with the technology they need to monitor threats in real time so they can take swift action.
After capturing crucial video, agencies are also tasked with managing that evidence. The WatchGuard 4RE uses patented multi-resolution technology to ensure storage costs are kept to a minimum. It records incidents in HD and standard definition simultaneously, and event categories determine the files that are kept. With the FirstNet-compatible LTE router, video can be uploaded quickly and securely to Evidence Library, for easy storage, redaction, and distribution.
Even with the expansive coverage of the panoramic camera, it is still important to capture multiple points of view. The 4RE has been integrated with the WatchGuard V300 body-worn camera to give officers a comprehensive view. Other V300 devices integrated with the 4RE can work together seamlessly as a single system. Now every incident can be captured from all aspects, with collaborative activation and synchronized playback.
The 4RE can be configured to automatically upload video evidence with no officer intervention. That eliminates the need to drive to the police station to deliver or download information. Wherever a network is available, the 4RE can upload video evidence quickly and securely. Officers can use FirstNet LTE, local WiFi, or the strongest available signal. The 4RE technology understands that video evidence for an assault should take priority over a recording of a routine traffic violation, and so that would be sent first.
