Push-to-talk technology will form the core of personal police communication equipment

Police forces need to be able to seamlessly communicate even under the most adverse conditions. Using the same infrastructure and thus improving the ability to increase internal security is a great challenge. Ensuring citizen safety requires that law enforcement personnel have the ability to stay informed and quickly communicate in response to emergency situations and potential security threats.

CeoTronics, based in Rödermark, Germany, has secured deals with the police in the federal state of Hesse, Germany, which in the future will perform their duties with the company’s new CT-HR PTT (push-to-talk) solution, among other equipment. The contract, worth between €1.1 and €5.7M, was awarded by the Executive Committee for Technology, Logistics and Administration in the federal state’s capital Wiesbaden, which calls for a solution with push-to-button capability. According to CeoTronics, the solution will form the core of personal communication equipment, optimised for various deployment scenarios.

“With this multifunctional PTT button and the extensive headset range, reliable communication is made possible for all task forces,” said Thomas H. Günther, chairman of the board of management, adding that, from undercover detectives to riot police, all officers will be ideally equipped and be able to help increase internal security.

CeoTronics currently supplies critical communications equipment to a number of police forces, law enforcement organisations, and security organisations. Forming part of this portfolio, CT-HR PTT forms the decisive link to personnel on the ground. It will enable simultaneous communication in several voice channels. It will be possible to connect two permanently wired communication systems, or a cell phone, or a headset via Bluetooth.

The solution can be a life-saver in worse-case scenarios, according to a recent company announcement. Communications equipment needs to “hold up” even under atrocious conditions and continue to function even if police personnel are working in extremely hazardous environments. This makes CeoTronics’ unique communications solution a widely sought equipment as required for mission-critical communications.

With CT-HR PTT, CeoTronics has developed a new, rugged PTT that holds up against external factors in professional police missions. The in-line PTT housing is made from glass fibre-reinforced, shock-resistant material. The company noted that the large PTT key is fitted with an overload cut-out and is designed for superlative durability. It is supplied with two ring guards for individual configuration. The flat ring guard permits keypresses (e.g. with the forearm) while the raised edge of the tall ring guard stops accidental activation in emergencies. Both variants feature bayonet connectors and are thus very easy to swap and snap securely into place, according to CeoTronics. This means the CT-HR PTT can be custom-configured to suit the conditions in the field.

For scenarios where the digital radio network is too patchy but reliable GSM connections are available, specialist police mission personnel are increasingly relying on the use of cell phones to support their mission. The perfect accessory for a Bluetooth-enabled ‘mission cell phone’, according to the company, is the CT-BluetoothAdapter, many thousands of which have been used by local authorities since 2009. A practical feature is its 12-pin plug that can be used to provide connectivity to most of CeoTronics’ send/receive systems.

Stefan Nitschke