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Device could boost safety in remote areas
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| Dan Pierce and Rod Long have developed a personal GPS locator device called the PLD1000. (Photo courtesy / Wick Communications) |
By Shar Porier/Wick Communications
SIERRA VISTA - Two Sierra Vista businessmen have come up with a solution they believe will help law enforcement and ranchers who run into trouble in remote areas of the desert and mountains.
Patrolling remote regions of the county can be hazardous for law enforcement officers and ranchers who could face any number of threats - and not necessarily from illegal traffickers or smugglers. The desert presents many challenges from critters to inhospitable terrain. If one is not aware or familiar with the surroundings, it's easy to get lost, overheated and find out there is no cell phone coverage or radio support to call for help.
Dan Pierce said, "This product was designed with public safety in mind, knowing where your officers and first-responders are, and who is closest to the scene, seeing the tactical situation in real-time, so you can respond."
The wheels started turning several years ago after an incident at the border crossing in Nogales involving a U.S. customs agent being dragged across the border and beaten, recalled Pierce. The agent's whereabouts were unknown for several hours. The port director and several others in leadership positions at the time said a locator, handheld or worn on a person, was needed that could send out a GPS location and if needed, send out a "man down" or any other type of duress alarm at a moment's notice.
It took Pierce and Rod Long, (both are 25-year retired, military veterans), five years to design, develop and produce a personal GPS locator device, called the PLD1000 (personal locator device), that weighs 14 ounces and is about the same size as the current radios in use. The devices use rechargeable batteries that provide power for extended periods. It all depends on how often one wants to send the GPS location. A special feature sounds a duress signal when the unit is horizontal for a programmable number of seconds. It also has a silent alarm button for tight spots. The units meet criteria of the Federal Communicatons Commission and National Electircal Manufacturers Association.
There is a caveat, however: the system needs line of sight to work, said Long. There are three hilltop sites county emergency services use and a fourth tower north of Douglas on a San Bernadino peak used by the federal government. "Our antenna systems are effective for 50 to 80 miles. With these existing sites, our system could be used in almost all areas of the county."
No recurring costs
They come with a retail price tag of $1,700 apiece, but bulk orders reduce that cost. The base station, antennas, relays and software would run another $2,000, maybe more. But Pierce pointed out, "These are one-time costs. You don't pay a communications company every month. And you do know exactly where your people are at all times."
After the murder of Cochise County rancher Robert Krentz and learning of the communication problems, Pierce and Long decided they needed to get the word out that there is a technology that provides location information via GPS.
"The PLD1000 provides a situation awareness that can be monitored and reacted to by the proper authorities for the area within a moment's notice," Pierce said. "It is the fastest real-time GPS tracking transponder available. Utilizing UHF radio channels, the PLD1000 works virtually anywhere, and requires no secondary services of any kind, therefore eliminating service fees and extraneous monthly charges."
Long and Pierce say the locator could be an essential piece of equipment for firefighters, law enforcement, federal border agencies, search and rescue, and even the military. Location updates occur every two seconds. The PLDs are being tested and utilized by several national and local government agencies, as well as several international users.
"Our products are providing them with reliability, speed, and pinpoint accuracy they demand and depend on," added Pierce. "We're getting good feedback."
Their product is available to all emergency services personnel, federal agencies and even ranchers, providing a situation awareness that can be monitored through the base station. The base operator knows the exact position of all the personnel carrying the units and can send the nearest person to check on a "man down," according to Pierce. The software interfaces with Google Earth, so exact locations of personnel can be determined.
Pierce said, "Our product is not the final and total solution to the issues that plague the area, but we are confident that it can play a major vital role in supporting the members in the area. Just give us a look see. Let us give a demonstration."
That, however, can be a problem, Pierce says. "They don't want to give them back."
FEATURES
Long-range operation: Operating in the UHF 450-480MHz frequency band, the GPS transponder modem transceiver can communicate as far as 50 miles (depending upon terrain and antenna selection). All GPS transponders also can store and forward repeat for wide-area coverage.
Real-time: Position and status updates are available every second. No other tracking system has as fast an update rate as GPS transponder.
Complete: Everything needed to track a vehicle or asset is provided. No secondary services like Internet; cell service, GPRS, Edge, SMS, or satellite service is needed.
Flexible reporting: The GPS transponder modem transceiver may be configured to transmit position and status reports.
No monthly charges: Because no external services are required, there are no recurring costs.
Works everywhere: The GPS transponder modem transceiver does not rely upon public wireless services, so this system works in rural areas, mines, mountains, deserts, etc.
LEARN MORE
Visit:
http://www.gpstrackerpro.com/docs/PLD1000Brochure1.pdf or call (520) 266-2174 or (520) 255-0413.
Patrolling remote regions of the county can be hazardous for law enforcement officers and ranchers who could face any number of threats - and not necessarily from illegal traffickers or smugglers. The desert presents many challenges from critters to inhospitable terrain. If one is not aware or familiar with the surroundings, it's easy to get lost, overheated and find out there is no cell phone coverage or radio support to call for help.
Dan Pierce said, "This product was designed with public safety in mind, knowing where your officers and first-responders are, and who is closest to the scene, seeing the tactical situation in real-time, so you can respond."
The wheels started turning several years ago after an incident at the border crossing in Nogales involving a U.S. customs agent being dragged across the border and beaten, recalled Pierce. The agent's whereabouts were unknown for several hours. The port director and several others in leadership positions at the time said a locator, handheld or worn on a person, was needed that could send out a GPS location and if needed, send out a "man down" or any other type of duress alarm at a moment's notice.
It took Pierce and Rod Long, (both are 25-year retired, military veterans), five years to design, develop and produce a personal GPS locator device, called the PLD1000 (personal locator device), that weighs 14 ounces and is about the same size as the current radios in use. The devices use rechargeable batteries that provide power for extended periods. It all depends on how often one wants to send the GPS location. A special feature sounds a duress signal when the unit is horizontal for a programmable number of seconds. It also has a silent alarm button for tight spots. The units meet criteria of the Federal Communicatons Commission and National Electircal Manufacturers Association.
There is a caveat, however: the system needs line of sight to work, said Long. There are three hilltop sites county emergency services use and a fourth tower north of Douglas on a San Bernadino peak used by the federal government. "Our antenna systems are effective for 50 to 80 miles. With these existing sites, our system could be used in almost all areas of the county."
No recurring costs
They come with a retail price tag of $1,700 apiece, but bulk orders reduce that cost. The base station, antennas, relays and software would run another $2,000, maybe more. But Pierce pointed out, "These are one-time costs. You don't pay a communications company every month. And you do know exactly where your people are at all times."
After the murder of Cochise County rancher Robert Krentz and learning of the communication problems, Pierce and Long decided they needed to get the word out that there is a technology that provides location information via GPS.
"The PLD1000 provides a situation awareness that can be monitored and reacted to by the proper authorities for the area within a moment's notice," Pierce said. "It is the fastest real-time GPS tracking transponder available. Utilizing UHF radio channels, the PLD1000 works virtually anywhere, and requires no secondary services of any kind, therefore eliminating service fees and extraneous monthly charges."
Long and Pierce say the locator could be an essential piece of equipment for firefighters, law enforcement, federal border agencies, search and rescue, and even the military. Location updates occur every two seconds. The PLDs are being tested and utilized by several national and local government agencies, as well as several international users.
"Our products are providing them with reliability, speed, and pinpoint accuracy they demand and depend on," added Pierce. "We're getting good feedback."
Their product is available to all emergency services personnel, federal agencies and even ranchers, providing a situation awareness that can be monitored through the base station. The base operator knows the exact position of all the personnel carrying the units and can send the nearest person to check on a "man down," according to Pierce. The software interfaces with Google Earth, so exact locations of personnel can be determined.
Pierce said, "Our product is not the final and total solution to the issues that plague the area, but we are confident that it can play a major vital role in supporting the members in the area. Just give us a look see. Let us give a demonstration."
That, however, can be a problem, Pierce says. "They don't want to give them back."
FEATURES
LEARN MORE
Visit:
http://www.gpstrackerpro.com/docs/PLD1000Brochure1.pdf or call (520) 266-2174 or (520) 255-0413.
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