Two Way Radio Directory - Blog

In fact, a Public Safety trunking system’s life cycle is determined by the
manufacturer’s end of support for the technology.

Today Motorola has a written policy of providing Infrastructure support for
seven years following end of production. Someone upgrading a Public Safety
trunking system this year with technology that will not be offered beyond
this year will have an end of support only seven years away. This is a worst
case, but real, situation.

The budgetary process does not synch to the introduction of new technology,
assuring longest possible life cycle. It is no longer a matter of how long a
technician can scrounge parts for an old system. Much of the technology in
use by Public Safety today requires manufacturer’s depot repair. Once this
service is terminated, the system’s life cycle is forced to an end. Many
Puiblic Safety radio systems are flirting with this loss of support due to
difficulty of local budgets accomodating needed system upgrades.