CASE STUDY

Hytera VHF Digital Mobile Radio Handheld and base Radio with GPS tracking

Client: Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre.

Radio Dealer: Nelspecs.

Safety and technology drive lodge’s digital switch.

Nestled alongside Lake Rotoiti in the South Island’s Nelson Lakes National Park, the Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre has challenged, developed, and  inspired school students for almost half a century.

The Lodge hosts 1200-1400 school students a year, introducing them to many different physical and personal challenges in some of the country’s most stunning landscape.

Coming largely from the upper South Island and Wellington regions, students get to experience such activities as high ropes courses, overnight camps, canoeing and high altitude alpine camping.

A challenging landscape and large groups of students requires consistent levels of communications between lodge staff, teachers and director Russell Ferens.

For the past 15 years the lodge has used reliable, robust and simple analogue two way radio hand and base sets for communications – their functionality was well proven, and they were simple for students and teachers to use.

However Russell recognised how digital technology developments were providing greater capabilities than was possible with analogue technology.

GPS tracking, text weather updates, private call ability and mapping data were all valuable safety and planning information groups and supervisors would benefit from having access to.

“ We had dealt with Nelspecs in Nelson for over 10 years and we valued their advice on comms. We had considered a few options to pursue, including using technology like SPOT as a backup. However the subscription fee was payable in US dollars, and we wanted access to more information with radios.”

Satellite phones were also expensive to buy and make calls from. They offered limited use in heavy rainfall or snow storms, and require certain amounts of clear sky space to operate effectively.

“It soon became apparent to us the Hytera digital VHF radios Steve from Nelspecs had offered the best bang for our buck.”

The radios’ capabilities ticked all the boxes for the lodge’s safety and information requirements.

GPS technology provides tracking, logging and location capability.

Text capacity means weather information could be cut and pasted off the Met Service site and sent to all parties in the field. Major shifts in the mountains’
weather patterns are not uncommon, and the ability to update groups quickly was a welcome feature.

The Hytera's ability to use side channel capabilities to host one to one conversations between specific handsets without changing channels was also valuable for staff and teachers.

“We needed the ability to hold private conversations with individual leaders if there was a child in stress, or an incident. Isolating the conversation reduces the stress throughout the other groups, and ensures we can just focus on getting the correct information, and minimising mis-understandings across the entire group about the incident.”

Importantly, the ability of the Hytera system to accept bespoke software meant Nelspecs’ technicians were able to incorporate digitised mapping developed
especially for the lodge’s needs into the system.

That is in turn overlaid onto Google Earth, enabling clear, precise logging data on group movement and location.

“The mapping software, linked through GPS means if there was an incident the base supervisor did not have to spend time trying to tie down locations. They were already clearly located, so the focus can be on the best way to get help in quickly, if required.”

An emergency call function on all handsets makes the Lodge base station ring like a telephone, and if it goes unanswered the system starts ringing pre-set cell phone numbers in the system with an emergency message.

Russell says after almost a year of use, visiting groups have no problems using the technology.

“The majority of our users are visiting school students and staff, unfamiliar with 2 way technology. I admit I was a bit nervous at first, moving from a simple 2 way to a handset with an integrated keypad. However we can lock off the keypad if not needed, just keeping the keys we do need active.”

Feedback from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive

Russell notes greater confidence in the student guardians knowing they have very comprehensive information flow from base about weather and location, and the ability to communicate personally and directly themselves.

“They also love the ‘chirp’ you get when the line is clear. You notice the communication flow is a lot smoother and comprehensive.”

Being waterproof to one meter for half an hour is another valuable feature appreciated in the mountain environment where activities often focus around the lake.

As lodge director Russell also has peace of mind when managing staff across the vast area.

“We can send someone out alone, and we require them to enter a code over a specified time so we know they have logged in as being okay.”

Failure to do so activates the emergency call to Lodge base, and real time GPS data in turn will show exactly where they are.

“Coverage is very good, that’s helped by the wide open valleys we have, and our line of site to where groups go. However you could boost it even more with a digital repeater.”

The Hytera handsets also have an analogue capability if groups go significantly further afield. Despite GPS not operating via analogue, a longitude-latitude co-ordinate can still be generated.

A year in after installation of 10 handsets, a base radio and a mobile 25w unit in his Lodge 4wd, Russell is quietly happy he has had no need to use the radio’s emergency capabilities.

“These have proven to be very versatile, robust and easy to use units. They are not necessarily the cheapest, but the peace of mind they give me as director, for my team and for our teacher clients, that is worth a lot in terms of less stress.”

Case Study Summary

Client:
Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre
Radio Dealer Nelspecs.

Equipment Configuration:
10 Hytera VHF Digital (DMR) handhelds – 5watt,
1 lodge base unit 25watt, vehicle install 25watt,
1 computer based, with Smart Dispatch software.

Hardware Features:
Waterproof Handsets – approved to IP67 standards for spray intrusion and immersion. Critical for client located in lake area, with activities focussed on
water including canoeing.

24 hour battery life – important for client with groups spending time on overnight camps requiring monitoring capability.

Compact – compatible with varied outdoor activities involving physical exertion and minimal loads ie canoeing, tramping, climbing.

Robust – important for high use client with 30-40 students plus teacher supervisors per week, using handsets in challenging conditions.

Operational/Technology features:
GPS facility – provides tracking in real time, location, identification and monitoring of all groups across wide area in a landscape with varied terrain and weather conditions.

Emergency Alert – in event of personnel non response/failure to key code, the base station receives an alert, and if unmanned automated emergency call made to predetermined cell numbers.

Text Capability – provides ability to receive regular weather updates and warnings to groups across a wide area, instantly.

Smart Dispatch Software – capable of accepting customised mapping inputs specific to a challenging estate. Records all conversations on 2Tb hard drive, to ensure comms protocols are adhered to.