Birmingham, AL – Mcmtech—a leader in mission-critical asset, inventory and work order management public safety software—has launched a groundbreaking new software solution to streamline the way public safety departments track, manage and maintain today’s growing field of signal boosters.
Bi-directional amplifiers (BDAs) and their complex distributed antenna systems (DAS) help first responders communicate during emergencies in areas where signals would otherwise be weak or blocked. While increasing regulations requiring their installation and upkeep offer a clear benefit for public safety and the community, managing these quickly expanding systems has become a significant strain on public safety agencies.
“The risks and challenges of BDA management had become a popular topic at public safety conventions,” said Tom Bartels, President and CEO of Mcmtech. “One of our company’s core values is ‘customer focus,’ so when our customers asked if we could develop a more efficient and effective way to manage this critical element of communications, we were all in.”
BDA Management is Complex and Critical
BDAs consist of a wide range of technologies, inside and outside of publicly and privately owned structures, and require extensive tracking for reliability and compliance. Major cities like New York or Los Angeles might have thousands of BDAs across their buildings, while smaller cities may have dozens to a few hundred. If BDAs aren’t properly tracked and managed, it can cause serious problems for the emergency radio system such as increased noise or interference.
There are multiple Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs) over each of these systems, specifically fire departments who enforce code and FCC license holders who grant permission to rebroadcast. Each BDA is required to have an initial plan review, plan acceptance, and ongoing maintenance and management including regular recertification.
With multiple stakeholders over numerous systems in various stages of management, along with a complicated regulatory landscape and the critical importance of communications reliability, BDA management becomes a daunting task for public safety departments.
How Mcmtech’s Software Alleviates BDA Challenges for Public Safety Departments
José M. De Zayas, Public Safety Radio Systems Administrator for Broward County explains, “The responsibility of managing these systems has largely fallen on public safety departments, and the challenge is collecting and maintaining all the necessary information in one location without relying on multiple spreadsheets and databases.” Mcmtech’s BDA manager provides a centralized platform to track all aspects of each system, from the initial plan and review, to installation and testing, to DAS equipment specifics, to ongoing maintenance and compliance, all the way through the system’s retirement.
More than just data housing, Mcmtech’s software streamlines workflows and ensures nothing falls through the cracks by automating key processes. “One of the biggest benefits we’ve gained is the automated notification system for yearly recertifications,” De Zayas added. “We're no longer checking spreadsheets to see which rebroadcasting certificates are expiring and manually filling out notices. This has been a game-changer for us.”
The software also enhances collaboration and coordination among multiple remote users and is highly customizable, allowing agencies to track exactly what they need for the BDAs, regardless of quantity or complexity.
Public Safety Teamwork Innovating the Future of BDA Management
The BDA software module was inspired by Broward County’s Radio Administration Team, a long-standing customer of Mcmtech’s asset management solutions. De Zayas recalls how they initially managed BDA projects with a combination of Mcmtech’s project management module, spreadsheets, and databases, but sought a more integrated solution. “We reached out to Mcmtech, and they were extremely helpful and dynamic in creating a solution that worked for us,” said De Zayas.
Mcmtech’s team worked closely with Broward County’s Team, as well as a few other customers, first to understand the needs and processes associated with BDA management and tracking, and then to make sure the product provided the necessary functions and capabilities in an intuitive, streamlined and effective format, meeting the real-world needs of public safety professionals. “The way they sat down with us, were patient with us, listened to us, and really worked to create something that we would be extremely pleased with—it was incredible,” said De Zayas.
Mcmtech has a strong track record of working closely with public safety professionals to create industry-leading solutions. “We’re fortunate to work with public safety agencies who lead the field in how they leverage software and technology,” said Bartels. “Customers like Broward County are not only enhancing their own operations but also helping to advance public safety on a national level.”
As more agencies realize the importance and challenge of BDA management, the demand for robust software will only grow. Being longstanding leaders in public safety and communications asset management software, the addition of a BDA tracker is a natural extension to Mcmtech’s existing suite of asset, inventory, and work order management solutions. To schedule a demo or learn more, contact [email protected] or click here.
About Mcmtech
Mcmtech is the leader in mission-critical asset, inventory and work order management public safety software. With over 20 years of industry expertise, Mcmtech solutions are purpose-built for public safety and include the only solutions in the market that can integrate with radio systems. Over 200 implementations have been deployed in 40 states and 14 countries. Learn more about Mcmtech's software solutions for Fire Departments by clicking here.
