Collaborating with public safety to simplify the complex challenges of BDA and DAS management 

[Birmingham, AL] – Mcmtech 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. As 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 sales@mcmtechnology.com 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. Click here to learn about its most popular products: Commshop, Commasset, Motion360, Motiontrack, and Quartermaster.    

(Birmingham, AL – March 18, 2024) Mcmtech, a leading developer of mission-critical software, just launched an enhancement to help revolutionize equipment, fleet, site and facility inspections. The new module streamlines processes, ensuring that assessments are performed fully and efficiently while capturing comprehensive, actionable data. As a preferred provider of asset, inventory, and work order management solutions for first responders, Mcmtech believes its new inspection module has the capacity to help departments and agencies across the country save time and money while increasing operational reliability.   

 “Too often, inspections become either overly ambitious and burdensome or overly simplified and valueless,” says Kurt Abts, vice president of development at Mcmtech. “We wanted to create something that makes inspections work for our customers rather than the other way around.”   

Inspections help public safety departments maintain operational readiness, ensure safety, comply with regulations, optimize resource allocation, enhance long-term sustainability, and build public trust. In order to be most beneficial, they need to be able to capture a significant amount of detail, tracked historically over time, and that information needs to be stored in a way that is easily searchable, filterable and reviewable. At the same time, the assessment process to collect the data needs to be easy to perform regularly and accurately. 

The resulting new inspection module accomplishes all this with: 

• an easy to learn and use interface 
• fully customizable templates and tasks 
• user access and permissions controls  
• automated alerts and workflows  
• governance over inspection frequency 
• flexible completion settings such as required fields and/or whether an assessment can be “closed” without a given action or result  
• accountability settings such as user auto-stamps and electronic signatures  
• the ability to upload and attach images and documents 
• and so much more  

Once the template is in place, teams can use a mobile, tablet or desktop device to perform the inspection or access the data. Because it’s used in conjunction with Mcmtech‘s asset, inventory and/or work order solutions, there are multiple downstream efficiencies, too, such as automatic updates in asset records and the ability to request service or issue equipment, due to an inspection finding, all in the same software. 

 “The major benefits of this module are obviously the time-savings for your inspection teams and the operational advantages that come from having safer, more reliable equipment, “says Mcmtech’s Dave Depies, who served in the Albuquerque Police Department for 21 years before retiring as Commander. “But there are numerous other valuable perks, too, such as higher inspection completion rates, more comprehensive and accurate data collection, increased accountability and transparency, and more informed decision-making based on instant access to historic data.” 

Mcmtech’s new inspection module is now available. Learn more about Mcmtech solutions here.

About Mcmtech 

Mcmtech is the leader in mission-critical asset, inventory and work order management software. With over 20 years of industry expertise, Mcmtech solutions are purpose-built for public safety’s unique needs and include the only solutions in the market that can integrate with radio communications systems. Its web-based, enterprise class software platform, called Motiondeck, powers flexible, scalable, secure solutions and can be cloud-hosted or installed on-premise. Mcmtech continues to implement new projects worldwide with well over 200 systems already deployed in 40 states (including 25 statewide systems) and 14 countries. Click here to learn about its most popular products: Commshop, Commasset, Motion360, Motiontrack, and Quartermaster.   

(Birmingham, AL – April 17, 2023) The developer of public safety’s premier asset, inventory, and work order management software is further innovating this space with the release of its myMcmtech mobile app, connecting users to mission-critical management solutions right from their pockets.

Tracking, managing, and maintaining mission-critical assets and inventory requires a higher level of functionality and reliability than traditional tools like spreadsheets and binders. Mcmtech’s solutions are specifically designed to meet those needs so that public safety agencies, as well as other industries managing performance-vital equipment, can easily and intuitively optimize the life and use of serialized assets and consumable inventories.

Managing these items will be even easier with the new myMcmtech mobile app, which lets users interact with their Mcmtech solution through readily available mobile devices. Working closely with their customers, the app’s developers designed it around the functionalities most useful on-the-go, such as equipment audit check-ins, item/work order request and fulfillment, screen signature capture, and mobile camera barcode screening. 

“There is little to no room for error when it comes to mission-critical asset management,” says President and CEO Tom Bartels. “Our goal has always been to make the vital role of tracking, managing and maintaining this equipment easier to do, with more reliable, longer-lasting outcomes. This app makes it even easier to take our solutions out into the field where assets and inventory freely move, thereby streamlining the capture of comprehensive data on mission-critical pieces.” 

The myMcmtech mobile app is one of several innovations Mcmtech has contributed to asset management, which also includes the only integration available today between asset and inventory management and radio communications systems. This integration is what makes Mcmtech the leading provider of asset, inventory and work order solutions for public safety agencies.

Learn more about this exciting new app, the radio integration and other Mcmtech solution enhancements here.

About Mcmtech

Mcmtech is the leader in mission-critical asset, inventory and work order management software. With over 20 years of industry expertise, Mcmtech solutions are purpose-built for public safety’s unique needs and include the only solutions in the market that can integrate directly with radio communications systems. Its web-based, enterprise class software platform, called Motiondeck, powers flexible, scalable, secure solutions and can be cloud-hosted or installed on-premise. With well over 200+ systems deployed in 40 states and 14 countries, Mcmtech continues to implement new projects worldwide. Click here to learn about its most popular products: Commshop, Commasset, Motion360, Motiontrack, and Quartermaster.