Radio Over IP Helps Bus Drivers Stay Connected
/According to the American Public Transportation Association, in 2019, around 9.9 billion trips on public transportation were recorded in the US. And the bus remains one of the most used modes of public transport.
For bus fleets, communication is vital for both safety and logistics purposes. In this frontier, Radio Over Internet Protocol of RoIP for transportation is considered the more cost-effective way of ensuring bus drivers stay connected while they are out on the road.
RoIP shares the same concept as its predecessor, the voice over internet protocol or VoIP.
Traditionally, voice communication takes place with the help of an analog-driven system comprising telephone networks, transmission towers, and elaborate (and expensive) copper lines. In VoIP, sound waves are converted into digital signals that are then sent and received over data networks.
In RoIP, it is the radio signals that are converted between two points. Essentially, it uses the same VoIP technology in two-way radios to help (this also allows users to connect analog radios using ip networks.
One of the main advantages of RoIP over its analog counterpart is increased reliability. Because signals are sent over the internet, the process would not be disrupted by traditional geographic barriers such as buildings, trees, and mountains. As IP networks are now found almost everywhere, digital data packets can be transmitted more reliably between two points.
How RoIP Helps Bus Fleets
Many industries now use RoIP for transportation communication — from commuter train networks to bus fleets.
Apart from reliability, bus organizations can benefit from RoIP technology through several ways:
Accessibility. Over the past few years, RoIP technology has increasingly become the standard, even in the transportation industry. As the demand for this technology steadily grows, the roster of equipment needed for it also becomes more accessible and affordable. Now, there are a number of reputable manufacturers of RoIP hardware and suppliers to program the required components and infrastructure to run a RoIP-powered communication system.
Scalability. Different organizations have different sizes and types of bus fleets. With the flexibility of RoIP technology, you can customize your communication system depending on your specific needs at a specific period. If you are to expand your operations or downsize in the future, RoIP gives you the scalability you need at reasonable costs.
Interoperability. Another great thing about RoIP is its interoperability with older hardware: It can be used to link different types of radio devices. As mentioned, this technology can be used to connect analog radios using IP networks as well as the newer digital mobile radios. So if your organization is planning to use both analog and digital devices to help your bus drivers communicate with one another, RoIP can help you make it possible. Assisted by additional IP gateways, this interoperability can make your communication more efficient and wide-reaching.
All these perks have one thing in common: they give you the capability to improve communication among your bus drivers and the staff in your control center, all while minimizing costs. If you want your bus fleet to be more coordinated and in-sync, investing in RoIP technology can go a long way.