Posted by Richard Hall
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Why Low Band Still Matters—And Why It’s Disappearing
Low band radio—typically operating between 30 to 50 MHz—offers unique advantages over higher-frequency systems. While most commercial and public safety users have shifted to VHF and UHF for portability and digital compatibility, low band remains the gold standard for organizations that need:
- Wide-area coverage without repeaters
- Penetration through foliage, terrain, and obstructions
- Reliable signal strength in rural or mountainous environments
- Cost-effective communications for low-infrastructure deployments
In terms of pure physics, low band signals benefit from longer wavelengths, which allow them to:
- Hug the earth’s surface (ground wave propagation)
- Refract better over hills and ridges
- Travel further with lower power consumption
These characteristics make low band radio ideal for:
- State departments of transportation (DOTs)
- Hydroelectric and water utility systems
- Disaster response organizations
- Wildland firefighting and forest services
- Large-scale mining and logging operations
Despite its utility, sourcing new low band equipment has become increasingly difficult. Major U.S. manufacturers have phased out production due to shifting market demand, regulatory focus on narrowbanding, and a generational shift toward IP-based solutions. This has created a supply vacuum—one that PSI is helping to fill.
TPL Systèmes: A Leading European Manufacturer of Low Band Infrastructure
Based in France, TPL Systèmes is one of the last manufacturers actively supporting the low band space. Since 1989, the company has served mission-critical clients across Europe, Africa, and Asia with customized radio infrastructure solutions—often for government, emergency services, and utility providers.
TPL specializes in:
- Base stations and repeaters tailored to 30–50 MHz operation
- Remote telemetry radio systems for SCADA and industrial control
- Mobile transceivers supporting analog and digital modulations
- P25 and TETRA gateways for integration with legacy systems
- Redundant site controller platforms for network reliability
What sets TPL apart is its willingness to support niche and legacy deployments—providing not only standard catalog products but also modified equipment for specific band plans, legacy compatibility, or geographic licensing needs.
For more on the company’s legacy and global reach, see their company overview.
PSI: Your U.S. Source for TPL Low Band Equipment and Integration
Puget Sound Instrument (PSI) is proud to serve as a U.S.-based supplier and technical integration partner for TPL Systèmes’ products. With over 40 years supporting complex two-way radio deployments, we understand both the challenges and operational urgency behind maintaining low band systems.
PSI offers:
- Direct access to TPL’s current low band catalog
- Product pre-configuration and programming
- System design consultation for wide-area analog deployments
- Integration with existing base station and dispatch systems
- Repair and calibration of low band systems through our in-house service department
Whether you’re replacing a single component or upgrading an entire low band network, PSI is uniquely positioned to help. We maintain close relationships with TPL’s engineering team and provide ongoing U.S.-based support—something most international suppliers cannot offer.
Who Still Depends on Low Band?
Even in today’s digital-first world, low band is far from obsolete. Across North America and globally, numerous mission-critical applications still rely on it:
Public Safety
State and regional emergency services in rural areas continue to operate low band systems for backup communications, especially where cellular and VHF coverage is sparse.
Utilities
Power transmission companies, particularly in the Midwest and Western U.S., use low band telemetry radios for long-distance SCADA control over high-voltage corridors.
Fire & Forestry
Wildland firefighting teams deploy low band due to its ability to propagate over large wooded areas with minimal repeaters.
Transportation
DOTs often maintain low band radio links for highway maintenance crews, snowplows, and incident response—especially across mountainous or desert terrain.
Ready to Upgrade or Maintain Your Low Band System?
If your agency or organization is operating in remote areas and still relies on low band—or if you’re looking to replace hard-to-find low band equipment—we encourage you to reach out to PSI.
Contact us today to discuss your system needs, evaluate compatibility, and get pricing for TPL Systèmes solutions.
Richard Hall and our radio engineering team are here to help preserve and extend the life of your mission-critical communications systems—because reliability still matters.