At Bakers Communications we have in house staff who repair most makes and models of radio equipment including handhelds, base stations and mobile units.

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Welcome to Bakers Communications

Baker’s Communications Inc has been in business for over 37 years and is a Florida Corporation based out of Lake City, Florida. Baker’s Communications specializes in Public Safety Integration. Our goal is to provide the best and most effective solution to customer requirements while maintaining compliance with the local, state and federal statutes regarding communications equipment and installation requirements.

Our Customer Base

Customers include many local and county governmental agencies as well as the State of Florida.

Some who have been with Baker’s for many years are:

  • Columbia County
  • City of Lake City
  • Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office
  • Jacksonville Airport Authority
  • Okaloosa County
  • Tampa 911
  • Florida EMS
  • Florida Department of Law Enforcement
  • Florida Dept of Agriculture
  • Florida Department of Transportation

Experience in Towers

Experience in Tower Erection and Antenna Systems.

Baker’s Communications has been in the communications business for over 33 years. In that time we have owned five radio communication towers and owned a division that was part of Landmark Tower Corporation of Texas.

Baker’s Communications has constructed and owned three 500’ guyed towers, a 400’ guyed tower and a Landmark self supporting tower. In addition work has been completed on hundreds of other towers where antennas, feed lines, mounting brackets and other hardware has been removed or installed.

Baker’s has installed antenna systems on hundreds of public safety radio buildings. The most recent installation was on the roof tops of over one hundred hospitals, meeting the Department of Health requirements for an emergency radio communication system.

Our tower employees have been Certified by Com-Train in the proper methodology of tower construction safety and rescue. Using safety as an foremost factor, they are also trained and certified in high elevation rescue, CPR, and First Aid. The equipment that we employ is of the highest quality industrial standard and meets all federal requirements.

A copy of our Safety plan and employee Safety manual is available by request.

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Company Information

At Bakers Communications we have in house staff who repair most makes and models of radio equipment inclding hand helds, base stations and mobile units.

Our Owner Doug Baker will be happy to answer any questions you have about our services or products.

Baker’s Communications Inc has been in business for over 37 years and is a Florida Corporation based out of Lake City, Florida. Baker’s Communications specializes in Public Safety Integration. Our goal is to provide the best and most effective solution to customer requirements while maintaining compliance with the local, state and federal statutes regarding communications equipment and installation requirements.

Baker’s technicians are all certified communications technicians, licensed and certified by the Federal Communications Commission.

Each hold either a First, Second, or General Class Radio License. Baker’s Communications requires their technicians to attend schools offered by each of the manufacturers that we represent, to keep up to date on the latest developments in the communications field.

Baker’s Communications’ representatives also attend the International Wireless Convention and Expo to keep abreast of the new products and services available in the communications industry. This past year Mr. Baker was asked to speak at the IWCE show during the Dealer Roundtable. The discussion centered around the topic of how “thinking outside the box” affects communications dealers.

Baker’s in-house tower crews are Com-Train Certified in tower construction and safety. Baker’s Communications subscribes to the concept of “Safety first” attitude in the discharge of its job completion responsibilities. First Aid and CPR training is required of all employees. Weekly safety meetings are provided to all of our staff. When climbers are on a tower, there is at least one ground person present. To date we have not had a serious accident. A record that we intend to keep with the enforcement of our safety program. Baker’s customer service is unparalleled in the industry. Our service fleet and our employees are equipped with the latest test equipment and training to provide the very best in service to our customers. The resources available to Baker’s employees allow the timely and efficient completion of job requirements. Preplanning and deployment of the necessary material and manpower are considered before a project is begun. As the project proceeds, feedback from each of the team members and senior staff is used to make adjustments to the project schedule. Weekly updates are posted to keep employees informed of alterations to the project schedule.


Certificates

ComTrain, LLC Certification

Bakers Communications: ComTrain Certificate # 2026-20350-10

The certification number shown above is registered to the company with each employee assigned an individual ID card bearing this number. Each employee is issued a certification card which must be carried on their person and be able to display their certification card when working on-site at any time a request is made by an authority.

Copies of Baker’s employee’s ComTrain certification cards are shown in the appendix with the employee resume’s.

ComTrain, LLC Certification

ComTrain Certificate # 2026-20350-10

The certification number shown above is registered to the company with each employee assigned an individual ID card bearing this number.

Each employee is issued a certification card which must be carried on their person and be able to display their certification card when working on-site at any time a request is made by an authority.

Copies of Baker’s employee’s ComTrain certification cards are available the employee résumé's if requested.

ANRITSU CERTIFIED

Baker’s Communications has several technicians that are trained and certified in the operation and reading of the Anritsu Sitemaster antenna system analyzer. The current model (331D) is what we use to check existing 3 main item of a antenna system. First is the Distance To Fault (DTF), Return Loss (RL) and Cable Loss (CL).

Distance-To-Fault (DTF)

Return Loss / VSWR measurement characterizes the performance of the overall system. If either of these is failing, the DTF measurement can be used to troubleshoot the system and locate the exact location of a fault. It is important to understand that the DTF measurement is strictly a troubleshooting tool and best used to compare relative data and monitor changes over time with the main purpose of locating faults and measuring the length of the cable. Using the DTF absolute amplitude values derived from the DTF data as a replacement for return loss or as a pass/fail indicator is not recommended because there are so many variables that affect the DTF readings including propagation velocity variation, insertion loss inaccuracies of the complete system, stray signals, temperature variations, and mathematical limitations; hence it is very challenging for system engineers to come up with numbers that take all of this into consideration. Used correctly, the DTF measurement is by far the best method for troubleshooting cable and antenna problems.

Cable Loss Effect on System Return Loss

The insertion loss of the cable needs to be taken into consideration when making system return loss measurements. The picture below illustrates how the cable loss changes the perceived antenna performance. The antenna itself has a return loss of 15 dB but the 5 dB insertion loss improves the perceived system return loss by 10 dB (5 dB *2). Even though this is something system designers take into consideration when setting up the specifications of the site, it is important to be aware of the effects the insertion loss and also cable return loss can have on the overall system return loss. A very good system return loss may not necessarily be a result of an excellent antenna; it could be a faulty cable with too much insertion loss and an antenna out of specification. This would result in a larger than expected signal drop and once the signal reaches the antenna, a great portion of the signal is now reflected since the match is worse than expected. The end result is that the transmitted signal is lower than needed and the overall coverage area is now affected. In other words, if your system return loss is too good, it is not always a good thing.

Return Loss / VSWR

The return loss and VSWR measurements are key measurements for anyone making cable and antenna measurements in the field. These measurements show the user the match of the system and if it conforms to system engineering specifications. If problems show up during this test, there is a very good likelihood that the system has problems that will affect the end user.

A poorly matched antenna will reflect costly RF energy which will not be available for transmission and will instead end up in the transmitter. This extra energy returned to the transmitter will not only distort the signal but it will also affect the efficiency of the transmitted power and the corresponding coverage area.

For instance, a 20 dB system return loss measurement is considered very efficient as only 1% of the power is returned and 99% of the power is transmitted. If the return loss is 10 dB, 10% of the power is returned. While different systems have different acceptable return loss limits, 15 dB or better is a common system limit for a cable and antenna system.

While an antenna system could be faulty for any number of reasons, poorly installed connectors, dented/damaged coax cables, and defective antennas tend to dominate the failure trends. Return Loss and VSWR both display the match of the system but they show it in different ways. The return loss displays the ratio of reflected power to reference power in dB. The return loss view is usually preferred because of the benefits with logarithmic displays; one of them being that it is easier to compare a small and large number on a logarithmic scale. The return loss scale is normally set up from 0 to 60 dB with 0 being an open or a short and 60 dB would be close to a perfect match.


WHO WE ARE

Baker’s Communications Inc has been in business for over 37 years and is a Florida Corporation based out of Lake City, Florida.

GET IN TOUCH

Bakers Communication, Inc.
2627 SW Main Blvd,
Lake City, FL, 32025
P: (386) 752-6494

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