The History Of

High Country Communications provides services and products to business, industry, public safety and consumer markets, all relating to the land mobile two way radio industry. While we concentrate our local efforts in Northwestern North Carolina, we serve state wide, regional, national and international markets as well. Our local market consists of Mitchell, Avery, Watauga and Ashe counties in NC, and Carter and Johnson counties in Tennessee. We assist several NC state agencies in the development of their radio dispatch systems via services and products. We feel our market advantage comes from our stressing relationships instead of products and services. While our technical knowledge is among the strongest in the industry, the solid relationships with our customers is the foundation on which we continue to build our business.

 

Our president, Chris Bertolini, began his career in 1979, as a member of the United States Marine Corps fighter squadron, VMFA-333, stationed at MCAS Beaufort, SC. While serving with VMFA-333, Chris was an F-4 Phantom II avionics electrician, maintaining the entire electrical, instrumentation, autopilot and air data computer systems on board the aircraft. Chris deployed for two Westpac tours earning the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (with one star), and the Good Conduct Medal.

After the completion of his enlistment, Chris worked with Commander Instruments in Chester, SC, maintaining avionics systems in general aviation aircraft. In 1984 Chris assisted in the creation of Carowings Avionics in Rock Hill, SC and in 1986 became the avionics manager for Butler Aviation, International at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, NC.

In 1987, Chris entered the land mobile field as a component level technician working for the first LTR SMR operator in Charlotte, Eastern Radio Service, an E.F. Johnson dealer. After 9 years in the technical field, Chris left for the wonderful world of sales with G.E. Mobile radio dealer, Two Way Radio of Carolina in Charlotte. While with Two Way Radio of Carolina, Chris was recognized as one of the top 100 General Electric sales representatives in the US.

 

In 1991, Chris left the city and moved to the mountains of North Carolina. For the first year Chris worked for GTE Mobilenet in Kingsport, Tennessee. Exactly one year later, Chris joined High Country Cellular in Newland, NC as General Manager with the goal of adding two way radio and paging to their existing cellular line. In November of the same year, Chris decided to leave and start High Country Communications, Inc. (HCCI) and dedicate all efforts towards two way radio services.

 

Almost immediately, High Country Communications became a leading Maxon dealer and put up community repeaters around the High Country. The business grew and became too much for a one man shop, so Chris hired his first employee to handle all administrative duties. Eventually additional technicians and sales people had to be hired to handle the increase in business.
In 1994, HCCI was awarded a highly sought after dealership from Kenwood Communications Corporation. The expanded line and higher quality of equipment offered by Kenwood allowed HCCI to penetrate markets previously unavailable. Other key additions to HCCI's line were TX RX Systems (offering the highest quality combining and filtering equipment) and Orbacom Systems, the leading 911 communications consoles in the world.
HCCI had existing community repeaters covering their service area, and along with many other companies across the country began investigating the possibility of applying the LTR trunking protocol, traditionally used in the 800 MHz band , to the UHF 450 MHz band. There were no FCC rules that applied to this concept, so with the idea that the FCC did not say they could not do it, people started trying to bring this concept to fruition. Kenwood Communications was the first manufacturer to embrace the idea and began developing a UHF LTR radio. It took KCC only about a year to develop the TK-353 portable and TK-840 mobile, both UHF LTR compatible radios that could also be used in the conventional format. Kenwood dealers across the country began constructing the UHF LTR systems and through innovation and determination delivered spectrum efficient and affordable dispatch options to a market left stranded with the shutting down of the 800 MHz trunking systems by Nextel.

 

HCCI had been in a small 700 sq. ft. office since 1992 where there were two technicians, a salesman, an administrative person and Chris. Needless to say, space was at a premium and installations had to be done outside. After several years of trying to find land and a building, in 2001 HCCI moved into a new 3000 sq. ft. facility with state of the art repair and installation facilities. HCCI is in the top echelon of Kenwood dealers in the southeast, and twice has been listed as among the top 30 dealers in the US.

 

HCCI now offers equipment, design, maintenance and consulting services to major universities, utility and communication companies, as well as the B & I market throughout northwestern NC. With the addition of services such as 911 consoles, tower engineering and construction, automatic vehicle location and GPS tracking services, High Country Communications has become one of the most respected dispatch radio companies in North Carolina. High Country Communications, Inc. will continue to provide innovative and customer oriented solutions well into the new millennium.