From vacuum tubes to high-tech wireless

G&D Communications keeps pace in the 2-way radio race

By Jim Obert

Business Today

SIKESTON -- Nineteen years ago, when the insides of 2-way radios contained vacuum tubes and a smattering of a new product called transistors, Robert and Joanne Dudley bought a small inventory of radios and an old van and started G&D Communications in Dexter.

Joanne Dudley had no experience in the service and sales of 2-way radios. Her husband, Robert, had worked in his uncle's 2-way radio shop, and he had taken a home-based radio repair course.

A year later, the fledgling business moved into a small building on Stoddard Street in Sikeston. As business increased, G&D expanded into a larger building on Davis Boulevard where it continued to grow for almost 17 years.

Last week, an open house was held at G&D's latest location -- a large new building at 2040 N. Main, just south of the Sikeston Business and Technology Park.

"After all those years, we knew we could handle more business so we built the ideal building," said Joanne Dudley, office manager.

Dudley said the ground floor of the building covers about 4,500 square feet, and an upper level can be used for more office space when needed. Adjacent land has been bought for further expansion.

G&D Communications is primarily a 2-way radio shop for sales and repairs. It sells Motorola, Vertex-Standard and Midland products, and its seven service vehicles cover Southeast Missouri and parts of Illinois and Kentucky.

Customers include sheriff, police and fire departments, hospitals, farmers, trucking companies, ambulance services -- any business that requires 2-way radio communications.

G&D handles Cingular wireless services and is an agent for Washington, Mo.-based RCC wide-area paging.

"We also do tower work, which is something we've done from the very beginning," said Dudley. "We replace parts and fix problems on towers that go up 500 to 600 feet."

Dudley said G&D recently did some tower work for Malden-based Internet provider semo.net, and is slated to install some coaxial cables and control boxes.

G&D also services Zimmer Radio Group communication towers in Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff and Illinois. Lighting systems and connections to antennas are repaired.

The Sikeston office of Charter Communications, the local cable TV provider, is a customer.

"We remove old radio equipment and install updated equipment on their new trucks," Dudley said, adding that a lot of G&D's work relates to antennae problems on trucks that are driven through wooded areas.

The technicians at G&D are well trained, said Dudley. One, a 17-year employee of the business, was originally trained in electronics in the Navy, and some are trained in-house.

"When we find someone with common sense and the ability to learn, we'll train that person on installation procedures or minor repairs," said Dudley.

"Some employees we'll send to Motorola schools. The technology changes so fast that it's a full-time job keeping up with it."

Although G&D Communications has a fleet of service vehicles that traverse the region, a lot of repair work is done at its new facility. Customers can drop off items for repair -- some repairs can be made immediately.

There are four service bays for vehicles containing 2-way radio equipment in need of service. The largest bay is for fire trucks and 18-wheelers.