RadioComms Asia-Pacific Nov/Dec2012 by Westwick-Farrow Media

Will GLONASS help GPS?

4 6

radio@work 8 P25 digital radio remote link 12

contents

on the cover

Radio Comms Asia-Pacific November/December 2012

ditor’s omment

Getting to know the people and the technology of this buzzing industry during my first year as editor has opened my eyes to the opportunities that two-way radio still has in the current global market. An ongoing issue that has plagued the industry and will need further attention in the coming years, however, is the lack of apprentices and educational training

Positive feedback

for RF and electronics engineers.

Industry talking

aged more people to become involved

From smartphone to digital radio - how communications technology changes our lives

adioComms Connect R exhibitor products

ARCIA’s scholarships have encourand this may help alleviate the dramatic shortage of young people working in the radio industry, but there is still more work to do. Other topics that were talked about again this year were public safety, interoperability and the spectrum licence review. The ACMA recently published its response paper to the spectrum licens-

39 Wireless power reaches the heart

ing technical and regulatory framework review, a process that has been going on since 2008.

44 Three ways to solve the problem of obsolete ATE 50 10 minutes with Geoff Spring

The recent opening of the ASKAP in October has provided Australia a seat on the world’s scientific stage. The CSIRO telescope is set to make huge leaps in technology and discovery of our universe. I look forward to hearing more about how this major project will affect radioastronomy in Australia over the coming years. Something much more recent to look forward to is the upcoming RadioComms Connect conference and exhibition held in December. Over 80 exhibitors will be attending and papers will range from public safety communications and compliance and safety to radio linking and the IP revolution. For those of you making the trip to Melbourne for the event, I hope to see you there. Thank you for your support and long may it continue. I hope you have a wonderful holiday break and we’ll do it all again in the New Year. Kylie Rhodes, Editor rc@westwick-farrow.com.au

www.radiocomms.com.au

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

on the cover

he connection that counts! Simoco has revolutionised business communications with the launch of its digital mobile radio (DMR) suite which supports both DMR Tier II and Tier III modes of operation. Simoco Xd flexibility enables users to purchase a Tier II conventional system today, with the cost-effective ability to software upgrade to Tier III Trunking in the future. Mining, transport, construction, local government, security and retail are just some of the markets that will benefit from the versatility of being able to extend systems to match evolving operational needs. Simoco Xd incorporates all the benefits of DMR, including increased call capacity, using two-slot TDMA to double the number of calls per channel. It also offers clearer digital audio (especially in noisy environments), longer battery life, backward compatibility with existing analog radio systems and the ability to run enhanced data applications. The range is fully compliant with ETSI standards without any propriety variations which would compromise interoperability. This ultimately benefits the user, who is able to make clear decisions regarding future expansion plans to systems, with the assurance that other DMR products built to the standard will interoperate seamlessly. Where Simoco Xd really comes into its own is with IP connectivity. The infrastructure can be connected over an IP backbone without the need for additional radio switching equipment. Not only does this reduce the cost and complexity of installation or expansion, it also allows for easier integration of network

4 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

management and dispatching applications. Each Simoco Xd base station has its own IP address which simply connects into an existing IP port. This facility means that there is no additional IT equipment that could be subject to failure, increasing overall resilience. The company has successfully used network interconnection via IP with its analog, MPT1327 and P25 infrastructure for many years and has drawn on this expertise to develop a true IP-based DMR solution. Additionally, infrastructure is fault tolerant and has the ability to self-reconfigure to ensure that communications throughout remaining networks are maintained in the event of a component failure. For applications with a dutyof-care aspect, the combination of ‘man down’ and ‘lone worker’ functionality allows fast alerting of problems back to designated recipients. The robust IP67 portables have integrated man down functionally that will alert and send duress alarms. This, coupled with integrated GPS hardware, makes the DMR portable suitable for hazardous environments. Customisation, durability and flexibility are key factors that have been carried over to the design of the DMR mobile, which is suitable for mounting out of sight in vehicles from tractors and trains to aircraft and typical automotive deployments. Drawing on a 60-year-plus radio heritage, Simoco Xd brings the full benefits of DMR in a reliable, resilient IP-based system. Digital voice quality, ease of deployment, system scalability and Tier III upgradability make Simoco Xd the connection that counts. Simoco www.simocoradio.com

A.B.N. 22 152 305 336 www.westwick-farrow.com.au Head Office Cnr. Fox Valley Road & Kiogle Street, (Locked Bag 1289) Wahroonga NSW 2076 Australia Ph +61 2 9487 2700 Fax +61 2 9489 1265 Editor Kylie Rhodes rc@westwick-farrow.com.au Technical Advisor Mike Smyth Chief Editor Janette Woodhouse Publisher Geoff Hird Art Director/Production Manager Julie Wright Art/Production Tanya Scarselletti, Jeanette Teuma Colleen Sam Circulation Manager Sue Lavery circulation@westwick-farrow.com.au Copy Control Mitchie Mullins Advertising Sales VIC, SA, WA - Lachlan Rainey Ph 0402 157 167 lrainey@westwick-farrow.com.au NSW, QLD - Lisa Gilbert Ph 0414 283 933 lgilbert@westwick-farrow.com.au New Zealand - Gemma Burr Ph 0800 442 529 gburr@westwick-farrow.com.au USA - Huson International Media East Coast Ph +1 212 268 3344 West Coast Ph +1 408 879 6666 ralph.lockwood@husonmedia.com UK - Huson International Media Ph +44 1932 56 4999 gerryb@husonmedia.com Asia - Lachlan Rainey Ph +61 (0) 402 157 167 If you have any queries regarding our privacy policy please email privacy@westwick-farrow.com.au Subscriptions: For unregistered readers, price on application

March 2012 total CAB Audited Circulation (Aust + NZ) 4,306 (81% personally requested) Print Post Approved PP247345/00004 ISSN No. 1448-9201 Printed and bound by Pegasus Print Group +61 2 8822 0716 All material published in this magazine is published in good faith and every care is taken to accurately relay information provided to us. Readers are advised by the publishers to ensure that all necessary safety devices and precautions are installed and safe working procedures adopted before the use of any equipment found or purchased through the information we provide. Further, all performance criteria was provided by the representative company concerned and any dispute should be referred to them. Information indicating that products are made in Australia or New Zealand is supplied by the source company. Westwick-Farrow Pty Ltd does not quantify the amount of local content or the accuracy of the statement made by the source.

www.radiocomms.com.au

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MULTI-SITE IP NETWORK COMPATIBLE

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SCAN

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FM MODES – GENERAL

DIGITAL – CONVENTIONAL MODE • 64 Radio Access Numbers (RAN) • Individual & Group Selective Call* • Mixed FM / Digital Operation • Conventional IP Networks • Site Roaming

DIGITAL – TRUNKING MODE • Individual Private Call • Group Call & Broadcast Call • Telephone Interconnect • Transmission Trunked Mode* • Message Trunked Mode* • Call Queuing with Priority* • Late Entry (UID & GID)* • 4 Priority Monitor ID’s* • Remote Group Add* • Failsoft Mode

• 25 & 12.5 kHz Channels • Conventional & LTR Zones • FleetSync / II, MDC-1200, DTMF* • QT / DQT & 2-Tone (Conventional Zones only)* • 5 Tone Encode/Decode Conventional Zones only)* • Voice Inversion Scrambler (16 Codes) ®

FleetSync® / II (FM) • PTT ID ANI / Caller ID* • Selective / Group Call* • Emergency, Status & Text Messages* 3

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DIGITAL – GENERAL • NXDN Digital Air Interface • AMBE+2™ VOCODER ®

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Non LCD Models -Pre-programmed key operation

Non LCD Models -Some screen / key-based functions are not available.

These trunked features are primarily system programming and operational dependent. Priority Monitor also requires NX subscriber settings. *4

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Will GLONASS help GPS? At the end of last year, the Russian government announced that GLONASS, the Russian global navigation satellite system, was fully operational and had global coverage. The team at Telit decided to test what impact this has on satellite navigation and positioning and how it compares to the US Global Positioning System (GPS).

adio-based global navigation satellite systems are part of our daily life for navigation, surveying and mapping. Since October 2011, the Russian GLONASS has been fully operational with 24 satellites in orbit plus four in reserve and one currently undergoing trials. This is not only an alternative to GPS but, even more, the completion of a combined GPS/GLONASS system where there are, in total, 55 fully operational satellites in outer space in different orbits (see picture 1). For satellite navigation, at least four satellites are needed to determine a position solution: three to provide the data for each space axis (x, y and z) and one to provide the time sent. The more satellites that can be tracked, the more accurate the fix will be. In theory, this is possible with GPSonly as there should always be at least five satellites visible from anywhere on the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface. If there is an unobstructed view of the sky, even 12 satellites can be visible. But often there are buildings, trees, mountains or clouds blocking some of the 6 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

For satellite navigation, at least four satellites are needed to determine a position solution: three to provide the data for each space axis (x, y and z) and one to provide the time sent. The more satellites that can be tracked, the more accurate the fix will be.

GPS signals and the GPS receiver is unable to obtain a position fix.

Restrictions of GPS-only Especially in cities with many skyscrapers, satellite signals are often lost. For fleet management as well as for other types of tracking applications this condition can be unacceptable. In addition, there are further restrictions of GPS-only navigation: GPS satellites orbit the earth from a distance of 20,000 km. Their signals are barely -130 dBm once they reach a terrestrial receiver

and are degraded even further in urban environments. This makes it a real challenge to isolate them from background noise. To overcome these limitations, the engineers at Telit decided to launch a combined solution of GPS and GLONASS. They believed the fact that there are now in total 55 satellites operating in different orbits covering the whole globe, it must have an impact on navigation and should provide advantages.

Combining GPS+GLONASS The engineers decided to run a field test comparing the navigation accuracy of GPS-only receivers and GPS+GLONASS receivers. The team did seven test tracks between 11 am and 3 pm in downtown Los Angeles. They tested several standard GPS-only units in comparison to the Jupiter SL869, Telitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GNSS module which processes both GPS and GLONASS signals. The results were always very similar combining GPS and GLONASS provided www.radiocomms.com.au

GPS & fleet comms

Picture 2: Tracked way in Los Angeles. Green shows the route which was driven with GPS+GLONASS receiver, red the same route with a standard GPS-only receiver. Picture 1: Orbits of different GNSS.

Picture 3: The picture shows the number of satellites that were in track in London. Dark green shows times where the number of satellites drops below four. much more accurate and better positioning possibilities instead of GPS-only (see picture 2). The picture shows a single test track. The red line represents GPS-only. It shows that during the test track there were several instances where GPS was not able to determine a position solution. With a GPS+GLONASS receiver this didn’t happen - the receiver never lost the signal. Furthermore, there is a huge difference in the accuracy of ground track. With GPS there were several metres tracked off-road, which means the track was not on the street but next to it. With GPS+GLONASS the positioning was very accurate and it didn’t happen at all. A similar study was conducted in London monitoring the number of satellites used by a GPS-only receiver and by a GPS+GLONASS receiver. The findings were the same as in Los Angeles. Because of signal blockages in London caused by five-storey buildings, the number of tracked GPS satellites dropped below four www.radiocomms.com.au

Picture 4: The picture shows the number of satellites that were in track in London with GPS+GLONASS. The number never drops below six.

(picture 3). Thus, the GPS-only receiver lost its fix point. This happened three times, of which the time around 3 pm was the most critical one. At that time the receiver had no track for about 20 minutes. The same test tracking was done with GPS+GLONASS. It showed that there are always more than four satellites in track. A fix is virtually guaranteed (picture 4). In addition, even up to 15 satellites were tracked in the middle of London where it wasn’t possible to track more than eight satellites with GPS-only. That nearly doubled the available satellites.

Central findings of the tests The tests showed that due to the addition of GLONASS, the number of tracked satellites never drops below six, and the problem of lost satellite coverage, especially problematic in urban canyons with tall buildings, is dramatically reduced. Furthermore, the test showed that the accuracy of positioning is significant

improved. In addition, the team noticed an improved time-to-fix, which is, for example, vital for stolen vehicle recovery where it is crucial to locate the vehicle no matter where it is. Accessing the combined GPS/GLONASS constellations is thus a major step forward in navigation, providing the best satellite geometry to obtain the most accurate position possible more often not only in Russia but all over the world. Finally, this enables a more accurate positioning, a better ‘pinning’ of a person, a car or an asset’s true location on a digital map. Further tests are underway in South Africa and it is expected that the findings so far will be confirmed there. Glyn High-Tech Distribution is the distributor for Telit products in Australia and New Zealand. Glyn Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R461

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

@work

RADIO

Project: P25 digital radio remote link Application: Long-distance remote diagnosis

iMOMax solved Baud Telecom Company’s (BTC) problem of linking remote P25 digital radio infrastructure by providing its point-to-point network digital link to one of the company’s public safety users. BTC is a telecommunications systems integrator based in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Established in 1975, it has provided numerous solutions, including wireless, telephony, data network, back-up power and audio and video conferencing, primarily to the Middle East. The company was faced with the challenge of finding the best solution to link very remote P25 digital radio infrastructure for one of its public safety users in the Middle East. A wireless linking solution needed to be chosen that provided very high reliability linking over long distances (up to 115 km) with numerous environmental constraints. These constraints included: low latency suitable for mission-critical voice applications; very high atmospheric temperatures; sites up to 2134 m; multipath-induced fading issues common in the area; high availability expectations for critical voice streaming where the links had to remain up and running 99.9% of the time; specific narrowband frequencies of 350-380 MHz and 430-460 MHz were also required. The company chose the spectrally efficient, low-latency, long-range, point-to-point network digital link (NDL) from MiMOMax. The point-to-point linking solutions provide up to 10 x P25 trunked channels in QAM256 and low latency, typ 8 ms in a 25 kHz channel. The NDL supports all open network standards including MPT 1327, P25, DMR, TETRA and QS Simulcast in trunked and conventional configurations, while supporting seamless analog to digital transition using G711. Based on the ‘work-with model’, MiMOMax engineers remotely dialled into the user’s MiMOMax NDL system from its head office in Christchurch, New Zealand, and provided timely recommendations that assisted the end user to tune the system to achieve its goals. This level of support was available with the help of advanced remote over-the-air configuration and diagnostic capability built into all MiMOMax radios. The IP radios can store up to 48 hours of system performance further supported by event-driven captures, thereby enabling

fast remote diagnosis and remedial action to take place, often without costly site visits. MiMOMax also designed a special highgain antenna to address the challenge of keeping the link available 24/7 without failure, over very long paths. The standard lightweight loop Yagi antenna provides typical gains of up to 12 dBi. However, this customised antenna consisting of four loop Yagi antennas, mounted as two-by-two array on a common frame, was constructed as a quad array. Implemented at both ends of the link, the quad-array loop Yagi resulted in total improvement of 12 dB path gain. The smooth rollout of the NDL system was said to be the result of the quality working relationship between BTC, MiMOMax and BTC’s public safety end user. The radios have provided up to 10 trunked channels in QAM256 and still have 116 Kbps residual ethernet bandwidth available to manage the P25 radios. The MiMO links ensured reliable low error communications even in fading environments, all of which have resulted in improved network efficiency. More data throughput in less RF bandwidth also meant substantial spectrum and cost savings. The radios deployed were equipped with remote configuration, control and monitoring software (CCMS) that allows system operators to access their network ‘over-the-air’ (web-based) without having to visit the site physically. This real-time access resulted in reduced travel time and lower associated support costs. Furthermore, the radios have the capability of integrating seamlessly with other on-site IP-based equipment, for example, Cisco routers. This flexibility meant ease of implementation and reduction in the system cost of ownership. By customising the loop Yagi antennas for increased path gain, the end user now has high network availability over long paths in remote areas where most technologies fail to perform at their optimum level. The consistent link availability means high network reliability. Post-sales support service was also provided including on-site and off-site ‘hands-on’ training sessions with BTC and its end users. This level of user support means that BTC’s end user can rely on support when faced with technical challenges, thereby improving its own user service.

“The smooth rollout of the NDL system was said to be the result of the quality working relationship between BTC, MiMOMax and BTC’s public safety end user.”

MiMOMax Wireless Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R800

8 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

Mike Smyth, specialist technical writer

It is hard to imagine life without radio. From commercial two-way to broadcasting, to amateur to specialised services such as the military, the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and education through School of the Air, radio is as ingrained into our activities as if we have never been without it. While the origins of the RFDS goes back to the Reverend John Flynn, it is hard to remember that both aircraft and radios were nowhere near as sophisticated and reliable as they are today. Indeed, pictures of figures on adapted bicycles, pedalling for the power to run these radios, are almost as much a part of Australia as the landings in Botany Bay. Because of its vast area and sparse population, it was natural that the country took to radio like a duck to water. Elsewhere in the world the new science was also being welcomed and put to use. One of its world-first achievements was to apprehend a murderer who, without radio, would probably have gone on to enjoy a much longer life with his mistress. Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen was the first killer ever to be arrested using seaborne radio telegraphy. An American homeopathic physician, who also trained as a dentist, he came to London with his second wife, Cora, in 1896. He was not happy with Cora, who was an unsuccessful opera singer and music hall performer, and he began an affair with his secretary Ethel. After poisoning his wife at a party, he dissected the body, burned the bones and buried the remains under the cellar floor of his home. Cora’s disappearance prompted the police to search the house, although they were told that she had died while on holiday in the US. However, during a fourth search they found the remains of the body under the cellar floor. With this discovery, Ethel became uneasy and the couple fled to Antwerp where, under an assumed name and Ethel disguised as a boy, they boarded the Atlantic liner Montrose, bound for Canada. During the voyage, the ship’s captain, aware of the publicity sur-

12 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

rounding the police investigation into the disappearance of Crippen’s wife, became suspicious of the pair and, using the new technology, contacted Scotland Yard, presumably using a Marconi Spark-gap transmitter of doubtful reliability and range but nevertheless successful. After receiving the message, British police boarded a faster ship and reached Canada ahead of the Montrose. As the liner sailed up the St Lawrence river towards Quebec, the police came aboard posing as pilots and arrested the pair. They were taken back to London, where Dr Crippen was tried and executed at Pentonville prison in 1910. Ethel was charged with being an accessory after the fact, and on acquittal emigrated to the US. That radio is a powerful tool for influencing the masses was quickly realised by some scrupulous and not so scrupulous individuals and governments. Since early on, radio has been used or abused as a tool of propaganda which was brought to a fine art by the Nazis through Joseph Goebbels and Lord Haw-Haw during World War II. It was brought to an even finer art by the Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War. Radio has also been used for a spoof when Orson Welles, in 1938, had America trembling at the knees with his more than realistic portrayal of HG Wells’s story War of the Worlds. This was only a 60-minute broadcast but much of it was in the form of news bulletins, which added to its authenticity and convinced many listeners that Martians were actually invading Earth. Today, radio and its relative television are the mass communicators of the age. They are purveyors of news and events but also attempt to persuade and mould opinions and at times confuse. The trick is in knowing the difference.

“Elsewhere in the world the new science was also being welcomed and put to use.”

www.radiocomms.com.au

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newproducts

INDUSTRY TALKING It is a busy time of year for the association with the successful regional event held in Adelaide at the National Wine Centre in September, planning for the Annual Gala Dinner now in December but still coinciding with RadioComms Connect 2012 and preparation underway for regional events in WA, NSW and Qld with venues and dates to be announced soon. The Spectrum and Technical Committee has been busy meeting with the ACMA on the rollout of the 400 MHz changes and there will be a newsletter very shortly requesting actions by association members to assist with the process. A statistics project has been initiated to gather data about the size of the market in Australia with regular reports supplied by the radio equipment manufacturers and suppliers being collated by the Australian Industry Group and made available through the association to financial members along with more detailed reports to subscribers. A history project has also been launched to preserve the rich legacy of tall tales but mostly true over the last century about the radio industry in Australia and this will be made available as a publication. A new website has been launched and accreditations are being renewed. Visit www.arcia.org.au for more details, to apply for accreditation or to book tickets for the gala dinner. On the ARCIA site, you can also nominate peers for the excellence awards. These prestigious awards recognise the achievements of individuals and teams in the radio communications industry, specifically in the areas of customer services, sales, technical excellence, engineering elegance, contributions to the industry in memory of Peter Wallace, and awards recognising our apprentices and welcoming new talent to the industry. The excellence awards are the highlight of the gala dinner and are becoming fiercely competitive. Now is the time to nominate your co-workers so that the rest of the industry can see their achievements. Use the online form on the ARCIA website to place your nominations and remember, the more detail you include and the more creativity you employ, the easier it will be for the judges to agree that your peer is worthy of recognition. I look forward to seeing you at RadioComms Connect and the ARCIA Annual Gala Dinner which will together serve as unique networking events allowing unprecedented opportunities for interaction with suppliers and customers. Christian Kelly President Australian Radio Communications Industry Association

14 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

USB RF switches

The Lab Brick RF Switch product range has a 10 W power handling capability and offers high-isolation, low-power solid state switch products in both SPDT and SP4T configurations. The fast RF switch, 90 ns from 0.1 to 5.0 GHz, can be used for pulse modulation from any generator and has this option built into its GUI. The LSW Series Switches have manual, internal and external switch control capability, and can be easily controlled and programmed directly from the included GUI or through the external control inputs. Easily programmable for ATE applications, the switches can also be used in WiMAX, 3G, LTE test platforms, and engineering and production test labs. Clarke & Severn Electronics Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R887

Data logger with GPRS static IP address Halytech has released its Spider range of data loggers with a GPRS static IP address. The data loggers feature an onboard web server which, combined with a GPRS static IP address, allows the user to connect directly using a smart phone, tablet or laptop with a browser. No software or web portal required. To make use of static IP addresses which have been available in other countries for many years, the data loggers are fitted with an onboard web server which enables the user to interact directly with the device without requiring an interposing website. Using a smartphone or a laptop with mobile broadband connection, a user can browse directly to their data logger to get an update or to change settings from anywhere in the mobile-connected world. It is suitable for environmental monitoring, trade waste, condition-based monitoring, energy management, water use tracking or any other activity where one might want to get immediate access to data. The data loggers provide configurable I/O combined with Modbus and SDI-12 compatibility to provide flexibility for use with a broad range of instruments. Configuration is achieved through its onboard web server, avoiding the need for special software or licences. Halytech Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S002

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Test set

LDMOS RF transistors

The Aeroflex IFR 3500A radio communications test set provides reliable measurements of the radioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmitter and receiver parameters for AM/ FM, as well as a P25 digital radio test option. With the capability to test antennas and cables, along with the ability to retune antenna duplexers using the tracking generator, the test set adds testing versatility in the field. Under test conditions, there is no need to connect to the radio, connect to the supplied antenna, key up the radio and then measure the radio parameters over the air. There is a push-to-talk button on the handset to control whether the test set is transmitting or receiving. Features of the test set include: 2 MHz to 1 GHz operation; direct connect testing; spectrum analyser with <-136 dBm noise floor; oscilloscope; save/recall user set-ups.

Two laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor power transistors targeting land mobile radio from Freescale Semiconductor, AFT05MS031N and AFT09MS031N, are designed to meet the next generation of voice, video and data services for first responders through the deployment of LTE networks, as well as the interoperability of P25. The unmatched 12 V devices offer high gain and efficiency over the entire VHF and UHF frequency bands from 136-941 MHz. For the first time, these 12 V LDMOS transistors incorporate enhanced ruggedness feature of >65:1 VSWR under both overvoltage and 3 dB overdrive conditions, enabling the devices to survive extreme mismatch conditions. Key features of the AFT05MS031N include: frequency range - 136 to 520 MHz; ruggedness - >65:1 VSWR; output - >31 W; high gain - less than 0.5 W drive for rated output power; >70% efficiency. Key features of the AFT09MS031N include: frequency range - 764-941 MHz; ruggedness - >65:1 VSWR; output power - >31 W; high gain - less than 0.6 W drive for rated output power; >70% efficiency.

TechRentals

Wireless Components

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R293

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R447

PERVASIVE TELEMETRY

16 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Waveform generators The 33500B series waveform generators consist of eight one- and two-channel models, which generate waveforms up to 30 MHz and incorporate Trueform signal-generation technology. Trueform enables the models to provide capabilities for generating a full range of signals for the demanding measurements required when designing electronic devices. The waveform generators are said to provide the lowest jitter and lowest total harmonic distortion, giving engineers the ability to generate the signals they need. With total harmonic distortion less than 0.04% and non-harmonic spurs less than 75 dBc, the range provides clean signals that don’t introduce noise, enabling users to get more accurate results. The generators’ 8.4-ns rise and fall times and low jitter allow engineers to set trigger points accurately. The instruments’ 16 bits of resolution allows users to make output changes down to 1 µV. Agilent Technologies Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R571

2way radio Accessories Supplier

VHF marine radio

Icom has released the IC-M423, a fixed-mount VHF radio. The user interface on the device has a full dot-matrix display that shows all information clearly and menus can be scrolled through by using the directional keypad and multifunction buttons. By using bidirectional noise cancelling, the radio is able to distinguish between background noise and speech, claiming to eliminate up to 90% of background interference. It also features a 10 W internal speaker. An optional addition to the radio is the HM195 CommandMIC 4. The speaker/microphone provides the user with a virtual second station, as all functions can be initiated and controlled from the CommandMIC in the same manner as the main unit. With a microphone attached, it can also be used as an intercom. The device features an IPX7 waterproof design (waterproof to a 1 m depth for 30 min). The AquaQuake feature of the radio also helps protect against water intrusion by emitting a signal from the speaker to expel water from the speaker grill. The radio also provides class D Digital Selective Calling (DSC) to allow individual, group and distress calls to be sent (MMSI required). An NMEA connection is available to connect a GPS receiver (not included), to allow position data to be displayed on screen and sent with DSC messages. When the MA-500TR AIS transponder is connected to the device, it can be used to select vessels on-screen and send DSC calls directly to them. The radio and transponder can also be connected to the company’s MarineCommander navigation system, providing AIS data overlaid on a chartplotter. Icom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q497

Fibreglass antenna and CB radio pack GME is providing the AE4018K1 elevated feed fibreglass antenna with a TX3500 compact 5 W UHF CB radio. The pack is fully engineered and manufactured in Australia. Features of the CB radio include: advanced signal management; dynamic volume control; full-spectrum LCD backlight; rotary squelch, channel and volume controls; open and group scan; rear mic option; CTCSS and DCS; duplex; graphic signal-strength meter; 19 dealer-programmable extra receive channels (403-520 MHz). Features of the antenna include: 477 MHz 6.6 dBi gain - black; ground independent collinear; fibreglass elevated feed with spring; 98 cm long. Standard Communications Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S063

18 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Tri-wavelength ÂľOTDR module

Microwave test system

The latest series of ÂľOTDR modules for Network Master MT9090A platform, a tool for installing and maintaining optical networks, features 2 cm resolution and up to 250,000 data points for accurate mapping events, deadzones of less than 1 m and dynamic range up to 38 dB to ensure accurate and complete fibre evaluation of any network type - premise to access, metro to core - including PON-based FTTX networks, featuring up to a 1x64 split. Dynamic range and performance of mid-range pulse widths are also enhanced to provide better resolution, eliminating the need to test at multiple wavelengths. With power meter, stabilised light source, loss test set, PON power meter and connector inspection microscope options, the tri-wavelength instrument is also available as standalone 1625 or 1650 nm models for maintenanceonly applications. What used to take multiple test instruments or something big and bulky is now replaced by a single instrument, with dimensions of 19 x 9.6 x 4.8 cm and a weight of 700 g; and the MT9090A with MU909014C/15C module is claimed to be the most complete, compact, optical I&M tool available.

Aeroflex has available the 7700 integrated microwave test system, a complete turnkey automated test equipment (ATE) system-in-a-box designed for rapid production testing of microwave and RF components and modules. It is a bench-sized instrument that uses synthetic architecture and common platform hardware to achieve measurement throughput. Using production test sequences provided by the base model, the system provides the functionality and measurements of a vector signal generator, spectrum analyser, vector network analyser, oscilloscope, power meter, frequency counter, noise figure meter and a phase noise analyser. The system has a frequency range of 1 MHz to 6 GHz, with options up to 32 GHz. It includes a complete measurement suite including S-parameters for full characterisation of devices such as low-noise amplifiers (LNA), variable crystal oscillators (VCO) and transceiver modules. Key specifications include - RF modulation bandwidth: 90 MHz; frequency switching times: <1 ms; phase noise (2 GHz, 20 kHz offset): -115 dBm; residual noise floor: <-120 dBm; dynamic range: >100 dB.

Anritsu Pty Ltd

Aeroflex Asia Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/Q428

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R421

20 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

TETRA handset RTO oscilloscopes The Rohde & Schwarz RTO oscilloscopes are claimed to detect and analyse faster than conventional scopes. The digital trigger system delivers good accuracy and the intelligent operating concept and touch screen are intuitive. With an acquisition rate of a million waveforms/s - said to be the highest rate available - the oscilloscopes find signal faults quickly. They even capture and analyse rare signal details that, until now, have often gone undetected. Also available are the RTM mid-range scopes with 500 MHz bandwidth. These are suitable for everyday measurements and offer a maximum sampling rate of 5 GS/s and 8 MS maximum memory depth. As a result, they can display signals accurately, right down to the details, as well as provide high time resolution, even for long sequences. Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R448

www.radiocomms.com.au

The FT4 EX efficient and intrinsically safe Funkwerk TETRA handset is specially designed for professional users and for use in highly sensitive environments. The handset is safe to use in gas and dust atmospheres with a high risk of explosion and is certified in accordance with the European ATEX as well as international IECEx directives (Gas: II 2G Ex ib IIC T4 Gb and Dust: II 2D Ex ib IIIC T125 C IP6X Db). Funkwerk Security Communications Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R649

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

From smartphone to digital radio - how communications technology changes our lives Bevan Clarke, Professional Commercial Radio Solutions, Motorola Solutions

For the past decade and more, advances in digital communications have impacted how we live, work, play and connect with each other. From mobile phones to smartphones, digital technology has evolved to the point where our communications devices are an extension of who we are: we manage our lives through them, our schedules and even our habits.

ut change has been slower to come to some of the core industries in Australia, and understandably so. Here, critical communications are still the exclusive domain of the two-way radio. In some of these industries - security, mining and transport, to name a few - the arrival of digital communications, in the form of digital radio handsets and their supporting networks, are changing the fundamental nature of how work is done, how lives are saved and how profits are made. Indeed, the switch from analog to digital technology in two-way radio is shaping the industries that define large parts of Australian society and, by extension, impact our everyday lives. From simple advances like automated ‘man-down’ alerts on a security guard’s radio to two-way text communication and even live video feeds for miners underground, radio is taking digital technology to parts of our society that consumer phones, no matter how smart, simply can’t reach. Digital radio has now matured past the point where its commercial advantages alone support an investment in the technology. It has, in many other industries such as police, fire and rescue - become the de facto technology for communications, primarily for its safety and rapid re22 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

“Digital radio has now matured past the point where its commercial advantages alone support an investment in the technology.”

sponse benefits.The coming of age of digital radio neatly coincides with the convergence of smart communications in all spheres and industries. Change - rapid change - is one of the constants of the modern age. It won’t come as news to anyone that we now live in an information-rich world. Data is exploding - wireless broadband consumption has trebled for each of the last three years. Global mobile data traffic grew 2.3-fold in 2011, more than doubling for the fourth year in a row, and is predicted to increase 18 times over the next five years. Smart devices are taking over according to IDC, smartphones surpassed personal computers in units shipped for the first time in Q4 2010. This trend continued throughout 2011, with smart device sales outpacing PC sales by 30% in Q3 2011. A major reason for this immense growth in sales has been the develop-

ment of new applications and features that appeal to consumers. We’ve come to rely on smartphones for the convenience they bring to our lives. In a short period of time, they have become a vital companion that helps us to organise our lives in an era moving with incredible pace. At the same time, Australian industries are undergoing rapid change and must remain focused on becoming similarly agile and flexible. This is where digital radio has evolved to stand on its own two feet with rapidly advancing technologies that offer significant advantages. Where smartphones provide us with a link to the different modes of communications we’re marketed to consume, digital two-way radio provides the foundation for life-changing, work-changing communications technology in the industries that drive our society. Digital radio features - such as workforce ticketing - are helping industry to reach new levels of operational performance. This technology makes it possible to send jobs to workers’ radios and to acknowledge the acceptance and completion of tasks in real time. With digital radio’s integration with Bluetooth, it’s also much easier now to connect radios with other devices such as computers and smartphones. www.radiocomms.com.au

digital radio technology

Another vital development in digital radio technology has been the ability to provide greater safety for staff through advancements like GPS tracking. One example I often use to illustrate the impact of digital radio in Australia is Wilson. You may know them as that parking company, but Wilson also operates a security company with more than 3000 security officers, a large fleet of patrol vehicles and three operations support centres located in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. Keeping assets and people secure involves having effective staff on the ground. Therefore, for a company like Wilson, the challenge of managing and supporting security staff to not only keep the day-today security function flowing but also be able to support the response to incidents effectively is critical. As long-standing users of two-way radios, the company moved to a digital radio platform to help its transition to new lines of business, improve efficiencies and reduce costs in an increasingly competitive market. In doing so, digital radio helped to integrate the different divisions of the company, from field personnel to frontdesk sales staff, and provided a secure www.radiocomms.com.au

system that eliminated eavesdropping from unwanted parties. The digital platform and the simplicity of design - one simple push-to-talk button and easily graspable form factor, for example - means that the digital radio will remain a staple of the security industry for decades to come. Not only that, the significant advantages and functionality now made possible by the shift to digital means it is ideal for myriad sectors such as light and heavy manufacturing, security, transport and logistics, hospitality and public service among others. Digital radios feature an emergency button that can be used to easily notify the support centres of an issue, particularly important for personnel working long shifts in often-deserted parking lots out of normal office hours. Organisations like Wilson also rely on digital radio features like GPS tracking to monitor staff welfare. The ability to let a superviser know where you are at critical times (for example, when pursuing an offender) is invaluable from an occupational health and safety perspective. Sometimes where a voice call is not an option, text to multiple recipients can be sent directly from a digital radio receiver, also particularly useful in an emergency situation. Digital radio also makes more simultaneous talking paths possible, and information such as unit ID, status buttons and enhanced text messages can be programmed into a single digital radio channel. Digital signals can be handled by standardised antenna systems and existing infra-

“Where smartphones provide us with a link to the different modes of communications we’re marketed to consume, digital two-way radio provides the foundation for life-changing, workchanging communications technology in the industries that drive our society.”

structure equipment, requiring less capital investment than is commonly assumed. In addition, the digital conversion of a user’s voice reduces external background noises, so the platform is ideal for reducing environmental noise levels during transmission. Lastly, digital radio provides a migration path that allows for simultaneous use of digital and analog radios. This means that existing investments in analog systems can be recouped and extended while the transition takes place. The shift to digital radio won’t happen overnight, and in some industries may not happen at all. As with any technology, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. For most professional industries, radio is the preferred communication device; and digital technology means radio can deliver many of the benefits of today’s smartphones without any of the smartphone’s consumer-oriented shortcomings. Motorola Solutions Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R805

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

NEW White Papers

now available online!

Convergence addresses top six networking challenges An application-fluent network can address the six major challenges businesses face with their current network infrastructures: agility, quality of service, cost, staffing, security and return on investment (ROI).

Bring your own device (BYOD): managing the chaos Enterprise computing is shifting with the diffusion of the BYOD (bring your own device) phenomenon - the latest trend where employees use their own personal devices to access work applications. While this may increase employee satisfaction, it can be a challenge for IT departments.

For these and more White Paper downloads, visit www.radiocomms.com.au/white_papers

MP3/iPod earphone adapter

Stand 6

The iPod/MP3 adapter allows the end user to plug in any headset/earpiece and still be connected to two-way radio. One end has a 3.5 mm connection to plug in the headset/earpiece and the other end connects to a one-wire/ two-wire/three-wire harness that goes directly the chosen two-way radio. It enables staff to be compliant with management requirements using an earpiece/headset of their choice or to provide a solution for covert operation where users need to blend in. The adapter is made of flexible PU cable reinforced with Kevlar for maximum durability. CRS Accessories Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R762

PROFIBUS-Modbus gateway

Stand 120

The Moxa MGate 5101-PBM-MN gateway from Madison Technologies provides a communication portal between PROFIBUS devices and Modbus TCP hosts. All models are protected with a rugged metallic casing, DIN railmountable and provide optional built-in optical isolation. The rugged design is suitable for industrial applications such as oil/gas, power, process automation and factory automation. The AutoScan function can automatically detect all connectedÂ PROFIBUS slave devices and their available I/O modules to quickly complete gateway configuration, after which a data mapping table is created to assist in the configuration of Modbus TCP master (eg, SCADA, PLC) settings. The gateway provides web console and Telnet console for remote maintenance. Each also supports encryption commutation functions such as HTTPS and SSH for preventing unauthorised access. Madison Technologies Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S005

Touch-screen terminal

Stand 10

Data Over Radio each year releases a product at RadioComms Connect. This year it will be the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s software operating on a WINCE6 full touch-screen terminal. With fully integrated job dispatch and in-terminal mapping, the terminal operates with Tait, Motorola, Kenwood and ICOM radios. The terminal operates on NXDN, DMR and P25 digital radio networks. With an easy-to-install vehicle package, the in-vehicle terminal is said to help increase productivity while reducing operating costs. Data Over Radio Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R801

24 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

2012

Where

Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne, Vic, Australia

Workshops

Mon 3 Dec 2 pm-4.30 pm

Exhibition

Tue 4 Dec 10 am-6 pm; Wed 5 Dec 10 am-4 pm

Conference

Tue 4 Dec 9 am-5 pm; Wed 5 Dec 9 am-4 pm

Free exhibition passes are available to qualified professionals - pre-register before 3 December or a $70 on-site entry fee will be charged (conditions apply).

You're invited to RadioComms Connect… This year’s RadioComms Connect is likely to be the largest event dedicated to radio communications and its associated products, services and technologies the country has seen to date. New to RadioComms Connect are the pre-conference workshops, to be run on Monday, 3 December from 2 to 4.30 pm (additional fee applies - limited availability). IP technologies for radio communications professionals Arvind Sharma - divisional manager, RMIT This workshop aims to provide an overview of basic internet protocol (IP) networking technologies and tools for troubleshooting. Digital networks are steadily overtaking analog networks and the use of IP technologies is vital in the current communications industry. IP technologies are being rolled out throughout radio networks worldwide and this workshop will cover topics and terminologies that you need to know about this technology. Radio for IP connected professionals in the networked society Steve Wilson & Peter Gundersen Ericsson The workshop will showcase Ericsson’s realisation of the networked society and vision of 50 billion connected devices. It will also feature how group radio solutions using push-to-talk (PTT) over standards-based cellular networks (3GPP) is one of many emerging applications www.radiocomms.com.au

that can be used to enhance and augment traditional private mobile radio (PMR) press-to-talk radio solutions, while interoperating with but freeing up resources in private network radio infrastructure for the critical and primary role of supporting frontline operations in enterprises.

Towards a broadband future: can LTE ever support the critical communications features required by users of today’s PMR technologies? Tony Gray - regional business development director, P3 communications GmbH, board member and director of the TCCA, chairman of the TCCA’s CCBG.

Highlights of the conference to be held on Tuesday 4 December and Wednesday 5 December include:

Gray discusses the questions that remain to be answered about LTE in his presentation. He will review the current status of LTE and describe the role and functions of the TETRA and Critical Communications Association (TCCA) Critical Communications Broadband Group (CCBG).

Not all networks are created equal Prof Hugh Bradlow - chief technology officer, Telstra In this presentation, Bradlow will look at the changing demand for mobile services and the evolution of network technology to meet these demands. Developing winning strategies for critical communications in a time of rapid technological change Peter Clemons - managing director, Quixoticity Clemons builds on his previous presentations to highlight the challenges and opportunities of a ‘brave new world’. He will discuss developing winning strategies for critical communications in a time of rapid technological change.

For more information about the conference and exhibition, please visit www.radiocommsconnect.com.au or email events@radiocommsconnect.com.au.

The exhibition will feature over 80 exhibitors such as Anritsu, CRS Accessories, Harris Corporation and more. A number of exhibitors are featured on the following pages - see the stand numbers to find their products on display at the event. Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

2012

MCEC Conventio 4 - 5 DECEMBER

AA RADIO LOUNGE

38 119

Electrodata Recorders

Polar Electronics Industries

Powerbox

Radixon Group

Gencom

RF Industries

RF Technology

General Dynamics C4 Systems

Airwave Solutions Australia

GME

Funkwerk Security Communications GmbH

Agilent Technologiges Anritsu Corporation

RADIO COMMS ASIA PACIFIC LOUNGE

ENTRY

STAND

3M 4RF Limited

CATERING

ENTRY

TO CONFERENCE ROOMS

EXHIBITOR

CATERING

EXIT

REGISTRATION

GMG Solutions

7 92

90 106

Rohde & Schwarz Rojone Pty Ltd

75 82

ARCIA

Harris Corporation

ATI Australia

Hytera Communications

Schneider Electric

Auria Wireless

ICOM

Security Solutions Magazine

Australasian TETRA Forum

ICS Industries

Sepura

Axell Wireless

116

IP MobileNet

Simoco Australasia

Benelec

114

JRD- Radio Systems Technologies

Spectrum Engineering Australia

Kenwood

Step Global

Logic Wireless

Survey Technologies Inc

Blufi Wireless Australia C4i Cablex

117

Madison Technologies

Cassidian

McKay Radio Accessories

CISTECH Solutions

MCS Digital

CNE Custom Cables Codan Radio Communications

Technology Decisions

118

Telephus

108 68

MTA Sales Pty Ltd

110

UGL

6 53 108

TeleResources Engineering TRBOnet

CSE

103

CRS Accessories

111

Tait Communications

120

Motorola Solutions

Control Synergy

Daniels Electronics

MiMOMax Wireless Ltd

105

RGL

23 112 13

NEC Australia

Vertex

109

Nexion Data Systems

Vicom

Wireless Data Solutions

Omnitronics

WRAP International

DMR Association

Pacific Wireless Communications

Xworks

dPMR Association

Panorama Antennas

ZCG Scalar

Point to Point Technology

Zetron

Data Over Radio Limited

Duons MCO

26 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Orion

113

73 101

www.radiocomms.com.au

2012

Two-way radio

on Centre R

Radio communication test system

Stand 18

The 3550 is a portable touchscreen radio communication test system that is easy to use for complete radio receiver and transmitter performance testing, cable fault and antenna system analysis. Other features include next-generation touchscreen operation; ability to define test screens and save for future use; internal battery that provides 4.5 h; portability on one charge; light magnesium alloy, 3.75 kg; 0 to 50°C operating range; 0.15 ppm timebase with ‘Freq-Flex’; external flexible frequency reference; complete support for analog and digital technology: AM, FM, P25, DMR, NXDN, dPMR.

Stand 54

The Funkwerk FT4 S is equipped with integrated sensors for the automatic recognition of dangerous situations and the initiation of alarms. It allows indoor localisation in the event of an emergency. The comprehensive range of security features includes cyclic testing of sensor functions and an optional GPS module. Specially developed for personal security and certified in accordance with the German Liability Insurance Association Rules (BGR139), the device offers, in combination with the TSS Security System, protection in hazardous environments and for lone workers. Funkwerk Security Communications Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R626

Vicom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R584

Component-level electronic repair

Stand 106

RGL is an Australasia independent provider of componentlevel electronic repair to the communications industry, operating since 1989. Based in Hamilton, New Zealand, users comprise multinational equipment manufacturers, network operators and end users. Its services include repair, modification, refurbishment, repair coordination and screening (reverse logistics) as well as associated services such as preconfiguration, national spares management, product life cycle extension, repair analysis and hardware design. The company operates a well-equipped facility with ISO9001 certification and staff trained to comply with industry standards such as IPC-A-610E. It has a strong process focus and flexible workforce enabling the efficient handling of over 85,000 items per year across more than 10,000 different part types. It supports products no longer repaired by the manufacturer (life cycle extension); provides a rapid turnaround service; provides configuration, testing, spares management and auditing services; extends equipment life cycles by replacing obsolete components with solutions engineered with modern componentry; provides in-house hardware design and prototyping services; specialises in logistics for communication equipment; serial number tracks all items; operates an integrated repair management system; and maintains hardware and software revision level control. RGL Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R790

www.radiocomms.com.au

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

P25 over LTE push-to-talk system

Stand 80

LTE25 is a narrowband push-to-talk P25 over LTE solution that provides a missing link in the migration of narrowband to broadband solutions and a key component in hybrid LTE and APCO P25 networks. It is suitable for first responders such as police and fire departments as it provides robust, secure voice and data services within the LTE network while still bridging APCO P25 digital radio networks and legacy LMR/PMR assets. The architecture allows the hosting of multiple end-user organisations in a ‘multiagency’ public safety solution. Alternatively, dedicated solution sets can be deployed for specific end users. Among a number of additional network elements, the main part is a high-availability softswitch, which manages calls and services and supports both the ISSI and CSSI interfaces. It also includes an Android client application which is said to improve call quality via a native vocoder, eliminate transcoding latency delay and allow end-to-end encryption between P25 and LTE devices. Other features include push-to-talk group calls, priority and emergency call support, location/tracking services and a geographically dispersed disaster recovery node. Auria Wireless Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R735

Mobiles/portables/base station

Stand 77

The TM9300 mobiles provide trunked DMR operation as well as full MPT 1327 and conventional FM functionality in one device that can roam between DMR and MPT networks. Designed for operation critical environments, the mobiles provide a modern and reliable digital communications solution based on the DMR Tier 3 trunking standard. Facilities to improve system security include registration authentication to access the network. The mobile supports Location Service to know where workers are when they need help and can also improve organisational efficiency. The TP9300 portables have in-built GPS, Bluetooth wireless technology and IP67 dust/waterproof protection. The portables have improved workforce safety with ‘man down’ and ‘lone worker’ included as standard. The TB9300 base station is a key element of an IP connected DMR Tier 3 trunked solution. The system design is simpler, reducing the amount of equipment required. It provides 6.25 kHz equivalent operation and is fully compliant with the DMR Tier 3 trunking standard. The base station is a spectrally efficient solution and also provides deployment and operational efficiencies through capabilities such as data, location services, remote network management and IP connectivity. Tait Electronics (Aust) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R728

28 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Removable hard drive

Stand 36

Electrodata has introduced the RDX media, a removable hard drive with up to 1 TB of storage. It is available on all the company’s recorders: Assurance, Advantage and eXperience. Benefits include: replacement of less efficient and higher maintenance tapes; reduced shelf space for storage; low cost per GB of storage; tolerant to high humidity or high temperature; and the ability to replay archived calls anywhere. Electrodata Recorders Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R788

Software applications

Stand 112

TRBOnet is a range of professional applications designed for Motorola Mototrbo digital radios. The software was developed for dispatch centres that monitor large amounts of traffic. It is suitable for both for dispatchers and engineers. The applications have a variety of customised features for specific industries like mining (blast tone/ radio silence), transportation (GPS, regions and speed control) and security (lone worker, indoor positioning, voice recording). The software allows monitoring of all kinds of radio networks (analog, conventional, IPSC, capacity plus, linked capacity plus, connect plus) using IP infrastructure both as dispatcher and as a radio engineer administering the radio network. TRBOnet Enterprise is a dispatcher product allowing full monitoring and control of radio fleets. TRBOnet Watch is a special administering software monitoring and analysing all data and voice traffic. TRBOnet architecture allows building up of unlimited geographically spread systems via IP networks. Neocom Software Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R756

www.radiocomms.com.au

Radio dispatch software

Stand 47

Stand 66

Digital portable radio

XWIRE 4.0 provides an IP-based radio dispatch and location services solution with support for both conventional analog and Tier II DMR radio networks. Its scalable, multiplatform, client/ server architecture enables Windows, Linux and Mac users to track and communicate with remote radio users across multiple disparate networks. The software provides digital radio support, including private, group and all call capability, along with text message and location services when used with suitably equipped terminal devices.

The Hytera PD792 Ex digital portable radio has a 1.8” highresolution colour transflective LCD display, allowing clear visibility even under outdoor strong sunlight, and a large keypad that ensures precise and convenient operation even with gloves on. MIL-STD-810C/D/E/F/G compliance and IP67 protection provides reliable performance in demanding environments. The polymeric encapsulation engineering is applied to the radio unit and battery, isolating internal circuits from direct exposure to ignitable gas and dusts. The radio has a margin to prevent dust intrusion and deter pressurised water ingress for more than 30 min. A hybrid enclosure design ensures maximum electrostatic charge dissipation and minimum charge build-up. Additional features include: fully compliant to DMR open standard of ETSI; non-slip design; battery latch; tough display; built-in GPS module supports GPS data transmission; voice calls; various analog signalling; supports analog signalling (HDC1200, DTMF, two-tone and five-tone). Hytera Communications Co. Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R598

Voice recording and playback are included, as is a detailed call history and event log. Flexible patching and telephone interconnect features combined with Android smartphone connectivity further extend system capability. Analog-specific features include Selcall encode and decode via the Xworks range of intelligent RoIP gateways, along with remote channel control of supported radios. Voting and switching capabilities within the server also enable it to be used as a centralised communications hub, forwarding selected audio streams between multiple repeater systems. The client interface is fully customisable to suit user preferences, including layout, colour scheme and choice of icons. Access permissions are enforced centrally at the server and can be used to grant or restrict various features, including access to specific radio channels. Xworks, in conjunction with Logic Wireless, will be previewing the solution at RadioComms Connect 2012. Xworks NZ Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R757

30 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Handheld multifunction analyser

Stand 4

The LMR Master S412E is a compact, handheld, multifunction analyser that has been specifically developed for technicians and engineers who install and maintain public safety, utility and private mobile communications systems. The analyser combines industry-standard cable and antenna analysis with the performance of the company’s spectrum analysers, then adds in powerful signal analysis and generation capabilities, including coverage mapping tools for both outdoor and indoor performance analysis. This creates a battery-powered LMR field service instrument for system commissioning, preventative maintenance, troubleshooting and compliance testing of mission-critical systems. The analyser features NBFM mode which analyses carrier frequency, carrier power, deviation, CTCSS/DCS/DTMF, occupied bandwidth; NBFM auto scan locates and locks on to transmitter carriers; SINAD and 20 dB quieting analysis modes; optional digital LMR analysis modes for P25, NXDN, DMR2, PTC; coverage mapping (outdoor and indoor) for NBFM and digital LMR; analysis of data and BER on P25, NXDN and DMR2 control channels; signal generator: 500 kHz to 1.6 GHz, 0 dBm to -120 dBm; P25, NXDN and DMR2 modes provide standard BER test patterns including 1011 Hz, 1031 Hz and O.153/V.52. Anritsu Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R499

www.radiocomms.com.au

Antenna vehicle mount

Stand 68

The Oz-Mount is a rugged and flexible antenna mount for different mounting requirements for cars, trucks and buses. The mount can fit 5/8″ and 3/4″ mounting holes and bull bars brackets. It incorporates an NMO mount with gold-plated centre contact for a solid connection. The matching antenna features a gold-plated press u r e p i n that maintains continuous contact, suitable for communications in high vibration environments. The mount features a side entry low-loss coax (5 m) for added protection. The coax is supplied with a preterminated FME connector and adapters are available to complete a simple installation. Depending on the application, a wide range of antennas can be fitted to the mount for different frequencies, gain and styles. It can be purchased separately, allowing fleet owners to recycle their antennas and therefore reducing stock and changeover costs. Control Synergy Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R803

Radios with full keypad

Stand 92

Sepura has launched a full keypad version of its STP8X series of intrinsically safe, IECEx/ATEX-approved hand-portable radios. The addition enables users to source both full- and reducedkeypad variants from one manufacturer. The radio with full and tactile keypad allows easy access to the functionality on the radio, even with gloved hands. For example, it enables users to easily undertake ad-hoc dialling. It also features an enhanced user interface that offers three different presentation styles, selectable according to the user’s personal preference or operational requirements, which helps facilitate faster deployment and minimises training costs. The radio meets both the demands of v6 of the IECEx/ ATEX standards and the IP67 rating, while providing clarity and loudness of audio, fundamental to user safety. Other safety features include a ‘man-down’ capability which facilitates local and over-the-air alerts. Sepura PLC

AUSTRALIAN M

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R726

ANTENNA

GPS combination antenna

Stand 46

The GPSK-FF is a durable and compact, dual-function, panel-mount antenna with an active GPS element. It can be used as alternative to two antennas for vehicles requiring antennas for both VHF/ UHF and GPS. It can cover VHF and UHF frequencies, depending on the equipment requirements, and fit a wide range of Panorama whips including dual, tri-band, high-gain and wideband solutions. The antenna can be provided with appropriate terminations as an easy-install ‘plug and play’ kit for all VHF and UHF terminals. The dual functionality makes the antenna suitable for public safety, transit and utility vehicles. It can be mounted on a roof up to 6 mm thick using only a single 15 mm hole.

FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDI

AUSTRALIAN MADE

ANTENNAS

FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS

www.zcg.com.au 32 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Panorama Antennas Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R671

www.radiocomms.com.au

N EW

Stand 33

Outdoor modular cabinets

The outdoor modular cabinets have been designed to be used as a single bay or interconnecting to provide flexible combinations to suit specific needs. The modular concept is versatile, particularly in the event of future upgrade or expansion. The modularity of the cabinets allows baying together in side-by-side, back-to-back or back-to-side configurations, with front and rear doors also available. The internal chamber (800 x 800 x 1850 mm) provides an ingress rating of IP65 and is suited to many different requirements. Options include the ICS configurable rack rail systems to 19 or 21â&#x20AC;ł, shelving systems such as battery cabinets or custom-built specifications. A galvanised steel sheet with powder-coated finish for durability, combined with concealed security hinges and locks, provides protection in outdoor locations. Solar shielding with fan-forced air ventilation through the vented hood or the optional heat exchangers and air conditioners (240 v AC or 48 v DC) provides a thermally stable environment. ICS Industries Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R804

Vehicle-integrated/portable car kits

Stand 35

Point to Point Technology will show a range of vehicleintegrated and portable handsfree car kits and in particular the widely installed system eight and nine interchangeable cradle systems at RadioComms Connect. It will also display a range of two-way radio products from the Midland Corporation which will include several products for the Australian and New Zealand 80 channel 477 MHz UHF CB networks. Some models on display will be the HP08 VHF high band and UHF range of portables, HM70 and the HM135, VHF Mid Band and high band mobiles.

www.powerbox.com.au

Point to Point Technology Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R791

www.radiocomms.com.au

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

Console dispatch system

Stand 101

The Acom EVO console system provides a reliable and flexible configuration. It can be connected via IP in either a ‘standard’ or ‘feature’ mode console set-up. The ‘standard’ mode console requires only an IP-connected laptop or desktop PC and a headset. Suitable for mobile command or for temporary dispatch operations, this mode, while only offering audio routing to a single headset or microphone and speakers, still provides functional console features. For more traditional dispatching, or a more full-featured console, ‘feature’ mode provides the full suite of audio routing capabilities and console audio peripherals using a USB-connected audio facilities dock (AFD). The AFD provides a dual-headset operation and up to four speaker connections using Zetron’s purpose-built dispatching speakers. It also includes local digital I/O capability, desk microphone, instant recall recorder, foot switch, local telephone and auxiliary audio interfacing. Other features of the console system include: scales from a few consoles to hundreds; suitable for traditional or mobile command dispatch; bandwidth efficient IP console positions; N+1 redundancy; customisable graphical user interface (GUI); efficient call management capabilities; profile-based logon; interoperable with current and legacy radio and telephony systems; SNMP support; network management reporting; interfacing to third-party CAD. The system supports communications across a wide spectrum of radio and telephone equipment and other communications devices, including P25 (TIA CSSI, DFSI and AFSI), TaitNet P25, CORP25, OpenSky, iDEN, TETRA, NEXEDGE, SMARTNET, SmartZone, TaitNet MPT, ISDN and Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) telephony as well as numerous legacy systems. It also supports DES and AES encryption on its P25 interfaces, including FIPS 140-2 via an add-on encryption module. It supports the use of a key fill device or connection to a key management facility used for over the air rekeying (OTAR). Zetron Australasia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R300

Portable radios

Stand 114

The Benelec BLP400 series portables are compact and lightweight phase I P25 portable radios. They are IP67 rated as standard, offering protection against dust and water. The BLP400C (Commander) option provides ease of use with gloves, with longer toggle switches and a continuous rotating channel selector. The radios are upgradable to phase II P25, which will be available by the end of 2013. They are available in the frequency bands of VHF 136174 MHz and UHF 380-470 MHz and 440-520 MHz. They feature analog FM, P25 conventional and P25 trunking with mixed mode options, vote scanning, MDC1200 signalling and P25 signalling radio to radio direct, 2048 channel capacity and 1/4/5 W output power. The range also provides AES 256-bit and DES-OFB encryption and have FM intrinsically safe options. The radios have good RF performance and large memory capacity. Benelec Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R785

34 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

RF coverage testing

Stand 27

STI Field Test 7 for RF coverage testing has an interface for downloading street map data for Australia, New Zealand and most other regions of the world. A wide range of air interface options is available, for example, STI Field Test 7 with specialised mobiles with P-25 BER capability are available for VHF, UHF or 700 and 800 MHz frequencies. Survey Technologies Incorporated Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R371

In-vehicle charger

Stand 87

The Logic Wireless invehicle charger has a rugged design and modular concept that makes it suitable for public safety, mining, rail, electrical utility and forestry vehicles. The modular system features low-profile, custom-fitting radio holders allowing installation where space is limited and greatly increases the options for in-vehicle mounting. The product design incorporates a low-profile radio holder that is machined from a solid block of plastic. The cradle also features high-impact and vibration-tolerant contacts which are robust and corrosion resistant, and maximises positive contact with the radio. The contacts have a cycle life rating of more than 20,000 battery insertions. This charger is available for a wide range of radio models. Logic Wireless Limited Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R669

www.radiocomms.com.au

Point-to-multipoint remote radios

Stand 19

MiMOMax has released the Tornado series of MiMO radios, secure and industry-compliant narrowband pointto-multipoint remote radios for mission-critical SCADA and demanding telemetry applications. The range includes full-duplex, MiMO, ultrahigh spectrally efficient, low-latency IP solutions. With standard features including low power consumption, scalable data rates, remote network management, SNMP and DNP3 support and a random access protocol, the radios enable next-generation performance while maintaining deployment and operational efficiencies. The remote radios are available in 330-520 MHz and 806-960 MHz frequency ranges in 12.5 and 25 kHz narrowband channels in 6.25 and 5 kHz steps. They come with a dual 10/100 Base-T ethernet switch that supports autonegotiation while standby power consumption of less than 5 W supports long standby and low battery costs. They include a full range of digital and analog interfaces and are packaged in a small form factor with a number of mounting options. An internal bandpass microduplexer further enhances radio performance by assisting to mitigate on-site interference from other equipment.

The radios support software features including local and remote configuration and programming, and local and over-the-air firmware upgrade. Most power sources are catered for by a built-in wide input isolated power supply. MiMOMax Wireless Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R370

HESITANT TO COMMIT TO DIGITAL RADIO? With the advent of digital radio, many organisations are excited by the range of additional features but are daunted by the number of choices. P25, Tetra, dPMR, DMR, NXDN, MotoTRBO, the list goes on. - What if the chosen protocol doesn’t meet future demands? - What if some legislation comes in demanding a change for my industry? - What if other organisations I work with choose something different? - What if I want to phase the upgrade process? Omnitronics’ DX-Altus Radio Management System has been designed to meet these concerns. Using the DX-Altus, you can connect multiple protocols together onto the one network, enabling them to be grouped or patched together. Creating ultimate interoperability.

www.radiocomms.com.au

Challenging Communications Boundaries

East Coast Sales: +61 7 3369 5733 West Coast Sales: +61 8 9445 2633 sales@omnitronics.com.au www.omnitronicsworld.com

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

Omn_15906

Have the Confidence to Implement a Radio Management System that won’t lock you into any one Vendor or Protocol

Stand 56

Digital mobile radio

RadioComms Connect will see the public launch of Simocoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s digital mobile radio (DMR), Simoco Xd. The device is a complete end-to-end system consisting of mobiles, portables and base stations with integrated IP. The hardware is software upgradable from DMR Tier II to Tier III and completely scalable from a single base station to large multisite, multichannel trunking networks. It also supports analog radio modes giving users additional flexibility, with a seamless migration to digital. Supporting instant push-to-talk voice communications and telephone connectivity, as well as open standards applications, the SDB670 digital base station is more than just a radio repeater. It can be interconnected over an IP backbone to form wide area radio systems without any additional or centralised switching components. The SDM600 mobile series combines digital voice and data capabilities with highly flexible deployment and installation options. Essential voice communications are provided while instant text and status messaging are a core part of this digital system. The mobiles also support analog radio modes. The DMR portables provide radio communications in hostile environments, with a feature set including integrated intelligent man down, Bluetooth and full duplex voice, using the full benefits of open interoperability, clarity and messaging inherent in DMR. Simoco will also be showcasing offerings in P25, TETRA and MPT1327 trunked radio. Visit them at stand number 56.

Network receiver

Stand 12

The WiNRADiO RLX-810 network receiver is an integrated turnkey solution to facilitate remote-controlled reception, recording, spectrum sweeping and activity monitoring of the radio spectrum. No additional application software is required on the client side, as it is provided by the built-in Java applet which runs on most common web browsers. This makes it possible to remotely observe signal spectrum, measure signal strength, tune receiver, set demodulation modes, control IF filter bandwidth and other parameters such as volume, notch or audio filtering, and listen to or record the demodulated audio.

ComGroup Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R501

Microwave radio systems

Stand 37

ATI Australia provides custom designed microwave radio systems which provide speeds from 10 Mbps up to a full 1 Gbps for all applications including voice, video and data. The company can provide a single point-to-point network or a network encompassing many sites or a wide area network including: system design, equipment supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance support. In addition to supplying microwave systems and services, the company has designed, deployed and maintained its carrier microwave backbone networks in Australia consisting of gigabit/s licensed radio systems. ATI Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R802

36 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

The receiver system provides a frequency range from 9 kHz up to 1800 MHz, facilitating the most common demodulation types (AM, FM-N, FM-W, SSB, USB, LSB, CW) and a configuration tool via web interface. Audio and IF recordings can be played back to allow post-processing of the received radio signals. All RF monitoring activities take place within the remotely-deployed server system and password-protected users can start various monitoring tasks from different client locations. Active tasks will keep running even if the network connection should break down. Multiple users can concurrently connect to the server and listen to the downstreamed demodulated audio signal. Radixon Group Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R722

www.radiocomms.com.au

Handheld analysers

Stand 32

Agilent Technologies has released 14 FieldFox handheld analysers that provide benchtopinstrument accuracy in field-test environments. Designed for harsh conditions and hard-to-reach locations, the analysers cover satellite communications, microwave backhaul, military communications, radar systems and a wide range of additional applications. The devices can be configured as cable-and-antenna analysers, spectrum analysers, vector network analysers or all-in-one combination analysers. Each compact, 3 kg package is available in four frequencies: 9, 14, 18 or 26.5 GHz. To ensure durability in harsh field environments, the completely sealed enclosure is compliant with US MIL-PRF-28800F Class 2 requirements. To enhance ease of use, the instrument has a vertical orientation and large buttons, allowing users to operate the unit with their thumbs, even while wearing gloves. The microwave vector network analysers provide full two-port S-parameter measurements with a low trace noise of ±0.004 dB and dynamic range of 94 dB (up to 18 GHz). The VNAs offer a QuickCal function, which enables calibration without external accessories. With any other instrument, adding devices such as jumper cables to the test port requires recalibrating with an external calibration kit. The microwave spectrum analysers provide amplitude accuracy of ±0.5 dB at power-up, with no warm-up required, allowing field users to instantly and precisely characterise transmitter power. They can detect more signals in the band of interest with phase noise of -111 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset and measure low-level signals in the presence of high-power transmitters with spur-free dynamic range of 105 dB. The combination analysers’ base function is cable and antenna analysis and users can configure the instrument to do spectrum and vector network analysis as well. To further save space in a field kit, the analysers can be ordered with a built-in power meter, independent signal generator, vector voltmeter, interference analysis, variable DC source, frequency counter and built-in GPS receiver. Among the 14 models are two RF combination analysers: the N9913A (4 GHz) and the N9914A (6.5 GHz). Agilent Technologies Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R475

www.radiocomms.com.au

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

FREE

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Don’t miss out, Register Today! Speakers include: Prof. Hugh Bradlow – Chief Technology Officer, Telstra Chris Chapman – Chairman and CEO, Australian Communications and Media Authority Peter Clemons – Managing Director, Quixoticity Alvin D’Mello – Data Communications System Manager, QR National Doug Booth – Project Director, Country Fire Authority Dietmar Schoeps – Director, Funkwerk Security Communications Marta Fontecha – Transport Area Manager, Teltronic Des Bahr – CEO, APCO Australasia Industry & Technology Focus: • • • •

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Registration Open – secure your place today. REGISTRATION OPEN – secure your place today. Keep up to date, join the RadioComms Connect LinkedIn group today Event partner:

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research & development

Wireless power reaches the heart The feasibility of a super-small, implantable cardiac device that gets its power not from batteries but from radio waves has been demonstrated by a team of engineers at Stanford.

he implanted device is contained in a cube just 0.8 mm on a side and could fit on the head of a pin. The radio waves are transmitted from a small power device on the surface of the body. In a paper, published in the journal Applied Physics Letters, the researchers demonstrated wireless power transfer to a millimetre-sized device implanted 5 cm inside the chest on the surface of the heart - a depth once thought out of reach for wireless power transmission. The engineers say the research is a major step towards a day when all implants are driven wirelessly. Beyond the heart, they believe such devices might include swallowable endoscopes, permanent pacemakers and precision brain stimulators - virtually any medical applications where device size and power matter. Implantable medical devices in the human body have revolutionised medicine. Hundreds of thousands if not millions of pacemakers, cochlear implants and drug pumps are today helping patients live relatively normal lives, but these devices are not without engineering challenges. They require power, which requires batteries, and batteries are bulky. In a device like a pacemaker, the battery alone accounts for as much as half the volume of the device. Also, batteries have finite lives and new surgery is needed when they wane. “Wireless power solves both challenges,” said Ada Poon, assistant professor of electrical engineering, who headed up the research. She was assisted by Sanghoek Kim and John Ho, both doctoral candidates in her lab. Last year, Poon made headlines when she demonstrated a wirelessly powered, self-propelled device capable of swimming through the bloodstream. To get there she needed to overturn some long held assumptions about delivery of wireless power through the human body. Her latest device works by a combination of inductive and radiative transmission www.radiocomms.com.au

“The implanted device is contained in a cube just 0.8 mm on a side and could fit on the head of a pin.” of power. Both are types of electromagnetic transfer in which a transmitter sends radio waves to a coil of wire inside the body. The radio waves produce an electrical current in the coil sufficient to operate a small device. There is an indirect relationship between the frequency of the transmitted radio waves and the size of the receiving antenna. That is, to deliver a desired level of power, lower frequency waves require bigger coils. Higher frequency waves can work with smaller coils. “For implantable medical devices, therefore, the goal is a high-frequency transmitter and a small receiver, but there is one big hurdle,” Kim said. Existing mathematical models have held that high-frequency radio waves do not penetrate far enough into human tissue, necessitating the use of low-frequency transmitters and large antennas - too large to be practical for implantable devices. Ignoring the consensus, Poon proved the models wrong. Human tissues dissipate electric fields quickly, but radio waves can travel in a different way - as alternating waves of electric and magnetic fields. With the correct equations in hand, she discovered that high-frequency signals travel much deeper than anyone suspected. “In fact, to achieve greater power efficiency, it is actually advantageous that human tissue is a very poor electrical conductor,” said Kim. “If it were a good conductor, it would absorb energy, create heating and prevent sufficient power from reaching the implant.” According to their revised models, the researchers found that the maximum power transfer through human tissue occurs at about 1.7 billion cycles per second, much higher than previously thought.

“In this high-frequency range, we can increase power transfer by about 10 times over earlier devices,” said Ho, who honed the mathematical models. The discovery meant that the team could shrink the receiving antenna by a factor of 10 as well, to a scale that makes wireless implantable devices feasible. At the optimal frequency, a millimetre-radius coil is capable of harvesting more than 50 microwatts of power, well in excess of the needs of a recently demonstrated 8-microwatt pacemaker. With the dimensional challenges solved, the team found itself bound by other engineering constraints. First, electronic medical devices must meet stringent health standards established by IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), particularly with regard to tissue heating. Second, the team found that the receiving and transmiting antennas had to be optimally oriented to achieve maximum efficiency. Differences in alignment of just a few degrees could produce troubling drops in power. “This can’t happen in medical devices,” said Poon. “As the human heart and body are in constant motion, solving this issue was critical to the success of our research.” The team responded by designing an innovative slotted transmitting antenna structure. It delivers consistent power efficiency regardless of orientation of the two antennas. The new design serves additionally to focus the radio waves precisely at the point inside the body where the implanted device rests on the surface of the heart - increasing the electric field where it is needed most, but cancelling it elsewhere. This helps reduce overall tissue heating to levels well within the IEEE standards. Poon has applied for a patent on the antenna structure.

Stanford University http://www.stanford.edu

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

Stand 14

Aluminium grid antenna

Polar Electronic Industries will exhibit a range of compact, heavy-duty, all-welded, aluminium, Ø 0.6 m grid antennas at RadioComms Connect. The rugged antenna provides high-quality electrical and mechanical specifications and is suitable for installation at areas with wind speeds of 350 km/h. The antenna has a wide bandwidth of 1350-1850 MHz with a mid band gain of 18 dBi and is also available in other frequency bands. Polar will also be exhibiting a range of VHF/ UHF expandable series add-on Tx combiners/ Rx multicouplers. The add-on Tx combiner/Rx multicoupler is suitable for combining initially 2 to 16 channels (more channels may be added as required) in the frequency ranges 136-174 MHz and 400-520 MHz. The Tx combiner incorporates high ‘Q’ 6″ square cavities (measuring 164 x 164 mm) and high-performance dual isolators having high reverse isolation over wide bandwidth, thus requiring minimum or no retuning, if frequencies need to be changed. Polar Electronic Industries Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R812

Network analysis software

Stand 86

Airwave’s Acuity, an integrated software package with a suite of analysis performance tools, has been developed in Australia and grew out of the needs of mission-critical service delivery. The software can be used by all types of radio, IP data and communications networks, whether in the area of public safety or in the wider business community (eg, mining and utilities). It has the ability to analyse and report on the real-time performance of any network, including a variety of open standard wireless technologies (ie, P25, 3G and 4G, mobile data and paging) and can exist as a stand-alone application on a single PC or be spread across multiple physical servers. Reporting can be tailored but generally covers areas that can impact on operational capability to respond to incidents, as well as during high activity periods. The system can also identify network availability and reveal where coverage is lost or impaired through equipment failure or interference, while trended performance reports can help identify faulty infrastructure or poor performance by individual terminals. Message success rates are also covered and show if there is unexpected latency or congestion within a network and exactly where and why. Additionally, the system provides a diagnostic capability during network establishment and an identification of network usage in the planning phases of network operations and management. The system’s network visualisation provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on the state of a network, displaying congestion or faults and allowing immediate input into incident management and the framework is constructed around data access, integration and data management, aggregation and filtering. An addition to the system is a range of pluggable interpreters, or business analysis modules, that can be used to integrate the data from multiple sources to generate the required outcomes. For example, emergency paging systems can include message delivery delay measurements and message and characters volumes by message type, time period and category. Airwave Solutions Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R389

Point-to-multipoint SCADA/telemetry radio

Stand 119

The Aprisa SR+ is a secure, high-speed point-tomultipoint SCADA/telemetry radio for industrial monitoring and control communications for the electricity, water, oil and gas industries. It is used in a variety of applications. In electricity generation and distribution, it can be used for monitoring and remote control of IEDs and pole-top reclosers and status monitoring of circuit breakers and distribution transformers. In water and wastewater processing, it can be used for poll and monitoring PLCs as well as monitoring and controlling boost pumps and flow control valves. Oil and gas applications include data acquisition from offshore rigs and onshore pump jacks and monitoring transmission pipelines Main features include: high capacity, up to 120 Kbps for data-intensive applications in the SCADA environment; secure: with defence in depth, including 256 bit AES encryption, authentication, address filtering and user access control; futureproof: multiple serial and ethernet interfaces in a single, compact form factor, with four ports configurable for serial RS232 or Ethernet/IP; operates in 400-470 MHz UHF licensed frequency band, with 12.5 and 25 kHz channel sizes, adaptive modulation from QPSK to 64 QAM; easily managed with a GUI for local element management via HTTPS and remote element management over the air, as well as SNMP support for control with a third-party network management system. 4RF Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R673

40 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

Data modem

Stand 15

The Viper SC is a secure, long-range, serial or IP data modem for SCADA, telemetry and other critical applications. It is no longer necessary to choose between ethernet IP and long-range narrowband radio communications. The radio modems deliver up to 48 Kbps IP over longrange licensed channels allowing secure user data brought from the field, right to the radio on the company LAN. The modem is available in both VHF and UHF models with wide frequency ranges and programmable bandwidth (12.5, 25 and 50 kHz), minimising the number of models required to support a system. Security choices are extensive including encryption, VPN tunnelling and radius user plus device authentication. It is a complete IP radio with layer 3 routing, NAT, DHCP, a full SNMP implementation and compression (header and payload). Connectivity options include serial, terminal serving, IP (TCP/UDP) and configurable store and forward. It is available in a range of models remote, remote with dual RF port, standard base station or redundant base station. Up to three speeds can operate concurrently in any one network. Sites with strong signal strength can use the fast speed, typical paths will support the mid speed and weaker paths that may have otherwise needed store and forward can use the lowest speed. Telephus Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R752

Wireless headset belt pack

Stand 110

The David Clark series 9900 is a heavy-duty wireless belt pack system for use in high-noise environments. It is suitable for marine, fire and emergency, military land vehicles, military air crews, construction sites and industrial sites. The system provides hands-free full duplex VOX intercom facilities packaged in a rugged belt pack. Each pack can be interfaced to a specific headset style to suit usersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; specific applications and environments. Secure signalling and multiple gateways ensure no intruders even with many multiple system users.Â The system can be interfaced to existing wired comms systems to further add to its operational feature set. Murray Tregonning Sales Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R573

www.radiocomms.com.au

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

Masterful … is one way to describe Anritsu’s new Spectrum Master family of portable Spectrum Analysers, with coverage up to 43GHz.

The new ‘C’ series Spectrum Master family features five models from 9 kHz to 9, 13, 20, 33 and 43 GHz, with a broadband preamplifier that works all the way to 43 GHz, excellent phase noise and dynamic range. The new fast sweep selection gives an unprecedented sweep speed of around 17 seconds for a 43 GHz span with 30 kHz RBW, obliterating previous conventional measurement time over this span. With coverage from L band through K band and right into Q and U bands, these five new models deliver amazing performance, offering the widest frequency range of any portable spectrum analyser platform. Contact Anritsu today to find out more about the new C series Spectrum Master family of high performance Spectrum Analysers.

Discover What’s Possible™ Freecall 1800 689 685 au-sales@anritsu.com

42 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Digital open standard

Stand 95

The dPMR mode 3 technology will provide a scalable, digital open standard that provides high-level features and good performance. It is the digital successor of MPT1327, developed by Fylde. Icom and Fylde began discussions in 2005 to create a digital upgrade to the analog trunking system. The dPMR protocol specifically targets highly functional solutions by using low-complexity technology. It is a narrowband (6.25 kHz) FDMA system that is 100% digital and offers many forms of voice and data applications. Essentially, FDMA offers 6.25 kHz channels as standard, unlike TDMA, which can only offer equivalence. The reason for this is that FDMA channels are divided by frequency, whereas TDMA effectively splits one 12.5 kHz channel into two time slots. dPMR Mode 3 provides a full multichannel, multisite trunked network, which is fully managed by specific beacon channels at each site. Mode 3 operation is controlled by the Fylde Multilingo controller, which also manages radio tracking, call set-up and maintenance, event recording and online upgrades. The name Multilingo refers to the controller’s cross-protocol communication feature, allowing MPT1327 to talk to dPMR, and vice versa. Existing analog trunked radios can be upgraded one at a time if needed and full-system swap-outs are also possible. When upgrading existing Fylde MPT systems, there is no system downtime and almost no downtime to other systems (provided all controllers are upgraded at the same time). The system also features graceful degradation, in the event of infrastructure failure. It suits a wide range of applications, including mining, security, construction and hospitality. At RadioComms Connect 2012, visit Icom on stand 95 to see a working dPMR system, and be sure to visit the dPMR association on stand 9 for all the latest information on the technology. Icom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R494

Wireless microphone range

Stand 17

X10DR technology by Wireless Pacific provides out-of-vehicle radio users with a secure wireless microphone linked to the imbedded mobile radio in the vehicle. Providing seamless voice and emergency calling for up to 300 m from the vehicle mobile radio, the microphone increases the protective halo of the user to a safety bubble around the vehicle, ensuring constant contact and instant availability to team and control rooms. The range uses digital technology and provides PTT voice, secure communications and emergency digital signalling within a small, lightweight and rugged wireless speaker microphone. Each device is hard-line coded to its host mobile so multiple vehicles can attend an incident without clashing or setting complex priority protocols. It uses convergent technologies such as FHSS designed for multiple users in close proximity. The device operates with analog, P25, DMR, dPMR and TETRA trunked or conventional systems. Pacific Wireless Communications Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R413

www.radiocomms.com.au

Wireless pushto-talk remote range

Stand 7

GME has released a wireless push-to-talk (PTT) remote range. The TX3510W is compact and fully featured 5 W UHF CB radio with wireless PTT and handsfree microphone. Other features include: user-adjustable full spectrum LCD backlight; advanced signal management; dynamic volume control; voice inversion scrambler; rotary squelch, channel and volume controls; open and group scan; rear mic option; memory channel quick select; CTCSS and DCS; duplex; five-digit selcall with quiet mode; digital signal strength meter; 95 user-programmable extra receive channels (403-520 MHz). The latest edition to the range, the TX3520W is a remote mount 5 W UHF CB radio with the same features as the TX3510W. The TX4500W is a DIN size 5 W UHF CB radio with a large high contrast wide angle LCD display, front facing speaker and all other features included in the above models. The W1 wireless PTT and hands-free microphone features a steering wheel mount for convenient and safe operation; flexible mounting options; large PTT button; two user-programmable function keys; and a handsfree microphone with a 2.4 m lead. Standard Communications Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R799

www.radiocomms.com.au

Rackmount DC UPS

Stand 40

Powerbox has released a range of 2U rackmount DC UPS products. The PB251A series are available in 13.8 V @ 20 A and 27.6 V @ 12 A; and the PB314A series are available in 13.8 V @ 53 A, 13.8 V @ 80 A and 27.6 V @ 27 A and 55.4 V @ 13 A. Standard features include LCD display, automatic battery connected test PB251A, separate battery charger circuit management with variable current limiting, battery low-voltage disconnect - LVD option for PB314A and relay alarms for AC fail, DC OK, battery low voltage. Optional network-enabled units are available with a 10Base TX ethernet interface supporting the benefits of SNMP V1 traps, XML and embedded webpage allowing remote monitoring of the power supply system. Powerbox Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R816

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sales@rftechnology.com.au Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

test & measurement

Three ways to solve the problem of obsolete ATE Jochen Wolle, Rainer Lenz, Rohde & Schwarz

Test systems used in aerospace and defence applications typically have a lifespan of 25 years or more - far longer than the lifespans of the individual measurement instruments that comprise the system. Replacing obsolete instruments can have major negative consequences for the deployed test program set (TPS) and for the maintenance, calibration and repair costs of automated test equipment (ATE).

Figure 1: The SMA100A can be controlled by commands other than the built-in native SCPI commands.

y employing instrumentation with a sophisticated emulation strategy, however, the new test instruments can be successfully integrated using a less expensive, more efficient migration path.Â

Solving the problem Between 1980 and 1992, the US Department of Defense spent over $50 billion on ATS procurement. During this period, the standard practice was to develop a unique ATS or ATE to support a single military system, which resulted in a proliferation of hard-to-maintain test systems. Solving the problem of test equipment obsolescence is both difficult and necessary because the cost of system ownership is greatly influenced by ATE calibration and repair costs and by the current maintenance procedure for TPSs. There is also an increasing risk of replacement parts becoming unavailable and of calibration and repair capabilities eroding during the 44 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifetime once the instrument is no longer supported by the vendor.

functional features of the instruments to be emulated.

Emulating obsolete devices

Different strategies

Test program sets used in ATE systems are generally certified, which makes it very time-consuming and costly to modify and reapprove them when an obsolete instrument is replaced. Replacement also triggers software modifications - and the cost of a TPS rewrite almost always exceeds the cost of instrument replacement. It is therefore cost effective to manage instrument replacements without changing the existing TPSs. An attractive migration strategy is to deploy new measuring instruments that emulate the discontinued instruments. This approach saves time and is cost-effective but not trivial. The requirements for the instruments are determined by the test programs themselves and by the electrical and

There are three basic approaches to solving the obsolescence problem: ATEs can be maintained, modernised or upgraded. The appropriate choice depends on remaining ATE system life and on cost. Maintaining an existing ATE by repairing its instrumentation has lower costs and is relatively simple, but is limited to the number of years the legacy instruments are available.Â Benefits are zero or few changes to hardware and software and minimal capital expense. Problems are the limited time span, higher downtime and the increased risk when the product is no longer supported. Modernising or replacing the entire ATE solves the code compatibility issue but also has much higher costs and www.radiocomms.com.au

test & measurement

usually can be done only during major program updates or extensions. Advantages include greater reliability, faster tests and extended life. On the other hand, this approach requires major changes to hardware and TPS that lead to higher complexity, compatibility issues, higher risk and high costs. Upgrading the ATE with modern instruments is a middle way that has the potential to create modern systems at reasonable cost. It requires, however, that the line replaceable units (LRU) or units under test (UUT) give the same response when stimulated with the replacement instrument as they did with the legacy instrument. In other words, the replacement has to be done with code-compatible instruments.

Achieving code compatibility Replacing legacy instruments with new instruments that emulate them exactly usually requires the same hardware interface (GPIB) used by the existing test system. It also requires adopting the existing command language (eg, for frequency and measurement range setting, dynamic range setting and noise-level setting for the replacement instruments). Fortunately, the SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) standard has significantly reduced the problem of interchangeability. Footprint in most cases is not a problem because modern instruments tend to be smaller in size and have lower power consumption. Faster testing (increased throughput, higher yield) may also be possible because the replacement instruments deliver higher accuracy and speed and this can lead to higher margins for the DUTs. Other benefits include minimal hardware and software changes, greater reliability and reduced cost of ownership. Since the late 1990s, remote control of instrumentation has been based on the common SCPI standard. Before that, legacy instruments used vendor-specific command sets that had their own syntax and semantics. To make these instruments compatible with earlier generations at a minimum requires switching from the SCPI parser to a parser for the legacy commands that understands the old syntax. But just translating the legacy commands into SCPI is not enough. The right emulation mode has to be activated first as well as the selection of the emulated instrument model. (Although most of the legacy instruments share a common set of remote commands, each model may respond to the commands quite differently.) Rohde & Schwarz has acquired knowledge and experience in understanding www.radiocomms.com.au

the requirements and challenges of emulating a variety of complex instruments. In order to achieve behavioural compatibility, for example, the emulation capabilities of modern spectrum analysers must appropriately handle different mixer Figure 2: Emulation levels, analog vs mode: Selection of legdigital resoluacy signal analysers to tion bandwidth be emulated by the FSV. filters, and swept frequency spans vs digital FFTs. The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Legacy Pro concept has been developed for precise emulation. It enables an instrument not only to understand the legacy commands for correct implementations but also to generate responses - such as measurement results and query results - understandable to the existing TPS.

Getting into emulation mode Activating emulation mode includes selecting the particular model of instrument to be emulated. Instruments from an earlier family might have a common set of legacy commands but they can show considerable differences in many areas. It is also very important for the emulation to function in both directions. Besides being able to understand and be capable of processing incoming commands, the new instruments must also deliver responses such as measurement or query results to the control program that are compatible with the emulated instrument. In addition, activation of emulation mode enables proper adaptation to the different preset settings of the instruments to be emulated (eg, for a spectrum analyser: span, start and stop frequency, number of trace points, reference level and bandwidth coupling). Activation of emulation mode (or native mode) can also be handled automatically by means of a control command. This makes it possible for new control programs to take advantage of the features provided by instruments in addition to their emulation capabilities.

ID string emulation and response formats To address different members of the same instrument family, simply editing the ID

Figure 3: Emulation mode: Sample selection of a legacy signal generator to be emulated by the SMA100A.

Figure 4: Power meters like the NRP2 are often used in automated test applications. string is often sufficient. For a valid ID string emulation, the response to a query for an instrument ID must match the original. ID strings should also be editable manually. In addition, preset settings need to be adjusted to match the legacy instrument. Properly formatted instrument responses to queries by the control program are essential for proper emulation of previous instruments, along with identical formatting of all parameters (integer, float, ASCII strings) and an identical number of characters. When querying trace data from a spectrum analyser, it is particularly important for the different query formats of previous instruments to be implemented to result in correct emulation. For example, legacy analysers provide different formats for reading out trace data.

Service requests and status reporting Service requests are messages the instrument sends to the controller when specific conditions or events occur that require a response by the controller. An example would be a message indicating that the analyser has completed a sweep. The controller analyses the different events and status messages using status byte queries. Service requests and status reporting present a tricky emulation problem. Although they are defined in the IEEE488.2 standard, legacy instruments implemented this functionality only partially and with different behaviours. Since the requirement is an identical response to service request, not only the status bits of the legacy instrument must Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

test & measurement

be emulated, the behaviour of the status bit combinations generated by the legacy instrument has to be emulated too. The responses of the status reporting (service requests) must be simulated as precisely as possible, including the response times and the related assignment of the status registers.

Modifications may be needed Sometimes a problem arises due to the different functional feature sets of the legacy instrument and the new instrument. The challenge is to replace a legacy instrument eg, HP8340B with a new instrument eg, the SMB100A, when the feature set of the legacy instrument is not a true subset of the new instrument. Normally, an emulation would implement the overlapping functions, but not those functions available in the newer instrument. This can lead to faults. The reason is that very often during the initialisation of the application the legacy instrument calls for a function, which is not available in the new instrument and which is never needed during the rest of the application. The following example illustrates this problem: The HP8340B, for example, sends the command “PD0” to disable the pulse modulation in an application where no pulse modulation is needed. If the legacy instrument is replaced by an

Radio management system

SMB100A without pulse modulation option, this command leads to an error message and possibly to a malfunction of the application. One solution is to implement the unavailable functions as ‘dummies’ for the emulation. This means that set-up commands will be absorbed and polling commands will be answered with default values.

Hardware and timing issues In today’s instruments, signal processing is fully digital. This means that the analog design of legacy instruments must be carefully taken into account, particularly with respect to timing, filters and level aspect. Reference level differences between modern and legacy spectrum analysers, for example, can be adjusted with internal mixer levels. Emulation with digital filters must fit the shape factor of the analog filters in legacy instruments. Modern instruments such as analysers, signal generators or power meters are much faster than legacy instruments. In most cases, this is not an issue and even leads to better throughput. On the other hand, calibration and self-alignment may take much longer in modern instruments because it takes a larger number of correction steps to achieve higher accuracy. In this case, the solution is to reduce alignment to only a

Stand 63

part of the procedure in emulation mode. Another problem on command execution may occur if test programs are not properly synchronised. Many ATEs in use today are facing obsolescence problems in the short or mid-range term. Since modern instruments can now emulate legacy instruments and achieve code compatibility in many cases without modifications to the TPSs, migrating to the new generation of instrumentation makes it a strategy worth considering to keep system readiness at the highest level. Backward compatibility requires both command compatibility and true functional/ behavioural compatibility. The advanced spectrum analysers, network analysers, signal generators, power meters and audio analysers provide built-in emulation to ensure the highest possible code compatibility. The Legacy Pro concept makes it feasible to use the migration approach in test systems if desired and replace obsolete measuring instruments. In many applications, it is possible to continue using existing control programs without any modifications. Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R606

RF engineering consultancy

The DX-Altus radio management system and the GUI, Alto, will be on display at RadioComms Connect. The vendor-independent system is compatible with a range of different protocols that can work together on the one network, giving organisations flexibility. Phased upgrades from analog to digital are also possible. Digital functionality is also included with features such as group calling, individual calling, text messaging and user ID. Administrators can choose which functions they wish to include on the system and what operators can and can’t see, reducing information overload. Additionally, contact lists are integrated throughout all the functions, minimising clicks. The system operates on a Windows 7 platform and has been designed for upwards compatibility on any future releases. Administration and configuration is said to be simple, with the inclusion of a browser-based, remote configuration tool. Administrators can access this tool from any location to monitor the network and/or make any changes.

TeleResources is an Australian wireless strategy and solutions company, founded in 1983. The company provides independent RF engineering consultancy services based on its experience in the design, test and optimisation of radio mobile networks. It also provides training and specialist publications. The company assists clients in making decisions in business investment, market positioning and network implementation. Clients include fixed and mobile carriers, vendors, government, broadcasters, public utilities, emergency services and mining contractors. Projects have included assignments in Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, South America, New Zealand and Australia.

Omnitronics Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R760

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R460

46 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Stand 23

Teleresources Pty Ltd

www.radiocomms.com.au

Communications system

New from Vicom Aeroflex 3550

Stand 61

The latest release o f C 4 i ’s a d v a n c e d SwitchplusIP communications system provides a range of safety features for the oil and gas market and all other industries where safety is paramount. The system provides control room operators with important information such as continual location of workers, location of incoming calls shown on an interactive map display and immediate notification and location of workers in distress. This capability is provided in addition to the system, which already integrates all other voice communications (telephony, conventional radio, public address), CCTV, alarms, facility control and standard operating procedures. Staff in distress can also be quickly located by control room operators with an auto-pan-zoom feature that activates after receiving a man-down or emergency message from a TETRA handset. With these capabilities, control room staff can now quickly guide the closest, most appropriate emergency response personnel directly to the site to assist. In addition, operators can view all of this data on a refreshed user interface. Other features include: direct IP interface for digital radio systems; continuous position information available for all personnel carrying portable radios; location and unit ID for all incoming portable radio calls are shown on interactive maps; automatic vehicle location; auto zoom on map indicating location of radio man-down activation or emergency radio status; modernised user interface. C4i Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R813

Online compliance testing tool

Stand 3

The Oracle is an online tool for compliance checking of 400 MHz band transitions. The re-planning of the 400 MHz band has resulted in the need for many existing licences in the band to transition to new arrangements. The online tool is accessible via Spectrum Engineering Australia’s website. It can analyse the licences held by an organisation under a nominated client ID and report, licence by licence, the necessary changes and the associated deadlines that apply. Spectrum Engineering Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R755

www.radiocomms.com.au

Next Generation Radio Test The 3550 is a quantum leap in radio and repeater site testing. An easy to use, truly portable test system for radio receiver and transmitter site testing plus cable and antenna performance analysis. • Colour touch screen operation • Define and save your test screens • Up to 4.5 hrs battery operation • Only 3.75Kg • Support for Analogue and P25,NXDN,DMR,dPMR

Visit Vicom at RadioComms Connect

Call 1300 360 251 info@vicom.com.au www.vicom.com.au Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

In-ear system

Stand 38

The ORA TAC in-ear system is a combination of lightweight hearing protection, ambient (tactical) listening and the ability to communicate via two-way radios in high noise areas, without the need for a traditional boom microphone. It is designed for high noise work applications where communication is essential. Industries include manufacturing, smelting, mining, fire and rescue, military and aviation. The device fits comfortably in the ear and is compatible with a variety of other PPE, such as SCBA, full face mask, hard hats, welding and sandblasting helmets, eyewear and powered and supplied air respiratory protection. The Tactical Function Mode allows the user to hear conversations, vehicles, warning signal and alarms, while protecting them from sudden impact and other hazardous sounds. In addition to the in-ear headset, the device includes a push-to-talk (PTT) adapter and a quick disconnect cable. The cable connects to individual two-way radios and can be changed when a radio is purchased without replacing the whole system. 3M Australia Headquarters Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R723

RF devices

Stand 82

Rojone will show a full range of specialist equipment including Australian designed and manufactured product solutions. Available exclusively in Australia through Rojone, Satel of Finland manufactures a range of radio modems and transceivers for long-range applications like land surveying or SCADA solutions. The company’s smart radio modems combine TCP/IP functionalities, a Linux platform and a versatile modular structure. Times Microwave Systems has a range of lightning and surge protection products and lightning arrestors for RF communications networks. The Times-Protect series provides power handling capability, longevity, multistrike performance, low insertion loss and return loss over the entire operating frequency band and good surge performance. The company’s lightning arrestors are suitable for oil/gas, electric utility, SCADA, automation, public safety, security and rail/transit applications where outdoor installation is required. Rojone provides quality custom cable assembly and antenna manufacturing services, with IPC accredited operators, test equipment to 18 GHz, automated stripping and crimping machines for volume assemblies through to specialised equipment for heat treatment of cables and overmoulding facilities. Designing and manufacturing in Australia is the company’s core business, producing antennas for CB, two-way, GPS L1 and L2, survey and the cellular in-building communications industry. It has a passive and active component range including dividers, amplifiers, filters, attenuators, terminations, couplers, network combiners, diplexers together with a range of highly integrated devices. Rojone Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R490

48 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

www.radiocomms.com.au

DMR radio platform

Stand 103

Motorola Solutions has launched its phase two digital remastered Mototrbo DMR radio platform across Australia and New Zealand. The 4000 series radios have a range of enhancements; and with the ability to work alongside both digital and analog systems, they enable a choice of open standards for existing analog users. The radios are designed to meet the communication needs of users in a range of sectors such as light and heavy manufacturing, security, transport and logistics, hospitality and the public service among others. Other features of the range include: intelligent audio automatically adjusts volume to accommodate background noise; dual timeslot simplex: conduct two conversations simultaneously; single unit covers two frequencies ie, the full range of 403527 MHz (wideband UHF handheld); fivetone analog signalling; voice announcement for audible confirmation of channel and zone changes; colour screens with intuitive displays; one-touch access buttons to quickly access favourites; integrated Bluetooth allowing Bluetooth accessories/data connection; and integrated GPS.

Two-way radio

Stand 26

The BluFi BW7200 is a two-way radio that has durable construction resistant to shock, vibration and wet weather. The password protection, scrambler encryption and multiple twotone/five-tone make communication safe and secure. The radio is also capable of wide range frequency coverage, clear audio, built-in signalling and customisable alerts. Other features include: IP54 rain resistance, versatile scanning features and a multi six-way charger is optional. BluFi Wireless Australia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R393

Motorola Solutions Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R629

www.radiocomms.com.au

Nov/Dec 2012 - RADIO COMMS

10 minutes with…

Geoff Spring Challenges from reduced funding and rising public expectations, spectrum availability and allocation, and the ability to enable innovation, are major factors likely to affect public safety communication, according to the chairman of APCO Australasia, Geoff Spring.

Geoff Spring is the chair of APCO Australasia. He started in public safety as project manager at the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA). He joined APCOA after responding to a public invitation for independent director positions on the board and has been involved with the Global Alliance of APCO Partners.

50 RADIO COMMS - Nov/Dec 2012

Spring believes that from now until 2020 will be a time of fundamental change for the industry as it gets to grips with the opportunities offered by next-generation technologies such as broadband providing innovation in service delivery through public-private sector partnerships. He said leadership will be essential to achieve these goals with the flexibility to look at other sectors such as finance, entertainment and transport to identify common trends and drive standards-based solutions to common issues. Spring has been involved with the collaboration of the Global Alliance of APCO Partners to produce a corporate plan that defines the market and sector for public safety communicators and information management technologies. The Global Alliance consists of four organisations: APCO Australasia, APCO International, British APCO and APCO Canada. Its role includes providing information and resources to the public safety communication sector around the world. “The ability to define the market and sector for the public safety industry will allow the organisation to support public safety agencies to compete against other sectors for funding. This funding will continue to deliver the services expected by communities in a time of global fiscal constraint. “Only time will tell if we are successful,” Spring said. He has seen many changes since joining the organisation, with many representative bodies cooperating with the Global Alliance to influence numerous industry decisions made by governments, regulators and standard development organisations. An example of this collaboration was with TETRA + Critical Communications Association where the Global Alliance was able to give advice to key decision makers about the need to continue to invest in mission-critical land mobile radio. Spring became involved in public safety communications after being offered a position as project manager for the computer-aided dispatch system for Victoria’s emergency service organisations. He expected the role to be reasonably straightforward, little did he know that it would become one of the world’s first public safety communications public private partnership projects based on the principle of build own and operate (PPPBOO). “Perhaps the emphasis should have been on the ‘BOO’ because it turned out to be a project with so many surprises and challenges,” said Spring. “While it was an extremely stressful time for all involved, it was extremely satisfying each time a new phase of the project was commissioned.” The project brought fundamental and dramatic cultural change to the emergency services environment in Victoria. Now known as the Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA), the organisation operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week with over 600 staff. In the last two years (2010/11), the authority managed almost two million emergency and non-emergency calls, which equates to about one call every 16 seconds, with about 1.5 million dispatches requiring emergency services response. He joined APCO Australasia after responding to a public invitation for independent director positions on the board. “I think anyone in public safety communications eventually comes into contact with the global APCO brand. You have to recognise and respect the history, the knowledge and the achievements made by the brand in public safety communications globally,” said Spring. Looking into the future of public safety communications, he is positive. He believes although there will be difficult periods for the industry, there are also exciting times ahead. “As long as I think that I am making a difference, then I will continue to try and influence decision makers to make the world a safer place.” www.radiocomms.com.au

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