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Advanced P25 Network Solutions Trunked and Conventional operation Standalone sites through to wide area multisite systems Remote multi-hop repeater systems Integrated analogue FM channel support Migration path for analogue to P25 network upgrades

Contact details To discuss your particular P25 requirements please contact W: www.auriawireless.com P: 02 8399 7555 E: info@auriawireless.com

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on your wavelength 6

contents

on the cover

Radio Comms Asia-Pacific September/October 2011

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ditor’s omment

So what should we call our technology radio or wireless? For many, the two names are interchangeable. For many, the word ‘wireless’ is an old-fashioned term that has taken on a new lease of life with Wi-Fi, and other short-range communication systems.

Radio has a French history where one Eduard Branly used the term ‘radioconductor’ towards the end of the 19th century.

The radio part he presumably took from

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the Latin roots of radiate or radius, meaning

Down to basics with antennas - Part II

the spokes of a wheel.

The Americans picked up and quickly

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Records under threat when RadioComms Connect opens

27

Evolving security needs for SCADA radio security

35

DMR gets attention and with good reason

38

radio@work Iron ore mining

adopted ‘radio’ as their own preferred word sometime in the 1920s. Britain hung on to ‘wireless’ and ‘wireless set’, an abbreviated form of the ‘wireless telegraphy’ that was such a phenomenon of the latter years of the 19th century. Strangely, though, Britain named the publication of its BBC broadcast program details ‘Radio Times’.

In the heyday of those large and often elegant pieces of furniture that usually contained an elaborate receiver and a mechanism for playing 78 rpm records, nobody thought to call it a ‘wirelessgram’ - it was known universally as a ‘radiogram’.

So much for the history of the word and its use, which together have become more confusing than untuned signals. Any electromagnetic wave is liable to attract either name.

In Australia, we seem to have comfortably settled into a pattern of talking about ‘two-way radio’ rather than ‘two-way wireless’ and calling our short-range, Wi-Fi-like systems a ‘wireless’ link. This is a division that seems to work well even though the two technologies are identical. It’s a useful separation even if the newer technology name sounds older.

To go back to calling everything ‘radio’ would cause too much confusion. So, for the moment, we are stuck with the two terms that can mean different things to different people.

Mike Smyth, Editor rc@westwick-farrow.com.au

www.radiocomms.com.au

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

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on the cover

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owered by Kenwood’s NEXEDGE technology, Vertel’s Team Talk NXDN network is the first commercial digital network in Australia to successfully integrate Kenwood’s OTAP (over the air programming) manager.

Unique to NEXEDGE this empowers subscribers to request network reconfiguration of their units over-the-air. It is a much quicker and cost-effective method of reprogramming radios than traditional models, which require personnel/ fleets to physically visit a service centre.

The KPG-150AP OTAP manager simplifies editing or adding features, ID Lists, over-the-air alias caller IDs, channels, sites, roaming parameters, etc.

The operator is freed from the expense and lost productivity from collecting or running down fielded radios to write new data to each unit.

The user-friendly Windows interface is intuitive to operate and categorises users by groups and radio system. The OTAP manager compares the radio’s original data archives with any new changes to be sent over the air and then only sends those specific changes for fast and efficient use of air time and less downtime.

Successfully deployed as part of Vertel’s 18-site interstate Trunked IP network, reprogramming can now be made on any NEXEDGE subscriber radio regardless of the state in which they may happen to be using the device. OTAP manager is not limited to commercial networks, it can alvso form part of a private NEXEDGE conventional IP solution for organisations who want full control of their next-generation digital solution.

The platform facilitates full or partial program changes for 1 to 60,000 subscriber units at any one time. It is capable of managing multiple system types, while the software supports multiple serial ports for different frequency band OTAP transmitters.

4 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

It also provides efficient data transfer by compression and sends only the changed data.

Therefore, each radio only takes on average 15 to 80 seconds to reconfigure - depending on data file size.

Larger fleets using identical radio profiles can share the same data file and OTAP manager delivers the programming to each individual unit ID - eliminating the need to create a separate data file for each radio.

The platform’s intelligence is such that multiple unmanned OTAP sessions can scheduled to start immediately or at any preset times for off-peak hours. The updates will run automatically and retry per radio/per session in the event of interrupted contact.

The fail-safe forward error correction functionality ensures that all data sent is received 100% accurately, while each session is logged as pass/fail for each radio and rescheduling if needed. As the radio retains both the original and new data in a separate memory until the OTAP process is complete, the operator can be sure there is no loss of critical information.

In addition to the over-the-air programming functionality, the network can provide interstate communications between the major metropolitan areas of Perth, Sydney and Melbourne, allowing enterprise and government organisations to access any Team Talk NXDN network using a single device.

This means for a lower capital outlay, users have greater mobility in and between states and the flexibility to operate centralised or decentralised dispatch centres.

Kenwood www.kenwood.com.au (02) 8879 2222

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 Mike Smyth rc@westwick-farrow.com.au Assistant Editor Kylie Rhodes Chief Editor Janette Woodhouse Publisher Geoff Hird Art Director/Production Manager Julie Wright Art/Production Tanya Scarselletti, Katie Dean, Colleen Sam Circulation Manager Sue Lavery circulation@westwick-farrow.com.au Copy Control Mitchie Mullins Advertising Sales Australia - Lachlan Rainey Ph 0402 157 167 lrainey@westwick-farrow.com.au New Zealand - Simon Skerman Ph 0800 44 2529 sskerman@westwick-farrow.com.au USA - Huson International Media East Coast Ph +1 212 268 3344 West Coast Ph +1 408 879 6666 ralph@husonusa.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 2011 total CAB Audited Circulation (Aust + NZ) 4,292 (85% 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

Us and e code SAV V+D E

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2nd Annual Australian

FIELD MOBILITY SUMMIT 2011 Applying integrated technology solutions and systems to maximise efficiency in the field

25th - 27th October 2011 | Luna Park Conference Centre, Sydney

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• DISCUSS the potential for mass-market smartphone devices in the field

• HEAR how to introduce e-service and link it to your field operations

Scott Taylor Director – Field Service John Hamilton Executive Manager Roadside Assistance Garry Newton Service Operations Manager Jason Williams National Logistics Fleet Engineer David Weedon Business Implementation Manager David Stickland Director of Capability & Strategy Ravi Ranade IT Manager (Australia/Asia) & Global Supply Chain IT Lead Ron Bousimon Director - Strategy & Operations

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Tait scholarship

P25 Solution Centre opens its doors

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RCIA is seeking applications for its fourth Sir Angus Tait Memorial Scholarship.

Students with a passion for radio communications are the future of the Australian radio communications industry.

Mature age students upskilling or reskilling are also invited to apply.

If your company has a student, an employee studying or an apprentice that is deserving of the scholarship, encourage them to apply.

For more information and how to apply, see http://arcia.org.au/.

Service management for enhanced safety networks

I

n the story ‘Service management for enhanced safety networks’ (Radio Comms Asia-Pacific, May/June 2011), part of the text on page 14 was regrettably omitted from the article. The complete section should have read: A commitment to improve on interoperability performance necessitates the devotion of extensive resources to planning, training and exercising by all agencies involved.

For the best results, it also requires that all communication network providers are very much included in these activities.

As with the Victorian bushfires Royal Commission, reviews following countless other major incidents around the world have highlighted poor interoperability between agencies as a key area for targeted improvement. It is often assumed that technological issues restrict inter and intra agency communication but the development of current communication standards - such as TETRA and P25 - has overcome many of the hurdles that once existed. In the modern environment, most surviving communication deficiencies endure as a result of organisational cultural barriers and from parochial planning and process issues.

irwave Solutions Australia has unveiled the P25 Solution Centre, an industry initiative with the aim of demonstrating to the Australian market the performance and maturity of the P25 open standard with equipment supplied by multiple vendors.

As a dedicated operator of government infrastructure, the company understands the importance of choosing the best and most compatible technology for an organisation. It is with this in mind that it partnered with P25 industry equipment manufacturers and suppliers (including Harris RF Communications, Tait Radio Communications, Auria Wireless, ComGroup Australia, RFI, ICOM and Zetron) to bring the P25 centre into being.

The centre provides an environment that allows visitors to test and verify the equipment and applications from multiple vendors and also confirm the value of these features to their business.

User agencies can define the parameters and participate in the live demonstrations of equipment working together within an integrated environment. Radio terminals can be used on the infrastructure of alternative manufacturers, as defined by the end-user requirements.

Incorporating P25 radio and switching equipment, console equipment and RF systems from manufacturers, full-time engineering support and direct access to participating manufacturers, the centre will allow users to experience first-hand a specified system in a real-life situation.

There are three ways to use the centre.

The first is a short overview aimed at senior managers detailing the features and functionality associated with vendor equipment. This is intended for those who wish to have a more thorough understanding of the type of equipment their organisation is interested in and to gain the confidence that the system they purchase will meet their requirements.

The second provides an opportunity for project engineering teams to see how technical interoperability between systems can be achieved.

Aimed at those who may be interested in certain detailed functionality, these demonstrations involve the detailed configuration of specific testing or assurance activity.

The third activity is aimed at users who may wish to interconnect legacy equipment (consoles or RF equipment) or confirm the operation of new applications (eg, GPS/AVL or data applications) and devices in a secure environment that does not compromise an operational network.

CEO of Airwave Solutions Australia Malcolm Keys sees this initiative as providing users with a ‘hands on’ opportunity to confirm the compatibility and interoperability of terminals and infrastructure from a variety of manufacturers.

“We are pleased to host the centre. This endeavour represents a significant collaboration by the industry, to demonstrate the mature and open nature of P25 standards-compatible equipment.

“Airwave and its parent organisation Broadcast Australia are proud to lend our experience, capability and resources to the centre and look forward to working with both users and manufacturers to demonstrate the innovation available in the local Australian market.”

The centre is now operational and available by appointment. Should you wish to make an appointment to experience the centre, contact Airwave Solutions on 02 8113 4666 or email info@airwavesolutions.com.au for more information.

Partner prospectus

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RCIA has released its Partnership Prospectus for 2011-2012.

ARCIA had immediate interest and welcomes again GMG Solutions (Platinum), AA Radio (Gold), RFI (Silver), Tait Radio Communications (Silver) and RadioComms Connect (General).

They would also like to welcome Radlink Communications from WA as one of ARCIA’s Gold Partners this year.

Expressions of interest for the 2011-2012 Partnership Prospectus are still open, which includes opportunities to sponsor an Industry Excellence Award at the Industry Gala Dinner.

6 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

Registration Now Open

2011

16–17 November 2011 Etihad Stadium, Docklands Melbourne, Australia

WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES FOR A MODERN WORLD UTILITIES — GOVERNMENT — ENTERPRISE — PUBLIC SAFETY — TRANSPORTATION

RadioComms Connect returns to Melbourne this November with an enviable line-up of speakers and the largest exhibition in radio communications Australia has seen to date. With local and international speakers discussing the very latest in radio communication technology, it’s application and future directions, along with a record 60+ exhibitors on hand with their expert technical staff, RadioComms Connect presents you and your team with the very best opportunity to find the communication solutions you need.

In conjunction with ARCIA Industry Gala Dinner Wednesday, 16 November — Palladium on Crown

Why Attend?

• • • •

Visit the 60+ exhibitors See the latest technologies, products and services available Listen as the dozens of experts share their knowledge & ideas with you Join 500+ professionals at what has become the region’s premier solution-sharing event for radio and wireless communications

Featuring Keynote Speakers: GARRY KERR – Manager Systems Support Services, Queensland Dept of Community Safety PETER CLEMONS – Director and Board Member, TETRA Association (UK) MIKE WRIGHT – Executive Director, Networks & Access Technologies, Telstra

In addition to: • Case studies in mining, oil and gas, transportation and utilities • Panel sessions on TETRA, DMR and P25 • Live field demonstration from ACMA PLATINUM SPONSORS:

GOLD SPONSORS:

Two information-packed days including case studies, technical and business case presentations, panel and dealer sessions, backed up with expert analysis and discussion looking at: * LTE * RoIP * Spectrum Management * TETRA * Test & Measurement * P25 * Interoperability * DMR * dPMR * Wireless Linking Solutions * NBN * SCADA and more …

In Association with:

Supported by:

Media partner:

For a full line-up of exhibitors, speakers and topics you’ll see at RadioComms Connect 2011, visit:

www.radiocommsconnect.com.au

© iStockphoto.com/Christian Lagereek

TETRA test inaugurated

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eroflex and fjord-e-design have implemented, for the first time, a TETRA II test system on a portable radio tester, the Aeroflex 3920 digital radio test set.

It allows transmitter and receiver testing of base stations and mobile stations supporting the TETRA enhanced data service (TEDS).

In the implementation, the companies demonstrated TEDS frequency division multiplexing (FDM) signals with 64 QAM modulation and eight subchannels in a channel bandwidth of 50 kHz being generated and analysed, including the generation and analysis of the defined T4 test signal per the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) TEDS standard.

“With this option, Aeroflex can support TETRA engineers in production and in the field to support the new TEDS Air Interface,” said Tom Riedl, product manager, Ismaning, Germany.

The option for the 3920 digital radio test set was developed in a joint project with fjord-e-design, a TETRA-focused engineering company in Flensburg, Germany.

Contact centre partnership

V

icorp Corporation has formed a partnership and reseller agreement with Soanar that will enable the two companies to work together to bring Vicorp’s

communications technology to enterprise-class contact centres.

The standards-based Vicorp xMP suite allows easy interaction with enterprises in ways that improve self-services, lower costs and improve customer loyalty.

Soanar uses Vicorp’s xMP in conjunction with other communication and media server products to offer businesses the flexibility they need to deliver their customers interaction applications by using channels such as voice, mobile video and advanced speech.

INDUSTRY TALKING I recently attended the APCO conference in Philadelphia and it was quite an experience.

I have attended APCO conferences in Australia over the years and it was interesting to see the focus on ‘people’ rather than ‘technology’ at this particular conference.

There was a huge display of technological developments ranging from ergonomic furniture, mobile and portable radios with a growing range of accessories, CAD and interoperability software of growing complexity but simplifying operations, through to complete systems encompassing land mobile radio systems and LTE broadband.

However, apart from this stunning display, the focus was on people, the call takers, the dispatchers and the first responders.

It was amazing to see the development tracks that had been organised that covered people topics like stress, emergency procedures and social networking, with only a few sessions on technology.

A noteworthy development is the work being conducted on NG911, the next generation 000 emergency handling system, which is considering the use of multimedia, rather than just voice calls, for situation analysis.

In other news, ARCIA committee and NSW association members met with the ACMA in Sydney in August and discussed a number of topics including the 400 MHz band changes, the effect of the digital dividend and 800 MHz proposals, the future of fixed links at various parts of the spectrum and field operations.

It was gratifying to see the efforts of the ACMA inspectors, service providers and end users working together in recent times to detect, locate, confiscate and prosecute a number of offenders in various locations.

It was also fascinating to see that, while fines imposed for improper use of spectrum were only in the hundreds of dollars, costs amounted to tens of thousands of dollars.

This is surely a strong deterrent and several examples show that the ACMA is active in protecting the spectrum we use.

ARCIA continues to promote the proper use of spectrum and the danger of grey imports that may not be fit for purpose. We stress that it is the industry’s responsibility not to condone misuse by reprogramming unlicensed frequencies or non-standard approved radios.

Christian Kelly – President Australian Radio Communications Industry Association

8 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

Propagation

Down to basics with antennas Part II Part 1 of ‘Down to basics with antennas’, appeared in the July/August edition of Radio Comms and looked at antenna tuning and gain among other topics.

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ntenna tuning is the process whereby the resonant point of an antenna is adjusted. In most instances this is accomplished by physically adjusting the antenna length.

While simple range tests can be used to blindly tune an antenna, a network analyser is a virtual necessity for serious characterisation. In some cases external inductive or capacitive components may be used to match and bring the antenna to resonance.

Such components can introduce loss.

It should be remembered that match and resonance do not necessarily translate into effective propagation.

In addition to broad concepts of antenna function, there are specific issues of antenna performance that are equally important to consider.

The term radiation pattern is used to define the way in which the radio frequency energy is distributed or directed into free space.

The term isotropic antenna is commonly used to describe an antenna with a theoretically perfect radiation pattern.

Figure 7: Antenna tuning

“In the real world, an antenna will efficiently radiate RF energy in certain directions and poorly in others.”

That is one which radiates electromagnetic energy equally well in all directions.

Such an antenna is, of course, only theoretical and has never actually been built, but the isotropic model serves as a conceptual standard against which ‘real world’ antennas can be compared.

In the real world, an antenna will efficiently radiate RF energy in certain directions and poorly in others. The point(s) of greatest efficiency are called peaks while the areas of no field strength are called nulls.

The overall distribution characteristics of the antenna make up the radiation pattern.

In many applications it is advantageous to have the antenna perform equally well in all directions.

In these instances a designer would choose an antenna style with an omnidirectional radiation pattern as such characteristics would be desirable. In instances where highly directional antenna characteristics are needed, an antenna style such as a Yagi would be chosen.

The term gain refers to the antenna’s effective radiated power compared with the effective radiated power of some reference antenna. When the isotropic model is used, the gain will be stated in dBi (meaning gain in dB over isotropic).

When gain is being compared with a standard dipole, the rating will be stated in dBd (meaning gain over dipole). The gen-

10 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

erally accepted variation between isotropic and a standard dipole is 2.2 dB. Thus, an antenna rated as having 15 dBi of gain would indicate the antenna had 15 dB of gain over isotropic or 12.8 dB of gain as compared with a standard singleelement dipole. Gain is commonly misinterpreted as an increase in output power above unity. Of course, this is impossible since the radiated power would be greater than the original power introduced to the antenna.

A simple way to understand gain is to think of a focusable light source. Assume the light output is constant and focused over a wide area. If the light were refocused to a spot, it would appear brighter because all the light energy is concentrated into a small area.

Even though the overall light output has remained constant, the light will have a gain in lux at the foc iates equally in all directions.

In other words, the higher an antenna’s gain the narrower the antenna’s pattern and the better its point performance will be.

The effective polarisation of an antenna is an important characteristic. Polarisation refers to the orientation of the lines of flux in an electromagnetic field.

When an antenna is oriented horizontally with respect to ground it is said to be horizontally polarised. Likewise, when it is perpendicular to ground it is said to be vertically polarised.

The polarisation of an antenna normally parallels the active antenna element; thus, a horizontal antenna radiates and best receives fields having horizontal polarisation www.radiocomms.com.au

Propagation

Figure 10: Antenna gain

Figure 11: Antenna polarisation Figure 8: Antenna radiation patterns

Figure 9: Light gain while a vertical antenna is best with vertically polarised fields.

If the transmitter and receiver’s antennas are not oriented in the same polarisation, a certain amount of power will be lost. In many applications there is little control over the antenna orientation; however, to achieve maximum range the antennas should be oriented with like polarisation whenever possible.

In the VHF and UHF spectrums, horizontal polarisation will generally provide better noise immunity and less fading than vertical polarisation.

Not all the power delivered into the antenna element is radiated into space.

Some power is dissipated by the antenna and some is immediately absorbed by surrounding materials.

Forward power - the power originally applied to the antenna input.

Reflected power - a portion of the forward power reflected back towards the amplifier due to a mismatch at the antenna port. www.radiocomms.com.au

Figure 12: Multipath Net power - the power applied to the antenna that actually transitions into free space is called the net power or effective radiated power. Net power is usually calculated by finding the difference between the actual forward and reflected power values.

Multipath fading is a form of fading caused by signals arriving at the receiving antenna in different phases.

This effect is due to the fact that a signal may travel many different paths before arriving at the antenna. Some portions of the original signal may travel to the receiver’s antenna via a direct free space path. Others, which have been reflected, travel longer paths before arrival.

The longer path taken by the reflected waves will slightly delay their arrival time from that of the free space wave. This creates an out-of-phase relationship between the two signals.

The resulting voltage imposed on the receiving antenna will vary based on the phase relationship of all signals arriving at the antenna.

While this effect is environmental and not related directly to the antenna, it is still important to understand the role multipath may play in theoretical vs realised antenna performance.

A whip-style antenna provides exceptional performance and stability. A straight whip has a wide bandwidth and is easily designed and integrated. Many designers opt for the reliable performance and cosmetic appeal of professionally made antennas, such as those offered by Linx.

These ‘off-the-shelf’ whip designs are generally made from a wire or cable encapsulated in a rubber or plastic housing. A whip can also be made by cutting a piece of wire or rod to the appropriate length.

Since a full-wave whip is generally quite long and its impedance high, most whips are either a 1/4 or 1/2 wave. The correct length can be found using the formula in the section entitled ‘How is Antenna Length Determined?’.

A helical element is a wire coil usually wound from steel, copper or brass.

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

11

Propagation

Figure 13: Whip antennas

Figure 14: Helical antennas

By winding the element its overall physical length can be greatly reduced. The element may be enclosed inside the antenna housing or exposed for internal mounting.

A helical antenna significantly reduces the physical size of the antenna; however, this reduction is not without a price.

Because a helical has a high Q factor, its bandwidth is very narrow and the spacing of the coils has a pronounced effect on antenna performance.

The antenna is prone to rapid detuning especially in proximity to objects. A well-designed helical can achieve excellent performance while maintaining a compact size.

Helical antenna design is a bit more complex than that of a straight antenna.

It is possible to calculate the length of a helical once the diameter, material type and coil spacing are known.

In most cases, however, it is just as easy to arrive at a design empirically by taking an excessively long coil and tuning it by clipping until it is resonant at the desired frequency. The length may then

Figure 15: PCB antennas

be calculated by the turns and radius values or simply by straightening the coil and measuring it.

The last style of antenna to discuss is the loop trace. This style is popular in low-cost applications since it can be easily concealed and adds little to overall cost.

The element is generally printed directly onto the product’s PCB and can be made self-resonant or externally resonated with discrete components.

Despite its cost advantages, PCB antenna styles are generally inefficient and useful only for short-range applications.

A loop can be very difficult to tune and match and is also sensitive to changes in layout or substrate dielectric constant.

This can introduce consistency issues into the production process. In addition, printed styles are difficult to engineer, requiring the use of expensive equipment, including a network analyser.

An improperly designed loop will have a high SWR at the desired frequency, which can introduce instability. For these reasons loops are generally confined to

12 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

Figure 16: PCB mount antennas

low-cost transmitter devices, such as garage door openers, car alarms, etc.

Some designers attempt to attenuate fundamental output power by shortening or lengthening the antenna to shift its point of resonant efficiency away from the fundamental.

This is not usually a good idea for two reasons.

First, by raising the SWR and reducing an antenna’s efficiency at your intended fundamental frequency you have potentially increased the output efficiency at a harmonic.

Second, by creating such a mismatch the RF stage may become unstable. Some Linx products allow power levels to be adjusted via programming or an external resistor. In other cases an attenuation T-pad should be used.

Finally, in the design process the antenna should be viewed as a critical component in system performance.

Clarke & Severn Electronics Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K691

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Thermal interface material Laird Technologies has released its Tpcm 580SP series phase change material.

It is a screen printable or stencilable thermal interface material with a thermal conductivity of 4.0 W/mK that provides an alternative to thermal grease.

The PCM pad contains a solvent that assists in processing, which allows wetting the surface. After drying, the solvent is moistureless to the touch.

Once the solvent is removed it begins to soften and flow at temperatures around 45°C, minimising thermal contact resistance by filling in the microscopic irregularities of the components it touches.

Because it softens but does not fully change states; it minimises migration (pump out) under thermal cycling from room temperature to chip device operating temperatures.

The material is available in a 0.5 or 1.0 kg can for manual screen printing and large-volume automatic operations. It is suitable for a variety of applications including high-frequency microprocessors, notebook PCs, desktop PCs, computer servers, DC/DC converters, memory modules, cache chips, IGBTs, and motor vehicle and optical electronics.

Tekdis Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K108

Band-pass filters

MiMOMax band-pass filters are designed specifically for the company’s radios but may also be used in conjunction with any suitable wireless transmitter or receiver.

The band-pass filter design is a low insertion loss, wideband solution to fit in both antenna leads of a MiMOMax radio.

With a 5 MHz wide design pass-band, both the transmit and receive frequencies can freely pass through the filter, while out-of-band signals are strongly attenuated.

The filter should be considered for use in sites where there is a large number of transmitters or a few high power transmitters in adjacent or nearby bands that are likely to cause blocking problems.

The wide tuning range, steep filter cut rate together with the high power rating ensure the filters are compatible with a wide range of radio equipment and applications.

In conjunction with optional band-stop filters, the band-pass filters provide a low loss solution to site engineering problems encountered on busy sites.

MiMOMax Wireless Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L182

SEEKING BROADCAST SOLUTIONS? Then contact ZCG Scalar who: INNOVATE, design and configure products to meet your individual requirements

MANUFACTURE to the highest

industry standards

and provide expert SUPPORT during both pre and post sale Contact our experienced team today to discuss your needs on (03) 5157 1203 or view our extensive range of services and products at www.zcg.com.au.

ZCG Scalar will be exhibiting at RadioComms Connect, booth 21 – you’ll be able to speak with our Broadcast Experts plus view our displays and Antenna Technology on offer.

Metering antenna An addition to its low profile smart meter antenna range, the LPAB series takes the features of the original LPA antenna but improves on it for use in the M2M and smart meter industry.

An improved ergonomic design that is weather and UV resistant, the antenna is a discrete, durable, ground plane independent, omni-directional device. It can be installed into harsh environments as it is impact resistant and has a reversible locking nut, making it vandal proof yet easy to install on metal or wooden panels up to 25 mm thick.

The series is available in several dual band frequency combinations between 800 MHz and 2.4 GHz (eg, 850 MHz + 2.1 GHz, 850 MHz + 1800 MHz or 900 MHz + 2.4 GHz etc) with low loss cable and standard connectors.

Panorama Antennas Australia

Antennas made for all Australian conditions 14 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L341

www.radiocomms.com.au

RadioComms Connect

Records under threat when RadioComms Connect opens Once again RadioComms Connect is set to break new ground and set new records when it opens at the Etihad Stadium in November.

At a glance…

Where

Etihad Stadium

When Wednesday 16 November; 8.30am to 5.30pm Thursday 17 November; 9am to 4pm Don’t forget, if you are unable to make it for the conference there is a free exhibition-only pass available for the afternoon. See the website details below.

F

ive years ago when the event was first held, there were 15 stands. This year there are over 60 exhibitors taking up some 75 stands and the prospects are that the 400 visitors of 2010 will be well and truly exceeded this year.

Organised by Westwick-Farrow Events in association with the Australian Radio Communications Industry Association (ARCIA) and supported by TETRA, this major event in the two-way radio calendar continues to gain recognition and strength from year to year.

Today its platinum sponsors are GMG, Sepura, Hytera and Auria Wireless. Gold sponsors are ComGroup, Control Synergy, Harris Corporation, Zetron Australasia, Communications Australia and Tait.

Again, in conjunction with the exhibition, there is a full program of conference topics presented in two streams.

The opening keynote address by Garry Kerr, manager of the Queensland Department of Community Services, will look at the response to natural disasters, especially the recent floods and cyclone Yasi.

Gerry Wright of Daniels Electronics will discuss the latest developments in P25 technology.

Computers and radio technology are intrinsically entwined these days and this is reflected in a paper by Monique Princen, who will look at remotely programming radios. SCADA will come

under scrutiny on the first day when John Yaldwyn, chief technology officer of 4RF, talks about the contrasting requirements of today’s SCADA applications.

The communications challenges set by the Christchurch earthquakes feature in a presentation by Paul Daigneault from MiMOMax when he discusses the real meaning of ‘mission critical’.

Peter Clemons, director and board member of the British TETRA Association, may well introduce some controversy with a series of questions that includes Do critical communications have a future in the broadband age?

He will follow this with other questions including Where will the spectrum come from? and Will existing technologies (TETRA, P25,TETRAPOL,DMR) survive or be replaced by new solutions?

Spectrum is an area that cannot be ignored and Chris Cheah, acting deputy chairman of the ACMA, will give an overview of the various reviews in progress and the current trends in spectrum management. A highlight of the ACMA’s presentation will be a field demonstration of the latest techniques in tracing radio interference.

Day two will see Mike Wright, executive director - networks and access technologies, Telstra, deliver a keynote address on global trends for mobile communications. Latest developments in dPMR, especially in Tier 3, will be discussed by Paul Guerra, who will look

16 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

at this technology meeting the Australian market and in particular, why business will consider this digital radio system.

Later the same day there will be a comparison between DMR and dPMR. Standards and case studies for DMR will also be up for discussion.

In fact, case studies will feature in several presentations. China Light and Power will talk about Petrochem; aviation and transport at Perth airport will come under scrutiny; and a panel discussion will follow a presentation on aspects of the oil and gas industries.

David Cox, ARCIA mover and shaker and operations director of Pacific Wireless, will look at the power and performance of mobile radio networks.

Other speakers include Ranjan Bhagat of Zetron Australia, Maurie Dobbin of TeleResources Engineering, Alex Stefan of Telstra and Roger Kane from Vicom.

One of the now traditional highlights of RadioComms Connect is the annual gala dinner that this year will again be at the Palladium at Crown restaurant.

Last year more than 400 attended this evening of networking, entertainment and awards presentations, including the prestigious Jonathan Livingston Seagull prize.

For more information on RadioComms Connect, email: lcrossley@westwick-farrow.com.au.

For more information on the gala dinner, email: info@arcia.org.au. www.radiocomms.com.au

RadioComms Connect

2011

ol ntr Co ergy Syn

Harris Corporation ess

Auria Wirel

Communications Australia

GMG Solutions / Sepura

LOUNG

E

Hytera

Tait Radio Communications

B

A

Zetron

ComGroup

NGE

SS LOU

BUSINE

TOILETS

ATION

REGISTR

SEMINAR THEATRES 1&2

ENTRANCE/EXIT

EXHIBITORS Exhibitor

Stand No.

Exhibitor

Exhibitor

Stand No.

3M

34

Happen - Jim2 Business Engine 57

Radio Comms Asia-Pacific

66

4RF Communications

73

Harris Corporation

RADIXON Group

14

Agilent Technologies

16

Hytera Communications Co Ltd 63

Repair Group Limited

69

Anritsu

18

ICOM Australia

47

RF Industries

29

ARCIA

68

ICS Industries

51

RF Technology

44

Auria Wireless

49

InterCEL

37

Rojone

45

Australasia TETRA Forum

71

JRD Communications

11

Sepura

62

Barrett Communications

46

Kathrein

59

Spectrum Engineering

8

Benelec

5

Kenwood Electronics

15

Step Global

75

C4i

50

Logic Energy

6

Tait Radio Communications

25

ComGroup

26

Madison Technologies

73

Tekdis

65

Communications Australia

56

Master Communications

41

Telephus

22

Control Synergy

1

McKay Associates

3

Teltronic

64

CRS Accessories

19

MCS Digital

64

Trio Datacom

36

CX Distribution

39

MiMOMax Wireless

7

TRIO Smartcal

17

Daniels Electronics Ltd

72

Nexion Data Systems

60

Vertel

58

Data Over Radio

12

Omnitronics

32

Vicom

4

DMR Association

74

Pacific Wireless Communications 9

Wireless Data Solutions

2

ElectroData Recorders

10

Panorama Antennas

57

Xworks

70

GME

20

Polar Electronics

13

ZCG Scalar

21

GMG Solutions

62

Powerbox

33

Zetron

23

www.radiocomms.com.au

Stand No. 43

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

17

newproducts

IDAS radios The IC-F3103/4103 and IC-F5123/6123 series radios offer the better performance of IDAS, while being a much more user-friendly and cost-effective solution.

The digital IDAS system offers a versatile option for those looking to improve radio communications. On one hand, it is flexible enough to set up alongside existing analog systems, allowing organisations to stage their migration to digital.

IDAS is robust enough to offer a complete digital solution which can be combined with various third-party products to offer a tailored communication package.

The radios offer single- and multi-site conventional communications, as well as single-site trunking. They are fully capable of operating in mixed mode operation (digital/analog) and feature built-in 2- and 5-tone, CTCSS and DTCS. They are also MDC 1200 compatible (limited functions only). Both units are rugged and carry the MIL-STD 810 stamp of approval.

The handheld units (IC-F3103/4103) include a long-lasting power source (BP-265 - 2000 mAh Li-Ion battery), capable of delivering around 16 hours of typical use per charge (Tx:Rx:standby = 5:5:90).

The units also have a channel announcement feature which announces the channel to the user via a preprogrammed voice when the channel is changed. In addition, the units also have a loud 800 mW audio output and feature an IP54 dust- and splashproof design.

The mobile units (IC-F5123/6123) feature a 128-channel capacity. They have an eight-character LCD which is capable of displaying short data messages.

Up to 100 status conditions can be set and then sent with voice calls.

In addition, the units allow GPS to be connected, and have large programmable buttons and a front-facing speaker (4 W).

You’re here.

Ready to respond?

Daniels transportable repeater systems provide a complete temporary radio site. Set up in just minutes! > Long operational battery life

1. Collapsible Antenna Tripod Mast

> Rapid deployment

2. Transportable Repeater

> Full P25 encryption

Icom Australia Pty Ltd

3. 60 Watt Solar Panel

> Stealth & Tactical Packaging

4. 35 Ahr Battery Kit

> Supports all frequency bands + crossbanding

Gas sensor

5. Solar Case & Regulator

5.

4.

2.

1.

3.

www.danelec.com 800.664.4066 or 250.382.8268 sales@danelec.com

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L056

Micronas has released a current measurement transducer and a gas sensor.

The mySENS gas sensing technology represents a versatile integrated sensor based on a CCFET sensor (capacitive coupled field effect transistor).

This technology aims at detecting concentration changes of selected gases in ambient environments in a broad variety of different applications.

Its fabrication process is embedded into CMOS manufacturing so that the sensor can be integrated together with control and evaluation electronics into one single chip.

The CUR 3105 is a current transducer based on the Hall effect and can be used for precise current measurements. The output voltage is proportional to the measured current and the supply voltage (ratiometric analog output).

Major characteristics, such as magnetic field range, sensitivity, output quiescent voltage and output voltage range, are programmable and are stored in the internal EEPROM. It is possible to program different transducers which are in parallel to the same supply voltage individually. The transducer operates with typically a 5 V supply in the wide junction temperature range of -40 to 170 °C. Glyn Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L348

18 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Dispatch system

Network analyser The ME7838A broadband vector network analyser (VNA) system takes advantage of its VectorStar performance.

The system may be configured to include a full range of banded millimetre-wave modules extending the frequency range to 750 GHz and beyond.

Features include: wide broadband frequency coverage - starts from 70 kHz and operational from 40 kHz to 125 GHz; wide dynamic range: 108 dB at 65 GHz and 107 dB at 110 GHz; fast measurement speed: 55 ms for 201 points; high calibration and measurement stability: 0.1 dB over 24 h; compact, lightweight mmWave modules for easy, precise and economical positioning on a wafer probe station - weighing less than 300 g.

Anritsu Pty Ltd

The MAX Dispatch system, an end-to-end IPbased telecommunications console system designed for easy use, is now available.

Features include: intelligent user interface - selectively displays important information.

Helps dispatchers find and use resources that pertain to a particular event or task. Reduces screen clutter; minimises buttons, clicks and steps; improves response times and reduces errors; builtin network health monitor - provides constant, real-time feedback about network conditions; ITEZ - supports the automatic configuration of IP parameters within the local network. Reduces IT labour and helps prevent system conflicts; complete end-to-end network redundancy - keeps the system up and running even if the primary network goes down; the best features of both distributed and centralised architectures - the distributed design allows data and voice traffic to flow directly to the end points of the system, while the centralised intelligence directs traffic and monitors critical system functions.

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K892

Zetron Australasia Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L183

www.radiocomms.com.au

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

19

NEW White Papers Building virtualised data centres and private clouds: the critical role of unified and converged IT infrastructure The stresses associated with the economic crisis are driving several fundamental changes in business executives’ attitudes towards and priorities for IT investments. Put simply, senior executives want to undertake an ‘operational’ transformation of IT to boost the effective use of those assets and make it easier for organisations to react quickly to major positive or negative changes in the business environment.

One of the key strategies that IT teams are pursuing to reduce capital costs while boosting asset utilisation is the transition to highly virtualised data centres.

Read this white paper to see how Hitachi Data Systems is developing hardware and software solutions for enabling converged IT infrastructures.

now available online!

2011 trends in web-driven service and support

Comparing fixed wireless ethernet to terrestrial networks

Ready your infrastructure for the cloud

Not long ago, service and support vendors and practitioners could discuss their industry and mention the internet in passing - a novelty that might someday hold promise as a platform for their customer-facing applications. Today, the industry is at a point where it can nearly remove references to the web altogether when talking about the latest shocking service slight, clever customer comeback, hot or cool technology, application platform or snarky tech community, because it’s almost a given that’s where the action’s taking place.

And a lot of action there is. Read this white paper to review the 2011 trends in web-driven service and support.

Wired or terrestrial networks, in the form of underground copper and fibre-optic cables, have their benefits. But they are not the best tool for every job.

Fixed wireless networks are an alternative to these wired or terrestrial networks. They typically involve directional radio antennas at several fixed locations, providing a costeffective and flexible way of enabling data communications, without the need for leasing or installing underground cables.

This white paper provides an overview of the technology and business benefits of fixed wireless ethernet, compared to traditional terrestrial technologies like copper and fibre-optic cables.

Cloud is here. Nine out of 10 data centre decision makers view private cloud as the next logical step for their organisations. Is your infrastructure fully ready?

With Avocent, you have a proven set of hardware and software options that can help you improve efficiency, adapt quickly, manage power and connectivity, and ensure availability.

More than half (56%) of enterprise IT organisations are building their own private cloud-based infrastructures (Aberdeen). Find out the best practices for ensuring that your infrastructures can handle a cloud initiative.

For these and more White Paper downloads, visit

www.radiocomms.com.au/white_papers 20 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Android platform

Wireless catalogue

FTDI now supports the Android open accessories initiative, allowing engineers to access system designs that are compatible with tablets and smartphones using Android.

Support is provided for both the Vinculum II dual USB host/device controller IC and the Vinco development board products.

This move will benefit engineers using the company’s Arduino-inspired Vinco platform to create USB 2.0 connected embedded systems.

Vinco’s host controller is already integrated into the board itself, meaning that design engineers do not need to budget for an extra USB host controller card/ IC to implement Android open accessories.

The Vinco is a dual-channel USB host/device controller that is targeted at rapid development and prototyping of USB host/device interfaces. It is a superset of the Arduino Duemilanove/Uno with two extra rows of headers providing an extra 10 pins and can be programmed using a subset of standard ANSI ‘C’ using the FTDI free software.

Vinco features an 8-channel, 10-bit ADC, PWM interface and supports connectivity to a wide range of application boards developed by the Arduino opensource community. These include ethernet, motor control, LCD and many other applications.

The Banner Engineering SureCross Industrial Wireless I/O Network brochure is now available in both a print and an interactive version. The brochure provides comprehensive information on a new line of SureCross 1 W radios. These new radios offer increased I/O counts to accommodate most application requirements, in addition to a higher-powered radio transmitter to increase the range of wireless networks.

Also included in the brochure are the SureCross MultiHop radios, which offer ranges of up to 10 km between devices and can be combined to span long distances while providing a reliable communication pathway for all data in the network. These radios create a self-forming and self-healing network that automatically routes data as the environment changes.

From the DX70 platform to the SureCross Performance wireless I/O point-to-multipoint network offering multiple input types and power options, the brochure includes information for wireless solutions that are designed to solve a broad range of application requirements.

Other new brochure features include frequently asked questions and answers that present basic product information in an easy-to-understand format; descriptions of SureCross configuration software; and application examples specific to the needs of factory automation, process control, water and wastewater, oil and gas, and agriculture and irrigation industries.

A free copy of the brochure can be requested at Bannerengineering.com/SureCrossBrochure, and an interactive version is available at catalog.bannerengineering.com/ wireless.

Glyn Ltd

Micromax Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L343

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L311

www.radiocomms.com.au

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

21

newproducts

High-bandwidth connectors

Narrowband units

ODU has developed high-bandwidth connectors both in its standard program and in user-specific systems.

The connectors and cable systems have low reflection, low attenuation and minimal crosstalk among the signal pairs and the required characteristic impedance.

Features include: transmission rates up to 1 Gbps; high density in a compact size; coding possible beyond the connector - not only by cable colour; systems are tested in accordance with the common standards, such as IEC 11801 for ethernet; more mating cycles than standard data transmission connectors such as RJ45; robust for use in harsh environments; different data protocols are possible, such as ethernet, Firewire, USB.

The SD series is the latest generation of GE MDS licensed narrowband wireless devices providing exceptional communication performance and reliability to meet demands for IP/ ethernet and serial solutions, as well as support for multiple devices and host systems.

The series of industrialstrength radios offers secure, reliable, longdistance transmission of data and combines 5 W transmit power and good receive sensitivity to support wide coverage areas and maximum performance when difficult terrain or obstructions such as trees and buildings limit the effectiveness of other wireless devices.

The series operates in the 170, 450 and 900 MHz bands and allows users to select the channel size and modulation option best suited to their unique requirements.

The devices operate in a temperature range from -40 to 70째C and cover distances up to 80 km. The range also offers low power consumption with sleep mode for solar and batterypowered applications.

Maximum reliability is with provided with nonshared licensed band operation; media access control to ensure data arrives without lost messages; ability to handle report by exception events and store forward function, coupled with AES 128-bit data encryption.

Clarke & Severn Electronics Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L296

RFeye Real time spectrum monitoring Mobile broadband access

info@vicom.com.au www.vicom.com.au 03 9563 7844

GE Energy Services Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/K662

22 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Digital multimeters and power analysers

Infrared camera

The Lovato DMG series of digital multimeters and power analysers can provide measurement of up to more than 590 electrical quantities, including harmonics.

Either a modular DIN rail mount or flush panel mount version with an optional touch screen in the panel mount series is available. All types feature an LCD and many versions are expandable using optically interfaced or cable-connected expansion modules.

Expansion modules available include digital I/O, USB, RS232, RS485 and ethernet communications and data storage with RTC. Software is available for remote operation and supervision of up to 250 instruments and remote data logging.

The instruments use an intuitive menu system with graphic display and high measurement accuracy, and they are suitable for use in LV, MV and HV installations.

The FLIR E60 infrared camera is a user-friendly thermal image device with high resolution and refresh rate. It is available to rent.

It can locate issues with electrical equipment, identify faults in circuits and aid in research and development or predictive maintenance identification.

The software provides instant reports with an external window correction function, while Bluetooth makes possible voice recording with text annotation. Wi-Fi also transmits images directly to an iPad or iPhone.

Features include: 3.1 megapixel digital camera; 60 Hz refresh rate; 76,800 pixels (320 x 240) resolution; picture-in-picture (scalable).

Mechtric Pty Ltd

TechRentals

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L302

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L055

www.gme.net.au enquiries@gme.net.au

www.radiocomms.com.au

SYDNEY (02) 9879 8888

MELBOURNE (03) 9798 0988

BRISBANE (07) 3278 6444

PERTH (08) 9455 5744

ADELAIDE (08) 8234 2633

AUCKLAND (09) 274 0955

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

23

newproducts

Maxi jacket bracket

Field analyser

The Australian-made Jacket Bracket Maxi is designed to put two-way radios where they can be heard. It can attach to a jacket, stationary vehicle/equipment or other items, leaving hands free.

The bracket is a safe, secure mounting system for microphones or devices up to 2 kg.

Non-penetrating, the bracket can be mounted to any garment and removed and relocated within seconds.

Constructed from aircraft standard aluminium and stainless steel bolts/screws, it contains high-powered neodymium magnets.

Benefits include: two-way radio adjacent to the ear - hear messages clearly the first time; reduction in lost and damaged radios; easily transferred from one garment to another; no penetration of clothing - magnetic attachment; requires only 40% volume - promotes longer battery life; available for all brands of two-way radios.

The XT series of site analysers from Bird offers a choice of models and can cover the entire 25 to 6000 MHz range in a single unit.

Light weight, long battery life and an easily read colour display make these units a suitable field portable package for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting antenna and cable systems.

The operating menus allow first time or occasional users to quickly make common field measurements avoiding the need to rely on specialist engineer support for routine tasks.

It has good immunity to interfering signals.

Measurement set-ups and resulting traces can be stored locally or exported via the USB port to a local storage device or PC. Additional measurement tools such as wideband power sensors can also be connected.

Two models are available: SA-3600XT and SA-6000XT.

CRS Accessories

Vicom Australia Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L267

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L403

DISPATCH SOLUTIONS FOR ROIP Helping you Achieve Unified Communications

Find out how the IPRdispatch PC software interface and the 960SIP Dispatch Consoles can help you integrate your radio network with other communication mediums to provide unified communications.

24 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

Challenging Communications Boundaries

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

omn_15015

To lead effectively you need to communicate effectively. Omnitronics recognizes this need and as leaders in Radio over IP we have developed a range of Dispatch Solutions utilising the power of SIP. This enables users to bridge communications between Radios, Dispatch Consoles, Telephone PABX, Computers and even your mobile phone.

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Insulation tester Available to rent, the HV Diagnostics Hipot insulation tester 30 kVDC and VLF is used for testing of solid dielectric cables such as XLPE and EPR and performs automatic and integrated load capacitance measurement with optimum frequency selection.

The insulation tester features user-friendly menus, data storage for review or download and fully automatic or manual cable test sequences complying with international standards and guides such as IEEE 400.2, VDE 0296, CENELEC. Features include: large output load capability (up to 5 ÂľF); short-circuited protection; weighs <20 kg; true symmetrical sinusoidal, load independent, output waveform across the full load range; VLF (0.1 Hz), DC (Âą), cable fault conditioning (burning), and sheath/jacket testing modes.

TechRentals Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L307

Portable oscilloscopes The Fluke ScopeMeter 190 Series II is a 2-channel handheld portable oscilloscope that includes a 5000-count digital multimeter and paperless recording modes, creating an advanced test and measurement tool. The unit has a rugged IP51 sealed case that can withstand 3 g vibration or 30 g shock and a CAT III 1000V/ CAT IV 600V safety rating.

Enhancements in the 190 Series II include extended battery life, hot-swappable batteries and a higher safety rating. The ScopeMeter operates for up to 4 h with a 2400 mAh Li-Ion pack (standard with 2-channel models) or up to 7 h with the optional high-capacity 4800 mAh Li-Ion pack. The battery door makes it possible to quickly swap in a fresh, charged battery. Independent electrically isolated inputs safety rated to CAT III 1000 V/CAT IV make it safe for engineers or technicians to measure everything from low-voltage control signals all the way up to a three-phase mains power supply.

The ScopeMeter 190 Series II is available in 200 MHz and 100 MHz, either 2- or 4-channel, plus an additional 2-channel 60 MHz model. The unit has up to 2.5 GS/s sampling rate and memory of up to 10,000 sample points per input. With two electrically isolated USB ports, users can store data to a USB memory device or connect to a PC and transfer waveforms or screen images for data analysis or archive.

Fluke Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L313

www.radiocomms.com.au

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

25

Protecting privacy

Evolving security needs for SCADA radio security John Yaldwyn, CTO, 4RF Communications Ltd, New Zealand

Cyber security is a key issue today and rarely out of the headlines. While most public focus relates to the Internet, SCADA engineers and security experts know that cyber terrorism concerns go beyond the Internet to other vectors, such as wireless.

R

eal threats exist from disgruntled ex-employees, those who ‘hack for fun’, radical protest groups and state sponsored entities who make deliberate attacks against information systems affecting infrastructure, property and lives.

In May 2009, president Obama remarked “The cyber threat to the massive grids that power our nation ... is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation.“ During the World Economic Forum held in Davos in 2009, International Telecommunication Union secretary-general Dr Hamadoun Touré called for an international cyber war peace treaty.

The British minister of state for security and counter-terrorism, the Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones, said in March 2010 “I do not rule out the prospect of an aggressive act of such a scale which deliberately targets the networks that are the nerve system of the country’s critical infrastructure - that is, the energy grid, our water supplies”.

“Utilities must consider and plan for the emerging security regulatory environment that will be mandated by governments.”

With increasing concerns worldwide and high-profile incidents, such as Stuxnet and Aurora, utilities must consider and plan for the emerging security regulatory environment that will be mandated by governments.

Polling telemetry SCADA radio equipment operating at VHF or UHF is a popular and effective means of data collection and remote control. These systems traditionally operated at 300 and 1200 bps using audio frequency-shift key-

ing over analog FM radios operating in 25 kHz channels.

In response to pressure for both higher data rates and for more efficient use of the radio spectrum, SCADA radios are now available from a number of manufacturers that operate at 9600 bps in 12.5 kHz channels.

Users contemplating migration to these devices will benefit from a range of new operational enhancements including IP support and SNMP management.

However, one of the most critical features that must be considered is security.

Radio-based networks offer a natural and convenient vector for hacking, as Australia’s own infamous Maroochy Shire case illustrated, but this need not be a concern if proper security protection mechanisms are implemented.

Figure 1, above: Anonymous, a hacker nom de guerre associated with the image of Guy Fawkes.

The first image is by Vincent Diamante and is from Wikimedia covered under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

26 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

Protecting privacy

In fact an enterprise owned SCADA radio network can be made more secure and operate with higher availability than systems that rely on telco infrastructure, including cellular based systems.

A comprehensive security evaluation is the first step in working towards SCADA network protection. This evaluation should include fundamentals, threat analysis, management and best practice: • Fundamentals: integrity, availability, confidentiality, and non-repudiation • Threat analysis and attack vectors • Management interfaces and protocols • Industry security standards and government best practice recommendations A reliable network must be designed around maintaining integrity and availability. Integrity aims to prevent the accidental or malicious modification of SCADA information transiting the network.

The SCADA communications network must ensure that control messages received by remote assets are the same messages that were originally sent by the SCADA master - a pump ‘halt’ message that changes to a ‘run’ message may have catastrophic consequences.

The network availability needs to be considered, the system is no good if control messages fail to arrive - the pump ‘halt’ message that never arrives also may have catastrophic consequences.

In good RF hardware design the use of forward error correction and redundancy check mechanisms address these goals.

When used in combination with proper coverage planning they eliminate the effect of interference and other potentially negative propagation effects.

A secure network must be designed around maintaining confidentiality and non-repudiation. Confidentiality prevents unauthorised access to data, implemented using encryption to reduce the leakage of information to potential attackers.

Robust and recognised cryptographic algorithms should be used such as triple DES or ideally the newer AES. Encryption on its own is not a security panacea as even encrypted messages can be replayed by the attacker once the consequences, established by some means of observation, of the control message are known.

Non-repudiation goes the necessary step further by establishing the authenticity of data so that valid commands cannot be refuted and invalid commands are ignored, preventing replay and man-inthe-middle attacks.

Authentication requires a degree of sophistication not often seen in SCADA equipment. A useful means of user data www.radiocomms.com.au

authentication is the cipher block chaining message authentication code (CBCMAC) technique specified in the National Institute of Standards and Technology publication SP 800-38C. In military parlance the phrase 360 degree perimeter is used to describe the establishment of an outwards facing defence around a secured objective.

At 4RF we use this terminology to describe the consideration and protection of all the risk vectors of our SCADA radio products. Each possible interface - serial, ethernet, USB, and over-the-air must be considered for weakness from both user data and management perspectives.

Figure 2: 4RF Aprisa SR SCADA radio.

For example, the USB type A interface is used to upload new firmware into the product. To prevent maliciously altered software from being introduced into radios, the hardware is programmed to recognise and load only firmware files, present on a USB memory stick, that have been encrypted with the system key.

The 360-degree concept can be extended to consider management interfaces (further addressed below) and new advanced concepts, such as the incorporation of distributed microfirewall at each ethernet interface, as recommended by the British Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure.

Such microfirewalls should prevent, or at the least control, the use of telnet, ICMP, and FTP protocols. Of course the use of government standards should be an important part of establishing SCADA industry best practice.

One of the key advantages of modern IP-based systems is the relative ease of management through industry standard means, such as the simple network management protocol and often web-style HTTP browsing.

These require user authorisation levels to limit access to parameters. Limiting the number of personnel who can change functional settings reduces the potential of inadvertent or malicious tampering, such as disabling encryption or authentication.

User authentication via HTTPS and SSL should be incorporated with session cookies that expire when the browser is closed. Automatic logout should be mandated so that if users fail to end their management session it will be terminated after a pre-determined time.

Other security precautions such as data/management IP port segregation (only possible on devices with multiple ethernet physical interfaces) should be implemented.

SCADA radio system implementations should consider key security recommendations for industrial control systems published by multiple standards bodies, including: • IEC/TS 62351 (TC57) ‘Power System Control and Associated Communications - Data and Communication Security’ • IEC/TR 62443 (TC65) ‘Industrial Communications Networks - Network and System Security’ • NIST IR-762823 DRAFT ‘Smart Grid Cyber Security Strategy and Requirements’ • IEEE P1711/P1689/P1685 for consideration of serial communications cryptographic retrofits The North American Electric Reliability Corporation, responsible for the reliability of US power grids, has established the ‘Cyber Security Standards’ for critical infrastructure protection (CIP-002 through CIP-009) that provide a useful security framework reference.

CPNI, formally the National Infrastructure Security Coordination Centre, publishes a wide range of references including a good practice guide ‘Firewall Deployment for SCADA and Process Control Networks’.

Just a decade ago there was little interest in SCADA security. SCADA systems today need to be hardened through the implementation of powerful security features.

While some SCADA radios have encryption, few have the necessary features such as authentication, firmware encryption, management safeguards and the other components needed to fully address security issues.

The selection of futureproof designs, incorporating security measures, for SCADA network components is needed to provide insurance against threats as well as reducing eventual compliance costs as government infrastructure security recommendations turn into regulations.

4RF Communications Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L314

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

27

newproducts

Marine navigation system Icom has expanded its product range to include marine electronics. The Marine Commander Navigation System can integrate a compatible VHF radio, AIS transponder, radar and/or fish finder. It also has the capacity to display real-time engine instrumentation via an NMEA 2000 interface (real-time fuel consumption, engine speed, depth, temperature, etc).

The unit also features four RCA video connectors to connect onboard cameras (eg, engine room, underwater). Up to four 12.1â&#x20AC;ł TFT displays can also be connected (two processors required), allowing a variety of information to be displayed at one time (each display is capable of operating in single or 2/3/4 split screen layout).

The display units have USB drives and SD cards ports, allowing the device to display chart information (C-MAP), and backup data. When a compatible VHF radio and AIS unit have been attached, the system will allow DSC calls to be initiated through the main display unit.

The system can obtain real-time vessel and object information, and critical engine information.

Icom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L208

28 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

Transformer ohmmeter

Available to rent, the Megger MTO210 transformer ohmmeter can be used to measure the DC resistance of all types of magnetic windings with safety and accuracy.

The ohmmeter tests transformers and performs low-current resistance measurements on connections and control circuits.

It features: 2Ch digit reading; integrated demagnetisation; 0.25% measurement accuracy; and fast safety discharge circuit.

TechRentals Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L305

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Two-way radio microphones

The CRS-Tait T2000 Series I and Series II Microphones are suitable for use by two-way radio users. The rubber boot is a snug fit on both the Series I (P/N: CRST2000M1) and Series II (P/N: CRS-T2000M2).

Resistors program Vishay says its Foil Resistors division (VFR) has introduced a technical program for users in the US, Europe and Asia that helps in selecting resistors by clarifying the differences among precision resistor technologies beyond the basic information offered on datasheets.

The program, Selecting Precision Resistors, covers the electrical properties and stress factors of thick film, thin film and foil resistors, emphasising the theoretical and actual resistor performance characteristics of Bulk Metalfoil resistors, including: temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR); power TCR (PCR); ESD; short-time overload; thermal EMF and stability.

The program includes a demonstration that illustrates the differences among the three resistor technologies when exposed to several stress factors.

Stress analysis principles are discussed, in addition to methods for locating and predicting stress concentrations in analog circuits using common techniques.

Braemac Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L042

Features include: no RF issues and 12 month warranty; CRS Accessories Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L264

Dispatch system The DX64 Enterprise edition is engineered to fulfil the needs of redundancy in organisations where any down time can result in serious consequences.

It consists of two systems, one a complete replication of the first which is updated at regular intervals. If there is an outage, operators are immediately switched to the backup system without any loss of data.

Soft degradation has been incorporated so that if an individual operator card within the system fails, the operator will be transitioned to an individual backup card without affecting other users.

Omnitronics Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L181

www.radiocomms.com.au

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

29

newproducts

Multipurpose instrument The LeCroy SPARQ (S-parameters Quick) signal integrity network analyser is a TDR/TDT-based analyser that measures 40 GHz, 4-port S-parameters with a single button press.

Fully calibrated measurements can be made in minutes and without any need to connect or disconnect cables to calibration kit standards or electronic calibration modules.

Features provide: S-parameter measurements up to four ports; measurements from DC to 40 GHz; onebutton-press internal OSLT calibration; both frequency- and time-domain analysis; mixed-mode and singleended simulation-ready S-parameters production; advanced de-embedding features; inherent TDR/TDT capability and preview modes for quick checks and debugging.

The analysers connect directly to the device-under-test and to PC-based

software through a single USB connection for quick, multi-port S-parameter measurements.

The instrument is suitable for characterising multiport devices common in signal integrity applications; development of measurement-based simulation models; design validation; compliance testing; high-performance TDR; PCB testing; portable measurement requirements; high-bandwidth, multiport S-parameters.

SPARQ is affordable and simplifies measurements, making S-parameters accessible to all.

It is small and connects to any standard PC through a USB 2.0 interface.

Calibrated measurements are provided with a single connection to the deviceunder-test. It has built-in calibration standards enabling measurements to be made without multiple connection steps and removes the need for additional electronic calibration modules.

Included are all the hardware and software tools to make signal-integrity

30 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

measurements. The tools include mixed-mode S-parameter conversion and port-renumbering, passivity, reciprocity and causality enforcement, and built-in time-domain views like impedance, rho, step response and impulse response.

The instrument can perform all tests currently made with TDR or VNA instruments including: impedance; return loss; impedance imbalance; insertion loss; crosstalk (near- and far-end); differential- to common-mode conversion; common- to differential-mode conversion; intrapair skew; voltage transfer functions; differential- and common-mode step response at input and output ports; mode conversion step response; both mixed-mode and single-ended measurements standard; risetime normalisation for all timedomain results; TDR and TDT mode.

Vicom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L467

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

GSM/GPRS test set Two options for the 7100 LTE digital radio test set are now available. The options support testing of 3G WCDMA/HSPA and GSM/GPRS and data call hand-over between LTE and HSPA. As WCDMA network operators migrate towards LTE, the devices used by their subscribers will need to operate with legacy 2G and 3G networks as well as new LTE networks. Devices must hand over seamlessly between networks when appropriate.

Options 103 and 105 for the 7100 LTE digital radio test set facilitate testing these multi-mode devices across all the standards they are required to support and test data hand-over between LTE and HSPA. The 7100 LTE test set with option 103 provides test capabilities for GSM/GPRS. Option 105 extends the instrument’s capability to include WCDMA and HSPA. The 7100 provides manufacturers of both mobile terminals and chipsets with a simple unified test environment to fully test all the radio access technologies supported by the device under test.

Aeroflex Asia Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L051

More RFID support Epicor Software now supports radio frequency identification (RFID) as part of its end-to-end Epicor for Distribution solution.

With support for both inbound and outbound RFID, the solution helps midmarket companies meet commercial expectations for distribution and logistics networks.

The inbound RFID capabilities allow for receiving purchase orders against an advanced ship notifications by reading RFID tags.

The system adds new screens that enable RFID device configuration and receiving and do not require lineof-sight for scanning by using readable-writable tags.

The outbound functionality enables tags to be written from the solution’s warehouse management and data collection suite modules during sales order shipping or packout.

The electronic product code data that is written to the tags is stored in the system and is accessible for tracking. EPC data will be available for carton and pallet level shipping labels and will also be included on Outbound ASN’s.

The system also includes enhancements to inventory management including auto-close month-end processing, lot/serial costing and a broader range of global and industry-specific item coding standards.

www.powerbox.com.au

Epicor Software Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L046

www.radiocomms.com.au

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

31

newproducts

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

Duplex intercom 3M Peltor with PWC have announced the DECT-Com II wireless duplex intercom system. Operating at 1.8 GHz DECT, it allows up to nine users to communicate in full duplex within a work team.

The system is designed for personnel communications in high noise environments, combining the priorities of team-based communications with the need for personal headsets and ear protection.

In development, Peltor worked closely with industrial users to determine what they needed for improved team-based headsets in a variety of environments.

The system provides new levels of comfort, clarity and full duplex team-based communications.

A feature is the ability to connect to an existing two-way radio system for interoperability and cross-team communications.

Users can PTT and instantly talk to any digital or analog on-site radio system and it can be configured for multi-groups and customised for a variety of operational scenarios.

PWC is based in Burwood, Victoria and services the Australian and New Zealand two-way distributor and dealer industry, in addition to providing sophisticated tactical digital solutions to law enforcement and allied government agencies.

Pacific Wireless Communications Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L532

Frequency standard The NFS-220 plus is a low-cost GPS time and frequency standard with a large display that reads time and date. This unit can be used for WI-FI, Wi-Max, satellite communications, telecommunications and military communications.

This frequency standard is the latest of Brandywine’s GPS synchronising clocks and uses a high performance 16-channel receiver with automatic position-averaging that enables the best use of GPS when operating in a fixed location. The standard plus includes four low phase noise 10 MHz outputs, 4 1PPS outputs with individual 600 PS propagation delay compensation, IRIG, Have Quick, and NTP outputs.

Unitronix Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L356

Handheld GPS Garmin has released a handheld GPS for both outdoors and on-road navigation - the Montana 650T preloaded with Topo Australia and New Zealand mapping. When connected to the included auto mount, it will guide with spoken instructions.

The device can give spoken turn-by-turn directions.

The 4″ touchscreen can be rotated to view in either portrait or landscape modes and it features a 5 MP camera with autofocus and automatic geotagging. Other features include a tilt-compensated, 3-axis electronic compass, barometric altimeter and paperless geocaching. It also has a 3.5 GB internal memory and microSD card slot - to load additional mapping.

It is the first of their handhelds that can be charged either by three AA batteries or the included lithium ion battery.

Johnny Appleseed GPS Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L538

32 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

High bandwidth scopes

The LeCroy WaveMaster 8 Zi-A oscilloscopes combine what is claimed to be the highest bandwidth (45 GHz) and sample rate (120 GS/s) with good signal fidelity performance and 20 GHz on all four input channels.

Models are available from 4 to 45 GHz with complete bandwidth upgradability throughout the range. The X-Stream II architecture maximises speed in all aspects and provides for full analysis on maximum record lengths using LeCroy’s deep analysis toolbox.

The company uses widely adopted and proven SiGe processes, custom second-generation ASIC designs and sixth-generation digital bandwidth interleave to achieve real-time performance of 45 GHz; 120 GS/s; 768 Mpts/ ch analysis memory; and 20 GHz/4-ch model.

www.radiocomms.com.au

Four-channel performance at 20 GHz has good rise time, overshoot, total and random jitter noise floor and electrical noise performance.

The series’ X-Stream II architecture supports capturing, zooming, measuring and analysing multiple waveforms at up to 768 Mpts deep. The architecture design is augmented with a Core 2 Quad processor (12 GHz effective clock rate), high-speed serial data buses, Windows 7 64-bit OS and 8 GB of RAM giving a processing speed that is said to be 10-100x faster than similar instruments.

An accurate and stable time base is incorporated for the best possible jitter measurement accuracy and the noise floor is down to 125 fs rms.

High bandwidth differential probes (up to 25 GHz), single-ended active probes, current probes, high-voltage and mixed signals all connect to the oscilloscope and give a total system view.

All the oscilloscopes contain selectable 50 Ω and 1 MΩ input capability and can be used with any LeCroy probe - passive or active - without requiring external adapters or power supplies.

Vicom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L463

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

33

newproducts

Wireless PTT

Portable labeller

With the ongoing changes in OH&S, CRS Accessories has available the hands-free Wireless PTT Footswitch.

It can be used by crane and other vehicle operators w h o must have both hands on the controls but need to be in constant communication via their mobile two-way radio.

The wireless footswitch can eliminate, in most instances, costly fit-outs.

The Wireless PTT button (transmitter) has been built into a commercial-grade footswitch that can be easily fitted to the crane/vehicle. The transmitter is IP67 rated and completely waterproof. There is no charging of batteries as this product has been designed to be pressed 300,000 times (approximately two years) before the button needs replacing. If the button does fail there is a second PTT back-up button located on the receiver.

The microphone is designed to be mounted on the door pillar of the vehicle or, if there is already a gooseneck mic in the vehicle, secured to this apparatus. A built-in amplifier in the microphone provides high sensitivity allowing the operator to comfortably communicate back to base in their normal seated position.

It is suitable for all brands of two-way vehicle radios.

The device is easy to install as it simply plugs into the front of the radio. Where this is not possible, an unterminated version is available which can be hardwired at the rear of the radio.

The Wireless PTT is CE approved and suitable for leveroperated heavy machinery, cranes and any vehicle where a footswitch is required.

The Brother PT-7100VP is a compact, portable labelling machine that uses the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s laminated tapes.

Intuitive to use, the deviceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s function key allows quick access to all machine settings, including: size, style, width, memory and print options. Using these settings there is a choice between nine print styles in 15 sizes and six frame styles that allow up to two lines of text to be printed out.

The device features over 35 common electrical- and audiovisual-related symbols, making it suitable for electricians and other related industries. It can also be used by other tradespeople such as builders or carpenters to label tools and markers on job sites. If a particular label is frequently used, it can be saved and recalled in seconds.

The machine is compatible with 71 different-sized tapes of a variety of colours and widths. A protective rubber hand grip makes the labeller sturdy, while its dual battery and adapter capability means flexibility of use.

Also included with the labeller is a carry and storage case with room for the included AC adapter and backup tapes.

CRS Accessories

Brother International (Aust) Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L265

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L308

34 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

Technology

© iStockphoto.com/Rachel Donahue

DMR gets attention and with good reason Matt Kelly, group managing director, Combined Communications and Wireless Data Solutions

Previous articles in Radio Comms Asia-Pacific have presented varying views on DMR technology and may have led some readers to believe that DMR is another digital radio ‘flash in the pan’ that has no place in an already busy Australian digital radio landscape.

M

y own view is that nothing could be further from the truth and that with the current availability in Australia of ETSI open standard DMR products that range from Tier III wide area trunking systems to conventional IP connected, there has never been a better time of real choice for digital radio purchasers.

Unlike the manufacturers of the vast majority of other digital offerings, there are large and well-funded manufacturers who are not afraid to produce an open standard digital radio product.

Radio system planners, consultants, network vendors and end users now have the ability to implement digital radio that allows seamless operation of other manufacturers’ equipment and to benefit from market competition.

A significant number of radio manufacturers, who are well known and who operate in the Australian market, have joined the DMR Association and have signalled their intention to produce ETSI-compliant DMR terminal, infrastructure and applications.

Today the DMR MOU boasts 16 Category1 members, five Category2 members and seven Category3 members and two Partners, and while there had been only one manufacturer pushing the technology, more than a million DMR terminals were sold from October 2007 to June 2011. www.radiocomms.com.au

“DMR manufacturers are already producing quad mode MPT1327 and DMR terminals and infrastructure that will support network vendors and their MPT users.”

DMR products available in Australia today already interoperate with each other on a voice communications level and as other manufacturers arrive in the market later this year and early next year, market competition will see the already significantly well priced and spectrally efficient DMR terminals provide even greater choice for DMR radios.

The example that MPT1327 systems have provided in Australia is that by deploying open standards systems and compliant terminals, users get real choice and DMR trunking will provide the same rich feature set of MPT but with an extensive range of capabilities that only digital radios can deliver.

DMR manufacturers are already producing quad mode MPT1327 and DMR terminals and infrastructure that will support network vendors and their MPT users.

On a technical level, DMR and dPMR are both low-cost digital standards, one being FDMA which occupies a true

6.25 kHz channel spacing in the available frequency spectrum. DMR is a twoslots TDMA technology that alternates between slots to mimic the 6.25 kHz, which is often referred to as equivalent 6.25 kHz. Unlike TETRA digital standard, both these low-cost technologies are backward compatible to analog product, which simplifies analog to digital migrations.

This effectively means that the users considering an upgrade to digital have the added advantage of re-using much of in-place towers and antenna systems as they have the same coverage as existing analog radio if the radiated power is kept the same.

As conventional users migrate to a new system on the back of ACMA changes, additional DMR features such as native IP connectivity available on DMR base stations and all the terminal bells and whistles that many users will require will, in my opinion, propel those users looking for a digital solution towards the cost-effective system of choice.

In the past the only digital option for two-way radio users has been the very cost-prohibitive APCO P25 and TETRA trunking systems. With the release of the DMR Tier III trunking, it has been proved that DMR Tier III is good enough to replace the aging analog trunking systems such as the MPT1327, SmartNet, SmartTrunk, LTR and Privacy Plus.

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

35

Technology

“I believe that we will soon see ETSI standard dPMR product offerings in the low end of the Australian market.”

As an example, in January 2010 Communications Corporation deployed its DMR Tier III police digital trunking, PDT, for the Chinese police as the proposed national replacement for an existing country-wide MPT1327 system.

The installed PDT DMR Tier III exceeded expectations and as a result, in June 2011, the same enhanced DMR Tier III trunking, comprising four base stations with several hundred terminals, was commissioned for Shenzhen.

I believe that we will soon see ETSI standard dPMR product offerings in the low end of the Australian market and I believe the local market, and that in NZ, will choose carefully with its digital dollars.

Having been led previously into the purchases of proprietary systems which only allow a single choice of product,

they will now steer towards a technology from suppliers that are brave and confident enough to provide product and systems based on an open standard.

Like our mobile phone networks, which are based on an open standard, the digital era in our radio communications industry is inevitable and people who convert now to an open standard product will be rewarded with peace of mind.

Standardisation serves its purpose and for users it is an important factor when choosing a new digital system as it gives them the power of choice and also means lower cost of ownership as manufacturers will be competing to offer solutions.

In today’s digital radio market, informed purchasers look at features and advantages.

36 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

The case for DMR is very similar when compared to dPMR, the 40% energy saving is a big plus for DMR as it will prolong a normal eight-hour radio to 11 hours of battery life when operated in digital mode!

DMR also allows true plug and play, that is to say you just buy a DMR product and you can immediately program your current assigned frequencies and start using!

In the case of dPMR, one will have to go to frequency regulators to obtain a licence to operate off frequency by 3.125 kHz to co-exist with analog assignments and dPMR means that system operators will have to have two frequency licences; and if double traffic capacity is required, three frequency licences are required.

DMR is very much in the future for the professional mobile radio industry in Australia and New Zealand and open standard DMR products have arrived … and will stay for a long time.

Combined Communications Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L470

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

MINING

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Unitronix Pty Ltd

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The AMP5072 is part of PTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family of IPnexus application-ready systems.

It is a reliable and integrated 1U MicroTCA-compliant platform that maximises payload slot density in a 1U form factor.

The systems offer an integrated and COTS-based hardware and software solution to rapidly develop and deploy value-added capabilities to embedded applications for demanding operating environments such as wireless, telecom, aerospace, and defence.

The integrated serial RapidIO switch provides interconnectivity for AMC payload such as embedded processors, FPGAs and DSPs, as well as dual uplinks to chain systems together.

The system supports up to six AdvancedMC module payload slots in a 1U shelf. High reliability is achieved with redundant and hot-swappable power supplies and fan trays. Its architecture integrates non-payload functions, such as the ethernet switch, serial RapidIO IC SAFE BL switch and carrier/shelf manager into the rear of the chassis.

It features dual 1 GbE ethernet to each slot plus quad uplinks, and the switch supports one 4x port to four slots, dual 4x ports to two slots, and dual 4x uplinks. Storage is accommodated by direct SATA/ SAS slot-to-slot connections between the AMC sites.

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Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L355 UT

ILITIES

Network monitoring Accutech helps eliminate complex, hardwired installations and makes it easy to deploy and monitor sensor networks across remote oil and gas applications.

All instruments incorporate power saving in an IECEx HazLoc-approved, package.

The wireless instruments are typically installed 460 to 760 m from the base radio or at a shorter distance if obstructions exist. Using low frequency, licence-free, military-grade secure radios, the instruments offer good propagation through obstruction and foliage, resulting in reliable communications.

The instruments have been designed with the focus on simplifying network deployment. Each is equipped with an LCD that reports radio signal strength. Operators can set up and deploy the network in minutes without design and network analysis. In-built power management algorithms optimise battery use to ensure uninterrupted operation for up to five years.

The system is claimed to give up to a 75% reduction in deployment costs, relative to a wired solution and save about 20% in annual operational costs.

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Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L354

www.radiocomms.com.au

www.comgroup.net.au

Quality ISO 9001

September/October 2011 - RADIO COMMS

37

@work

RADIO F

ortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) in WA, has selected TETRA for its Pilbara mines.

The new communication system comprises DAMM infrastructure and Sepura handheld and mobile terminals and the win was achieved by Radlink, Sepura’s channel partner in the region.

Fortescue was founded in 2003 and has become one of the world’s largest producers of iron ore. The construction of Fortescue’s mine, rail and port facilities began in February 2006 and by late 2008 operations were underway at the company’s Cloudbreak mine, with over 15 million tonnes of iron ore exported to China.

Since then, mining and processing at Cloudbreak has increased to more than 100,000 tonnes of ore each day.

Fortescue has subsequently established a second mine at Christmas Creek, 50 km east of Cloudbreak and extended its 256 km rail line through to Christmas Creek and a second ore processing facility constructed at the site.

It chose TETRA after evaluating a variety of communication technologies.

Sepura terminals were selected because of their robustness and versatility. In particular, users were impressed with the radios’ emergency features and audio quality, which are vital features for operatives in the mining sectors who often need to work in isolation in very challenging environments and terrains.

So far the company has delivered more than 800 mobiles and 500 handheld terminals to Fortescue for use at its Christmas Creek and Solomon mines and its port facility.

“This is a significant win for TETRA and Sepura, as this unique installation - covering multiple mine sites and a port facility - will be the largest single mining TETRA network in Australia.” said Scott Manson from Radlink.

In another part of the world, public safety users in Brazil have been using Sepura radios and TETRA technology since they were deployed for the Pan-American Games held in Rio de Janeiro in 2007. The radios have contributed to maintaining a secure and safe environment around Rio that recently had two high-profile emergencies.

In November 2010, the city was the scene of highly dramatic events, when drug dealers, based in the favelas, caused acts of extreme violence in the city.

In an operation that will be recorded in the city’s history, Brazilian security forces

Project: Iron ore mining Application: Linking sites reacted efficiently and effectively, bringing together several civilian and military teams into one integrated force. They entered and occupied the favelas, freeing them from the long-term control of drug traffickers.

All agents involved were able to communicate with each other through TETRA radio terminals. Inter-agency communication between the military and civilian police, civil defence (Detel), fire, navy and army was crucial to the success of the operation and enabled commanders to synchronise the actions of their field agents from their control rooms.

Colonel Marcos Peniche, head of engineering for Detel said: “Sepura radios were absolutely crucial for the success of this operation. Being able to monitor all the critical actions - down to the second - allowed us to focus our resources.”

Detel agents, led by the colonel, achieved their first victory when, in the middle of a gun fight, they climbed to the Igreja da Penha, a church on a hill at the heart of the events, to install a TETRA base station - something that had never been authorised before by the local priest.

This station provided extended coverage of the communications network right at the core of the Complexo do Alemão.

Peniche added: “Thanks to their small size, light weight and user-friendly interface, the terminals enabled operatives, who had never used TETRA radios before, to rapidly and effectively acquire the skills to communicate and coordinate actions with their peers and officers”.

In January this year, the mountainous region north of Rio, comprising the cities of Friburgo, Teresópolis and Petrópolis, saw the worst floods ever experienced in the region.

This natural disaster demanded the urgent intervention of Civil Defence teams.

Sepura radios enabled emergency teams to act promptly and coordinate effectively in support of the region’s inhabitants. Peniche explains: “We sent a base station and terminals to provide communications for all the civil defence teams. The terminals provided incredible support to the rescue teams in severe and extreme weather conditions.

“In such critical circumstances, a terminal is not just a simple radio but an essential tool in helping to save human lives.”

“They entered and occupied the favelas, freeing them from the long-term control of drug traffickers.”

Sepura PLC Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/L204

38 RADIO COMMS - September/October 2011

www.radiocomms.com.au

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Whether you are a pilot, miner or candle stick maker, everyone appreciates a quality pair of headsets. You too will be delighted that you checked out the CRS Accessories range of quality aftermarket two way radio headsets at www.crsaccessories.com.au where even more is revealed....

• Interchangeable Radio Interface Cable – allowing the headset to suit a range of different model radios • Dynamic Noise Cancelling Microphone – enjoy full spectrum noise attenuation and reduction • 2 x Push to Talk (PTT) options – earmuff or inline PTT

• Volume control on earmuff (model specific) • AUX input jack – allows for input of secondary audio device such as MP3, scanner etc • Double foam or gel ear pads – snuggle into a pair of these super soft babes • 12 month warranty