RadioComms Asia-Pacific Mar/Apr 2013 by Westwick-Farrow Media

on your wavelength 6 radio@work 8 Upgraded P25 digital network positive feedback

contents

on the cover

Radio Comms Asia-Pacific March/April 2013

ditor’s omment

Show season has started again and there is much to keep you all busy. APCO’s conference and exhibition was the first event for the year, held in Adelaide. The event, themed ‘Breaking the status quo: Freedom to try new thinking’, covered topics from spectrum for future public safety communications to severe weather trends and advances in forecasting. The show emphasised how important

radio communication technology and spectrum is for public safety, as are the

antennas that help link networks and

12 Verifying and troubleshooting cables, connectors and antennas

provide signals. In this issue, we feature

Forgotten genius – The legacy of Henry Sutton

antennas, critical to locating failures in the

10 minutes with… Cameron Grambau

two articles focusing on testing antennas. The first on page TK covers verifying and troubleshooting cables, connectors and cellular system. The second discusses the importance of antenna system monitoring on page TK. We also delve into the past of forgotten genius Henry Sutton, a man who was involved not only in radio and television but in electricity, carbon filament electric light bulbs, telephones, aeronautics, automobile engineering, colour printing and hydraulics. Read about his interesting life on page TK. On another note, this will be my last issue of Radio Comms Asia–Pacific. I will be joining our parent company, Universal Magazines, to work on two of its consumer magazines. AA Milne’s famous words, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”, neatly sum up how I feel. I am sad to leave such an amazing and passionate industry that has welcomed me and made me feel like one of the family; however, it is time for me to take up a new challenge and leave you in the capable hands of the editorial team. You have all taught me a great deal and I have come out a year later a little less naïve and a little more knowledgeable, so thank you. Please do stay in touch and I wish you all the very best for 2013 and beyond. Kylie Baracz, Editor rc@westwick-farrow.com.au

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Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

on the cover

rgen, the official distributor of Kenwood radio communications systems in Turkey, has recently completed the first phase of building the largest digital radio communication system in the country, using Kenwood NEXEDGE products. Their client, Turkish Ground Services (TGS), was formed on 1 January 2010, in partnership with Turkish Airlines and HAVAS, and has already grown to become a major player in the global aviation industry. TGS currently operates in six of the busiest airports in Turkey: Atatürk and Sabiha Gokcen (both in Istanbul), Ankara, Izmir, Antalya and Adana. Employing more than 3000 pieces of equipment and 6000 employees, they provide all ground services operations to international quality standards. Understanding the background of the Turkish aviation industry was a key component in building the business case for Orgen’s proposed solution. Competitor companies were established in the ground services segment in Turkey, due in the main to their past investment in radio communications infrastructure. Airport and airline companies therefore typically rented their radio equipment to operate on the existing infrastructure. The main problems identified with the existing fifty-year-old infrastructure - in an industry where continuous communication by voice and data is vital - were that it: was analog only; had a lack of advanced functions; had an insufficient number of channels; had low coverage; had poor voice quality; and had zero in-built redundancy. Orgen undertook a comprehensive study to establish the core needs of TGS and, following

4 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

an extensive review of the existing system and infrastructure, presented the Kenwood NEXEDGE digital two-way radio system as the optimum solution. While there was no doubt the NEXEDGE system would meet and exceed all of the client’s technical and operational requirements, the challenge was to prove the cost effectiveness - as well as immediate and longer term benefits in efficiency - of investment in a new digital infrastructure. Orgen was awarded the project through proving the value of the 100% coverage, extended capabilities and scalability of the NEXEDGE digital system. TGS, as a relatively new enterprise, was keen to embrace the operational benefits of an up-to-date digital system supported by a reputable supplier. An addition to the NEXEDGE digital mobile radio range has been announced, pitched to meet the increasing demand for a mid-tier level partner to the TK-220/320 hand portables. The new radio features a 260-channel/128-zone capacity and provides multiple solutions in one terminal including digital conventional, digital trunking and analog conventional modes. In addition, the TK-720/820 models include a factory-installed GPS module which, with an optional KRA-40G GPS antenna, will significantly enhance functionality across many more applications including lone worker situations. The mobile units will further fuel the continued strong growth in demand for NEXEDGE as more users migrate to digital and actively seek out the best, most cost-effective, future-proof and spectrumefficient system available. JVCKENWOOD Australia Pty Ltd www.kenwood.com.au

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

September 2012 total CAB Audited Circulation (Aust + NZ) 4,184 (83% 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.

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Danaher Corporation acquires Navman Wireless

DMR system for Brisbane Bus Lines

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avman Wireless, a provider of advanced fleet and asset management technology, has been acquired by Danaher Corporation, a Fortune 250 science and technology company. The company will function as a standalone Danaher operating company, retaining the Navman Wireless brand as well as its personnel and locations. Navman’s technology currently monitors more than 175,000 vehicles and assets owned by over 14,000 organisations worldwide, making the company one of the largest fleet and asset management providers in the world. “Danaher has the resources, global footprint and commitment to support the continued growth of the Navman Wireless platform and business, along with a strong track record of building brands within its highly diversified portfolio,” said TJ Chung, president of Navman Wireless.

“All of these factors will help us continue to enhance our technology platform, expand into new vertical and geographic markets, and bring the benefits of fleet and asset management to vehicles and assets around the world that are not yet taking advantage of the technology.” Navman Wireless is Danaher ’s first acquisition in the fleet/asset management space, joining a portfolio of brands spanning test and measurement, life sciences and diagnostics, dental, environmental and industrial technologies.

6 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

imoco has been chosen to supply and install its Simoco Xd Tier II DMR system to Brisbane Bus Lines, through one of its channel partners, Philcomm in Queensland Australia. The contract signifies the company’s first major commercial deployment of its Xd product range. Brisbane Bus Lines is one of the largest bus and coach charter companies in Queensland, providing country and urban routes, school and translink services. The order, which has been secured by Philcomm, sees Simoco's DMR mobiles installed across the entire fleet of buses and coaches. It also includes DMR portables being deployed at the bus company’s headquarters. The bus company will use the system to effectively communicate and coordinate its various operations throughout Brisbane, covering an area of 5950 km2 extending to Dayboro, which is 40 km northwest of the Brisbane area.The system runs over two Philcomm radio sites - one in Mount Coot-Tha and another at Ocean View.

Ian Carr, CEO of Simoco Group, said, “I am delighted to be able to announce that we have successfully supplied our first sizeable DMR system. This follows our highly successful dealer launches around the world, which generated considerable interest and demand. Our strategy for Simoco Xd has been focused on strong support for the DMR standard, coupled with a Philcomm implementation which eases the migration to digital and provides our customers with leading-edge technology, including a software-only upgrade path to full trunked DMR Tier III.” John Whittaker, general manager of Philcomm, said: “Brisbane Bus Lines wanted its fleet to have the very best in open standard DMR, taking advantage of its voice clarity, spectrum efficiency, ease of installation and functionality. As members of the DMR association, Simoco has established a long history in providing quality products, and the Simoco Xd range guarantees interoperability, flexibility and future proof communication.”

Kane leaves Codan Limited

he CEO of Codan Limited, Donald McGurk, announced a future change in leadership of the Codan Radio Communications Division. After two and a half years of contribution to the company’s Communications Division, Kevin Kane will be leaving the role of president and executive general manager. Kane relocated from the US to Australia with his young family in 2010 and committed to stay in Australia for up to three years to lead the development and implementation of the Radio

Communications strategic plan. He has made the decision to relocate back to the US within the next six months. “During his tenure in the role, Kevin has made a significant and lasting contribution to the vision and direction of Codan Radio Communications and was instrumental in the recent acquisition of Daniels Electronics,” McGurk said. The search for a new leader has commenced and McGurk will assume interim leadership of the division until the role is filled.

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Peter Mill receives OAM

atthias Klausing is the new CEO of Hytera Mobilfunk GmbH. As the successor of Dr Georg Haubs, he took on the corporate management on 1 November 2012. Klausing started his career with Hytera Mobilfunk GmbH (previously known as Rohde & Schwarz Professional Mobile Radio GmbH or R&S BICK Mobilfunk GmbH) in 1995. He was significantly involved in the development of the ACCESSNET-T IP TETRA system and was appointed vice president Research & Development in August 2008. Klausing is a declared industry insider and very familiar with the market of the professional mobile radio due to his many years of professional experience. His predecessor Dr Haubs took on the company management as a successor of the company founder Heinz Bick in 2007.

stock.xchange©FOTOCROMO

New CEO for Hytera Mobilfunk

“Apart from his function as the manager of the Research & Development department, Matthias Klausing was decisively involved in the creation of an effective product management and lately also in restructuring the project handling. I am pleased to be able to hand over the management to an internal successor who is highly qualified and experienced. From my work with Matthias Klausing, I know that the company will be well looked after.” Dr Georg Haubs left the company for private reasons at the end of 2012.

CommScope releases RF Path e-book

ergeant Peter Bertram Mill of Mordialloc, Vic, has been recognised by the community with a Medal of the Order of Australia. Mill is a current member of the Victoria Police who spent many years at the RED workshops initially working on the 64 block UHF system upgrade. For the last 15 years he has been an operational member as a station sergeant in the southern suburbs. Mill volunteers for St John Ambulance and has been a driving force in managing/engineering the organisation’s radio systems across Victoria and also other states. He spends time solving the St John issues of spectrum management, site location and engineering, maintenance and ongoing fleet support including control room design and operations. Mill has also secured a lot of ex-police radio equipment officially and reworked it for application issues for volunteers.

ommScope has released a nearly 200-page e-book, authored by many of its engineers and technical directors. Titled Understanding the RF Path, the book reports on complicated technical issues from the wireless communications industry, informing wireless engineers, business and marketing professionals, and other industry players about the state and evolution of wireless networks and infrastructure. “Understanding the RF Path brings the wealth of knowledge about wireless networks that exists inside CommScope out into the world,” said Philip Sorrells, V-P, Strategic Marketing, CommScope. “This book has enough technical information in it to satisfy engineers while translating jargon into language the average industry person can understand. Our hope is that this book will preserve and advance knowledge across the wireless industry and beyond.” The e-book sheds light on the following topics: • H i s t o r y a n d e v o l u t i o n o f w i r e l e s s communications. • Cell site construction and network planning.

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• Technology basics of antennas, remote radio heads, transmission lines and other RF path components. • Solutions for co-siting, passive intermodulation (PIM), network reliability and site monitoring. • Specific applications such as distributed antenna systems, back-up power, microwave backhaul and network protection. “We think there is something for everyone in this book, from a high-level view of the wireless communication industry down to some nitty-gritty physics formulas,” said Sorrells. “Publishing Understanding the RF Path is part of our ongoing effort - including the CommScope Infrastructure Academy and Andrew Institute - to educate industry players and promote best practices at the cell site and with other technology applications.” The e-book is available in digital format for viewing online and as an app. It can also be downloaded in PDF form and shared through social media. CommScope plans for it to be the first in a book series about various communications industry topics.

Apps for oscilloscopes

ektronix has released three oscilloscope applications for Android smartphones. The apps, available free from the Google Play store, allow users to remotely control and monitor their oscilloscopes or view and analyse waveforms on the go. “With these applications, we are taking advantage of overwhelming popularity of smartphones and tablets within the engineering community to give our customers more flexibility and convenience in the way they use their oscilloscopes,” said Mike Flaherty, general manager, Oscilloscopes, Tektronix. The three apps available are: Tektronix Oscillo Connect, Tektronix Oscillo Analyzer and Tektronix Oscillo Triggevent. For more information and where to download, please visit the Google Play app store.

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

@work

RADIO Project: Upgraded P25 digital network Application: Integration and greater network coverage

P25 digital communications solution from Tait, running over a Vertel next-generation network, is providing organisational benefits for the Armidale Dumaresq Council in NSW. The P25 system is helping to increase the safety and efficiency of the council’s utilities and road network staff who operate throughout the urban centre of Armidale and the surrounding rural Dumaresq Shire. With the amalgamation of the Armidale and Durmaresq Regional Councils, the new Armidale Dumaresq Council was struggling with a congested communications network which had reached its end of life and was becoming nearly impossible to maintain. “Our communications system was approaching 20 years of age and we needed to update it,” says Andrew Levingston, plant manager, Armidale Dumaresq Council. “Some challenges we needed to address included location services and ensuring complete coverage within the Armidale Dumaresq Council region. Coverage is a challenge in itself with 4235 square kilometres to cover over steep terrain.” The three-site P25 TaitNet conventional network has been implemented by local partner Vertel, incorporating Tait P25 TB9100 base stations and replacing the Council’s old analog network. Vertel constructed a new digital radio tower and designed the associated digital network to address the specific coverage challenges, which the geographically remote area covered by the Armidale Dumaresq Council presents. “The most important outcome for us is increased safety for staff,” adds Levingston. “We operate across a large, mostly rural area, and a lot of our staff work in small, remote crews. “In the event of an accident, where there isn’t mobile coverage and it’s a halfhour drive to reach a public telephone, staff can now rely on a direct link back to the Council, with the reassurance that, if required, emergency services can be dispatched to their exact location as quickly as possible.”

“Our decision to go digital, specifically P25, was based on the requirement to futureproof our communication system and allow for future growth of our Council,” Levingston explains. “The P25 network will provide longterm sustainability for our council operations, as the design of the P25 network easily lends itself to expansion, when and if ever required.” The Council’s radio network has been expanded to include ranger staff, the sewerage treatment plant and water treatment plant. “The Tait network means there’s a lot more cross-team communication happening, which means better use of resources in the field and greater day-to-day workforce management and efficiency across the whole organisation,” adds Levingston. “Furthermore, we are now able to drastically reduce our reliance on mobile phones for operations. Truly reliable communications is now a reality, and that will make a real and lasting difference to the way we operate as a team, as well as the outcomes we achieve for the community.” “Vertel has extensive experience in microwave backhaul and digital land mobile radio networks implementation, and we are uniquely positioned to assist Armidale Dumaresq Council with the design, installation and maintenance of its upgraded network,” says Andrew Findlay, managing director, Vertel. “The project also included the implementation of additional features such as the GPS tracking of handsets, and vehicle emergency alarm systems, as well as integration with the existing phones system, which were a vital part of the project to ensure staff safety on the road.” Brett Smythe, general manager, Tait Communications Asia Pacific, comments, “We are delighted that the Armidale Dumaresq Council is able to reap the benefits of an open-standards communications system that meets its organisational needs today, while still ensuring the flexibility to expand and upgrade as needs dictate in the future.”

“In the event of an accident, where there isn’t mobile coverage and it’s a half-hour drive to reach a public telephone, staff can now rely on a direct link back to the Council, with the reassurance that, if required, emergency services can be dispatched to their exact location as quickly as possible.”

Tait Electronics (Aust) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S997

8 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

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Mike Smyth, specialist technical writer

There were the days when you needed a long antenna, or aerial as we called it then. By long, I mean anything over 15 m, a length that was necessary both for broadcast radio and shortwave. It was before the days of separate antenna tuners when, if you were working, say, 7 m, you tuned by tapping your own homemade coil to bring the set/antenna into approximate resonance. The tapping method was crude but effective. Usually the coil was wound on the cardboard centre of a used toilet roll. Every so many turns, according to the wavelength you wanted, a loop was formed in the winding, which having been scraped clean of its shellac insulation, stood proud of the former and was ready for the wandering alligator terminal to link the coil into the rest of the circuit. As I say, crude but effective. For a really professional job, the coil and former could be coated with varnish, which not only kept the windings in place but prevented damp getting into the cardboard. Not quite as convenient as a wavechange switch using commercial iron cored coils but a lot cheaper for someone on a very limited budget. But it was the antenna that put up the greatest challenge. And that challenge was the length. However, I was fortunate to live in a house that had a back garden some 37 m long and ending in a thin line of very tall ash trees that were not only easy to climb but offered the perfect height and point from which to suspend an antenna. So with my cohort, we scaled the ash until we were more than 15 m off the ground, tied a piece of thickish rope round the tree trunk, then a thinner piece of rope that that would pass through the eyelet of the insulator and finally the antenna wire itself, the end of which we tied in a secure knot. The free end we ran towards the house and in particular to the pitched roof of a wooden shed which was the centre for all our experiments. We nailed a piece of timber to the apex 10 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

of the roof and onto this we tied another piece of rope and an insulator and fed the antenna wire through a gap in the wooden walls to our workbench. (We were strictly forbidden to make any holes in the walls of the shed.) This simple long wire antenna descended at quite a sharp angle from the tree to the shed but we had what we thought was sufficient height for all the broadcast and the more powerful shortwave transmitters. But the antenna was only half of what we had to do. We also needed an effective earth or ground. This bothered us for some time until we decided on a length of spare antenna cable, one end of which we soldered to a flattened out and carefully washed ex-baked beans tin which we promptly buried at a depth of nearly a metre in the nearest soft ground. A thorough watering completed the task. We knew the metal would not last for long, the tin was so thin, but we had no access to substantial copper rods, which would have been the alternative. Testing the two systems on a single valve receiver was most satisfying. We were not sure how either would work or how well and if they would work together. We tried the antennas first and were very excited when a strong signal came through as we touched the wire of the antenna onto the coil. We were even more amazed when we connected the earth. What a difference that made. In fact, our antenna and earth systems long outlasted the shed’s use as our interest temporarily waned slightly in favour of girls. Who knows, the system may still be there today.

”…we decided on a length of spare antenna cable, one end of which we soldered to a flattened out and carefully washed exbaked beans tin…“

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oughly 50 to 60% of cellular base station problems are caused by faulty cables, connectors and antennas. Components may become damaged during installation, operation and maintenance of a telecommunication system or show reduced performance over time. Damage can also result from the extreme weather conditions to which many outdoor installations are exposed. Even sheltered installations can be problematic, potentially exposing components to mishandling, stress, heat, vibration and containments that can leak into the system. Such failures cause poor coverage and unnecessary handovers in the cellular system, making appropriate testing all the more critical.

CAT basics When verifying and maintaining the operation of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas, measurements are often made along the coaxial cable connecting a transmitter to its antenna and/or between an antenna and its receiver. This process, line sweeping, measures signal attenuation or insertion loss and return loss as a function of frequency. Line 12 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

sweeping is also used to estimate the physical location of a fault or damage along the transmission line using the distance to fault (DTF) measurement available on many RF and microwave signal analysers. Testing transmission line performance is not only limited to coaxial cable types. Systems using waveguide and twisted pair cables may also be characterised once the appropriate adapter is installed between the transmission line and the coaxial interface on the analyser. In addition, antenna measurements, in the form of signal reflection or return loss and voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), may be used to verify the performance of an antenna at the installation site. When multiple antennas are required at a site, antenna-to-antenna isolation may also be verified. In all cases, a modern handheld microwave analyser configured for cable and antenna testing proves especially effective for making the required measurements (Figure 1). Its performance, functionality and flexibility make it a useful tool for quickly and accurately characterising the entire transmission system, as well as the performance of individual components in the system.

Tackling cable insertion loss The insertion loss of transmission line or coaxial cable, often measured as a function of the intended operating frequency band, is the amount of energy dissipated in the cable and includes energy lost due to mismatch reflection between the source and load. Generally, the source (transmitter), transmission line (coaxial cable) and load (antenna) are all designed for the same characteristic impedance, Zo - usually 50 or 75 立 when using coaxial cable. Most modern RF and microwave analysers are configured with 50 立 test port impedances. When measuring 75 立 cables and components, a 50 to 75 立 adapter is required. Removing transmission line cables to verify their operation and troubleshoot cable failures once they have been installed in a system is costly and difficult. With very long cable runs, access to both ends of the cable at the same time is typically impossible, especially when attempting to connect the cable to the test instrumentation. Under these conditions, techniques for measuring cable insertion loss from one end of the cable are preferred. www.radiocomms.com.au

Antennas

Three techniques for measuring cable insertion loss with a modern RF and microwave analyser in CAT mode are: Two-port technique: Here the cable under test is connected to two separate ports on the analyser. The analyser injects a test signal into the cable from its RF OUT port. As the signal passes through the cable, a small portion of the energy is absorbed by resistive and dielectric losses in the cable. Discontinuities from cable connectors, cable splices, damage and other factors reflect a portion of the energy back to the source resulting in an additional increase in measured insertion loss. The remaining signal exiting the cable is then measured by the analyser at the RF IN port. The ratio between input and output signals represents the total insertion loss of the cable usually expressed in decibels (dB). One-port technique: This method measures cable insertion loss from only one end of the cable under test. One end of the cable is attached to the analyser, while the other is left open or terminated in a short (recommended for microwave frequencies). The analyser injects a test signal into the cable from the RF OUT port. The signal passes through the cable, is completely reflected from the open (or shorted) end, passes through the cable a second time, and is measured by the analyser using the same port. The analyser

then uses this information and a builtin model for coaxial cable dispersion to report cable insertion loss as a function of frequency. This technique is only available on analysers configured with an internal factory-calibrated reflectometer for measuring reflected signals at the instrument’s RF OUT port. Power-meter technique: With this technique, the instrument is configured as a power meter connected to a USB power sensor. One end of the cable under test is connected to the analyser’s RF OUT port, while the other end is connected to the USB power sensor. The analyser is configured to generate a CW signal at the RF OUT port. This test signal is transmitted along the cable and measured by the USB power sensor. If the cable ends are separated by a large distance, the sensor is connected back to the analyser through a USB cable extender. Because this technique does not allow swept-frequency measurements, manual tuning of the analyser’s settings is required when changing test frequencies. When measuring cables with high insertion loss, the displayed measurement trace may exhibit a high level of noise. In this case, the relative signal-to-noise and associated measurement accuracy can be improved by setting the analyser’s output power to high-power mode. The displayed noise level can also be reduced by

increasing the number of trace averages or decreasing the intermediate frequency bandwidth setting.

Measuring antenna return loss and VSWR Antennas are specified by their gain factor and return loss or VSWR. Antenna gain measurements are typically performed in a special test facility (eg, an anechoic chamber). Return loss and VSWR are standard measurements reported for most RF and microwave components and systems and can easily be measured with a modern microwave analyser in the field or lab. Once installed in a system, only an antenna’s reflection properties are measured to determine whether or not it is faulty or damaged. The antenna’s return loss and VSWR are used to characterise its performance. These one-port measurements are typically performed over the intended frequency band of interest. A typical antenna with a return loss of 10 dB or higher represents a reasonably well-matched antenna. A 10 dB return loss is equivalent to having 90% of the incident energy radiated by the antenna and 10% of the energy reflected back to the transmitter. For applications where high efficiency is required (eg, base station antennas), the

"When verifying and maintaining the operation of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas, measurements are often made along the coaxial cable connecting a transmitter to its antenna and/or between an antenna and its receiver."

Figure 1. Agilent’s FieldFox combination microwave analyser.

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Figure 2. The measured return loss (upper trace) and DTF (lower trace) for an X-band antenna and coaxial feed cable. Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

Antennas

"Antennas are specified by their gain factor and return loss or VSWR. Antenna gain measurements are typically performed in a special test facility (eg, an anechoic chamber)."

Figure 3. The configuration for measuring the distance to fault in a system having two coaxial cables connected to a load; and the specifications for the cables used in this example.

return loss may be specified at 15 dB or higher. A 10 dB return loss is about equal to a VSWR of 2:1. While a conversion table can be used to find the relation between values of return loss and VSWR, some modern analysers handle this conversion and can be easily configured to display the measured response as return loss or VSWR. When interfacing the antenna to the analyser, high-quality adapters can be used to improve measurement accuracy and repeatability. The adapter characteristics may be removed from the measured results using the analyser’s calibration feature. The analyser should also be attached as close to the antenna as possible so the insertion loss of the cable does not mask the antenna’s true return loss.

Verifying antenna-to-antenna isolation When different wireless systems are colocated to share tower and shelter structures, antennas (either operating within the same system or between different systems) must be spaced far enough apart to maintain an adequate level of isolation. This prevents creation of intermodulation distortion in the transmit amplifiers and/or noise desensitisation in the receivers. Systems are typically designed with duplexing and other filters to reject signals from nearby transmitters and other interference, but system performance may require an antenna-to-antenna isolation of 60 dB or more. It is therefore 14 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

necessary to sweep the antenna-toantenna isolation across all frequency bands of interest. This can be done with a two-port insertion loss measurement in which each antenna is attached via a short jumper cable to the analyser.

Locating faults When cable insertion loss is higher than expected or return loss and VSWR is out of specification, finding fault locations along the transmission system becomes essential. The location is determined using the analyser’s DTF capability, which uses reflection measurements taken from the transmission line to calculate the individual amplitude response of any discontinuities as a function of distance. Figure 2 shows a dual display of the return loss as a function of frequency and associated DTF measurement from a section of coaxial cable connected to an antenna. When examining the DTF display, high amplitude level signals are located at the points where discontinuities exist along the transmission line and at the load. The location of these high amplitude signals provides an important troubleshooting tool when determining faults in the cabled transmission system. A typical configuration for measuring DTF is shown in Figure 3. It is assumed that the load (eg, the system antenna, a 50 Ω termination or just an open-ended cable) is connected to the analyser through two sections of coaxial cables connected via an adapter.

Figure 3 also shows a table of important cable specifications as supplied by the manufacturer. The specification for velocity factor (VF) is important to enter into the analyser for the instrument to correctly display the distance to each cable discontinuity. DTF measurements of transmission systems are primarily concerned with locating the physical position of faults along the line and, therefore, precise amplitude measurements of the return loss and VSWR may not be required. Accordingly, most applications only require that the cable’s VF be entered into the analyser’s cable specification table. When the VF of a cable is unknown but the physical distance of the cable is known, it can be estimated using the DTF measurement.

Conclusion Cable and antenna testing is critical to verifying and maintaining the operation of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas. Use of appropriate measurement and calibration techniques, along with a modern RF and microwave signal analyser configured for cable and antenna testing, provides the best means of accurately, quickly and effectively accomplishing this goal.

Agilent Technologies Aust Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S707 www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts Hand-portable radios

Digital-ready mobile radios

Sepura’s STP8X series of intrinsically safe IECEx/ATEX approved hand-portable radios has been designed to meet the requirements of users who need a rugged and robust TETRA radio, but also require access to a full set of communication features. Able to withstand harsh and challenging hazardous dust and gas conditions, the range provides secure communications for users in sectors such as fire and rescue, oil and gas, and open-cast mining. The radios provide clear, loud audio for effective communication, fundamental to user safety. Other safety features include a ‘man-down’ capability which facilitates local and over-the-air alerts if the radio user falls or is immobilised. Available in both full- and reduced-keypad options, the radio features an enhanced user interface with three different presentation styles. The tactile keypad allows access to the radio’s functionality, even with gloved hands.

GME has released the CM series of digital-ready mobile radios. The CM1037U/V, a dedicated low-power version, and CM1039U/V, a high-powered 25 W version are CAP compliant and allow software key migration from conventional P25 to trunked and encrypted models. The initial releases operate in the 136 - 174 MHz, 403 - 480 MHz and 450 - 520 MHz bands. The range targets small, medium and large fleet solutions for commercial and government clients. Standard signalling formats like CCIR 5 tone, CTCSS and DCS are usable in analog mode and programmable on a per-channel basis. Size and the ability to covertly install a radio were key considerations in the mechanical design, and innovative human interfaces include a high-visibility, high-resolution LCD to assist in rapidrecognition, rapid-response times.

Sepura PLC

Standard Communications Pty Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S863

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T169

16 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

www.radiocomms.com.au

ANNOUNCING THE GME DIGITAL/ P25 SERIES

See us at Stand 31 at A.P.C.O 25 Adelaide 12-14 March.

Forgotten inventor

©iStockphoto.com/Iaroslav Danylchenko

©iStockphoto.com/George Clerk

Forgotten genius The legacy of Henry Sutton ©iStockphoto.com/Miklos Voros

Mike Smyth, specialist technical writer

Television may well have been born in Ballarat, Victoria, by a man whose name has largely been unknown since his death just over 100 years ago. He was also responsible for pioneering work in radio but sadly his name is not up there with Marconi and Hertz, although he was an extremely energetic inventor.

ur man’s name is Henry Sutton and he could well stand among the world’s greatest inventors because he was involved not only in radio and television but in electricity, carbon filament electric light bulbs, telephones, aeronautics, automobile engineering, colour printing and hydraulics. So why is this largely self-taught man not more widely known? Perhaps part of the answer is the isolation of Australia at that time so that his name was known to only a few associates. He also disliked patenting his devices, which could have made him more widely known, because he thought that anything he invented should freely and easily benefit mankind with no ties and restrictions imposed by patents. And he did not want personal material gain. When he was just 14, he invented an electric continuous current dynamo with a practical ring armature. Although Italian Antonio Pacinotti had invented a similar device in 1860, Sutton’s invention was taken up by Belgian Zenobe Gramme and became a standard after 1881. Gramme showed the French Academy 18 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

"He also disliked patenting his devices, which could have made him more widely known, because he thought that anything he invented should freely and easily benefit mankind with no ties and restrictions imposed by patents. And he did not want personal material gain."

of Sciences his own improved version of the Sutton machine, and when in 1873 it was found the device was reversible and could be used as a motor as well as a generator, it was enough to provide the impetus for the fast development of the worldwide electric motor industry. He developed more than 20 different telephones shortly after Graham Bell had patented his own invention of the telephone in 1876 and installed a complete telephone network between the family’s music warehouse and shop in Ballarat, prompting Bell to visit the company to

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hng.com

©stock.xc

see the installation. Sixteen of Sutton’s instruments were later patented by others.

Early life Henry Sutton had an inauspicious start to life, being born in a tent on the Ballarat goldfields in 1856. He was the only one of the six children who did not immediately go into the later successful family music business that became an institution in Melbourne and Ballarat until 1956. Henry was the studious one of the family, although all the children were taught by their mother until about the age of 11. But his interest in science had already started and before 14 he had read all the science books in the Ballarat Mechanics Institute. This early interest in matters scientific led him to study the flight patterns of insects that later blossomed into one of his earliest inventions - a clockwork flying machine known as an Orthicopter, which could fly in a circle. One of its earliest admirers was Lawrence Hargrave, who went on to become Australia’s flight pioneer. www.radiocomms.com.au

Toughness runs in the family Introducing a new addition to Sepuraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s award-winning family of Intrinsically-Safe (ATEX / IECEx) TETRA radios. The new STP8X full-keypad combines outstanding toughness and crystal clear audio with swift user-access to a full set of functionality, making it even easier to stay in touch. Choose the IP67- rated STP8X, for when toughness is a necessity, not an option.

STP8X reduced-keypad

STP8X full-keypad

sepura.com

Forgotten inventor

He broke new ground when he became lecturer in applied electricity and magnetism at the Ballarat School of Mines. His appointment was the first in this field and not only was he entrusted with teaching a senior class, he was also allowed to install a telephone system around the school. He quickly found there was a shortage of and a delay in getting scientific instruments from England so he organised an Australian production facility for instruments, which gave birth to Victoria’s scientific instrument industry. At about this time he invented a vacuum pump that he used in his lectures. The pump made possible the development of the electric light bulb, which relied on a vacuum for its efficiency, and so successful was the machine that it was adopted by Swan Edison Co in England to manufacture bulbs. In 1885, using a system he devised and called the Telephane, he transmitted pictures of the Melbourne Cup race to Ballarat and the experiment was said to work ‘quite well’. But because there was no radio, the weak link in his system was the telegraph wire itself that was incapable of providing sufficient bandwidth to handle vision signals to give a true picture. This venture preceded the ‘official’ inventor of television, John Logie Baird, by many years. Baird was not born until 1888. Crude as it may have been, he sent details of the Telephane to R J L Ellery, government astronomer of Victoria “so the invention could be in the hands of someone capable of stating his claims of being the first in this direction”. A few years later Sutton went to England and France where he demonstrated the Telephane to scientists and published a paper giving the details of the system but he did not patent it, allowing Baird to use Sutton’s thoughts on synchronisation of transmitter and receiver in his own invention 43 years later.

Radio interest His interest in radio was stimulated after meeting Nikola Tesla in London, who was there to give a series of lectures on wireless energy. This reinforced work he was already involved with in sending pictures by radio. He became involved in the family business in 1908 and moved to Malvern in Melbourne where he erected a radio tower “which was about twice the size of the house and had 700 m of 20 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

Henry Sutton's Telephane System of 1885, The Telegraphic Journal and Electrical Review, 7 November 1980.

for the government on perfecting the system. According to his biographer, Sutton’s experiments in transmitting images by wireless led him into a new concept of radio which is still a mystery, but one his biographer is hoping to solve. He had talks with the Defence Department about this new technology but he was falling foul of the Post Master General, who wanted to prosecute him for breaking the law by broadcasting from his Malvern home without a licence. The argument raged on for two years until the authorities were finally convinced that Sutton was working secretly for the government. Walter Jenvy, Victoria’s chief electrical engineer, is reported to have sent Australia’s first radio signals to the escort ship of HMS Ophiry on which the Duke and Duchess of York were travelling to open the first federal parliament in 1901. The message, “Hearty greetings of welcome from Queenscliff”, was received on board, prompting the reply “Thanks, but where’s Queenscliff?”

"In 1910 he was credited with inventing the world's first portable radio transmitter that had a range of about 460 m. He then became involved with top-secret work on long-range radio technology with the Australian Navy."

steel cable and he held the world’s record for the longest radio transmission during that time”, according to Lorrayne Branch, a descendant of Sutton, who is writing a biography of her relative with likely publication this year. A year later he was granted the country’s second experimental radio licence, allowing him to transmit up to 400 km. In 1910 he was credited with inventing the world’s first portable radio transmitter that had a range of about 460 m. He then became involved with top-secret work on long-range radio technology with the Australian Navy. A few years later he was a member of the team that demonstrated sending radio signals between Queenscliff and Devonport - an exercise in which a Marconi representative wanted to convince the federal government to buy Marconi wireless telegraphy equipment. As a result of this experiment, the Australian government decided to build a radio system around the country and from 1906 to 1912 Sutton worked

Automobiles Outside radio and electricity, Sutton was active in motoring, being a prime mover in the formation of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria. He designed and built the Sutton Autocar that could travel at 30 km/h and may have been the first front-wheel-drive car in the world. Two prototypes were built and the intention was to manufacture them in Australia with the Austral Otis Co, but cheaper imported vehicles put an end to the venture and neither of the two has survived. Another car he designed and built is now restored and privately owned and was displayed at the White House Museum in Tasmania in 2009. Experiments with air-cooled engines running on low-grade fuel led to him designing and building engines and carburettors. He designed and built and, with his son, raced motorcycles and experimented with three-wheelers. In collaboration with the Austral Otis Lift Co, he helped build Australia’s first hydraulic lift that was installed in the family’s shop in Ballarat and which became a novelty attraction for shoppers. In spite of often working until 2 am and beyond, he found time to marry at the age of 25 and had three sons. After his wife died, he married again and had another two sons. Sutton died at the early age of 56 in 1912, leaving a legacy that is only now just being recognised. www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Battery-operated portable PIM test analyser Anritsu has expanded its line of passive intermodulation (PIM) test solutions with the PIM master MW82119A, a high-power, battery-operated, portable PIM test analyser. Six models are available to address major frequency ranges, including the upper and lower 700 MHz bands, 850, 900, 1800, 1900 and 1900/2100 MHz. All six analysers incorporate DTP technology, allowing tower contractors, maintenance contractors and wireless service provider field technicians to pinpoint the location of PIM problems, whether they are on the tower or outside the antenna system. The analysers also test at 40 W, which allows the analyser to locate faults that conventional 20 W test solutions might miss, such as intermittent and powersensitive PIM problems. The series includes distance-to-PIM (DTP) in a compact housing suitable for difficult-to-access sites, such as remote radio head (RRH) installations and indoor distributed antenna systems (DAS). The analysers are designed to withstand transportation shock, vibration and harsh outdoor test conditions associated with cell site deployment, installation and maintenance. Testing is simplified by the analyser’s ability to save and recall test set-ups for standardised testing and limit lines can be set for visual and/or audible pass/ fail criteria. The company’s line sweep tools can be used to manage the analyser’s measurements and generate reports that combine VSWR data as well as PIM data into a unified site report. PIM measurements can be tagged with the GPS location when the analysers are equipped with the GPS option.

Redefining RF with the World’s First Vector Signal Transceiver

Anritsu Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S798

The NI vector signal transceiver

3GPP fading simulation module Rohde & Schwarz has introduced a fading simulation module for its CMW500 wideband radio communication tester. It is now possible for smartphone or chipset manufacturers to carry out standard-compliant MIMO performance tests during LTE testing, for example. Only a single instrument is required for these tests, which minimises space requirements and set-up effort. In addition, the module supports the GSM and WCDMA standards. When using conventional solutions to perform tests with realistically simulated propagation conditions, an additional instrument is needed for fading simulation. This additional instrument requires extra cabling and separate configuration in addition to level and delay correction. In contrast, the CMW-B510F module is integrated into the tester and configured directly from the menu. This simulates the dynamic propagation conditions as defined in the test cases of the 3GPP standard for LTE, WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+, GSM and EGPRS. Rohde & Schwarz (Australia) Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S983

www.radiocomms.com.au

combines a vector signal analyzer user-programmable FPGA for inline processing and control. The VST offers both out-of-the-box functionality and ultimate user customizability.

Accelerate your productivity at ni.com/vst

Australia: 1800 300 800 New Zealand: 0800 553 322

©2013 National Instruments. All rights reserved. National Instruments, NI, and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. 09420

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

newproducts

Customised RF test kits

Micropack rectifier

Livingston has announced an initiative which will help engineers to rent the various tools required for RF testing/analysis tasks. The company will provide its users with the capability to bring together multiple RF test products into a bundled package. It will be possible to mix and match any of the analyser and generator options available to create a kit that best suits specific application needs. Among the list of the items of equipment that can be chosen as part of the test kit are: the Agilent N8241A multichannel arbitrary waveform generator; the Aeroflex 3413 digital signal generator; the Aeroflex 2041 low-noise generator; the Rohde & Schwarz ZVB8 vector network analyser;and the Agilent E4440A PSA high-performance spectrum analyser. Livingston http://www.livingston-global.com/

Suitable for radio communication applications in telecom, power utilities, mining, maritime and railway infrastructure, the Micropack rectifier is designed for devices that use less power, with full system functionality options. It can be used as a standalone DIN-rail mounted unit or in a flexible off-theshelf rackmounted system. The input range is 85-300 VAC/DC, and it comes in 12 VDC/ 120 W, 24 VDC/240 W and 48 VDC/250 W output configurations. Weighing 0.5 kg, its physical dimensions of 39.0 x 88.5 x 149 mm coupled with convection cooling make the rectifier a compact power supply that is barely audible. The robust framework makes it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The wide output range makes it suitable for use with VRLA/lithium ion and NiCd batteries. The rectifier also serves as a stand-alone DC converter, and if combined with its Compack controller provides comprehensive monitoring and control. Eltek Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S818

22 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

VHF marine radio Icom has released the IC-M400BB VHF marine transceiver. It features a versatile control microphone, allowing all operation from the handpiece. The main unit can be installed out of sight, freeing up space on the vessel for other marine electronics and navigation equipment. The transceiver includes a user interface with dot-matrix display that shows multipurpose software key functions, which can be toggled and operated via a directional keypad. The radio features 10 W loud audio and active noisecancelling technology, which reduces background noise by up to 90%. This works on both transmitted voice and incoming calls, allowing information to be received more clearly. It features IPX7 water ingress protection on both the base and controller microphone, meaning it is waterproof to a 1 m depth for 30 minutes. It features the AquaQuake draining system, which clears water out of the speaker grill, helping to ensure clear and crisp audio quality. With class D DSC (digital selective calling), the radio has a separate receiver dedicated for selective calling. DSC allows individual, group, all ship and distress calls, which caters to anything from passing on location information, to urgent safety and danger scenarios.

www.radiocomms.com.au

The radio can be integrated with the MA-500TR AIS transponder, allowing position information to be sent and received. AIS target call functionality is also available, meaning that DSC calls can be sent via the MA-500TR, without manually inputting MMSI numbers. If the units are connected to the Icom MarineCommander system, AIS information can be overlaid onto the 10.1â&#x20AC;ł plotter screen. Icom Australia Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S753

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

newproducts

Waterproof omni antennas Glyn has introduced the Waterproof Compact Omni (WCO) antenna range from EAD. Encompassing a portfolio of antennas ranging from 433 MHz to 2.4 GHz with 915 MHz and cellular/GSM/3G bands in between, the range is compact, waterproof and durable, designed for sustained outdoor deployment. Housed in a UV-resistant, flame-retardant sheath, the antennas are available with a range of connectors for through-hole or terminal mount including N-Type, TNC, RP-TNC, SMA, RP-SMA and SMB. A bracket-mount version of the antenna is also available.

For cellular, GSM and 3G applications, the range is supplied either as a no ground plane (NGP) version where the antenna is mounted onto a non-metal surface or a requires ground plane (RGP) version where the antenna is mounted directly onto a metal surface (ground plane). The antennas are suitable for utility, security, CCTV and telemetry deployments where a robust, outdoor antenna is required. Glyn Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S882

When a promise is made,

Polar Delivers. Australian manufacturers of Communication equipment in the 2-2900 MHz range.

Base antennas Multicouplers Diplexers Cavity filters Mobile antennas Marine antennas Power dividers/Accessories

Australian distributors for Kabelwerk Eupen AG

30475

Corrugated coaxial cables Braided coaxial cables Radiating cables Connectors & Accessories

24 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

POLAR ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES Pty Ltd TEL: (03) 9555 2500 • FAX: (03) 9555 1515 • TOLL FREE 1800 33 5633 9-15 Friars Rd, Moorabbin, VIC, 3189 AUSTRALIA • Web: www.polarelec.com.au

Quality Endorsed Company ISO 9001 : 1994

Lic : QEC 1789

www.radiocomms.com.au

CeBIT Australia 2013

28-30 May 2013 Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour

eBIT Australia combines a very diverse range of industries onto a single platform. With conferences to see, products on show and workshops to attend, there is much to satisfy even the most experienced ICT professional. Over 32,000 decision-makers from 40 countries, representing all sectors - industry, government, commerce, the skilled trades and services - attend in search of technologies that will make their business more efficient and more competitive in the current global economy. The global conference features over 100 thought leaders presenting in seven different conference streams. These will include financial tech, BI and big data, cloud, enterprise mobility, supply chain and logistics, and cybersecurity, and will run concurrently with the exhibition along with practical workshops. The four exhibition halls will feature more than 600 exhibitors (from start-ups to globals), 3000 solution experts demonstrating real-life solutions and a chance to network with market leaders of the ICT industry. The exhibition covers the entire spectrum of business technology solutions from critical processes such as business intelligence, IT security and ERP software, to the latest Web 3.0 developments, unified communication, cloud and emerging technologies. The show floor theatres will present the opportunity to engage in a series of daily mini-seminars on the latest trends, topical issues and new technology presented by the exhibitors. With show sponsors like NSW Government, AAPT, Motion Computing, SPI Global and Good Technology, this event is one not to be missed. CeBIT Australia www.cebit.com.au

www.radiocomms.com.au

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

newproducts

Entry-level oscilloscope

Tektronix has expanded its MDO4000 Mixed Domain Oscilloscope Series to include two entry-level models. With the same features and functionality of the MDO4000, the models put breakthrough time and frequency domain analysis in the hands of engineers. Inexpensive RF technologies are being integrated into everyday applications from apparel tags, to livestock monitoring clips, price displays on store shelves, and short-range wireless remote control of household objects. While many of these are lower-performance applications, the addition of RF makes debug challenges greater than ever. The new MDO4000 models address this trend by providing a low entry point solution that allows engineers to capture time-correlated analog, digital and RF signals for a complete system view, saving debug time. The MDO4000 is suitable as a debug tool for these mass market applications because it includes both oscilloscope and spectrum analyser functionality, and adds the capability to capture time-correlated analog, digital and RF signals. The MDO4014-3 and MDO4034-3 models offer four analog channels, 16 digital channels and one RF channel. To achieve the lower price level, the new models provide lower analog bandwidth of 100 or 350 MHz respectively, sufficient for many embedded designs incorporating RF. RF frequency range for both models extends from 50 kHz to 3 GHz. Tektronix Southeast Asia Pte Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T145

Watertight overmoulded circular connector

Omnetics has introduced the SureCon 360° - a watertight, overmoulded circular connector to the Nano 360° series. The connector uses a rugged and reliable Flex-Pin contact system. Spaced on 0.64 mm centerlines, the connector line is part of a small mil-quality circulars family. The small outer diameters range from 8.3 to 9.8 mm. With the ability to withstand high shock and vibration while maintaining electrical integrity, these connectors are suitable for demanding applications. Gold-plated contacts are polarised and shrouded by a liquid crystal polymer insulator and are designed to maintain flexibility and low contact resistance. Insulator sizes of six, 11 and 16 contact arrangements are available in a pre-cabled format. All three sizes are available in both inline and protruding panel-mount configurations. Elaborate wire harnessing, custom overmoulding and custom shells are also available on request. Three versions will be available. Each version will use a market-specific cable and plastic overmould with characteristics known to be vital for usage within that particular field. The Commercial version will feature a standard 32 AWG cable, with a grey jacket material of TPE or TPU depending on pin count. The Military/Aero version features a flame-retardant, halogen-free, 32 AWG cable with a braided shield, covered by a black TPU jacket. The Medical version features a bio-compatible (per ISO10993) 32 AWG cable, covered with a light-grey TPU jacket. Electrical specifications include: current: 1 A per contact, DWV: 250 VAC at sea level; insulation resistance: 5000 MΩ min at 100 VDC; contact resistance: 25 mΩ (25 mV) max at 1 A; temperature: -55 to 85°C; vibration: 20 Gs, no discontinuity greater than 10 ns; shock: 100 Gs, no discontinuity greater than 10 ns. Clarke & Severn Electronics Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S908

26 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Point-to-multipoint remote radio T he MiMOMa x Tor na do i s a full-duplex, long-range, point-tomultipoint remote radio unit with built-in network features for critical network infrastructure. With scalable data rates and an efficient random access protocol, it can provide near real-time access to a large number of remote sites with high reliability and low latency. The remote radio is fully compatible with all MiMOMax products and provides economical SCADA and telemetry solutions to remote sites in the power, gas and water acquisition and distribution industries. MiMOMax Wireless Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S693

Radio communications test set The Aeroflex IFR 3500A radio communications test set can be rented from TechRentals. It provides fast reliable measurements of the radioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transmitter and receiver parameters for AM/FM, as well as a P25 digital radio test option. With the capability to test antennas and cables, along with the ability to re-tune antenna duplexers using the tracking generator, the unit adds testing versatility when used in the field. Under test conditions, there is no need to connect to the radio - users can connect to the supplied antenna, key up the radio and then measure the radio parameters over the air. There is a push-to-talk button on the handset to control whether the 3500A is transmitting or receiving. Features include: 2 MHz to 1 GHz operation; direct connect testing; spectrum analyser with <-136 dBm noise floor; oscilloscope; and save/recall user set-ups. TechRentals Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T200

AUSTRALIAN M

ANTENNA

FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDI

AUSTRALIAN MADE

ANTENNAS

FOR AUSTRALIAN CONDITIONS

www.zcg.com.au www.radiocomms.com.au

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

newproducts

GNSS receiver

Hexagonal spacers Harwinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RoHS-compliant brass hexagonal threaded spacers are able to perform under severe conditions such as high mechanical load. The spacers, also known as pillars or stand-offs, are available in a wide range of standard metric lengths and thread sizes from M2 through to M6 and an imperial range of 4-40 UNC. The hexagonal threaded spacers are available in: male/ male, male/female, female/female orientations with body lengths ranging from 3 to 40 mm. A plastic female/female spacer range for M3 is available.Â In addition, clearance spacers for M3 and M4 are available in brass, aluminium and plastic with a circular outer section. Clarke & Severn Electronics Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S923

The NV08C-Mini PCIE is a fully integrated GNSS receiver module optimised for Mini PCI Express (Mini-PCIe) based applications. The device is fully compatible with GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Compass (GNSS), and EGNOS, WAAS, MSAS and GAGAN (SBAS) systems. The product offers high sensitivity, high-performance acquisition and tracking, NMEA and raw data outputs, plus differential (D-GNSS) and assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) functions. It is designed for use in a wide range of computer-based navigation, positioning and timing equipment enabled with a Mini-PCIe interface, demanding good GNSS performance. Suggested applications include mobile computing, in-vehicle and portable terminals, notebooks, PCs, tablets and handheld computers. Other applications include telematics/ fleet management, navigation equipment and precise positioning - GIS, survey, machine control and agriculture. The product features two RF channels (GPS and GLONASS), three-stage SAW filtration for high noise immunity, several protocol interfaces and a supply voltage source for an active antenna. The fully featured embedded Mini PCI-e GNSS receiver is claimed to be the quickest-to-market solution for mobile computing applications. M2M Connectivity Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T080

28 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

www.radiocomms.com.au

newproducts

Dispatching system

MEMS oscillators

Hytera SmartDispatch, a dispatching system developed on Hytera digital platform compliance to ETSI DMR open standard, is designed for efficient communication, management and dispatching of professional users. Characterised by C/S structure and modularised design and supporting VoIP, the dispatch system provides an enhanced dispatching and deployment platform with tailored communications network and control centre. The company provides two tiers of dispatching systems depending on the size of the system: SmartDispatchLite, a standalone single PC version supports only single site with up to four voice channels; or SmartDispatch, a professional version with client-server architecture supports multiple sides dispatching solution based on IP network. The system is suitable for transportation, utilities, commercial/industrial, public safety, airport, bank and other industries.

SiTime Corporation has introduced the SiT8920 MEMS oscillator for industrial and high-reliability applications. While operating over the temperature range -55 to +125Â°C, the oscillator is said to consume half the power of quartz oscillators, is twice as stable and more robust to shock and vibration. The oscillator incorporates SoftEdge rise/fall time control that reduces system EMI without additional components, shielding or PCB redesign. Features include: 0.1 ppb/g vibration sensitivity; 50,000 g shock and 70 g vibration resistance; 500 million hours MTBF (2 FIT); frequency stability of Âą25 ppm over the operating temperature for better system timing; low power consumption (< 4 mA typical); five industry-standard package options including a tiny 2.0 x 1.6 mm, all of which are drop-in replacements for quartz oscillators

Hytera Communications Co. Ltd

Mouser Electronics

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S793

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S836

www.radiocomms.com.au

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

newproducts

Antenna system

Portable repeater

CommScope has an antenna system that enables wireless operators to increase capacity at the cell site. The Six Sector Solution, part of the Andrew portfolio, uses advanced antenna technology that can make site acquisition and installation easier by enabling the use of three antennas where six were previously needed. Implementation provides almost twice the capacity, increases the gain of each sector by 3 dB for better building penetration and mitigates interference for higher data throughput. The system uses sector sculpting, an approach to antenna pattern shaping that carves out more capacity, improves coverage and limits interference. Sector sculpting boosts network performance by better controlling interference between sectors and increasing the number of accessible subscriber channels. The antenna system can radiate multiple, tightly defined RF patterns from one antenna unit. It uses twin beam base station antennas as the primary enabling technology for sector-splitting with three antennas. Twin beam antennas generate two RF beams from one antenna meaning three antennas can do the work of six, saving on tower leasing and decreasing wind loading.

The Hytera RD982 portable repeater supports remote (via IP port to connect to internet) and local diagnostic (via USB) PC applications to monitor, diagnose and control the repeater status. It supports analog and digital channel auto switching, allowing efficient frequency sharing between users during a digital migration. The repeater also supports network interconnect via the IP port to form a private radio network, allowing wide area coverage to meet dispersed locations data and voice communications. Hytera Communications Co. Ltd

CommScope Solutions Singapore Pte Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S961

30 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/S771

www.radiocomms.com.au

INDUSTRY TALKING The highlight of the year so far has been the ARCIA dinner held in Sydney on 14 Feb 2013 at the Sydney Convention Centre. Coinciding with Valentineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day did not keep our members from attending and they, with their partners, were treated to a night of good food, good company and a great venue, topped off with a fireworks show on Darling Harbour. The night was hosted admirably by Hamish Duff and supported by the NSW team of Martin McLeod and Andrew Findlay. Hamish gave the audience an insight into the work that ARCIA performs and its importance in what is a changing environment but where we still play a vital and increasing role in communications. Robert Johnson from the ACMA presented on the developments of the 400 MHz review and the formation of an implementation team that is notifying licensees of upcoming milestones and addressing issues with transition. Some of these issues are as simple as using the correct emission designator for 25 kHz TETRA systems to make it clear that two 12.5 kHz channels are required. Currently, assignments are seeing added delays of around two weeks for accredited assigners and slightly longer for ACMA as they trial new software. This is still well within the 90-day target but there is a warning that delays may extend as the workload increases. ARCIA urges its members to assist end users in moving early. Martin McLeod, vice president of ARCIA, spoke on a recent submission to The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales (IPART) on fees for radio sites on crown land and Ian Miller, ARCIA committee member and convenor of the Technical Sub-Committee, presented Stan Goodwin with Life Membership from ARCIA for his work in the industry over many years. All in all a wonderful evening and a great networking occasion and we are all looking forward to the next dinner in Perth in April. Visit the ARCIA website for more details. ARCIA is also extremely proud of its member Sergeant Peter Mill of Victoria Police who received an OAM in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Australia Day Honours List for service to the community, particularly in the field of radio communication. Peter has volunteered his time and ability for many years and has been instrumental in helping St John Ambulance, the WIA and WICEN provide services to the community that would otherwise not exist. A deserving recipient of a prestigious award - the Medal of the Order of Australia.

Christian Kelly President Australian Radio Communications Industry Association

www.radiocomms.com.au

Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

newproducts

Pneumatic telescoping mast ICS Industries has added to the Will-Burt range of pneumatic and mechanical telescopic masts. The pneumatic locking and non-locking telescoping masts are suitable for deployment of transmission or surveillance equipment. Available in both standard and heavy-duty models, these masts provide a lightweight elevation solution with a high payload capacity. The masts provide precise directional azimuth with full-length keyways and can be trailer or vehicle mounted. Used for mobile or temporary mast requirements, the Hurry-Up mast can be extended to a full height unguyed up to 7.6 m in 1 min or less. The mast features quick lock/release collars to extend the mast manually by pushing up the sections and fixing them in position. Multiple mounting options which include a drive-on stand accessory for use under the wheel of a vehicle. It is suitable for fast deployment of lightweight antennas, surveillance equipment and instruments. ICS Industries Pty Ltd Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T017

Link radio units

GPS handset

MiMOMax Wireless has launched 900 MHz link radio units with FCC certification, for Parts 90 & 101 of the CFR 47, and IC RSS-119. The FCC and IC certification covers both 25 and 12.5 kHz channel spacing. Obtaining both certifications allows the company to provide the range to a wider range of international markets. Benefits of the range include: increased memory size, auto sensing, and dual 10/100BaseT ethernet.

The Iridium 9575 handset is suitable for lone worker situations. It has a dedicated SOS in the event of emergency, can pinpoint exact locations with GPS and share via SMS, is IP65 jet water and dust resistant, has an integrated speaker phone, is SMS capable and has GPS tracking capabilities via TracerTrak.

MiMOMax Wireless Ltd

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/R420

Contact info and more items like this at wf.net.au/T171

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Mar/Apr 2013 - RADIO COMMS

10 minutes with…

Cameron Grambau Radio technicians should be ARCIA-accredited to drive up their value, making for consistency in training across the industry, according to Cameron Grambau, managing director of CTG Radio.

Cameron Grambau is managing director at CTG Radio and twoway-radio.com.au. He started as an apprentice technician at AA Radio in Melbourne and moved to Mildura, North-West Victoria, in 2009. He provides full service and repair of radios, as well as reselling radios, antennas and accessories online.

34 RADIO COMMS - Mar/Apr 2013

“I believe it is important not to lose the knowledge of people who have been in the industry 30-plus years, so an ARCIA accreditation process might be a good way to have some of this key knowledge passed on to the newer people entering the industry,” he said. An ARCIA (Australian Radio Communication Industry Association) accreditation is awarded to businesses that are recognised providers of a standardised level of service and business practice. As each applicant is independently assessed to ensure they meet the levels expected of an ARCIA Accredited Professional, Grambau said this should be available to individuals as well. He came into the radio industry like so many others, via an electronics certificate from RMIT, and became an apprentice radio technician with AA Radio after answering a newspaper advertisement. “I believe radio is a difficult industry for attracting students, because only basic electronics are taught with just a brief overview of RF,” he said. After making the leap from the metropolis of Melbourne to start his own radio company in country Victoria, much has changed for Grambau. Starting CTG Radio in 2009, an on-site two-way radio service and installation company, he provides radio sales, on-site installation, and repair and service of radios. He operates in the Sunraysia district of his new hometown of Mildura. Recently, Grambau set up an e-commerce website, www.twoway-radio.com.au, allowing his customers to buy radios, antennas and accessories through an online checkout. A ‘business portal’ allows users to log on and order particular items they regularly use. “I believe a targeted website that can attract new customers and service existing customers without devaluing the radio industry will be the industry standard in a few years to come,” he said. “I am conscious that customer service is still a key factor in any business, so I strive to maintain the ‘over the counter’ service and support as well as maintaining this new concept of sales.” Spending only a short but successful time so far in the radio industry, Grambau has a healthy respect for industry leaders who have many years of experience and believes they may be the key to boosting the industry. Even in the short time he has been involved, he has seen significant changes in the industry, such as digital radio and the migration to narrowband, and hopes in the future to pass down his knowledge of the industry. “I see myself still heavily involved in the radio industry in the future and hopefully giving some new people the opportunity to complete an apprenticeship within the radio industry so they have the opportunities that I have had.”

www.radiocomms.com.au

RadioComms Connect is returning as …

20–22 November 2013 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Melbourne Utilities

In conjunction with the ARCIA Industry Gala Dinner

Government

A new home last year and a new name this year ... Comms Connect continues to deliver vital information for mission and critical communications users and industry, and needs your input to keep pace with this rapidly converging marketplace.

Enterprise Transportation Public safety

Call for Papers Join the conversation this November — share your knowledge and expertise with the passionate and eager audience during the two-day conference or during one of the pre-conference workshops — all ideas welcomed and considered!

Key focus points for Comms Connect 2013 • Spectrum and licensing • SCADA/M2M/Telemetry • Backhaul — IP, microwave and everything in between • Public safety communications

• LTE and mobile broadband • Business-critical communications — what are the most cost-effective solutions available? • Networks and infrastructure

• Applications for radio users — what are they and how can they be used? • Underground and in-building DAS systems — available solutions and their application

We are seeking a broad cross-section of papers and case studies from the following sectors: Transportation — road, rail operators, ports and airports, taxis and buses Public safety — including all agencies and volunteer organisations Utilities — water, gas and electricity Resources — mining, oil and gas Government — customs and excise, defence and military Commercial — retail, construction, venues, health facilities etc

Closing deadline — 31 May To be considered, contact must be made with the team prior to this closing deadline. If you would like to contribute to the program, please visit www.comms-connect.com.au or contact Lisa Crossley or Paul Davis on 02 9487 2700 or email events@commsconnect.com.au to initially discuss your ideas. In association with:

Magazine partner:

www.comms-connect.com.au

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