Munications: Fax: +1 434 455 6656 the Vida Network

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Volume 5 • Issue 1

The magazine for IP-based voice, data & interoperability solutions

NEW LOOK, NEW FOCUS– MORE ABOUT CHANNELS NEW EMPHASIS ON IP NETWORK SOLUTIONS INSIDE

CHANGES IN PUBLIC SAFETY ARENA DEMAND NEW SOLUTIONS M/A-COM P.O. BOX 2000 M/A-COM INTRODUCES LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 24501 U.S.A. A NEW CONCEPT IN CRITICAL COM- PHONE: + 1 800 528 7711 MUNICATIONS: FAX: +1 434 455 6656 THE VIDA NETWORK www.macom-wireless.com

CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT SELECTS MUMBAI POLICE EXTEND COM- A NETWORK SOLUTION FOR MUNICATIONS ITS CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Product and service names used in this publication are trademarks or registered trademarks. Other products or services are trademarks of their respective owners. 5_1new.qxp 10/27/2005 9:20 AM Page 4

ContentsCHANNELS volume 5, issue 1

CHANNELS 2 IP communications take center stage is published by M/A-COM Long a hot topic,Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has suddenly IP Communications take center stage 221 Jefferson Ridge Pkwy. burst from the pack. We tell you why, and what it means for you in Lynchburg, VA 24501 this issue. Contributing Editors: As shown in our lead article on the Central Arizona Project Ronald Bender, Greg Farmer, 3 Central Arizona Project targets increased safety with OpenSky Steve Frackleton, Rick (next page) and the announcement of M/A-COM’s VIDA net- Hundstad, John Kimmons, Charged with responsibility for ensuring an uninterrupted flow of John Locatelli and Joan Tinsley. water along 336 miles of aqueduct in rugged, often remote terrain, work on page 11, the transition to IP technology for critical Consulting, design the Central Arizona Project selected TDMA and an IP backbone to and production: communications is accelerating rapidly. The reasons for this Sturdza & Agee help keep workers safe. Marketing Communications are threefold: first, it's the most efficient way to provide the Phone:1-703-768-6624 [email protected] 7 Mumbai Police expand communications network highest levels of interoperability and access to information India's largest and busiest seaport began the first-phase rollout of its users need today. Second, it is the most flexible way to Customer Support: EDACS system in 1997, and continues to expand the network For all questions pertaining throughout the region. to Parts, Technical Assistance, achieve these ends, regardless of the size and mission of the Warranty Administration, agency. And third, it protects users’ investment by greatly Technical Publications and 9 New technology helps public safety cope with change Software Services: For many reasons, critical communications for public safety agencies extending the life of their communications infrastructure. In the United States – Phone: 1-800-528-7711 have been changing dramatically. In this interview with M/A-COM’s As you’ll see on the following pages, the gains made possi- Fax: 1-800-833-7592 Director and Market Manager for Public Safety, we learn why. Email: [email protected] ble by the power of IP are available to all M/A-COM 11 New VIDA network revolutionizes critical communications Customer Care/Service Parts: customers: past; current; and future. customer care@ Announced in March, M/A-COM's new VIDA network concept delivers tycoelectronics.com voice, interoperability,data, and access with an overarching IP backbone 1 In Canada – and a Unified Network Architecture for unparalleled communications 2 Phone: 1-800-368-3277 Fax: 1-800-833-7582 now,and in the future. Email: [email protected] Voice. Interoperability. Data. Access. 15 New IP-based products and upgrades Customer Care/Service Parts: customer care@ M/A-COM continues its rollout of IP-based solutions for Project 25 radios tycoelectronics.com and systems, OpenSky,EDACS and NetworkFirst. International – Contact your Regional Sales 18 News Bites Support Representatives: Europe/Latin America: The latest on who’s buying M/A-COM +1-434-455-9238 communications systems. On the Cover: Mid East/Africa: +1-434-455-9229 Administrators at the Central Asia Pacific: 18 Training Center Schedule Arizona Project headquarters moni- +1-434-455-9223 tor 336 miles of aqueduct snaking A listing of all classroom and online training across the desert. Fax: +1-434-455-6684 Email: intl.sales@ center classes scheduled for the second and tycoelectronics.com third quarters of 2004. Photos: Central Arizona Project

How to contact our editors: Channels welcomes your views! We want to hear from you, so please address any suggestions for articles, comments or questions to: Joan Tinsley, 1-434-455-9423; email: [email protected]. 5_1new.qxp 10/27/2005 9:20 AM Page 4

ContentsCHANNELS volume 5, issue 1

supervisors to perform routine management “The beauty of OpenSky Spectral efficiency, integrated voice key& data functions from their vehicles, allowing them to 12 years, they were already familiar with is that it’s an IP-based spend more time in the field with their teams. M/A-COM’s products and were happy with computer and radio net- Of the two, AVL was an understandable pri- their system’s performance. In discussions work all in one.” FEATURE STORY to increased safety for Arizona water project ority. “We wanted to add AVL to our communi- with M/A-COM about how they might solve cations network as soon as possible,”says the problem of limited frequencies, Cook Bruce Wilcox Cook. Wilcox agrees, adding,“When our main- and Wilcox realized that they could gain the tenance people are trying to find one of our spectral efficiency and enhanced data func- remote desert facilities, we want them to know tionalities they needed by transitioning to exactly where they are, especially in the mid- an OpenSky network. THINKING “OUTSIDE THE BOX” IN ITS SEARCH FOR A NEW COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM dle of the night during a bad storm. And, no OpenSky offers the more spectrally efficient SYSTEM OVERVIEW Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) air inter- HELPED THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT (CAP) IDENTIFY A NEW WAY TO ACHIEVE AN matter where we have an emergency break- down, we want our supervisors to be able to face rather than the traditional Frequency Mod- PRIMARY USE: IMPORTANT GOAL: INCREASED SAFETY FOR THE PERSONNEL WHO MUST WORK AT Voice and data communica- dispatch the closest maintenance person with- ulation (FM) used in early land mobile radio tions for state-owned utility. REMOTE SITES. THAT IT WAS ACHIEVED DESPITE A LACK OF SPECTRUM AVAILABILITY out having to hunt them down first.” systems. Equally important, the fully-integrated TYPE: OpenSky IP-based net- AND COVERAGE CONSTRAINTS IS A TRIBUTE TO THE FORESIGHT OF THE COMPANY’S OpenSky mobile data rate is 19.2 kbps – dou- work (4-slot TDMA) RADIO SYSTEM MANAGEMENT. ble that of other LMR systems in the US. FREQUENCY: 800 MHz Spectral efficiency a must “It was extremely important for us to find SITES: 5 towers plus 8 low-profile sites “We focused first on afety is very important to our company,” remains uninterrupted, and uncontaminated. The immediate problem they faced in achiev- a spectrum-efficient modulation scheme, and “ CHANNELS: 8 the needs of our company Ssays CAP Electronic Department Supervi- “To accomplish our mission we maintain ing these ambitious goals was that, as it often the OpenSky ‘four-slot’TDMA provides four – USERS: 460 specifically, our core busi-sor and Radio Project Manager Phil Cook. a redundant digital communications and is for so many,spectrum is scarce. “We face voice or data channels for each existing RF “Many of our sites are remote, and we need to SCADA system to each of our 15 pumping the same problem as everyone else regarding channel pair,”notes Wilcox. COVERAGE AREA: ness functions. 336 miles of canal and access ” do all we can to protect our staff in the field,” plants via microwave radio and fiber-optics,” the lack of available spectrum. Without the roads Bruce Wilcox he says. A quick glance at a map of the state- says Electronics Department Manager Bruce ability to either add more RF channels or to IP network provides foundation for future SPECIAL FEATURES: owned utility’s 336-mile-long aqueduct snaking Wilcox. An EDACS mobile radio voice net- improve our spectral efficiency,we couldn’t Wide Area Network with inter- Although spectral efficiency and enhanced face to data applications and across the beautiful – but remote – Arizona work permits field teams to effectively com- gain the improvements in safety and function- data handling were what immediately attracted VHF aircraft desert underscores that point. municate throughout CAP’s wide service ality we needed,”Cook says. communications; GPS CAP’s attention to OpenSky,the fact that it automatic vehicle location. The project itself is a complex system of area – an especially critical safety measure in As a result, maximum spectrum efficiency establishes an IP-based communications net- open aqueducts, tunnels, pumping stations and the more remote areas of Arizona that lack became a priority in their search for a new work was also important in its selection. The 3 pipelines that deliver up to 1.5 million acre-feet adequate cellular telephone coverage. communications system. Since CAP had been integration of voice and data on one radio and 4 of Colorado River water per year to more than operating an EDACS voice network for about Photos: Arizona Project Central making both accessible across a private, secure 80 parched municipal, industrial and agricultur- al customers in three central and southwestern Safety, efficiency drive need for change continued ❳ Arizona counties. The water is pumped uphill In a continuing effort to increase safety and from near sea level to a peak elevation of 2,900 efficiency in day-to-day operations, CAP manage- The Central Arizona Project (CAP) isfeet a during its journey,and a crew of about ment recently decided it was time to upgrade complex, 336-mile system of aqueducts, their mobile radio system. And that’s where tunnels, pumping stations and pipelines460 is responsible for ensuring that the flow that delivers up to 1.5 million acre-feet of “thinking outside the box” came into play. water to central and southwest Arizona. “The phrase may be a cliché, but it is important nonetheless,”says Wilcox. In this case, it led to thinking far beyond the immediate goal of simply replacing their voice system. “We AQUEDUCT PUMPING PLANT focused first on the needs of our company – specifically our core business functions,”Wilcox says. They soon realized that the addition of mobile data could help them meet a number of existing as well as future business needs. So, rather than simply replacing their old voice sys- CALIFORNIA tem with a newer one, Cook and Wilcox broad- ened their scope to include systems that deliv- COLORADO RIVER PHOENIX ered integrated voice and data at a rate suffi- cient for the future. Two of those needs were Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) for increased safety,and the use of a Maintenance Management System (MMS) to improve day-to-day operational efficiency. TUCSON Cook says that among other benefits, the addi- MEXICO tion of an MMS would permit maintenance ARIZONA

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IP network is expected to “We face the same impact poles,”says Hoyne. The CAP network Department can continue to interoperate with “We wanted to add AVL to provide immediate as well will employ eight pole-mounted cell sites and the local public safety community,”Wilcox says. our communications net- problem as everyone security and safety incidents as long-term benefits. else regarding the lack five conventional tower sites. work as soon as possible.” along our aqueduct. This These benefits include of available spectrum” The CAP system will also employ V-TACs, Comments about the process interoperability would be the use of cost-effective, stan- primarily for coverage extension in under- Phil Cook especially critical during When asked what they learned during the dards-based and commer- Phil Cook ground “vaults”along the canal. These vaults regional disasters,”says selection process for their new communica- cially available off-the-shelf routers and are constructed of dense concrete which tends Wilcox. With OpenSky,this tions system, both Cook and Wilcox home-in servers; software-based radios that can be indi- to block the RF radio signals, creating dead ability can be enhanced to include even more on the value of talking to those who have vidually updated with over-the-air software zones where communications can be lost. seamless interoperability with legacy systems had actual experience with the systems under changes, eliminating the need for time con- “While technicians are working in an and radios belonging to numerous agencies. consideration. “You can never over-research suming and expensive shop returns; and end- underground vault, they can park their V-TAC- Even more important is the existing VHF a particular system, in part because technolo- to-end encryption for secure transmissions. equipped truck next to the vault lid and com- interface that allows CAP helicopters and other gy changes so rapidly and also because it is “The beauty of OpenSky is that it’s an IP- municate through the V-TAC aircraft to communicate directly over the radio difficult to draw-up a full list based computer and radio network all in one,” and into the system,”Wilcox of requirements – you keep system. A switching console currently inter- A VHF communications link allows CAP says Wilcox. Additional advantages include says. In this mode, called “It was extremely connects the EDACS system to the VHF air-to- thinking of new things you aircraft such as this helicopter ferrying enhanced flexibility in the design and configu- “coverage extension,”users important for us to find can do as you go along,” equipment to a remote tower site to com- ground repeater system, enabling the CAP municate over the 800 MHz radio net- ration of the radio network; compatibility with remain tied to the network a spectrum-efficient work. Water Operations Center and security person- Cook says. IP-based hardware and software applications and, unlike the traditional modulation scheme.” nel to freely communicate with their aircraft Wilcox agrees. “I highly from many sources; and on-demand scalability vehicular repeaters used in recommend site visits to com- during weekly aqueduct maintenance inspec- Bruce Wilcox Fifteen pumping stations lift the water fromwith support for future IP-based technologies. the past, retain the higher- panies that have recently near sea level to a peak elevation of 2,900 tion flights. It is also used for “flight-following” feet. A SCADA system helps monitor and The IP network functions are expected to level trunking features and connectivity with when a helicopter is transporting personnel to implemented similar systems. Ask a lot of ques- control each station. be especially helpful in improving day-to-day the IP backbone of the OpenSky network. remote field locations. “We also have life-safety tions and take a lot of notes and pictures.” efficiency because it will allow the easy inte- In addition to coverage extension mode, procedures in place so that we can directly Most importantly,Wilcox says planners gration of the mobile and fixed environments. V-TACs can also operate in a “scene-of-inci- communicate to an air evacuation helicopter shouldn’t be afraid to think outside the box, Wilcox expects the MMS to be the first major dent” mode to provide coverage in areas out- during a rescue or other emergency,”Wilcox as CAP did in seeking a solution to their data test of this functionality. “Within a year, we side the normal range of the network. In this says. CAP will similarly interconnect the exist- and spectrum efficiency needs. “Also consider plan to provide MMS functionality throughout mode, the V-TAC operates as a local repeater to ing air-to-ground system to the new OpenSky interoperability and the different ways it the OpenSky network,”he says. extend coverage in outlying areas. Unlike cov- network through a voice-bridge interface. can be achieved – communications standards, erage extension mode, however, scene-of- inci- cross-band repeaters, voice gateways, etc. dent communications are basic, radio-to-radio 5 “Cell sites” extend coverage And be sure to look at improving coverage, 6 links, without the higher-level features. VHF interface enhances safety When it comes to network coverage, Cook especially in life-safety applications where Two important safety features already employed and Wilcox again stress the importance of more coverage can sometimes save a life,” with CAP’s existing EDACS system will con- safety to their operation. “The safety of our he adds. tinue with the new OpenSky network: interop- employees is our number one concern,”Wilcox Transition eased through interoperability ■ erability with local and state public safety enti- says. “It’s therefore imperative that we have Cook says the existing EDACS network and the ties, and a voice interface with their VHF air-to- reliable communications in the vast rural new OpenSky network will interoperate only ground communications. desert locations that make up the majority during deployment and the transitioning from 24 hours a day, seven days a week, opera- “Our security agents routinely communicate of our service area. By adding cost-effective tors in the CAP Control Center monitor and one system to the other. This can be a difficult control the flow and delivery of waterwith local law enforcement concerning public ‘cell sites,’we are now able to build-out the period because users are generally brought throughout the system. network and improve our coverage from onto the new network in phases and must about 80 percent to over 95 percent.” interoperate with each other via dispatcher The OpenSky cell sites are one way intervention or console patches. In this case, M/A-COM has introduced more flexibility even though the two systems use different into the initial design and day-to-day operation modulation schemes,Wilcox is confident that of its communications networks. Tom Hoyne, the transition will go well. Director, Utility Markets for M/A-COM, explains “We only have to sacrifice one EDACS the usefulness of cell sites and Vehicular channel pair per site in order to install and Tactical Repeaters (V-TACS) in the overall test the majority of our new OpenSky system, design of an OpenSky network (see Channels, making transition almost seamless,”Wilcox Vol. 4, Issue 3). says. The plan is to link several critical talk- “Cell sites are an effective way to increase groups between the two systems during the coverage in areas where the cost or environ- transition so that users can continue to talk mental impact of a conventional tower is pro- between networks. hibitive, or where permits cannot be obtained. “This should mean very little, if any,inconve- Essentially, a cell site is a low-profile, environ- nience to our customers. We also intend to link mentally-sealed repeater that can be mounted the OpenSky system to our NPSPAC common- just a few meters from the ground on low- calling channel so that our Protective Services

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currently plans for further expansion of the “A key feature was the network not only in Mumbai, but for other Conventional Network provinces within the state of Maharashtra. INTERNA- TIONAL REPORT Mumbai Police continue Interface, which allows is wholly committed to its relationship with interoperability with For customers, an investment in the future M/A-COM and customers in the region. the many existing con- The potential for growth in the region is so As with 3G Wireless Communications’ other ventional radios.” communications network expansion strong that the company is making consider- customers in India, the Mumbai Police EDACS able investment in capital and human network is an example of how the investment resources to support that growth. Singh says in a flexible, dynamic infrastructure can grow that the 3G Wireless Communications Board of over time and not become obsolete. This is an n 1997, the Mumbai Police “Today there are about Directors has observed the market’s recent rolled out the first phase important consideration for the military, public I 5,200 radio terminals on the EDACS system for the growth and approved the investment of a con- of their EDACS LMR network safety and industrial users in the region. the network, which covers Mumbai Police, Singh says. siderable sum to develop, strengthen and build to support law enforcement According to Singh, customers in the approximately 2,200 The standard EDACS a solid infrastructure of systems and resources. communications in one of square kilometers.” region want a communications network that trunking features, such as As it stands today, the Board of Directors has India’s largest metropolitan not only brings the benefits of the latest tech- the ability to set up separate approved funding of a total of USD 2 million regions. Mumbai, which was nologies, but one that will grow and adapt to talk groups for the many dif- over the next two years, Singh says. until 1995 known as Bombay, a name given to future needs, thereby protecting their invest- ferent branches in the force, The funds will be spent in staggered phas- it by the Portuguese back in 1534, is the capi- ment. Systems that quickly become obsolete which include the armed police, crime, detec- es on demo equipment, skill-set development, tal city of Maharashtra State and lies on the have little appeal in India, he says. EDACS has tion, enforcement, traffic, and anti-narcotics regional technical support centers and market country’s west coast on the Arabian Sea. proven itself over the past decade in many branches, were also important in their deci- development activities. 3G Wireless Com- Mumbai is India’s largest and busiest seaport parts of the world, and its ability to support sion. Separate operations and supervisory munications has also proposed to all future as well as a powerful transportation and forward migration to newer technologies and talk groups have allowed sensitive discus- customers that they will provide on-site sup- economic center and home of the nation’s more features has been well documented. sions to be carried on in private, Singh says, port personnel during the first year of a con- stock exchange. That’s very import to customers, and therefore and there is less danger of eavesdroppers tract. During this time, 3G Wireless will man- Narendra Raj Singh, Managing Director to 3G Wireless Communication as a company. with scanners being able to listen in and age the installation as well as train and guide of 3G Wireless Communications Pvt., Ltd., learn about impending operations. customer personnel in the use and care of the “Systems that quickly be-M/A-COM’s representative in India, says that radios and systems. come obsolete have littlethe original six-channel, single-site network Third site added Wireless growth seen in India/Asia PacificInterest in expanded product line appeal in India. EDACSproved its value to the police immediately. The In 2003, a third site with six channels was With offices in Bangalore, New Delhi and In addition to EDACS 800 MHz Trunked net- 7 8 has proven itself... infirst phase was installed to demonstrate how added. This allowed coverage throughout Mumbai, 3G Wireless Communications sees a works, 3G Wireless Communications Pvt., Ltd., many parts of the world.well” the EDACS system would work, and it was the city and well into the surrounding metro- huge potential for the expansion of wireless also serves the Indian market with HF,VHF a success right from the start, says Singh. The politan area. Today there are about 5,200 communications in India and throughout the and UHF conventional radios, SCADA and initial installation was quickly followed with an radio terminals on the network, which covers Asia Pacific region. telemetry equipment, antennas and antenna additional nine-channel site in 1998. approximately 2,200 square kilometers. The company’s goal is to provide the best systems, and wireless LAN and WAN. While the network does not currently available technology at the most economical Singh says the company is also finding a employ encryption or data, the system is com- price, says Sing. He emphasizes that deliver- great interest in other M/A-COM systems, pletely digital-capable, and a limited number ing the most reliable and cost-effective sys- Coverage and security key especially NetworkFirst for cost-effective of LPE-200 radios, which can be software tems is only part of their job, however. interoperability with the many legacy wire- With a diverse regional population of around upgraded for digital and various encryption Training, service and maintenance are also less systems that are used throughout the 10 million people, coverage and security SYSTEM OVERVIEW standards, are already in use. key to a successful operation as many wire- country, and for M/A-COM’s HYDRA systems were major factors in the selection of PRIMARY USE: As well as the sell, installation and imple- less users in India transition from the older for the Indian Navy. With large numbers of the radio system. A key feature for Voice communications for mentation of the police network, 3G Wireless analog systems to new digital networks. these shipboard wireless networks installed police and public safety the police department was the Communications is responsible for ongoing The company currently has a staff of 26, on U.S. Navy and other naval ships around the TYPE: Convention-al Network Interface maintenance for the network and the radio and will soon be setting up a training division world, it is another proven product with a EDACS Multisite (three) (CNI), which allows interoperability terminals.The network has proven to be very to build overall technical expertise in the field strong track record of performance. 3G FREQUENCY: 800 MHz with the many existing conventional robust and reliable, and Singh notes that it has of wireless communications. The company Wireless believes it can play a major role in CHANNELS: 21 (total) With offices in Mumbai, radios in use by other agencies in the Bangalore and New Delhi, 3G not failed once since the original installation in intends to provide comprehensive training in helping to ensure India’s security. USERS: 5,200 area. This is one of the most impor- Wireless Communications is well 1997. This reliability has clearly RF and RF systems for existing personnel, as ■ COVERAGE AREA: positioned to serve the Mumbai tant features of 2,200 sq. km. Police and other cus- impressed the Mumbai well as for young engineers coming out of tomers in the region. NUMBER OF TERMINALS: Police, and there are college. This will help build a solid founda- For more information about M/A-COM’s 15,000 voice and data; addition for the industry, as well as India, in the wireless networks for critical communica- tional 15,000 data only future, Singh says. tions in India, contact: 3G Wireless SPECIAL FEATURES: Conventional Network Communications Private Ltd., # 95/3, Interface, Integrated Multisite 2nd floor, NCPR Towers, Ring Road, Controller; NEW DELHI digital-ready Investment, commitment to the region Marathahalli, Doddanakekkundi, While the investment in wireless infrastructure Bangalore - 560 027 – India. is a sound one for the customer, it is no less so Tel: +91 80 522 5535; e-mail: naren@ MUMBAI for 3G Wireless Communications Pvt., Ltd, who 3gwirelessindia.com; [email protected]. BANGALORE

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Risk reduction, increased efficiency Facella:Paradoxically, tech- distinction that was once nology has increased their made between voice and CHANNELS INTERVIEW risk while at the same time “No one else has the drive new communications data no longer applies. In the number of fires has record that M/A-COM has for ensuringM/A-COM’s that IP-based cus- packet- decreased. Smoke detectors tomers areswitched not left networks, behind for solutions for public safetyand a greater public aware- when newerexample, technology voice and data of ness about fires and what to do about them comesall kinds, along.” including images have reduced the number of fire calls, on a such as fingerprints, mug per-capita basis,risk increased made to fire for departmentsthem? FOR MANY REASONS, THE CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS NEEDS OF THOSE IN PUBLIC shots and floor plans, are all treated exactly nationwide. In fact, about 80% of all calls to SAFETY HAVE CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN RECENT YEARS. NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN the same across the entire network – it’s all fire departments today are not for fires, but HELP PROVIDE SOLUTIONS AS ADMINISTRATORS SEEK TO DECREASE RISKS FOR PUBLIC bits of information. So now police officers for emergency medical teams and para- and firefighters have access, with one radio SAFETY PERSONNEL AND THE PUBLIC. WE TALKED TO JOHN FACELLA, M/A-COM’S medics, who in most jurisdictions are under in the vehicle and with one infrastructure, DIRECTOR AND MARKET MANAGER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT the fire department. to all kinds of information that they couldn’t But while the numbers of fires have gone WHAT THESE CHANGES WILL MEAN TO USERS IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. have had before without two radios or two down, the fires that do occur are more dan- separate systems. gerous. Sixty years ago the materials in the Editor:You’ve been charged with the respon-sibility average home were primarily based on cot- of leading a new Public Safety Market Team. What will this new team do to help meet the needs of pub- Editor:Why are the critical com- ton, wool, wood, and metal. Today the “The critical communica- lic safety agencies and their personnel? munications needs of those in pub- tions systems we provide the elimination of two- majority of household articles are now syn- lic safety changing? must [provide] better cov- officer patrols. There is thetics which release toxic fumes like erage... and improved now just one officer, and hydrogen cyanide when heated in a fire. Facella:Our Public Safety Market Team Facella:The specifics vary interoperability.” backup may be many min- Another danger we saw clearly during 9/11 has decades of experience in critical com- depending on what sector utes away. That’s an added is the interruption to radio communications munications for public safety, and our focus of the public safety commu- risk for the public as well that often occurs inside high-rise office is on working closely with all segments nity we’re talking about, but there are two as the police. Add the buildings and other dense of the public safety com-munity to develop 9 “State, federal andgeneral trends. One is the need to reduce increasing likelihood of terrorist attacks in structures which technolo- “Becauseinnovative the risks solutions are toso their 10 local funds are allrisk – to both the public and to public safety many regions of the country, and you can gy allows us to build today high andcommunications the budgets needs. are I so tight for those in public becoming scarce.personnel.” The other is to increase day-to- see why risk has increased. with steel and reinforced was attracted to this job and safety, cost effectiveness day efficiency. Both of these goals need to Budgets are also a factor. State, federal concrete construction. this company because of and longevity... are of and local funds are all becoming scarce. But the firefighters who its history of working be addressed despite rising costs, tighter primary importance” budgets and increased demand for faster A few years ago, federal funding was must go into these buildings closely with customers. response in emergencies. made available to police departments at are exposed to more risk No one else has the record the local level in order to put more patrol when they lose the ability that M/A-COM has for ensur- officers on the beat. But it was short-term to communicate over their radio. Thus ing that customers are not Editor:Let’s take the sectors one at a time, begin- funding, and now it is drying up. And, near- the critical communications systems we left behind when newer technology comes ning with risk to law enforcement. ly every state in the country is experiencing provide must address nearly identical issues along. Because the risks are so high and the huge deficits these days, with the obvious to these for law enforcement: better cover- budgets are so tight Facella:Law enforcement officers face impact on funding. age throughout their service area and for those in public safety, cost effectiveness increased risk because they are often more improved interoperability. and longevity – while still retaining access exposed than in the past and because of Editor:How can critical communications address to the latest technology – are of primary the proliferation of more sophisticated these problems? importance. weaponry on the street. The object of Our team will build on this established today’s “community policing”is to get offi- Facella:In two ways: provide better cover- Editor:You also mentioned the need to increaserecord and carry it even further. I’m excited cers out of their cars and onto the street in age so that no matter where an officer is – day-to-day efficiency for those in public safety. Whatby the possibilities that now exist with order to establish a relationship with the whether in a high-rise building, on a subur- specifically can a communications network do to our IP-based network approach. I’ve been increase efficiency? community. The idea is to build a level of ban street or in a remote rural area in around the critical communications business trust and show that the officer is there to rugged terrain – he or she can communicate for a long time, and this is one of the most help and protect the public. It’s a good pro- instantly. And by providing better interoper- Facella:Provide more access to more infor- important and far-reaching developments gram, but the down side of that approach ability so that no matter what kind of radio mation and make it available to more peo- I’ve witnessed. And customers are going to for the officers is that they are considerably the closest help may have, users can com- ple. In the past, the primary focus of criti- see some very unique solutions coming more exposed now than in the past. municate seamlessly. cal communications was on voice. Since from us in the near future. Couple that with the fact that in many more and more systems are transitioning ■ cities budget restrictions have resulted in Editor:How about firefighters – how has to digital voice over an IP network, the

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M/A-COM’s VIDA network:Far more than your average VoIP network These days, Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) isseveral a hot times as the information moves across the network. TECHNOLOGY UPDATE Voice, Interoperability, Data, and Access topic because of what it can provide. But not all VoIPEach net- of these conversions can seriously degrade quality. works are the same, and users should be wary. FirstSecondly, of all, M/A-COM’s VIDA network delivers not just voice, for all your critical communications M/A-COM uses IP-based digital packet switched technolo-but unprecedented interoperability and fully integrated gy throughout the network (“end-to-end IP”). That meanshigher-speed data, with the capacity for broadband and that the information (voice, images, etc.) is convertedhigher into speeds soon to be available. Finally, M/A-COM’s ON MARCH 25, 2004, M/A-COM ANNOUNCED A REVOLUTIONARY digital IP packets only once. These digital packets remainUnified Network Archi-tecture assures you of a long life APPROACH TO CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS. THAT NEW APPROACH IS unchanged as they travel across the network – regardlessspan and migration to new technologies. of how extensive the network is. Other forms of VoIP may CALLED A VIDA NETWORK, AND IT MARKS A SINGULAR DEPARTURE FROM n be converted back and forth between digital and analog THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF THINKING ABOUT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS.

“ n the past,”says M/A-COM Vice entire network of help and support I President and General Manager that was simply inaccessible in the John Vaughan,“the radio itself was past. And the increasing demands the center of the LMR universe. And now made on our critical communica- a need and permission to do so. rightfully so. When a police officer or tions and those responsible for pro- This functionality can be summa- a firefighter pressed the emergency tecting the public are such that only rized as delivering: button to notify the dispatcher of a a network approach can deliver the • Voice problem that might very well be life functionalities that those in public • Interoperability threatening, it was all they had to sig- safety tell us they want and need.” • Data A VIDA network unifies your 11 nal their exposure to imminent dan- Those functionalities include 12 • Access communications in the same ger. Today, that radio is no less impor- secure, high-quality, all-digital voice; The first initials of those key func- way as your Enterprise network unifies all your organization’s other tant as a lifeline for the police on the seamless and easily managed inter- tions define the VIDA network. functions. This allows you to fully inte- grate your mobile and fixed environ- beat or the firefighter in a building operability with legacy equipment ments when necessary, while still main- engulfed in flames. But there is now so that cash-strapped public safety taining security and independence. a huge difference – that same radio organizations are not forced to scrap A VIDA network is not a product can give our public safety and replace expensive infrastructure Dr. Dennis Martinez,Technical Direc- servers to connect all of an organiza- personnel access to an and radios; fully integrated voice tor for M/A-COM, explains what a tion’s computers onto a single, IP- and high-speed data for the delivery VIDA network is and, just as impor- based network. This makes informa- of all kinds of information over a tant, isn’t. tion available to anyone who has single infrastructure; and access to “The thing to keep in mind is that access to the network and permission all that information (and more) for M/A-COM’s VIDA network is not a to use it. It doesn’t matter where an anyone within – and when product. It is an organizational struc- individual is physically located – it necessary, outside – the ture. If you understand what an IP- can be accessed from anywhere in organization with based Enterprise network is, you the world with an IP connection. understand a VIDA network. They are “The Enterprise network has revo- identical in form and substance,”says lutionized the way virtually every Martinez. “But of course,”he adds,“a organization functions. A VIDA net- VIDA network is private and secure, work will do the same for their criti- unlike the Internet, which is vulnera- cal communications,”Martinez says. ble to security issues.” One of the things that makes an An Enterprise network is an organi- Enterprise network so powerful is zational framework that uses a the fact that it supports numerous collection of routers and continued ❳ 5_1new.qxp 10/27/2005 9:23 AM Page 14

applications, so long as they are and features of all M/A-COM air inter- based on the international set of “M/A-COM has always had a reputa- faces and applications that are best ture that unifies the information nec- standards known as the Internet tion for protecting our customers and for you,”says Martinez. “You could essary for your mobile environment, Protocol (IP). Spread-sheets, word not leaving them stranded with an select four-slot TDMA technology for it also allows you to unify the mobile processing, office management, mul- outdated technology. We have worked your urban areas, and P25IP for outly- and fixed environments in a way tiple data bases, computer-aided very hard to provide graceful migra- ing rural areas. You have the option never before possible. design and dozens more software tion paths so that infrastructures and of mixing 700/800 MHz and VHF in “With a VIDA network,”says applications can all be run on the radios can be upgraded to more order to get the optimum price/per- Martinez,“many of the barriers same network. And the information advanced features without having to formance ratio for various locations. between an organization’s fixed and they provide can be shared across scrap and replace. Through our VIDA You can co-locate transmit/receive mobile environments can be removed the network when desired, no mat- network, we are able to continue this sites on existing towers, erect new when required, while still retaining ter how large the network may be. commitment to our customers.” ones, or use low-impact ‘cell sites’ their independence and security.” M/A-COM’s VIDA network oper- to extend your coverage in difficult Does not supplant existing systems The Big Picture ates in the same way. It adds areas. You can economically scale Since the VIDA network is not a The result of this integration of the voice (VoIP) to the IP network your network from local to regional product in and of itself, it does fixed and mobile environments is and supports not only to nationwide. The not supplant existing that what is available all of M/A-COM’s sys- choice is yours; we just MA-COM systems such to an organization’s tems and applications, “M/A-COM’s VIDA network is give you the tools to “Only a network approach “The VIDA network takes not a product. It is an as OpenSky, P25IP personnel in the field including OpenSky, , attain it on a single, can deliver nothing away from the organizational framework. the functionalities that is now seamlessly avail- familiar radio functions. P25 ” EDACS and the interop- scalable VIDA network,” Dennis Martinez customers tell us they able to those in head- It amplifies the power of IP, EDACS (through erability application Martinez says. want and need.” quarters – or anywhere that radio with the full capa- the EDACS IP Gateway) NetworkFirst. All these, bilities of a network.” and NetworkFirst, but virtually any as well as new systems and applica- John Vaughan else there is a need and a network. The reverse existing (or emerging) air interface tions currently in development, are One essential difference Dennis Martinez is also true: police in the field now 13 or trunking protocol regardless available to the user on one over- While conceptually the same, there is 14 have immediate access to the many of frequency or manufacturer. It arching network that can be mixed- one essential difference between an local, state, regional and federal data- accomplishes this through IP and-matched to provide the most Enterprise and a VIDA network. An bases that exist nationwide. Fire- and M/A-COM’s Unified Network effective solution to individual sit- Enterprise network primarily unifies fighters have access to building Architecture. uations. This provides users with the processes and functions of an plans and GPS coordinates. Rescuers “M/A-COM’s VIDA network more flexibility and more choice organization’s fixed environment – can now know where firefighters helps protect the cus- in the initial design and configura- the personnel who work in main and are and get help to them if needed. tomer’s investment,” tion of their communications net- branch offices and access databases All of which provides greater safety says Martinez. work as well as in day-to-day opera- and other information across the and more information, faster, and tions. Furthermore, this flexibility organization’s network. The VIDA with greater efficiency. extends far into the future so that network has access to all that as well, The end result for users is more capabilities can be distributed where but also adds the organization’s of everything: more choice, more and when the need arises. mobile environment. options, more capabilities, more effi- “A VIDA network allows you to mix “For a number of reasons, we rec- ciency and, ultimately, more safety. and match the capabilities ommend that the VIDA network be “The VIDA network takes nothing organized as a separate, private and away from the familiar radio func- secure voice and data network most tions,”says Martinez. “It amplifies of the time. But of course, since the the power of that radio with the full Enterprise and VIDA networks are IP capabilities of a network.” based, they can be linked whenever desired,”Martinez says. ■ So, while a VIDA network can be seen as an organizational struc- 5_1new.qxp 10/27/2005 9:24 AM Page 16

NEW PROD- NEW UCTS New IP-based additions wo new upgrade packages for the TMASTR III Base Station not only provide and upgrades introduced at IWCEa cost effective migration path to newer technologies, butMASTR also allow organizationsIII Base Stationto upgrades provide migration to P25 and IP networking follow different investment strategies to best IN KEEPING WITH THE VIDA NETWORK CONCEPT OF ONE OVERARCHING IP BACKBONE SUPPORT- meet their needs. “These upgrade packages provide a lot ING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS (SEE PREVIOUS STORY, PAGE 11), DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES ON of flexibility in planning for the addition M/A-COM’S LINE OF SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIOS, SYSTEMS AND CONSOLES. “OUR SYSTEMS of P25 and P25IP AND RADIOS CAN BE MIXED AND MATCHED ACROSS THE ENTIRE IP NETWORK TO MEET INDIVID- to a communications network,”says Site Products Manager John UAL REQUIREMENTS. THIS CAPABILITY PROVIDES OUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE OPTIMUM FLEXI- Locatelli. “An agency can choose to either BILITYjump in immediately, or to delay their IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR NETWORK, AS WELL AS IN ITS DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION,” SAYS SYSTEM upgrades until they really need them or PRODUCTS DIRECTOR RON BENDER. when funding is available.” THIS FLEXIBILITY IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF M/A-COM’S UNIFIED NETWORK Essentially, the upgrades allow users to migrate sequentially from conventional ana- ARCHITECTURE, WHICH WHEN DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCT LINE WILL ALLOW “PLUG log to digital P25 and on to an IP network- AND PLAY” CONNECTIVITY TO THE VARIOUS AIR INTERFACES AND APPLICATIONS ON THE VIDA NET- based P25 IP WORK. STEVE FRACKLETON, DIRECTOR, TERMINALS, EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS OF THE SOFTWARE- . Conventional analog communications are retained. tion Standard now, as well as the Advanced BASED APPROACH TO M/A-COM’S RADIOS. “SOFTWARE-BASED RADIOS PROVIDE 100 PERCENT “Of course, an agency can always skip Encryption Standard when it becomes avail- PROTECTION FOR OUR CUSTOMER’S INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EASILY UPDATED, the sequential upgrade and go directly to a able,”Locatelli says. DES provides high voice quality and significantlyP25 MASTR more III securitystation – Availablefor for shipment now, the MASTR III base station upgrade allows full OFTEN OVER THE AIR. THIS MEANS OUR CUSTOMERS CAN HAVE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND MASTR III P25IP. But many agencies don’t access to P25 conventional analog and digital radios and systems. sensitive communications. FEATURES WITHOUT HAVING TO SCRAP AND REPLACE THEIR EXISTING RADIOS BEFORE THE END need everything all at once, and making the OF THEIR USEFUL LIFESPAN,” HE SAYS. upgrades individually allows them to spread Add IP networking when required 15 THE LATEST ROUND OF UPDATES AND NEW INTRODUCTIONS WERE ANNOUNCED AT THE the cost over time as well as saving up to Agencies with existing or newly upgraded MASTR III Digital Base Station 16 Air Interface: P25IP Conventional INTERNATIONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EXHIBITION HELD IN MARCH, 2004. about 25 percent on their infrastructure conventional MASTR III P25 digital Base costs,”Locatelli says. Frequency: VHF UHF Stations can add M/A-COM’s IP-based net- What’s New: Convert existing work upgrade for full P25IP operation. MASTR III Base Stations to P25 digital; convert current MASTR III Digital M7100IP Mobile and P7100IP Portable Radios Step one: add P25 digital voice and data “The addition of an IP network to P25 Base Stations to P25IP Base Those with existing conventional analog communications provides a host of capabili- Stations. irst introduced in 2003, the P7100IP Porta- MASTR III Base Stations (all frequency bands) ties not available to those with conventional P25 equipment,”notes Locatelli. In fact, P25IP Fble and M7100 IP Mobile digital radios support three air interfaces: can cost-effectively add access to convention- now support communications with other • P25 digital conventional and trunked al P25 digital voice and data with a single provides many of the features available on a conventional Project 25 radios using DES- • EDACS/ProVoice trunked digital upgrade package consisting of minimal hard- trunked P25 system, but at considerably less OFB encryption. Designed for those in pub- • Analog conventional mode ware additions and software updates. cost. These additional features include: lic safety and service as well as the Federal The DES-OFB encryption upgrades are avail- The upgraded MASTR III P25 digital Base • Priority Call government, utility and transit markets, these able for immediate shipment. Station automatically detects the difference • Call restriction rugged radios are available in the VHF,UHF between P25 digital and analog voice, allow- • Roaming and 800 MHz bands. ing the upgraded system to communicate • Registration M7100IP Mobile & P7100IP Portable Radios with P25 radios as well as the existing ana- • Multiple console choices “As with all M/A-COM software-based Air Interface: P25IP EDACS/ProVoice Conventional radios, the functionality of the 7100 log dispatch network, which is connected • Integrated voice and data IP family Frequency: VHF UHF 800 MHz What’s New: DES-OFB encryption for P25 conventional through four-wire audio ports. The P25 digi- • Scalable architecture is being continually enhanced,”says Product analog and digital talkaround. tal voice is translated through an on-board • Redundancy for greater reliability Manager Greg Farmer. “Security is a major voice encoder/decoder and allows immedi- The P25 issue, especially in view of new Homeland ate access to P25 communications through IP upgrade consists of minimal Security requirements, and we are pleased the existing network. hardware and software updates. A SitePro to be able to make this enhanced security “The addition of digital P25 voice allows Controller connects to the Network Switch- available to our customers.” users to operate under the Digital Encryp- ing Center, providing wide-area IP data and Farmer says that when the new Advanced voice through an IP-based dispatch console. Encryption Standard (AES), which is currently in development, is ready for release, software upgrades will be available for the MASTR III BASE STATION MIGRATION STRATEGY: existing radios. The P7100 New or existing MASTR III Add: Add: IP IP Mobile Radio Portable and M7100 IP P7100IP Conventional analog Digital P25 voice and data P25 for IP networking M7100 IP Mobile multimode radios currently Portable Radios Cost Savings: Up to 25%

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NEW PROD- UCTS New IP-based additions wo new upgrade packages for the TMASTR III Base Station not only provide and upgrades introduced at IWCEa cost effective migration path to newer technologies, butMASTR also allow organizationsIII Base Stationto upgrades provide migration to P25 and IP networking follow different investment strategies to best IN KEEPING WITH THE VIDA NETWORK CONCEPT OF ONE OVERARCHING IP BACKBONE SUPPORT- meet their needs. “These upgrade packages provide a lot ING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS (SEE PREVIOUS STORY, PAGE 11), DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES ON of flexibility in planning for the addition M/A-COM’S LINE OF SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIOS, SYSTEMS AND CONSOLES. “OUR SYSTEMS of P25 and P25IP AND RADIOS CAN BE MIXED AND MATCHED ACROSS THE ENTIRE IP NETWORK TO MEET INDIVID- to a communications network,”says Site Products Manager John UAL REQUIREMENTS. THIS CAPABILITY PROVIDES OUR CUSTOMERS WITH THE OPTIMUM FLEXI- Locatelli. “An agency can choose to either BILITYjump in immediately, or to delay their IN THE DESIGN OF THEIR NETWORK, AS WELL AS IN ITS DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION,” SAYS SYSTEM upgrades until they really need them or PRODUCTS DIRECTOR RON BENDER. when funding is available.” THIS FLEXIBILITY IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE USE OF M/A-COM’S UNIFIED NETWORK Essentially, the upgrades allow users to migrate sequentially from conventional ana- ARCHITECTURE, WHICH WHEN DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCT LINE WILL ALLOW “PLUG log to digital P25 and on to an IP network- AND PLAY” CONNECTIVITY TO THE VARIOUS AIR INTERFACES AND APPLICATIONS ON THE VIDA NET- based P25 IP WORK. STEVE FRACKLETON, DIRECTOR, TERMINALS, EXPLAINS THE BENEFITS OF THE SOFTWARE- . Conventional analog communications are retained. tion Standard now, as well as the Advanced BASED APPROACH TO M/A-COM’S RADIOS. “SOFTWARE-BASED RADIOS PROVIDE 100 PERCENT “Of course, an agency can always skip Encryption Standard when it becomes avail- PROTECTION FOR OUR CUSTOMER’S INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE THEY CAN BE EASILY UPDATED, the sequential upgrade and go directly to a able,”Locatelli says. DES provides high voice quality and significantlyP25 MASTR more III securitystation – Availablefor for shipment now, the MASTR III base station upgrade allows full OFTEN OVER THE AIR. THIS MEANS OUR CUSTOMERS CAN HAVE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES AND MASTR III P25IP. But many agencies don’t access to P25 conventional analog and digital radios and systems. sensitive communications. FEATURES WITHOUT HAVING TO SCRAP AND REPLACE THEIR EXISTING RADIOS BEFORE THE END need everything all at once, and making the OF THEIR USEFUL LIFESPAN,” HE SAYS. upgrades individually allows them to spread Add IP networking when required 15 THE LATEST ROUND OF UPDATES AND NEW INTRODUCTIONS WERE ANNOUNCED AT THE the cost over time as well as saving up to Agencies with existing or newly upgraded MASTR III Digital Base Station 16 Air Interface: P25IP Conventional INTERNATIONAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS EXHIBITION HELD IN MARCH, 2004. about 25 percent on their infrastructure conventional MASTR III P25 digital Base costs,”Locatelli says. Frequency: VHF UHF Stations can add M/A-COM’s IP-based net- What’s New: Convert existing work upgrade for full P25IP operation. MASTR III Base Stations to P25 digital; convert current MASTR III Digital M7100IP Mobile and P7100IP Portable Radios Step one: add P25 digital voice and data “The addition of an IP network to P25 Base Stations to P25IP Base Those with existing conventional analog communications provides a host of capabili- Stations. irst introduced in 2003, the P7100IP Porta- MASTR III Base Stations (all frequency bands) ties not available to those with conventional P25 equipment,”notes Locatelli. In fact, P25IP Fble and M7100 IP Mobile digital radios support three air interfaces: can cost-effectively add access to convention- now support communications with other • P25 digital conventional and trunked al P25 digital voice and data with a single provides many of the features available on a conventional Project 25 radios using DES- • EDACS/ProVoice trunked digital upgrade package consisting of minimal hard- trunked P25 system, but at considerably less OFB encryption. Designed for those in pub- • Analog conventional mode ware additions and software updates. cost. These additional features include: lic safety and service as well as the Federal The DES-OFB encryption upgrades are avail- The upgraded MASTR III P25 digital Base • Priority Call government, utility and transit markets, these able for immediate shipment. Station automatically detects the difference • Call restriction rugged radios are available in the VHF,UHF between P25 digital and analog voice, allow- • Roaming and 800 MHz bands. ing the upgraded system to communicate • Registration M7100IP Mobile & P7100IP Portable Radios with P25 radios as well as the existing ana- • Multiple console choices “As with all M/A-COM software-based Air Interface: P25IP EDACS/ProVoice Conventional radios, the functionality of the 7100 log dispatch network, which is connected • Integrated voice and data IP family Frequency: VHF UHF 800 MHz What’s New: DES-OFB encryption for P25 conventional through four-wire audio ports. The P25 digi- • Scalable architecture is being continually enhanced,”says Product analog and digital talkaround. tal voice is translated through an on-board • Redundancy for greater reliability Manager Greg Farmer. “Security is a major voice encoder/decoder and allows immedi- The P25 issue, especially in view of new Homeland ate access to P25 communications through IP upgrade consists of minimal Security requirements, and we are pleased the existing network. hardware and software updates. A SitePro to be able to make this enhanced security “The addition of digital P25 voice allows Controller connects to the Network Switch- available to our customers.” users to operate under the Digital Encryp- ing Center, providing wide-area IP data and Farmer says that when the new Advanced voice through an IP-based dispatch console. Encryption Standard (AES), which is currently in development, is ready for release, software upgrades will be available for the MASTR III BASE STATION MIGRATION STRATEGY: existing radios. The P7100 New or existing MASTR III Add: Add: IP IP Mobile Radio Portable and M7100 IP P7100IP Conventional analog Digital P25 voice and data P25 for IP networking M7100 IP Mobile multimode radios currently Portable Radios Cost Savings: Up to 25%

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TextLink messaging over EDACS aids first responders news bites TextLink digital text messaging n times of stress it’s not unusual for voice a missed call or background noise. Our goal is NetworkFirst chosen by 15-member WSCA New U.S. Navy contract marks 138th HYDRA Air Interface: EDACS/ProVoice I communications to become garbled and to provide first responders with the most effec- NetworkFirst was chosen by the Western States Contracting The U.S. Navy recently announced the award of a contract Frequency: VHF UHF misunderstood. With the introduction of tive communications – via voice or data – that Alliance (WSCA) to address interoperable communications for 800 & 900 MHz for an EDACS-based HYDRA shipboard radio communica- What’s New: Text messaging for TextLink text messaging over existing EDACS they need to protect lives.” its member states. M/A-COM was named one of three com- tions system for the USS Makin Island (LHD-8), the Navy’s EDACS first responders minimizes systems, the odds for error and misunder- TextLink allows the display of predefined munications equipment suppliers for the WSCA public safety newest amphibious ship. The contract includes system chance for errors. standing can be significantly reduced. messages or free-form text of up to 200 char- communications contract vehicle. WSCA is a consortium of manufacture and installation as well as day-to-day support. “Text messaging has certainly been suc- acters. The recipient is alerted by an audible 15 member states supporting one another in the research, This will be the 28th EDACS/HYDRA system to be installed cessful in the commercial sector and it has message tone and can respond to the time- development, and administration of procurement and con- in the Navy’s amphibious fleet, with 138 systems installed clear applications for public safety as well,” stamped message with either predefined or tractual specifications and requirements. Other, non-member worldwide for the U.S. (75 systems), French, Italian and says Rick Hundstad, Data Product Manager. free-form text messages. “In all cases,”notes states may also be eligible to purchase public safety equip- British Navies. “One of the advantages of all M/A-COM Hundstad,“normal radio activity takes prece- ment under the terms of the contract. voice products is the ability to receive data – in dence over text messaging.” Leading uranium fuel producer selects EDACS this case, in the form of text – as a supplement While the text messaging system is similar NetworkFirst to connect Delmarva Peninsula The United States Enrichment Corporation, a subsidiary of to the critical voice communications that first in functionality to current Short Message M/A-COM was recently awarded a contract from Worcester USEC Inc.,the world's leading supplier of enriched uranium County,MD, to provide public safety communications connec- responders rely on. Using TextLink, public safe- Service (SMS) used on commercial networks, fuel for commercial nuclear power plants and located in tivity for the Maryland Eastern Shore Interoperability Network ty professionals on the front lines have access Hundstad says it has been optimized for pubic Paducah, Kentucky, has selected an eight-channel EDACS (MESIN). The network will serve first responders throughout to up-to-the-minute information that they safety requirements. ProVoice trunked radio system. The system will support nine counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. M/A-COM will might otherwise not be able to receive due to more than 500 users and two dispatch consoles, and implement its NetworkFirst solution to connect state, county, includes M/A-COM's newest over-the-air reprogramming and municipal law enforcement, fire, emergency medical ser- feature, ProFile, for added efficiency and ease of operation. vices and the Coast Guard along the state's coastline.

IP-based console allows efficient administrative monitoring

VIP Console he new Virtual IP (VIP) Console uses state- Air Interface: OpenSky P25IP Tof-the-art IP technology to connect direct- Second and Third Quarter Schedule Frequency: Not Applicable • Project 25 support – provides an additional ly to any M/A-COM IP network through a Make training a number-one priority for supervisory personnel, users and 17 What’s New: Cost-effective non-criti- layer of security for communications, sup- standard PC desktop workstation. “For those maintenance staff. Call 1-434-455-9469 for complete information on our cal and back-up dispatch capability on porting both the Project 25 IMBE vocoder standard PC desktop workstation. non-critical and backup dispatch personnel IP schedule and to find out more about class availability. as well as the OpenSky AMBE vocoder.Con-sole 2004 who need sophisticated administrative and uses• Secure digital communications audio technology – the to V provide monitoring capabilities, the V IP Console pro- end-to-end secure communications virtual- Introduction to Trunked System Maintenance System Management Workshop vides a level of functionality built on IP and ly free from unauthorized access, integrat- Aug. 9 – Aug. 29 Jul. 19 – Jul. 23 M/A-COM’s leading interoperability technolo- ing the digital audio vocoder for encoding Trunked System Administration Orion & EDACS 500M Radio Maintenance gy that is powerful, flexible and easy to use,” & decoding within the V IP Console with- Aug. 2 – Aug. 6 Aug. 23 – Aug. 27 says John Kimmons, Product Manager. out analog audio being routed through the Communications Systems Director LPE & M-RK Radio Maintenance The V IP Console features a simple, intu- infrastructure. Aug. 23 – Aug. 25 Jul. 19 – Jul. 23 itive design for organized and efficient ease- • OpenSky dispatch interface – enables of-use while delivering powerful monitoring IP connectivity to M/A-COM’s IP networks Jaguar 700P & Jaguar 725M Radio MaintenanceMobile Data on Trunked Systems and administrative capabilities for up to four through a direct, single connection, com- Sept. 27 – Oct. 1 Sept. 20 – Sept. 29 The new IPVConsole provides monitor-talk groups. Kimmons says the console plete with user registration and authentica- ing and administrative capabil-ities Trunked System Master Technician Analog & Digital Voting wherever a LAN/WAN connectionoffers both basic and enhanced dispatch fea- tion services. Aug. 30 – Sept. 3 Sept. 20 – Sept. 22 exists, without the need fortures and functionality, including: • Basic dispatch functions – offers talk group RF coverage. MASTR III Station Maintenance Simulcast System Maintenance • monitoring; selected/unselected audio; Powerful, compact & flexible Jul. 26 – Jul. 30 Sept. 13 – Sept. 17 communications – with four selected and instant transmitting; selective talk paths, it is calling/caller alias; and independent vol- RF Test & Troubleshooting the perfect solution for ume/mute controls for each talk group. Jul. 12 – Jul. 16 administrative monitoring • Enhanced functionality – the V IP Console of systems communications. also comes complete with emergency status Online Training Class Schedule Running on a standard PC monitoring and clearing, as well as the abili- Configuring the C3 Maestro Dispatch Console desktop workstation with Operating the C3 Maestro Dispatch Console ty to create Patches and Simulselects. with UDS Aug. 11 1:00 to 5: p.m. no extra equipment, it For maximum performance, M/A-COM rec- Jun. 30 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. is an ideal alternative Implementing ProFile using an EDG

ommends using the V when M/A-COM’s full-fea- IP Console with a ded- Implementing the EDACS Security Key Sept. 14 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. icated WAN/LAN connection on a known, Jul. 8 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

tured Maestro Implementing ProFile using RF Data IP secure, decongested network to ensure a Console Configuring Central Telephone Interconnect (CTI)Sept. 16 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. is not required. high grade of service.

Aug 4 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. M/A-COM

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