Interference? Let’s hear it uh, about it
Tyco must have made an offer that the privately held Com-Net’s investors couldn’t refuse, giving them a fabulous return on a 15-month investment.
We’ve written about interference from wireless base stations that blocks reception on public-safety mobile and portable units. One reason for the problem is the distribution of wireless base stations throughout a population center, placing wireless transmitters close to public safety receivers that may not be able to reject the unwanted strong, nearby signal and to receive the weaker, desired signal from a distant public-safety base station.
Another form of interference from wireless base stations affects bi-directional amplifiers used to extend public safety radio coverage into underground areas and other weak-signal areas. Unwanted wireless base station signals, stronger by as much as 15dB or more compared to public safety signals entering bi-directional amplifiers, “rob” the power proportioned to desired public safety signals. The public safety signals are insufficiently amplified, and the result is that the bi-directional amplifiers’ objective to extend coverage may fail.
If your agency has faced this type of interference, would you please let us know? We’d like to include some examples in a future issue that will offer solutions that work in various system configurations.
By the numbers
Intertec Publishing owns this magazine and the International Wireless Communications Expo trade show, operated by our Exhibitions Division. People who do business at the trade show express a lot of interest in the number of attendees. At press time, the Exhibitions Division released those numbers.
The verified attendance at IWCE 2001 was 7,547, compared to 7,342 at IWCE 2000. The numbers include show attendees and exhibitor staff.
In past years, Intertec has reported registration numbers, which take in everyone entered into the registration database. Registration numbers include those who pre-register yet fail to come. Verified attendance counts only those who arrived at the show. Reporting verified attendance represents a change in policy for our company.
As for another set of numbers, this was the second year that we provided Internet coverage of IWCE. During the show week, 733 Internet users visited the IWCE Live! Web site. Visitors are counted once per visit, no matter how many pages they view. IWCE Live! users logged 4,606 page views. Friday had the most visits and page views. The coverage remains available for you to see on the Internet.
Meanwhile, check out our post-show coverage on page 44.
Tyco buys Com-Net Ericsson?
Representatives of Com-Net Ericsson, Tyco Electronics and M/A-COM are within an inch of confirming an agreement under which Tyco Electronics would acquire Com-Net Ericsson Critical Radio Systems and place it under M/A-COM’s wing. IWCE Live! broke the story, followed by the Lynchburg, VA, News & Advance. (See http//: content.intertec.com/newsletter/iwcelive/ “Word On the Street” and www.newsadvance.com/MGB4I3GJ4LC.html). Additional reporting appears on page 46. Watch for updates at www.mrtmag.com.
Tyco’s spokesman said that the company doesn’t comment on potential acquisitions. No one at Com-Net would comment, either, except to say that a government approval was pending. That probably means that the agreement has been submitted to the Department of Justice to review how the transaction might affect competition.
Com-Net Ericsson’s acquisition of the former Ericsson Private Radio Systems Division was announced on Jan. 7, 2000. Its period of ownership has been brief and apparently successful. Tyco must have made an offer that the privately held Com-Net’s investors couldn’t refuse, giving them a fabulous return on a 15-month investment.
Happy trails
We say goodbye to Dennis Hegg, marketing manager for the western region. Dennis was with Intertec for 20 years and represented this magazine for 15. Dennis served our advertisers well, and his skill in helping them to advance their products and services was something to admire.
Plus, he’s a cool guy and a good friend. We’ll miss you, Dennis.
