Icom rolls out submersible portable
Icom America Inc. has introduced the F50 series, the first waterproof (submersible) Icom portable for the land mobile market.
The F50 is an LMR/PMR transceiver that meets JIS-7 standards, which introduces waterproof durability to tough work environments and meets the diverse needs of the government, utilities, and transportation, and business and industry markets.
The new F50 is more than just tough, it is convenient. In addition to being fully submersible, this radio features an enhanced body that is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket. It is extra-durable and shockproof, while weighing one-third less than most professional radios on the market. Because of the tight construction needed for waterproof durability, this radio is corrosion resistant and dust proof, making it ideal for a variety of harsh environments, not just those involving water.
The IC-F50 boasts access to a wide range of tuning steps including 2.5 and 3.125 kHz, offering more spectrum for new splinter frequencies. The 1700mAh Lithium-Ion battery provides a practical 10 hours of operating time. An eight-character 14-segment alphanumeric LCD offers easily recognizable status and performance information and ease of operation in low-light environments. Built-in signaling capabilities and voice-scramblers enable secure group communication without compromising the waterproof integrity of the radio.
The F50 (VHF) and F60 (UHF) begin at $500 retail and are available from any authorized Icom America Land Mobile dealer.
The JIS waterproof rating scale is an internationally recognized standard for measuring a radio’s water resistance capability. On a scale of 1 to 8, with 8 meaning designed for use while submerged in water, the F50’s JIS-7 rating means the radio is fully operational after having been submersed in one meter of water for 30 minutes. Some companies also call a JIS-7 rating “submersible.” If it gets dirty, the F50 may be cleaned by simply spraying it down, running it under a faucet, or submersing it in water — all with no ill effect.
www.icomamerica.com
Valere Power announces new software
Valere Power announced the availability of new battery testing software for its AC/DC telecommunications power distribution systems that gives carriers new visibility into the health and reliability of their battery back-up systems thus lowering operating costs and improving network reliability.
The life of batteries used in these systems is affected by a wide variety of environmental factors, and they are often discarded prematurely because service providers can’t be sure they will reliably maintain power to network equipment during a power outage. Analysts estimate such power outages contribute to about 25 percent of network downtime.
The new software runs a series of tests that can be configured to automatically generate alarms if a battery string fails the test, indicating that the string needs to be replaced.
Key voltage, current and battery amperage hours also are tracked during the tests to help carriers better manage these systems.
The new software runs on Valere’s Compact DC Power System and Integrated Power System. The testing system works with popular valve-regulated lead acid (VRLA) batteries and newer battery technology. It is integrated with Valere’s Energy Trak graphical power system management software allowing service providers to conduct testing remotely through the Internet or wide-area networks. Local testing can be performed using the multi-character display. Test data is maintained from the previous five tests for comparison purposes.
One key feature is the ability to force a battery into a discharge mode, allowing the software to monitor voltage, current and temperature changes to determine the battery’s capacity.
With this information, service providers can know exactly how many hours of back up power is available in a remote equipment center so they can respond appropriately in the case of a power outage.
For battery reliability, Valere offers adjustable battery recharge limits to adjust the charging characteristics of the battery for various environmental conditions, and also a boost recharge mode that can rapidly recharge a battery when its power level is very low, such as its initial charge or after it has been discharged.
The software also enables slope thermal compensation (STC) testing that determines a battery’s efficiency and performance during extreme environmental conditions. With battery efficiency becoming very poor in extreme temperatures, Valere’s STC capabilities can detect adverse battery impacts and adjust voltage levels to avoid battery damage due to thermal runaway and gassing.
The advanced STC capability automates the process, allowing service providers to develop an STC profile to match the battery type and characteristics either based on their experience or based on manufacturers recommended thresholds.
The software is shipping with all new Compact DC Power Systems and Integrated Power Systems models. For existing customers, the software is available as a free upgrade. To use the software, customers must have installed a LAN access card in the power supply.
www.valerepower.com
Alpha-Core offers flat magnet wire
Following the market acceptance of its original Flat Magnet Wire program introduced in 2001, Alpha-Core Inc. extends the range to include wire sizes from 30AWG to 9 AWG (0.25 mm to 3.0 mm).
The Flat Magnet Wire is the preferred choice over round magnet wire in applications that range from voice coils in speakers to motors to transformers where more compact coils and improved heat dissipation are desirable.
Alpha-Core offers its Flat Magnet Wire program in five standard ratios of thickness to width: 1:2, 1:2.5, 1:3, 1:3.5 and 1:4. All sizes are available on two spool sizes, 10-pound spools that measure 6 inches OD by 4 inches height or 20 Lb spools that measure 6 inches OD by 8 inches height. 20AWG and heavier wire gauges are also supplied on 80 Lb spools with dimensions 12 inches OD by 8.0 inches height.
Along with extending the range of wire sizes, the new FLEX SYSTEM allows customers to select the required cross sectional area in sq. mm or sq. mils, or in terms of wire resistance, ohms/1,000 Ft. or ohms/Kilometer plus the desired target width or thickness.
The FLEX SYTEM is offered at no added cost to the customer and will enable the user to optimize a design even further than what is possible with the fixed ratios alone.
The wire is produced from standard round pre-insulated magnet wire that is flattened utilizing special equipment developed in-house with patents pending for the process.
The process involves a single step deformation of the round wire between mirror polished work surfaces.
Because of only negligible stretching of the wire the cross sectional area is the same before and after the process.
Therefore, the insulation is stressed only in one direction, and the resistance and wire gauge remain largely unchanged.
Two types of insulation of the wire are available from stock.
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Polyester/Polyamideimide. Heavy. UL Recognized, Class 220 as round wire and also in Class 200 as round wire.
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Polyester/Polyamideimide/Bondcoat. Heavy. UL Recognized. Class 180 as round wire.
After three years of field experience in the Flat Wire Program it has been established that Alpha-Core’s wire flattening process preserves the integrity of practically all types of insulation including solderable Polyurethanes and bond coats as well as high temperature polymide/imide coatings. Sections of the flattened wire show a continuous rather than an angular transition from the flats into semi-elliptical edges practically without any stress concentrations. The flattened wire does not exhibit the “dog bone” shape often encountered in post-insulated rectangular wire due to surface tension pulling the varnish away from the wire edges.
The process normally causes a degree of work hardening leaving the wire somewhat springy compared to post-insulated rectangular wire. In some applications this increased stiffness is desirable.
For applications in which the full soft wire is preferred, it is available at a nominal extra charge.
The price of 18AWG in quantity of 250 pounds is $5.50 per pound including the current copper adder of $1.06 per pound.
www.alphacore.com
Times Microwave debuts test cable kits
Times Microwave Systems has introduced its TM-230RK/in36 Testmate 50 Ohm test cable kit. Designed for operation up to 18GHz, Testmate test cables feature precision stainless steel interchangeable connector heads so expensive adaptors are not necessary.
The TM-230RK/in36 kit includes the high performance Testmate 230R 3 foot test cable, a full range of connector interfaces including two N-males, one N-female, one 716 DIN male, one 716 DIN female and wrenches all in a sturdy foam-fitted carrying case.
Testmate cables have low attenuation, excellent phase stability and long term electrical stability. The most rugged test cables available for daily dependability in the harshest field conditions, Testmate cables are suitable for use with all standard portable or bench RF test equipment.
www.timesmicrowave.com
APE launches Intruder
A.P. E. South announces the introduction of its new Intruder SMT/BGA Rework System. The Intruder is a low-cost, high-precision split vision rework unit. It incorporates a Sony notebook computer that works in conjunction with the P-300 profile storage control module.
The module alone allows the system to store up to 16 ramp/soak thermal profiles independently of the computer; when driven by the notebook computer, the Intruder is capable of unlimited profile storage.
This profile arrangement allows engineering or development to establish manufacturing profiles and to upload the information — keeping production adjustments to zero.
The Intruder’s control system employs the user-friendly Windows graphical user interface.
The Intruder’s split-vision alignment system incorporates the latest technology in optical engineering and alignment design; it provides absolute control in positioning all ultra fine pitch, and BGA packaging technologies including Flip Chip bumped packages.
The unit will accommodate 16″ × 18″ inch boards and can be ordered with 1800 or 2400 w heater capability. As with all APE units, it employs the high power/low temperature technology developed by A.P.E.
www.ape.com
NetMotion announces Mobility 5.0
NetMotion Wireless Inc. announced its newest version of the award-winning software, NetMotion Mobility. Mobility 5.0 delivers improved mobility management capabilities that provide a continuous, secure connection between mobile clients and enterprise applications; no matter what wireless local-area network (WLAN) or wireless wide-area network (WWAN) mobile works use.
One of version 5.0’s most notable features is the inclusion of a new Mobility Policy Management Module that helps manage bandwidth usage and costs, as well as better control and secure specific workgroups, users or devices.
NetMotion Mobility enables any enterprise application to work over wireless networks securely and reliably without modification or customization. Mobility’s InterNetwork Roaming turns a multi-network environment, including enterprise LANs, wireless WANs, dial-up, or public wireless WANs into a single, unified network. Mobility also provides Application Session Persistence which maintains session states if connections are broken due to coverage gaps, suspend-and-resume conditions, network or subnet roaming.
Mobility’s Roamable VPN incorporates a standards-based, secure virtual private network designed for wireless networking that integrates single-sign-on authentication. The software requires no changes to existing applications or networks and is simple and easy to install and use.
Version 5.0 will be widely available in early September. NetMotion Mobility is already the choice of a wide variety of public safety organizations, such as the City of Brea, Calif. Police Department; the City of San Jose, Calif. Police Department; and the City of Spokane, Wash. Fire Department.
NetMotion Mobility is popular in the healthcare industry as well as supporting field sales and service personnel, and has been deployed by leading-edge enterprises that rely on wireless computing to increase user productivity and support expanded network access.
www.netmotionwireless.com
Whitney Blake offers new cords
Whitney Blake Co. offers a wide variety of stocked Koiled Kords. The well-known Koiled Kord brand is used throughout the wire and cable industry for use with computers, bar code readers, medical equipment, material handling equipment, production line tools, virtually all types of commercial vehicles, and in a wide variety of instrumentation and testing devices throughout many markets.
The retractile properties of the Koiled Kords gives the user a range of motion needed in demanding environments.
The durability of the cords make them suitable for the harshest conditions. Whitney Blake’s Koiled Kords deliver immediate product consistency and reliability, and can also be custom-built to meet most requirements.
Whitney Blake’s light (UL-type SVO), medium (UL-type SJO) and heavy-duty (UL-type SO), Koiled Kords are manufactured using a highly-mobile and extremely durable Neoprene jacket. The cords have an extension length of 10-to-20 feet (2-to-4 feet retracted) and are available in 12AWG through 18AWG. The light and medium-duty cords are CSA-certified, have a max voltage of 300, and a 300V cord. The heavy-duty cords are UL-listed, have a max voltage of 600, and have a 600V cord.
Whitney Blake’s in-stock Koiled Kords are also available as a UL-listed SVO/SJO retractile with a 125V cord. These CSA-certified cords come in 1.5 lengths with an extension length of 7.5 feet and an AWG size of 3.
The in-stock cords also come in smaller sizes (2 feet lengths with a 10 foot extension) and as a retractile test lead in a red or black jacket with a 1000V cord.
The smaller cords have a retractile length of 1 foot and an extension length of five feet.
