BRIEF
SFCC rejects Northrop Grumman broadband request
The Federal Communications Commission has rejected Northrop Grumman Corp.’s request for broadband spectrum to support emergency and homeland security wireless applications.
Northrop Grumman filed a petition April 21 seeking expedited treatment by the FCC on its request for an additional 10 megahertz of public-safety spectrum in the 700 MHz band.
The FCC, however, hinted that the matter might not be over. Northrop Grumman will be allowed to offer a new proposal that details public-safety frequencies for the firm’s proposed broadband wireless system.
Vertex Standard receives $2 million Forest Service orders
Vertex Standard USA announced the receipt of orders from the U.S. Forest Service totaling roughly $2 million.
These orders are for both the VX-4000 Series Mobile and the VX-900 Series Portable two-way radios, configured to stringent Forest Service requirements, and related accessories, which will be deployed in the Pacific Northwest Region (Oregon and Washington).
The VX-4000 mobile radios chosen for this contract offer multi-channel capacity, dash or trunk mount capability, solid power output, a high-intensity alphanumeric display, die-cast chassis and superior Mil-Spec construction as well as easy user interface and the ability to send an emergency signal with live microphone audio (embedded into the front chassis), to alert the dispatcher to a critical situation.
The VHF VX-900 portable radios selected for this project offer multi-channel capacity, a desirable small-size, front-panel programmability by the user in the field as well as a durable die-cast chassis, weatherproof case design and meet an extensive list of Mil Std 810 C/D/E/F specifications. Two unique features of this Vertex Standard portable are its loud 700 mW audio output and the built-in Emergency microphone feature.
Tomball, Texas, Police Department ink deal
VisionAIR announced that it has signed a contract with the Tomball, Texas, Police Department. The City of Tomball purchased VisionCAD, VisionRMS, and VisionMOBILE for the Police Department. In March of 2003 the City of Tomball purchased VisionFIRE, VisionAIR’s Fire Records Management System, for the Tomball Fire Department. These software applications, which operate on the Microsoft Windows 2000 platform, are part of VisionAIR’s fully integrated Public Safety Suite.
Located just north of Houston, Tomball has a day population of 125,000, a night population of 25,500, and 40 police officers. VisionCAD will offer Tomball telecommunicators numerous options that were previously unavailable. Dispatchers will be able to customize user interfaces, view historical call data, and associate particular call types with special instructions, including pre-planned units. VisionRMS, a records management application, will enable the agency to record incidents and arrests, manage cases, and track evidence. Additional modules will store data related to warrants, citations, bike registrations, parking violations, traffic accidents, budgets, and administrative issues. More common information (e.g., name, address, vehicle and property information) will be maintained in the VisionRMS master databases and will remain available to Tomball dispatchers through integration with VisionCAD.
Installed on laptop computers, VisionMOBILE provides officers with wireless access to mission-critical information. The application will allow Tomball police to run their own warrant and license plate checks remotely without disturbing dispatchers or tying up valuable radio resources. Integration with VisionCAD and VisionRMS will enable officers to initiate their own calls, status themselves, and obtain important data concerning suspects and call locations.Easy-to-use and touch-screen compatible, VisionMOBILE empowers officers, making them better informed, more efficient, and safer.
EST wireless modem earns regulatory approval
Electronic Systems Technology Inc. announced the company’s new product, the ESTeem 192CHP, has been granted Federal Communications Commission type acceptance effective Sept. 11.
The new ESTeem 192CHP wireless modem designed for industrial automation and public safety applications, boasts software selectable RF output power levels of 10, 20, and 30 watts. The 192CHP will offer our customers a cost-effective product that will replace the Model 192C and external linear amplifier combination for long-range fixed base and mobile applications.
The Model 192CHP offers 6.25 KHz channel spacing in the 450 to 470 MHz frequency spectrum. The narrow band, 19,200 bps, packet burst transceiver allows networking of 253 devices in high EMF environments on a single frequency using the industry standard RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 asynchronous full duplex interfaces. The ESTeem’s internal digi-repeating capability allows routing data through a maximum of three ESTeems to extend the typical line-of-sight range of 90 miles to roughly 270 miles. The standard infrared communications port will allow the user to perform local programming and diagnostic functions for the radio network without interruption of communications over the Radio Area Network.
