Product briefs
Purcell unveils modular power cabinet system
Purcell Systems introduced the SiteSupport family of battery cabinets at last month’s IWCE in Las Vegas. Four models are available: the RAC68BB and RAC68BBWR remote-access cabinets; the RAC68BBDB dual-bay cabinet; and the RAC68AUX auxiliary cabinet. The cabinets’ design solves the thermal-loading problems associated with cramming more and more equipment into smaller cabinets that weren’t designed for it, which is occurring more often as radio manufacturers add capacity and functionality to their products, said Pete Chase, Purcell’s CEO. The real benefit is the system’s modularity, which Chase described as a “Legos solution, the way the components fit together.” The system also is technology agnostic. The result is that the Purcell system allows users to get sites up and generating revenue much more quickly, Chase said. “The technology they’re using doesn’t matter to us. What does matter is being able to deploy their technology quickly,” Chase said.
General Dynamics unveils public-safety software
General Dynamics announced the availability of its AutoTest software for public-safety radios. The software, which is designed to test Motorola’s XTS5000, XTS3000 and Astro Saber radios, reduces overall test and alignment time from an average of 45 minutes to “as little as 10 minutes,” according to General Dynamics.
The Windows-based program allows technicians to test frequency, power, modulation, distortion, squelch and SINAD, as well as any required realignment. The test data can be stored on a hard drive for future reference.
Spotwave launches iDEN adaptive repeaters
Spotwave Wireless, which specializes in in-building coverage solutions up to 100,000 square feet, announced the release of the SpotCell 163 and SpotCell 263 adaptive repeaters created for the iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) platform.
Push-to-talk is one iDEN feature that has grown particularly popular for businesses that have mobile and distributed workforces operating in workgroups, but it is only effective if all members of the workgroup have reliable coverage. Consequently, if one team or team member is located in a building or part of a building that has poor or non-existent coverage, they’ll effectively be locked out of the workgroup, according to Spotwave. By deploying its iDEN adaptive repeaters, in-building coverage trouble spots can be eliminated quickly, easily and cost-effectively, the company said.
Polaris adds wireless E911 location technology
Polaris Wireless has introduced Polaris Wireless Location Signatures, a network-based software offering that provides a cost-effective solution for wireless carriers seeking to meet U.S. government wireless E911 mandates or provide commercial location-based services. The suite is fully compliant with the FCC’s Phase II location-tracking requirements and uses existing network data and standard interfaces to locate callers 100% of the time, the company said.
BearCom intros small radio for schools, hotels
BearCom Wireless Worldwide launched the BC120 Business Portable two-way radio, a small, lightweight handset developed by Motorola that is targeted to retailers, school districts and hotels. The BC120 offers voice-activated and hands-free operation, 16-channels, and can operate in the VHF and UHF bands. Battery life is 8 hours [when operating at 5 watts (VHF) or 4 watts (UHF)] or 11 hours [when operating at 2 watts].
Tait adds voice and data mobile units to 8000 series
Tait North America announced two additions to its 8000 series mobile radios. The TM8115 is a 25-watt, 24-channel conventional voice radio that is suitable for industrial and public-safety applications. It features full selcall functionality, a DTMF encoder, low stand-by consumption and four RF power levels.
The TM8105 is a data version that provides similar features, plus digital controller design with high-speed data (9600 plus), DSP IF Response (resulting in fewer data errors) and fast Tx rise time (less than 10 mS), the company said. Tait also introduced the TB8100 base station, which offers advanced signaling with DSP and is engineered to withstand extreme temperatures, which enables continuous operation and optimum peak RF performance, the company said.
Radio Waves introduces antenna-pattern software
Radio Waves has released the RW UltimateGraph antenna-pattern software. By downloading the software plus Radio Waves’ microwave antenna-pattern data, users are able to display microwave antenna patterns on their computer screen and print hard copies for reference. The software contains features such as zoom, formatable labels and the ability to overlay FCC Category A or Category B masks over the antenna patterns, the company said.
Motorola releases Project-25 version of Astro
Motorola has released the Astro 25 trunked integrated voice and data system. The system, which is compliant with the Project 25 standard, provides public-safety organizations with both voice and data messaging over a single wireless communications infrastructure, the company said. The system also provides encryption key assignment over system radio channels and enhanced network security tools. The Astro 25 currently operates in the 700 MHz band for voice-only operation, and in the 800 MHz, UHF and VHF bands for voice-and-data operation. It supports seven zones and 20,000 data users, Motorola said.
In related news, Motorola announced a $151 million contract to build and operate an Astro 25 network that will be used for emergency communications in conjunction with the Commonwealth Games to be held in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006. Motorola expects to complete the network by April 2005, the company said.
EFJohnson adds 700 MHz capability to radios
EFJohnson announced the introduction of 700 MHz capability to its 5100 Series portable radios and its 5300 series mobile radios. The radios meet the requirements for both analog and Project 25 digital formats and support mixed-mode operation, the company said. The radios are designed to operate in the narrowband portion of the 700 MHz band.
Nortel unveils CDMA 450 products
Nortel Networks announced a new line of CDMA products for use on the 450 MHz band and said it has begun commercial deployments in Europe.
The CDMA 450 product line is built on the company’s Metro Cell base station solution. The lower frequency allows operators to cover a larger footprint, reducing the need for cell sites, lowering capital expenditure costs and eliminating the need for operators to acquire additional spectrum, Nortel said.
The CDMA 450 radios are designed as dedicated standalone units, which enables operators to cost effectively build on their existing infrastructures to expand and digitize voice and data services in both urban and rural environments, Nortel said.
