News Briefs – Friday, April 14, 2006
ESMR solution meets FCC reconfiguration requirements
K&L Microwave released its WSD-00420 800 MHz rebanding duplexer in response to the recent FCC 800 MHz rebanding mandate. The duplexer provides signal interference protection for communications equipment used by police, fire and emergency medical personnel. It operates between 817-824 MHz within its receiver filter, while its transmit filter operates between 862-869 MHz, the company said.
Analysts: 78 million 3G terminals in use in China by 2008
Analysys International predicted that 78.08 million 3G mobile terminals will be in use in China by 2008. These 3G subscribers will account for 13.7% of the total mobile telecommunication subscribers in China, according to Analysys.
Pentagon moves forward with $30 billion communications upgrade
The Pentagon announced a $30 billion restructuring plan to develop its Tactical Radio System for advanced military radios, according to a Washington Post report. Boeing, General Dynamic, Thales and Rockwell Collins will work with the agency to develop networked radios as a part of the U.S. Army’s Future Combat System. The project focuses on three main areas: ground-based radios for vehicles and soldiers; airborne, maritime and fixed-site radios; and networking solutions.
InMotion and SkyPilot converge to bring mobile technologies to first responders
InMotion Technology partnered with SkyPilot Networks to provide an end-to-end solution for mission-critical mobile broadband communications. The companies now offer a mobile-data networking infrastructure that integrates 4.9 GHz mesh-networking technology with carrier-mobile-data networks. In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway provides a trunk-mountable wireless communications gateway for use in police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and other public safety vehicles. It enables multiple Ethernet, Wi-Fi or serial devices in the vehicle to connect with the agency’s headquarters over SkyPilot’s 4.9 GHz technology or cellular-data-carrier networks.
APCO announces new executive director
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) announced its new executive director, George S. Rice, Jr. Rice comes to APCO from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, a nonprofit association of local governments, where he served as assistant executive director. He has more than 10 years of public-safety experience, including with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Rice holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration from Alvernia College and a certified public management designation from George Washington University.
Portland chooses start-up company for Wi-Fi coverage
Portland, Ore., awarded start-up MetroFi a contract to provide wireless Internet access across the city that will help streamline city services, enhance public-safety communications and attract new businesses, the company said. The city will use wireless to process parking-meter transactions, connect government employees stationed at field offices and provide better information to emergency services agencies and personnel.
Ruggedized wireless keyboard claims 30-ft. range
IKEY released the DW-860 wireless industrial keyboard constructed using a sealed, industrial silicone keypad and ABS polycarbonate case for harsh environments. The keyboard incorporates 2.4 GHz USB technology, allowing for a 30-foot signal range, and offers built-in mounting holes for use with vehicles and in other mobile applications.
Safety alarm uses GPS and GSM technologies
Skyguard launched its latest personal safety alarm device, the SkyMinder 500. The device uses the Falcom SirfII low-power GPS unit and communicates through a Siemens GSM board. It has three pre-programmable speed-dial buttons and is CE- and SAR-certified, according to Skyguard.
