Critical Comms RSS Feed

Digital sensor network to monitor air traffic at vertiports

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the first passengers in Europe will be transported by air taxis, with air travel companies planning to equip Olympic venues with electrical vertical take-off and landing systems (eVTOLs) to transport visitors to events directly from the airport. Initially, these drone systems will be piloted by a human, with one passenger per taxi; in the coming years, they could be piloted autonomously. An important aspect of this concept is the safety of the vertiports used for launching and landing eVTOLs, which will be integrated into roofs, train stations, parking lots and other urban structures.

Researchers at Fraunhofer FHR aimed to tackle an important part of the safety of the new drone stops by equipping them with a modular, fully digital sensor network including a radar sensor. The network can be adapted to the size of each vertiport and uses both active and passive sensors with fully autonomous functionality, linking to each other and collectively sensing the port.

“The nodes are fully digital, and each sensor in the network functions entirely autonomously,” explained Oliver Biallawons, a scientist at Fraunhofer FHR. “The sensors aren’t coordinated by a central computer unit; they network themselves. They are able to independently localise and organise themselves. Based on the principle of edge computing, each sensor has its own computer unit and can detect the location of other sensors in the network.”

The job of sending and receiving is shared between the individual sensors, which coordinate with each other. The decentralised active and passive sensors are installed on the ground and work together to sense the entire take-off and landing pad as well as the airspace above it. The network decides which sensor to operate in active (sending and receiving) and passive (receiving only) mode as required. The more sensors in the network, the greater the area that can be monitored. Even if a sensor or radar node is added or removed, the radar network can continue to function flawlessly.

The key to the network’s autonomous organisation and decentralised processing is the connection between the individual nodes via wireless communication channels integrated into the radar signal. By integrating the network communication in the radar signal, the signal can be seamlessly integrated into future telecommunications infrastructures. This represents an important milestone on the path toward merging fully fledged radar and telecommunications, according to Biallawons.

“We are integrating the communication signal into the radar waves instead of using separate channels for radar and communication,” he said.

Another key feature of the so-called Civil Drone Systems (CDS) Network is that, in contrast to test monitoring systems based on mobile radio, the system is able to detect eVTOLs that don’t have a communication device such as a chip or tag. With the addition of AI, the safety solution can not only detect obstacles that block incoming or outgoing flight paths but also classify them. This means that it is able to classify objects such as trees, birds and drones. The radar network can even recognise the size of a drone and how many rotors it has.

“As urbanisation continues to progress, we expect at some point to see transport systems take to the air, too,” Biallawons said. “This can only be achieved with the help of sophisticated safety systems, such as our modular, resilient network of low-radiation, communicating radar nodes, which can achieve flawless take-off and landing.”

Image ©Fraunhofer FHR/Andreas Schoeps

CTS RLF and XLF series low-pass filters for harmonic suppression

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

The RLF and XLF series of low-pass filters, from CTS Corporation, are optimised to support 3GPP standards that require harmonic suppression through fifth-order harmonics. Both series provide complete solutions for harmonic rejection for wireless infrastructure applications.

The RLF family offers ultralow insertion loss (3 to 5 dB max) and good close-in rejection/attenuation. They are suitable for up to 20 W of average power and 200 W of peak modulated power.

The XLF family offers small size (6.5 x 5 x 2 mm) and low insertion loss. They are suitable for systems of up to 6 W of average output power per antenna port.

Featuring wide temperature ranges with tight stability, the high-performance filters can be used with other CTS products, as a standalone solution or as a complement to other filter technologies.

ARCIA update: LMR is not dead yet

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

ARCIA received great feedback from our activities in 2023 and we hope to continue building on this for the year ahead, with not only networking events set for Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, but conferences in a few of these states, along with our networking dinners, ensuring there is variety and something for all of our members to participate in.

Make sure you check out https://arcia.org.au/events/ for our plans as they currently sit, with more being added as we move through the year, and remember to make space in your calendar for what fits in with your plans and your team’s needs.

This year will see a continued focus on critical communications at our conferences (Perth on 14 March, Sydney on 30 May and Brisbane on 25 July) and how it’s applied by various market sectors. Be it mining, rail, public safety, transport or utilities, everyone is embracing new technology that makes sense, and ARCIA is actively involved in promoting both LMR and broadband technologies.

Our promotion of broadband technologies does not mean that LMR is losing appeal around the globe; it is more that the sector is evolving. While we have been told continuously over the last decade that 4G/5G-based technologies will replace LMR, this is not yet the case and is unlikely to be for some time to come.

With the recent major cellular outages in Australia and the USA, it’s worth remembering that in many circumstances, having dual connectivity options has major benefits. All technology is subject to failure, sometimes in a minor fashion and sometimes in a spectacular way that makes headlines. Nevertheless, planning for this has never been more important, and providing critical users with agile systems that can continue to perform, even with reduced features or capacity during major events, is easier than ever before.

There are clearly different factors to consider for industry sectors and user groups, but I think we can safely say that LMR is here for the foreseeable future as we continue to see major investments for private, public and indeed country-wide networks around the globe.

Since our last update the committee has held our annual planning day in Melbourne, at which we were lucky to have 18 attendees from around Australia, all contributing to the year ahead and how we seek to improve the benefits we offer members and partners alike. We are very fortunate to have so many committed people and businesses who give their time and money for this vital day and we are extremely grateful to them all.

On a personal note, and with it in mind that it is one of ARCIA’s missions to help promote Australian manufacturing, having recently had the opportunity to visit the GME factory in Western Sydney, it was terrific to see the pride and commitment from this local team of people in all that they do. Whilst there I considered the number of times a CB radio operates a PTT, or a marine beacon is used, and the impact this is has right around Australia; it was very impressive to see. Of course, GME makes many more products than these two, but they really are a great example of how it is possible to make local manufacturing work.

Finally, we must acknowledge the fantastic support that the association is receiving from all our partners, not only in helping the association’s general goals, but also in supporting all of our events in a big way.

Hamish Duff, President, Australian Radio Communications Industry Association.

Top image credit: iStock.com/recep-bg

Sepura SCL3 TETRA and 4G/5G Device

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Sepura has launched the SCL3 TETRA and 4G/5G Device, a rugged broadband hand portable. Complementing the SCU3 Hybrid Vehicle Device, the product has the flexibility to be deployed as LTE only or as hybrid TETRA and 4G/5G, enabling the migration to mission-critical broadband communication.

The powerful device provides a link to future MCX communications, utilising its optional TETRA module to provide a migration path from existing TETRA communications to MCX services. Users can start today with TETRA TMO voice and LTE data and migrate to MCX voice and TETRA DMO for device-to-device (D2D) services.

Created with mission-critical users in mind, the 4G/5G rugged handheld device addresses the requirements published by NCCOM Nordic operators. PPDR (Public Protection and Disaster Relief) users are accustomed to rugged TETRA devices with physical buttons for PTT and emergency calls; these requirements are carried forward into the SCL3 LTE and hybrid device. The physical characteristics of the device support frontline operation in all environments, which include shifting temperatures, humidity and wet conditions. It also has a long life cycle, with continuing support for hardware, chipset, battery and software.

The device portfolio is complemented by a full ecosystem of accessories necessary to deploy to PPDR users. This includes chargers, audio accessories, car kit and carry cases, as well as a full mobile device management (MDM) service which provides over-the-air device management and software provisioning for both LTE and TETRA that is fully controlled by the end-user organisation.

For those who are embarking on their migration strategy to LTE, the device provides a safe and secure path towards MCX that can be started now allowing early use of broadband services while maintaining current TETRA communication. It combines best practice and the latest technology to provide users with robustness and functionality for the evolution of mission-critical communications.

Telstra and Optus investigated by ACMA for public safety failures

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

It’s been a bad week for Australia’s two biggest telcos, with both Telstra and Optus receiving attention from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) for separate incidents that put the safety of the Australian public at risk.

On the morning of 1 March, between 3:30 and 5:00 am AEDT, an as-yet-unexplained issue at Telstra’s Triple Zero call centre was found to be impacting the transfer of calls from Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, Western Australia and the ACT to emergency service operators. Telstra, as Emergency Call Person, receives all calls to Triple Zero and transfers them to the appropriate state or territory emergency service — but while calls did arrive during this period, there was no calling line identification (CLI) information included. CLI is a telephone network signalling capacity that identifies the calling party’s telephone number.

“Without that CLI information to transfer calls to emergency services operators in an automated way, our Triple Zero teams had to manually transfer each call onwards,” wrote Jane Elkington, Telstra’s Group Manager, Emergency Service Answer Point and Disability Services, in a post on the Telstra website.

“We immediately implemented our backup process, with our teams taking down details which were then sent through manually to emergency services so they could call back those people who had called Triple Zero.

“We conducted a restart of the system, and from 5:00AM the Triple Zero service was running stably.”

Of the 494 calls received, 148 were not able to be manually transferred to the emergency service operators, and were instead communicated to emergency services by email. It has since been confirmed that one of those cases involved a person who suffered a cardiac arrest, who subsequently passed away.

While Elkington said that Telstra has committed to a “swift and forensic” investigation into what went wrong, as well as any improvements that can be made to the backup processes, CEO Vicki Brady has so far only been able to confirm that the incident — which she described as the worst failure of the system that she was aware of — was not caused by a hack and that the backup system for CLI did not work as intended. The Australian Government is now seeking to understand the full impact of the disruption, while the ACMA has commenced an investigation into Telstra’s compliance with the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2019, which requires the Emergency Call Person to transfer Triple Zero calls to the applicable emergency service organisation.

Meanwhile, Optus was this week forced to pay a $1,501,500 penalty after an ACMA investigation found the telco left close to 200,000 mobile customers (supplied under the Coles Mobile and Catch Connect brands) at risk by failing to upload required customer information to the Integrated Public Number Database (IPND) between January 2021 and September 2023. The IPND is used by critical services like the Emergency Alert service to warn Australians of disasters such as flood and bushfires, and by Triple Zero to provide location information to the police, ambulance and fire brigade in an emergency.

ACMA member Samantha Yorke said the Authority commenced its investigation after a compliance audit indicated Optus had failed to upload data via its outsourced supplier, Prvidr Pty Ltd. Yorke emphasised that all telcos “need to have systems in place that ensure they are meeting their obligations, including having robust oversight and assurance processes for third-party suppliers.

“While we are not aware of anyone being directly harmed due to the non-compliance in this case, it’s alarming that Optus placed so many customers in this position for so long,” she said.

“When emergency services are hindered, there can be very serious consequences for the safety of Australians.”

In addition to the financial penalty, the ACMA has accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Optus that requires an independent review of its IPND compliance where it uses a third-party data provider and the implementation of any improvements recommended by the review. Optus has also been formally directed to comply with the IPND industry code. If the ACMA finds Optus fails to comply with the direction or the enforceable undertaking, it may commence proceedings in the Federal Court, which can order penalties up to $10 million per breach or make orders in relation to the undertaking.

Image credit: iStock.com/Jacob Wackerhausen

Navigating tomorrow: RTLS trends and projections for 2024

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

The landscape of RTLS is now undergoing a transformative journey, being driven by the pressing needs of diverse industries. We’re quickly realising the solution is no longer a built-for-purpose RTLS (ie, fully custom-tailored, including the infrastructure). Rather, RTLS users require scalable solutions that support multiple use cases while offering flexible integration and customisation possibilities. This is pushing the future of the industry away from a siloed, fragmented approach towards one where compatibility and interoperability are key. I expect that’s the future of RTLS, one that’s scalable.

Let’s further delve into the key predictions shaping the evolution of RTLS in the coming year.

Interoperability

As projects involving RTLS and indoor positioning systems (IPS) transition from proof of concept to large-scale implementations, companies across various sectors are seeking a more open and flexible system. In 2024, they’re pursuing options that will not only support different use cases but also offer versatility in infrastructure.

The renewed search for flexibility is because customers often have multi-facility environments that require tracked assets to move between different types of sites, which necessitates compatible RTLS systems. For instance, an industrial customer with multiple facilities may be running platforms and technologies from different vendors, or they may be operating both indoors and outdoors. All that location data must somehow be collected and harmonised to ensure RTLS interoperability as the tracked asset moves around.

To promote interoperability, system integrators should avoid vendor locking; this means refraining from embracing proprietary offerings that are not rooted in using standardised technology. This allows for open market competition, more secure availability of the product from multiple providers and, in particular, it allows the end customer to freely choose where to acquire some of the key components, whenever it is time to maintain, replace or expand their platform.

Hence, in 2024, I imagine we will see increased adoption of RTLS systems where everything is integrated and scalable. The underlying goal is to seamlessly track and monitor goods in real time across different spaces with diverse service requirements.

Scalability

I further expect manufacturers and logistics operators will continue to shift to an RTLS system that enables seamless tracking by combining multiple technologies (GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc) under the same infrastructure or platform. This is in contrast to other highly siloed forms of asset tracking that rely on a single asset tracking technology that’s often not scalable in different environments.

For instance, GPS tracking is an already well-known technology for tracking, but it is fundamentally not scalable because it often can’t function indoors. In contrast, a small electronic device — aka a tag — attached to the asset can broadcast its location through diverse technologies like Bluetooth and radio-frequency identification (RFID). This means a tag supports multiple technologies, allowing for seamless tracking both outdoors and indoors. This all is at the core of scalability: having a solution that scales across all types of facilities, buildings and environments — a solution that can easily be built up depending on the operator’s needs.

That means 2024 will be the year for looking at the scalability costs and potential.

Digital displays

There is further room to build upon RTLS technologies in the coming year. We can look at electronic shelf labels (ESL) in grocery stores to see the possibilities, in which digital display units integrated into store shelving provide real-time electronic information about products.

Why is this relevant in the context of RTLS? Digital displays can seamlessly complement RTLS by automatically displaying real-time information like product specifications, quantity, expiration dates or information related to the process flow. Digital display dynamically updates the displayed information as assets move. In other words, ESL displays the relevant information about the product, while RTLS allows the product to be tracked.

Being able to track the location of assets while displaying the relevant information to the logistics operator is an incredibly useful tool. For example, the combination can display if the asset has arrived at the correct assembly line on time or if the goods have now been delivered at the wrong location. This impacts both the efficiency of operations, as well as reduction of direct cost by reducing the search time and avoiding logistical errors. The combination of RTLS and display tags is at the core of the digitalisation of the industrial environments.

Transport unit management

In the coming year, companies will turn to RTLS to monitor vehicle movements, locate warehouse equipment, optimise routes with data analytics and enhance overall logistics coordination. Think about logistic hubs and sprawling warehouses with many types of transport vehicles, like forklifts and roller cages. Coordinating all these units can be a hassle and inefficient, which is why there is now a move to leverage RTLS to increase production efficiency and reduce costs.

Interestingly enough, transport units used in intralogistics and cross-docking are a non-negligible operational cost; units can cost from tens to hundreds of dollars each. A midsize logistics company typically owns tens of thousands of such transport units, which are continuously circulating from the shipment to the destination point, indoors and outdoors across multiple facilities. A significant number of such units are lost, misplaced or unaccounted for every year. This is a significant cost to bear for any logistics or manufacturing company, negatively impacting their process optimisation efforts.

Final thoughts

As we gaze into the future of RTLS in 2024, it is evident that the trajectory of location technology is steering towards an era marked by adaptability, scalability and seamless operation across multiple facilities. The strides made in 2023 laid the foundation for a new way forward, driven not by a one-size-fits-all approach but by the nuanced needs of diverse industries and use cases.

*Fabio Belloni is the co-founder and Chief Customer Officer at Quuppa. He is also a member of Forbes Technology Council — a community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives.

This article was originally published on the Quuppa website and has been reproduced here with permission.

Top image credit: iStock.com/Patamaporn Umnahanant

TTM Technologies 0603 Xinger hybrid couplers, directional couplers and balun transformers

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

TTM Technologies’ Radio Frequency & Specialty Components business unit has released its 0603 family of RF components. The family comprises the Xinger-branded small form factor (1.5 x 0.7 mm), high-performance couplers and baluns designed to meet the aggressive density and performance challenges of next-generation 5G transceiver and power amplifier applications.

The Xinger 90-degree 3 dB hybrid couplers are available in 1800–2300, 2200–2800 and 3100–5100 MHz frequency ranges. The couplers feature low loss, tight amplitude balance and high isolation.

The Xinger directional couplers (2 to 5 dB) feature low loss performance and are best in applications where minimal part-to-part variation is required, as in asymmetrical Doherty combiner applications.

The Xinger balun transformers provide impedance transformation and convert unbalanced impedance to balanced impedance, and vice versa. They are available in 600–2300, 1200–2700 and 2300–6000 MHz frequency ranges.

Abracon EDLC radial supercapacitors

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Abracon has released a range of high-power electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) radial supercapacitors, specifically engineered to meet the accelerating demand for fast-charging, high-capacity energy storage solutions. They are key components for a wide range of industries, including automotive, renewable energy, industrial automation, consumer electronics and more.

The EDLC supercapacitors are efficient and compact, providing good energy density. Available in 2.7 and 3 V versions, they are suitable for applications that require rapid power bursts due to their ultrafast charge and dissipation capabilities. An online selection tool enables developers to select the desired supercapacitor performance by allowing them to filter by type, current, tolerance and more.

The supercapacitors are designed for longevity, with a long life cycle that minimises maintenance and enhances system durability; this eliminates the operational safety concerns often seen in lithium batteries. They are also able to operate across a wide temperature range, making them suitable for deployment in challenging environmental conditions. For example, they can operate down to -40°C, which traditional batteries cannot.

The supercapacitors can be used for uninterrupted and backup power supplies, micro energy storage, data transmission and various energy startup designs. They are also especially useful for wireless networks, energy harvesting, cold-crack engines, micro grids and more.

Speedcast provides enhanced connectivity services to NT

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Speedcast, a leading communications and IT services provider with longstanding roots in Australia, has extended and expanded its STARS (Satellite To All Remote Sites) program contract, providing connectivity services across hundreds of sites for the Northern Territory Government.

As part of the expanded scope, Speedcast has introduced its SIGMA edge compute platform, as well as high-performance LEO connectivity from Starlink, to enhance the existing geostationary satellite communications-based service. The new hybrid network will better meet the growing connectivity needs of multiple government agencies, including schools and distance education, emergency services, utilities, police, health, and parks and wildlife, across a sparsely populated area of 1.3 million km².

Many of the STARS sites will benefit from the intelligent network and multi-path management tools SIGMA offers, as well as access to value-added services at the edge. Following a successful proof of concept, Speedcast introduced Starlink LEO connectivity to the managed solution as part of an overall shift to a hybrid connectivity approach. Network traffic lands at the NT-owned teleport operated and managed by Speedcast, located in Darwin. The fully managed service is backed by 24/7 support from Speedcast’s network operations centre.

“Reliable connectivity service is essential to a region like the Northern Territory, which we have served for more than a decade,” said James Trevelyan, Executive Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing at Speedcast. “Every technology advancement in the service we deliver to NT has a material impact on the people, businesses and government of the Territory, and we’re proud of the longstanding partnership that makes it possible.”

Image credit: iStock.com/bennymarty

Taoglas FXUB63 flexible LTE antenna

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

The FXUB63, from Taoglas, is an efficient, wideband, flexible LTE antenna with a small footprint (96 x 21 x 0.2 mm).

The easy-to-install, durable, polymer antenna operates on greater than 45% efficiency on LTE bands from 698–3000 MHz. It is suitable for a wide array of applications that need LTE connectivity, including home automation, emergency services, automotive, health care, HD video, vending machines, digital signage, IoT gateways, smart grid and agriculture.

Additional features include: frequency range of 698–2690 MHz, peak gain of +5 dBi, impedance of 50Ω, linear polarisation and adhesive mounting.

CMOS transmitter taps into the 300 GHz band

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

At present, most frequencies above the 250 GHz mark remain unallocated. Accordingly, many researchers are developing 300 GHz transmitters/receivers to capitalise on the low atmospheric absorption at these frequencies, as well as the potential for extremely high data rates that comes with it. However, high-frequency electromagnetic waves become weaker at a fast pace when travelling through free space. To combat this problem, transmitters must achieve a large effective radiated power.

While some interesting solutions have been proposed, it is challenging for a 300 GHz-band transmitter manufactured via conventional CMOS processes to simultaneously realise high output power and small chip size. Now, a research team led by Professor Kenichi Okada from the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) and NTT Corporation has developed a 300 GHz-band transmitter that solves these issues through several key innovations, as outlined at this year’s IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco.

The proposed solution is a phased-array transmitter composed of 64 radiating elements which are arranged in 16 integrated circuits with four antennas each. Since the elements are arranged in three dimensions by stacking printed circuit boards (PCBs), the transmitter supports 2D beam steering. As a result, the transmitted power can be aimed both vertically and horizontally, allowing for fast beam steering and tracking receivers efficiently.

The researchers used Vivaldi antennas, which can be implemented directly on-chip and have a suitable shape and emission profile for high frequencies. Another feature of the proposed transmitter is its power amplifier (PA)-last architecture. By placing the amplification stage before the antennas, the system only needs to amplify signals that have already been conditioned and processed. This leads to higher efficiency and better amplifier performance.

The researchers also addressed some common problems that arise with conventional transistor layouts in CMOS processes, such as high gate resistance and large parasitic capacitances. They optimised their layout by adding drain paths and vias and by altering the geometry and element placing between metal layers.

“Compared to the standard transistor layout, the parasitic resistance and capacitances in the proposed transistor layout are all mitigated,” Okada said. “In turn, the transistor-gain corner frequency, which is the point where the transistor’s amplification starts to decrease at higher frequencies, was increased from 250 to 300 GHz.”

The researchers also designed and implemented a multi-stage 300 GHz power amplifier to be used with each antenna. According to Okada, excellent impedance matching between stages enabled the amplifiers to demonstrate outstanding performance.

“The proposed power amplifiers achieved a gain higher than 20 dB from 237 to 267 GHz, with a sharp cut-off frequency to suppress out-of-band undesired signals,” he said. The proposed amplifier also achieved a noise figure of 15 dB, which was evaluated by the noise measurement system in the 300 GHz band.

The proposed transmitter was tested through simulations and experiments and obtained promising results, achieving a data rate of 108 Gbps in on-PCB probe measurements — substantially higher than other state-of-the-art 300 GHz-band transmitters, the researchers noted. The transmitter also displayed remarkable area efficiency compared to other CMOS-based designs alongside low power consumption, highlighting its potential for miniaturised and power-constrained applications. According to the researchers, notable use cases could include sixth-generation (6G) wireless communications, high-resolution terahertz sensors, and human body and cell monitoring.

Image caption: Chip die micrograph.

Getac ZX80 fully rugged tablet

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Getac has announced its AI-ready ZX80 — an 8″, fully rugged tablet powered by the versatile Android operating system. Purpose-built to thrive in challenging work environments, from busy warehouses and logistics hubs to remote field locations and outdoor facilities, the product has a configurable design that offers extensive flexibility to match the user’s needs as effectively as possible.

The unit’s lightweight form factor (590 g), wide operating temperature range (-29 to 63°C) and bright 1000-nit, 16:10 aspect ratio screen make the tablet particularly well suited to key tasks such as forklift truck operation and UAV control success. MIL-STD-810H certification, IP67 certification and 1.8 m drop resistance mean it can easily stand up to the rigours of intensive field work.

A dual SIM design (one physical SIM and one eSIM) allows for rapid switching between carrier networks, while Wi-Fi 6E 802.11ax, Bluetooth v5.2 and optional dedicated GPS offer rapid data transfer and location positioning capabilities. Depending on user requirements, the tablet can also be configured with 4G/5G LTE, NFC and a barcode reader to fit different applications as needed.

The Qualcomm QCS6490 processor delivers high performance at low power levels, making it suited to IoT industrial field applications and commercial use cases. The tablet is also AI-ready, taking advantage of Qualcomm’s AI engine to offer on-device machine learning and the ability to run AI use cases while maintaining battery life. To maximise the potential AI capabilities, the device incorporates 12 GB LPDDR5 memory. It also comes with Android 13 pre-installed and is upgradeable to future Android OS releases.

The tablet is compatible with a comprehensive range of dedicated accessories, peripherals and software, helping users maximise device functionality in different industry scenarios; this includes third-party secure vehicle docks for optimal vehicle/forklift truck use, high-capacity hot swappable batteries for enhanced usability in the field and 65 W USB-C adapter and docking station for efficient use in the office. Users can also efficiently manage their tablets through pre-installed Getac software solutions.

ARCIA returning to Perth for one-day conference

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

The Australian Radio Communications Industry Association (ARCIA) has announced it is returning to Perth for a one-day conference on 14 March 2024, to deliver industry-related content to the critical communications community.

The conference will feature two half-day workshops running concurrently as well as a jam-packed stream of critical communications presentations, closing out with an expert panel. Highlights include:

Workshop 1: Private LTE/5G — The Fundamentals of Technology and System Designs
Workshop 2: Designing and Planning Microwave Networks
The Evolution of Critical Communications — How Industry is Responding to the Needs of Critical Users for both Voice and Data
Spectrum for Wireless Broadband — An Update
Wireless Technologies — Considerations for Making the Best Technology Decision for your Use Case
Deploying Private LTE Technology in Operational Telecom Networks
Transitioning from Narrowband Communications to Hybrid PTToC and Broadband Technologies
Expert Panel: A Developing Critical Communications Landscape — The Challenges and Opportunities that come with New Technology and More Choice

The conference will be followed by the WA State Networking Dinner, offering the opportunity for attendees to connect with industry peers and colleagues from across the critical communications community in a relaxed setting. The dinner will feature guest speaker Mick Colliss — who promises to entertain with stories of Sudoku and more — the announcement of the WA State Industry Advancement Award winner, and lots of networking time. Everyone is welcome to attend, including partners.

The conference and dinner will both be held at the Aloft Perth in Rivervale, and numbers are strictly limited due to venue capacity. Interested parties are encouraged to book seats for themselves and their colleagues ASAP, with discounts available to ARCIA members.

Image taken from ARCIA’s 2023 Perth conference.

Police Department Deploys Axon's Next Generation In-Car Video System Connected by Cradlepoint

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

One example comes from one of the oldest US police forces. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) deployed Axon Fleet 3 in-car camera systems last year. Axon’s Fleet 3 is the latest connected in-car camera system that integrates seamlessly with the Axon network via Cradlepoint.

Background

The LAPD had long recognised the need for enhanced technology in its patrol vehicle fleet. The Department selected the ruggedised Cradlepoint IBR1700 routers and MC400 modular modem to support current and future connectivity needs. These products combine to deliver two modems that provide the LAPD with a dual-carrier, redundant approach, to guarantee that officers on the streets always have the connectivity they need.

Solution

Axon is a technology leader in global public safety. Axon is building the public safety operating system of the future by integrating a suite of hardware devices and cloud software solutions that lead modern policing. Built from the ground up with ethics and transparency in mind, Axon’s Fleet 3 in-car camera system features the next-generation connected capabilities with state-of-the-art dual-view cameras to record clear panoramic views across three lanes of traffic. Fleet 3 also features a robust interior camera capturing a knee-to-head occupant view with enhanced night view capabilities. With pre-event buffering and multi-camera playback, agencies can ensure that critical footage is captured and reviewed.

Benefits

With the addition of Axon’s Fleet 3 to the already deployed Axon Body 3 cameras, the Cradlepoint and Axon systems seamlessly integrate for ease of use and manageability. Adding wireless connectivity to each vehicle unlocks the ability to wirelessly upload video data to the agency’s existing storage infrastructure. Cradlepoint NetCloud Manager provides remote network and cellular connectivity management to LAPD, allowing them to control and administer the entire vehicle fleet easily, effectively, and efficiently.

“The LAPD prides itself in innovation and leveraging technology to uphold public confidence, while working to reduce the administrative burden on our officers. The advances Fleet 3 offers, with improved image quality, in-car and body-worn video synchronisation, cloud storage in evidence.com and over-the-air uploading via our Cradlepoint routers. These advances will not only provide increased transparency for the public, but also improve the working conditions for our officers,” said Deputy Chief John McMahon, LAPD Chief Information Officer.

Cradlepoint & Axon

The LAPD is an example of a leading agency investing in modern tools to help their officers perform their duties in a safer, more effective way while increasing transparency for the community. Most of today’s tools require cloud-based connectivity for advanced decision-making capabilities and data handling. Cradlepoint is proud to provide fast and reliable 4G and 5G cellular connectivity that supports the Axon devices and applications helping front-line officers and the communities they serve.

Cradlepoint enables the freedom to connect people, places, and things that drive more experiences, more ways to work, and better business results — anywhere. The company is a pioneer in Wireless WAN, offering advanced 4G and 5G routers and adapters — controlled through Cradlepoint NetCloud. Enterprise businesses and public sector agencies rely on Cradlepoint and its Cellular Intelligence to build a reliable, secure network wherever they need it, connecting fixed and temporary sites, vehicles, IoT devices, and remote employees.

Panorama Antennas L[X]A[X]M4-7-42[-X] 4x4 MiMo 4G/5G IoT antenna

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Panorama Antennas’ L[X]A[X]M4-7-42[-X] MiMo antenna is designed to be a one-size-fits-all solution for IoT applications. The robust, low-profile housing contains 4x 4G LTE/5G NR elements covering 698–960/1427–4200 MHz. Versions of the product also contain up to 4x optional Wi-Fi elements supporting Wi-Fi 6e 2.4/5.150–7.125 GHz and optional L1 only or L1/L5 GPS/GNSS.

The housing is constructed from flame-retardant, impact-resistant plastic. The subtle, curved design makes the product difficult to vandalise and the IK10 rating means it is suitable for use in tough environments and devices located in public areas. The housing is UV stable and approved to IP69K for ingress protection.

The product is supplied with integrated low-loss, flame-retardant cables approved to UN ECE R118, while fitted connectors offer plug-and-play connectivity for a huge range of devices. The antenna can be installed on conductive or non-conductive panels without significant detriment to performance.

One week on: AT&T's nationwide network outage

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Commencing on the morning of 22 February at 3 am CT, online outage monitor DownDetector started receiving reports of AT&T service issues, with the outage affecting more than 74,000 users in over 40 states when it peaked mid-morning (as this figure only represents self-reported outages, the true number of affected customers was almost certainly higher). Reportedly, the issue was so widespread that customers using other carriers thought their own networks were experiencing issues, because when they tried to connect to AT&T users, their calls and texts weren’t going through.

As with Australia’s Optus outage, the disruption prevented customers of AT&T and its discount carrier, Cricket Wireless, from making calls, texting or using the internet on their mobile phones, unless they were connected to a separate Wi-Fi network; for this reason, AT&T encouraged people to switch on the Wi-Fi calling feature on their phones until service was restored. The ability to call emergency services was even disrupted across several states — including California, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas — prompting 911 centres to urge AT&T customers to use a landline, find a mobile phone that uses a different carrier or use Wi-Fi calling. And for those without active service who were able to contact 911, their location information was not delivered to the 911 call centre, leaving responders to check this manually.

Perhaps most worryingly, the outage also affected the country’s public-safety broadband network, FirstNet, which AT&T has been building and maintaining since March 2017. This had a direct impact on some emergency services, according to Matt Zavadsky, Chief Transformation Officer at MedStar Mobile Healthcare.

“FirstNet is what most public safety agencies across the country use, because it was built to be more robust and to have more coverage and to have some features that public safety folks needed,” Zavadsky said.

“When the system went down ... area law enforcement, fire agencies, first responders all over lost connectivity with their field units. So we had to revert to radio dispatching and actually using maps and ambulances to get to calls because the mapping systems weren’t working because the cell system was down.”

In an open letter issued on 25 February, AT&T CEO John Stankey confirmed that the company’s restoration efforts had prioritised service on FirstNet, before moving on to consumers. He also claimed that “about three-quarters of our customers were able to access our network as they started their days around 5 a.m. CT” — with the remaining customers reconnected throughout the morning and the network apparently normalised by noon CT. This would, however, contradict the mid-morning peak in complaints — with AT&T’s own website only making the three-quarter claim at 10.15 am on the day in question — as well as an update confirming full service restoration at 2.10 pm, around 11 hours after the outage began. At this point, 911 lines were reportedly flooded with people making ‘test calls’, as many had been doing all day, despite emergency officials’ best efforts to discourage this.

It was speculated that the outage may have been caused by a cyber attack, with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and even the FBI saying they wished to investigate the matter further. But AT&T’s final update on the day claimed the outage was in fact “due to the application and execution of an incorrect process used while working to expand our network”, according to an initial review, and Stankey’s letter several days afterwards did not elaborate further on this rather vague explanation. Other updates from the company have stated that it is “taking steps to prevent this from happening again in the future” and issuing a portion of its customers with compensation in the form of US$5 credit — the average cost of a full day of service.

Looking at the outage from an Australian perspective, it is rather extraordinary how many parallels it has to November’s Optus outage, which begs the question: how many times must we watch this scenario play out? Interestingly, the Australian Government has just this week agreed to extend the deadline for the Optus Outage Post-Incident Review report — which was due by today — following the receipt of new information from Optus relating to its activation of network wilting, where signals from mobile towers are powered down in order for Triple Zero calls to be carried by other networks. With the government now expected to receive the report by 21 March, we can but wonder how many of the report’s findings will be applicable to AT&T and other telco companies around the world.

Image credit: iStock.com/Ivan Pantic

Mavenir demos NB-IoT non-terrestrial network connectivity

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1100

Network software provider Mavenir has successfully completed a mobile data call in cooperation with Ligado Networks, a leading provider of mobile satellite services (MSS) in North America. The connection consisted of a 3GPP Rel-17 narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) non-terrestrial network (NTN) data connection deployed over the Ligado SkyTerra satellite network.

Using a cloud-native NB-IoT radio access network (RAN) solution, the Mavenir NTN service platform was integrated with the Ligado Ground-Based Beam Former (GBBF) over a digital interface, providing an adaptable, high-directivity connection to specific user equipment (UE) on the ground via the satellite link. The team successfully demonstrated a UE connected to the satellite beam on a narrow 200 kHz carrier within 3GPP-standardised band n255, ie, L-band spectrum already designated and fully licensed for MSS operations.

“The Ligado satellite network leverages bent-pipe architecture, allowing for the rapid development and deployment of NTN services as they become available and for the continued evolution of our services alongside the standards,” said Sachin Chhibber, Chief Technology Officer at Ligado Networks. “This milestone with Mavenir highlights our ability to adapt quickly to support NTN technologies that will bridge the gap between terrestrial and satellite communications.”

Mavenir noted that the adoption of 3GPP-compliant NTN technology enables satellite networks to support devices using mainstream, low-cost chipsets that can also operate on terrestrial IoT networks. The latest demonstration paves the way towards the delivery of seamless integration of satellite technology with the mobile networks of the future, extending coverage to remote regions and challenging geographies while supporting a variety of innovative IoT applications, including vehicle diagnostics, environmental monitoring, first responder connectivity and smart metering.

“Next-generation NTN networks will connect remote and rural areas with advanced communication services in ways that have not been possible before — boosting economic and social development and enabling new applications that will empower many industries to innovate and grow,” said BG Kumar, President of Access Networks, Platforms and Digital Enablement at Mavenir. “We are proud to be playing a defining role in delivering that connected future.”

Image credit: iStock.com/johan63

ZCG Scalar Yagi antennas

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1100

ZCG manufactures a wide range of Yagi antennas, including dual- or cross-polarised options, designed to cover the high-volume frequency ranges within the VHF, UHF and cellular mobile phone spectrums including 4G.

The company’s range of dual-polarised Yagis is available in all frequency ranges, including FM radio; VHF and VHF digital TV; UHF and UHF digital TV; cellular — 4G LTE and 4G; and ISM/IoT and LoRa.

Available in either 25 mm round boom or 25 mm RHS boom, and ranging from 6 through to 14 dBd models, ZCG has directional Yagi solutions to suit a range of requirements. The company can also custom-manufacture a Yagi to the user’s specified frequency range, with a turnaround time of 15 working days for dual-polarised Yagis.

Amsterdam convention centre adds private 5G network

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1100

RAI Amsterdam is understood to be the first convention centre in Europe to be equipped with its own private 5G network, after the technology became available in the Netherlands at the start of December.

The private 5G network, claimed to be the fastest and most secure mobile network currently available, was used for the first time from 5–9 February during Cisco Live, one of the world’s largest IT events. Working closely with partners NTT Data and Cisco, RAI Amsterdam managed to install the new network in just six weeks.

“We are delighted to jointly offer this first network solution for private 5G in the complex environment of conferences and events,” said Jeroen van Hamersveld, General Manager of NTT DATA Netherlands. “Acquiring private 5G as a service not only provides RAI Amsterdam as a venue with maximum speed and security… RAI clients can also take advantage of the support 5G provides for any new concepts and innovations they are looking to present.”

“Delivering a private 5G network within just six weeks is an impressive achievement, and the rollout benefits both RAI Amsterdam and Cisco,” added Edwin Prinsen, Managing Director at Cisco Nederland. “It allows us to use interactive real-time video for live streaming throughout the entire location during the Cisco Live event; removing the need for long cables makes everything that much simpler. What’s more, it opens the door to other innovative applications related to crowd management and the management of large visitor flows.”

The new private 5G network has been framed as the next step in RAI Amsterdam’s digital transformation trajectory — and is an area in which the organisation is leading the way, according to RAI’s Manager of IT and Digital, Bret Baas.

“RAI is increasingly evolving from a traditional exhibition and conference venue into an innovation platform and knowledge centre where events take place,” Baas said. “New technologies are of critical importance to both our clients and ourselves. They open up a world of possibilities during events, such as flying drones and showing and forwarding high-quality videos. At the same time, our premises are becoming ever smarter, facilitating elements such as crowd control and sustainability.

“One of the key benefits of a private 5G network is that, unlike with Wi-Fi, network overloading will rarely occur. Nor does it require cables. 5G offers exhibitors and customers far more options, while allowing us to be exceptionally flexible on their behalf.”

Outside of Cisco Live, Baas sees enormous potential for other events. “Examples include Intertraffic Amsterdam and IBC, which require a great deal of communication between the equipment onsite,” he said. “In a similar vein, Interclean features lots of cleaning robots and our private 5G network will ensure that these can be seamlessly operated.”

“This private 5G network means that RAI Amsterdam is truly ready for the future,” Prinsen concluded.

Image courtesy RAI Amsterdam.

u-blox NORA-W4 Wi-Fi 6 module

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +1100

u-blox’s NORA-W4 is a versatile, single-band Wi-Fi 6 module for battery-operated devices. With its comprehensive range of wireless technologies (Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth LE 5.3, Thread and Zigbee) and compact form factor (10.4 x 14.3 x 1.9 mm), it is suitable for IoT applications such as smart home, asset tracking, health care and industrial automation.

The device is a single-band tri-radio Wi-Fi 6 module, built on the Espressif ESP32-C6 system-on-chip, that enables battery-powered IoT nodes to operate directly over Wi-Fi. This simplifies implementation and reduces system-level costs by limiting the need for a Bluetooth gateway, making it useful for applications like wireless battery-operated sensors.

The product uses Wi-Fi 6 technology that is optimised for IoT and should reduce network congestion in environments such as factories, workplaces and warehouses, thereby improving throughput and reducing latency. Fully backward compatible with Wi-Fi 4, the module can also be used in cases where the Wi-Fi infrastructure has not been upgraded.

The module supports Matter protocol, Thread and Zigbee technologies that are designed for new applications in the smart home environment. Consequently, it allows interoperability with other Matter smart home devices. Its small form factor meanwhile permits designers to adapt to device size constraints.

Compatibility with other u-blox NORA modules enables effortless technology migration, such as transitioning from Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 6. In addition, the module is packed with enhanced security features, including secure boot, trusted execution environment and flash encryption. It is available in six different variants: open CPU or u-connectXpress, antenna pin or PCB antenna, and with either 4 or 8 MB flash memory.