| Networking Takes Off. . . And Connects the Nation | |
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Blame it on Nextel or maybe the multitude of cellular carriers, but wide-area networked, trunked radio systems, at one time seen only in the high-tier two-way radio communications environments, are now becoming commonplace in SMR and private wireless applications. In a trunked, networked environment multiple trunked radio sites are linked together, allowing users to roam between sites and enjoy a wider coverage footprint than would be available from a system utilizing a single site. Radios switch automatically between sites as the user travels throughout the network coverage area. In addition to wide-area coverage, these systems offer enhanced features such as unit-to-unit calling, PTT ID, individual radio kill and stun capabilities and advanced network management. Driven by new signaling and networking technology and broad subscriber unit availability, trunked radio networks are beginning to dot the U.S. communications landscape. Recently constructed networks in several different RF bands are now serving many types of users including traditional SMR operators and their customers. Also, private wireless networks serve educational institutions, public safety, government installations and manufacturing facilities. Meeting the Challenge In early 2002, one of these new networks, constructed by Utah Communications in Salt Lake City, played an essential role in the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. Recognizing that users were demanding handheld coverage over a very wide area in difficult mountainous terrain, Utah Comm, which previously operated standalone trunked systems, determined that networking multiple sites into a contiguous communications system would be the only way to meet the challenge. This required a system that was proven, cost-effective and reliable. The solution they selected uses Trident Micro Systems' PassPort@ networked trunking technology. The end result was a system that employs multiple sites to provide contiguous coverage over an area of more than 100 miles from end-to-end, including difficult and mountainous terrain. A primary requirement of the networked trunking
system was to be able to operate reliably and profitably as a
wide-area SMR system providing dispatch type radio service in
the region. Although it was built prior to the Olympics, the'
system fit right in with the communications needs of the event
organizers. Going Wide in the Wasatch The new Utah Comm system consists of four Motorola
repeaters running through a Trident NTS@ PassPort Controller.
Each site is connected by 6 GHz licensed microwave hookups.
Operating in the UHF band, the system uses five channels to
handle the Ogden valley, five channels to serve the Provo valley,
eight channels to keep the Park City area on the air and 14
channels provide communications for the Salt Lake City area. Utah Comm also built our another complete PassPort
system at 900 MHz: four channels in Salt Lake City, three in
Park City, three in Provo and three in Ogden. The 900 MHz
system uses the same PassPort network controller being used by
the UHF system. The networked system was set up to provide users with 95 percent
coverage of the venues and transportation routes in between,
which was no easy task considering the mountain tops upon
which the transmitters perched and the valleys and hollows which
nested the events in the shadow of the Wasatch mountain range. In all, the Olympic events rook place in a variety of
more than eight venues in and around the major cities. For
example, Park City hosted ski jumping and luge; Ogden: curling,
Salt Lake Valley: speed skating; Downtown Salt Lake City: figure
skating; Snow Basin (near Ogden): down hill ski racing. Olympic Users: Security, News Gathering and
Transportation More than 2,000 units operated on the system
during the Olympics, some regular customers (300 units) bur mostly
the security, transportation and news-gathering crews (+1,700). With the threat of terrorist activity in mind, the question
for Olympic officials wasn't whether to beef up security, but
how to keep the event from looking like a war zone. So it is no surprise
that the Joint Task Force, which served as the command center
for the different branches of the military posted to help with security,
was the biggest user with 800 radios. The NBC (National
Broadcasting Company) was also a major user with 250 units.
The media company used its two-way communications to dispatch
camera crews and relay news back to the anchors. Another large
user was The Coca-Cola Company, which used 75 radios almost
solely to dispatch its bus fleet to and from each venue. |
Future SMR Opportunities Traditional SMRs are enjoying a resurgence thanks to the availability of new networking technology. In the past, SMRs have primarily used single-site trunked systems. But with the availability of new, more affordable networking technology and compatible subscriber units from multiple, competitive manufacturers - system expansion is back. Let's nor forger; "new" spectrum availability, created through refarming, has played a parr in providing SMR operators with substantial opportunities for the construction of networked, trunked radio systems. To dare, most of the SMR trunked radio networks built are found in the UHF band. However, operators with sufficient spectrum are beginning to rap into trunking in the VHF band, as well. Now, the 220 MHz band is gaining popularity with network operators, as is the 700 MHz guard band spectrum. Another change in the networking environment deals with the subscriber units. PassPort is the first widely available trunking environment in which subscriber units are available from multiple, competitive vendors. Radios are currently available from Motorola, ICOM, Kenwood, Vertex Standard and Ritron. Conversion boards for other radios are available from Scholer-Johnson. Prior to this, once you made a decision to network, you made a lifelong commitment to buy radios from a single provider, which made the subscriber units more expensive. California Roaming One of the largest private SMR networks that have been built out to date is owned by Fisher Wireless, using advanced NTS@ technology and an extensive array of mountaintop macro-cell analog repeaters to form a large contiguous, wide-area network. It covers the lion's share of California, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Long Beach and Bakersfield; a large portion of Arizona, including the Phoenix metro area; and a nice size area in Nevada, including Las Vegas. The system consists of more than 50 transmitter sites, all networked together, allowing communications between subscriber units. Fisher is done, for the most part, with its first round of build out. Rio Radio Supply has a network across south Texas that operates in both 800 MHz and UHF. It has sold its 800 MHz spectrum and is now in the middle of converting 9,000 users from its 800 MHz radio system to its UHF network. The Rio Radio system consists of six sites with three more to come. It covers more than 10 cities in the Rio Grande Valley - from Brownsville to Rio Grande City - along the border with Mexico. Recently an Idaho-based Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear laboratory, which handles research and waste disposal, signed a contract to replace its 800 MHz system with a 14-site networked, narrowband PassPort UHF trunked system. Teton Communications is constructing the DOE radio system and is simultaneously building its own network including 12 sites, also based on PassPort technology. The system runs from Twin Falls in the west to Jackson Hole, Wyoming on the east, with West Yellow stone Park on the north. The users on these systems are a mixture of contractors, construction, concrete, delivery, plumbers, agriculture, police, ambulances and school systems. Public/Private Partnerships The government in Wellington County and MRC Systems in Ontario, Canada, have deployed a PassPort-based networked system, which serves all of the County users and private wireless users. As a public/private partnership, it is a unique spin on the traditional separation between public and private use of the spectrum. The system uses six sites that are operated by MRC, plus it is networked to a neighboring system that includes six more sites. The system is loaded with 1,000 radios with more being added. Users include municipal government, couriers, tow trucks and farmers. More and more often, private wireless entities are sharing an SMR system with public safety users and industry observers believe we will see more of it, because of the cost of building a system and the increasingly tight budgets that governments operate under. Networking facilitates deployment of this type of hybrid public safety/private wireless system. The network component is critical because users today demand more and more handheld coverage. The only way to get this wide-area portable coverage is to use multiple sites that are close enough to the subscriber whether he or she is inside a vehicle or a building. Conclusion In short, now is a good time for wide-area, two-way radio systems. The combination of additional spectrum and affordable networking technology has blown the roof off UHF and the VHF band is seeing more activity, as well. Many SMR operators today feel that the conversion to large coverage areas is critical to maintaining their position as market leaders. Additionally, private wireless users - industrial and public safety - are also enjoying increased coverage, reduced costs and increased functionality. Perhaps you can blame Nextel and cellular carriers for increasing the expectations of business wireless customers, but you can thank the availability of networked, trunked systems for providing a way to satisfy those increasing demands. Author Bio - Rhett Grotzinger is Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Trident Micro Systems. He can be reached at 828.684.7474 or via e-mail at rgrotzinger@tridentms.com. |