Several vendors announced new products ahead of the International Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE) March 9 – 11.
Midland Radio enhanced its Project 25 (P25) radios with over the air rekeying (OTAR). The ability to change encryption keys over the air, saving man hours and minimizing risk to personnel, is now available on Midland P25 mobiles, portables and desktops.
Midland also offered P25 standards-based conventional fixed station interface (CFSI) for digital applications to enhance network features for better communications. This technology, offered on Midland P25 base stations/repeaters, can upgrade any P25 network to broader distribution of more information.
In addition, Zetron unveiled its MAX Dispatch system, an end-to-end IP-based telecommunications console system with features designed to reduce information overload and improve dispatchers’ efficiency, focus and response times.
MAX Dispatch system’s features and functionality include an intelligent user interface, built-in network health monitor, automatic configuration of IP parameters within the local network and end-to-end network redundancy.
Separately, Catalyst Communications Technologies Inc. (CCTI) will demonstrate a new product that provides instant field access to an LMR system, commercial push-to-talk (PTT) system or radio network dispatch center from a portable tablet PC without carrying a radio. The solution allows a user to customize the user interface (UI) to meet the needs of specific market segments and even specific customers.
At IWCE, Catalyst is demonstrating a UI that is targeted at in-car installations such as within a public-safety vehicle. This interface incorporates audio and control access to one onboard (in-vehicle) radio and two fixed location radios. In addition, the UI simultaneously provides real-time video streaming for one onboard video camera and one external fixed location video camera. The company has also demonstrated a UI targeted at the utility industry meter reader.
Aeroflex made available a new PC-based application for sending and receiving Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) radio data, using the 3920 as the generator and receiver. With this application, it is now possible for engineers and technicians to capture data from DMR radios and repeaters and transmit user-defined data over the air to dynamically analyze DMR radio messages and isolate transmission and receiver problems in DMR systems.
The PC application operates along with the DMR XML channel logger, available as an option for the 3920 as part of the DMR system. The DMR XML channel logger option sends and receives XML formatted data, streaming it to the PC.
Hytera Communications introduced a new digital covert radio line, the Hytera X1 and X1e. The compact radios measure 4.8 by 2.3 by 0.7 inches (without the antenna), giving the radio a profile slightly larger than an Apple iPhone 4, company executives said. Weighing in at 12.5 ounces including the battery, the radios are fully compliant with the DMR open standard of ETSI and are compatible with analog radios to allow for a step-by-step migration from analog to digital systems. Both models also feature an open USB interface and GPS positioning functions, and meet IP-67 standard for water and dust resistance.
