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WHEN COMMUNICATIONS

GO DOWN:HOW SWIFT REACTION

BY NY STATE POLICEAND PORT AUTHORITY

RESTORED VITALCOMMUNICATIONS FORRESCUE AND RECOVERY

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The magazine for critical radio system users

ContentsCHANNELS volume 2, issue 3

From the EditorOur responsibilities to those in public safety have never seemedmore important than in these troubled times.

Feature Story: Teamwork and experience restore communicationsThe terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Towers totallydestroyed two important communications sites. Remarkably, commu-nications was restored in less than 24 hours.

International Case History: Communications for Port of Rotterdam Europe’s largest and most advanced container terminal speeds the han-dling of shipping cargo across the continent and around the globe.

Military and Federal Systems: Shipboard communicationsShipboard communications presents problems not encountered by itsterrestrial counterparts. The U.S. Navy’s HYDRA shipboard system is thefirst significant advance in such communications in 25 years.

Special Report: More choices for critical radio system usersOpenSky® is the newest M/A-COM critical communications offeringthat combines Internet, cellular, and TDMA technologies. Here’s anintroduction to where it came from and where it’s going.

New Products: Two new public safety radios The OpenSky M-803 mobile radio and EDACS® Jaguar™ 700Pi offertop-of-the-line performance and features for public safety

News Bites The latest on who’s buying M/A-COM communica-tions systems.

Training Center ScheduleA listing of all the training classes scheduled for thefirst and second quarters of 2002.

CHANNELSis published by M/A-COM Wireless Systems3315 Old Forest RoadLynchburg, VA 24501

Editor:Kitty ColemanPhone:[email protected]

Contributing Editors:Robin Edson, Mike Milas,Joan Tinsley

Consulting, design and production:Sturdza & Agee Marketing CommunicationsPhone:[email protected]

Customer Support:For all questions pertaining to Parts, Technical Assistance,Warranty Administration,Technical Publications andSoftware Services:

In the United States –Phone: 1-800-528-7711Fax: 1-800-833-7592 Email:[email protected]

CustomerCare/Service Parts:[email protected]

In Canada –Phone: 1-800-368-3277 Fax: 1-800-833-7582Email:[email protected]

CustomerCare/Service Parts:[email protected]

International –Contact your Regional SalesSupport Representatives:

Mideast/Africa: +1-434-385-2426

Asia Pacific: +1-434-385-2427

Europe: +1-434-385-2428

Latin America: +1-434-385-2429

Fax: +1-434-385-2675Email: [email protected]

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Letter from the Editor

T he tragedy of September 11 raised the awareness of our

nation to the importance of dedicated public safety

employees and the conditions under which they work.

Many fire and rescue workers perished on that day trying

to save others. The brave men and women who undertook

this task are our customers and friends. They rely on us to

provide communications equipment that allows them to

stay in constant touch with one another. We at M/A-COM

remain committed to assisting these courageous individuals

when they need our help.

In this edition you’ll read about the efforts of M/A-COM to

provide emergency radio systems to the New York State Police

and the Port Authority on the day they lost their communica-

tions center. The coordinated teamwork between public safety

customer and radio system supplier resulted in the restoration

of vital communications within hours of the tragedy.

You’ll also read about one of our major international

customers. The European Combined Terminal (ECT) locat-

On the Cover:Rescue workers walk amid therubble of the World Trade CenterWednesday, September 12, 2001.AP Photo/Shawn Bakiwin

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With the collapse of the the South Tower of the WorldTrade Center, the second tower to be struck in theterrorists’ attack on Sept. 11, the New York and New

Jersey Port Authority lost its primary transmitter siteand communications center, which was housed onseveral upper floors of the building. Also lost was the

Teamwork, experience key to restoration of critical communications

continued ➜

The recent terrorist attacks were forceful remindersof the risks faced by those who serve the public.The firefighter, the police officer, the emergency

medical team member, all must be given unyielding sup-port. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families andloved ones of those who have perished, and we pledge

our continued commitment to helping those on thefront lines of public safety to communicate as reli-ably and safely as humanly possible.

New York State Police join the rescue workers amid the rubble ofthe World Trade Center Wednesday,Sept 12, 2001.

AP Photo/Virgil Case

AP Photo/Daniel Hulshizer

FEATURESTORYCHANNELS

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer signals a motorist to stop at blockadedentrance to Newark Airport on Sept. 12, 2001.

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Dave Shaw, Tom DeWitt-Rickards and Bud Allen work to establish emergency teams and oversee operations at M/A-COM’splant in Virginia. The signed note (left) was taped to the shipping boxes and accompanied the equipment to New York.

New York State Police’s primary transmit-ter site for Manhattan, which occupiedshared facilities with the Port Authority.

Remarkably, both agencies were able torestore communications to near-normalcy with analternate site establishedin a matter of hours, help-ing significantly in thecoordination of the rescueand cleanup efforts thatfollowed. The agenciesalso requested and received a total of 500extra portable radios for the tremendousinflux of personnel required for the mas-sive job that even now continues. NewYork State Police Director of Communi-cations Captain Carl Carlton explains:

“The primary transmitter site for ourMetro-21 800 MHz NYC radio system waslocated on Tower Two of the World TradeCenter. When the tower was first struckby the aircraft under the control of the ter-rorists, communications continued unham-pered. But when the tower collapsed justminutes later, the radio communications

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CHANNELS VOLUME 2 ISSUE 3

site shared with the New York and NewJersey Port Authority was gone. With thedestruction of that site we had a signifi-cant loss of coverage in a crucial area,”

says Captain Carlton.It was obvious that the

reduced radio coverage in Manhattan would be asevere handicap to rescueand police operationswithin the area. Theimmediate actions taken

by the Port Authority and State Policewere almost textbook examples of howexperience and close teamwork betweenpublic safety agencies and the radio sys-tem supplier can help ensure that vitalcommunications be restored as quickly as humanly possible.

Calls for assistanceThe first crucial act was to ask for assis-tance. Immediately following the strike onTower One, but before the full magnitudeof the crisis was realized with the attackand the collapse of the second tower, aradio engineer with the Port Authoritycalled M/A-COM Regional Sales ManagerAnnemarie Stanford. He asked for as manyportable radios as he could get in theexpectation that the rescue operations tocome would be massive. Stanford immedi-ately called M/A-COM Plant Manager TomDeWitt-Rickards in Virginia.

“I told Tom a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers and thatthe Port Authority had asked for severalhundred extra radios to help cope withthe problem,” says Stanford. Ultimately,that number would grow to include 300LPE™ portable radios and two base

“With the destruction ofthat site we had a

significant loss of cov-erage in a crucial area.”

Captain Carl Carlton

Scotty Birtell was one of ten M/A-COMtechnicians testing and programmingthe 500 radios needed to aid in res-cue operations in New York.

Photo/Brandon Knowles


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stations for the Port Authority.Then, in an almost parallel action, a

radio engineer for the New York StatePolice made a similar call. “Within minutesof the first strike on Tower One, Ken Bixler,our State Police radio system engineer inAlbany, called the regional M/A-COM officeto request emergency radios. We knew wewould need as many as we could get,though at that point we had no idea ofwhat was to follow,” says Captain Carlton.

The Albany regional office then calledDeWitt-Rickards, passing on the StatePolice request. With two such calls inquick succession, both asking for hundredsof radios, the production staff was put onnotice that they would need to find a totalof 500 radios and get them tested, pro-grammed and packed for shipping as soonas possible. “From that standpoint, the tim-ing of the phone calls wasfortunate,” says DeWitt-Rickards. “We had justbegun our daily produc-tion meeting, so the wholestaff was right there.”

One of the first thingsthey did was to turn on thenews and watch as eventsunfolded in New York and Washington.Then, when the South Tower (Tower Two),was struck, what at first seemed a terribledisaster became the unimaginable night-mare we’ve all come to know.

“We set up a command center andcalled in Tom Kegley, head of our TechnicalAssistance Center. We knew that wewould need someone on hand to fieldtechnical questions from the Port Authorityand State Police. Then we asked for areport on orders and inventories on allparts and radios,” DeWitt-Rickards said.

“Within the first hour of being notifiedwe had set up an emergency team to han-dle whatever might become necessary.We called our subcontractors in NorthCarolina and Canada to alert them to ourpossible need for more radios and com-piled a list of 162 people who would becalled in immediately or placed on stand-by,” the plant manager says.

Teamwork established and coordinatedfrom Albany regional officeMeanwhile the M/A-COM regional office inAlbany had become the focal point for com-munications between the Port Authority,State Police, New York-based M/A-COM dealer Eastern Communications, and theM/A-COM plant in Virginia. Communica-tions between the four entities was to becontinuous for the next 24 hours.

“The Port Authority handled its own system maintenance and had the neces-sary personnel on hand to reprogram itssites and bypass the lost communicationscenter. We assisted them with technicalinformation and they quickly reestablishedtheir own communications, with theexception of the coverage in the Manhat-tan area,” says M/A-COM’s Regional SalesManager in Albany, Doug Williams.

“Our involvement withthe State Police commu-nications system wasgreater, since EasternCommunications has theservice contract for sys-tem maintenance and wasin constant communica-tion with Captain Carlton

and his team,” Williams says.Mike Wolf, President of Eastern

Communications, underscored the swiftand efficient way in which teamwork wasestablished and coordinated.

“Peter Zwagerman and Jerry Minihane inthe Albany regional office coordinated thetechnical assistance with our office. Withina very short time they had developed apage-and-half long contact list and haddetermined what would be necessary tohelp the State Police relocate its site inManhattan and to make the necessary pro-gramming changes to its system,” Wolf says.

Systems quickly back in operationEven though the Port Authority had lost itscommunications center with the collapse of

“The police, fire and res-cue workers deserve allthe real praise. We werejust doing our job in sup-port of their activities.”

Doug Williams

continued ➜

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the tower, other sites on the system con-tinued to function and maintained anacceptable level of communications.Within hours of the strike, the PortAuthority engineers and technicians hadselected an alternate site –unspecified for securityreasons – to reprogram asthe command center.

Working with M/A-COMpersonnel, they took deliv-ery of 300 portable radiosand installed and programmed a newcommand center with equipment sent up from Virginia. Within 20 hours fromthat first distress call, the Port Authorityhad re-established full communicationswithin the area.

Before this was to take place, however,activities at the plant had gone into maxi-

mum overdrive. “As soon as we knew themagnitude of the situation and had identi-fied the equipment that we would need,I asked two technicians to go home, getsome sleep and await my call. We knew

that they would be up allnight making the deliveryby truck because air trans-port was shut down,” saysDeWitt-Rickards.

Simultaneously, stepswere taken to ensure that

any technical expertise the two agenciesmight require was on hand. “The entireTechnical Assistance Center (TAC) wasavailable for questions. We added 10 engineers to the TAC staff, and they pro-grammed and feature-encrypted 200 M-RKsfor the State Police and 300 LPEs for thePort Authority,” DeWitt-Rickards said.

“It’s our job to become anintegral part of a team tosupport the end users.”

Tom DeWitt-Rickards

Within minutes of the notification, inventories were ordered and available parts assembled. Special teams wereorganized to ensure that each task was performed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

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“We also assembled a five-channel and athree-channel radio system, plus all thenecessary cabling, test equipment andmiscellaneous pieces of gear we wouldneed, including 1,000 batteries. Simplycharging that many batteries and ensuringthat they were ready to go in a few hourswas a major operation.”

Experience a key factorIn a statement that was echoed by EasternCommunications’ Mike Wolf and RegionalSales Manager Doug Williams, DeWitt-Rickards makes it clear that while this par-ticular emergency was the most devastat-ing and far reaching of any they have yetto encounter, it was be no means the first.

“Like the public service agencies them-selves, we’ve had to respond many times toemergencies that require instant coordina-tion and teamwork. There was the terroristbombing of the WTC back in 1993, wherewe also assisted. Natural disasters such ashurricanes, fires and earthquakes also taketheir toll on communications towers andequipment. The point is, we have the pro-cedures and people in place to deal effec-tively with these kinds of problems, just asthe public safety agencies do. It’s our jobto become an integral part of a team thatsupports the end users,” he says.

With all that experience behind them,the various teams responsible for specifictasks completed their jobs in record time.By 9:00 p.m. the truck was packed and

ready to go. The technicians drovethrough the night and arrived at EasternCommunications’ radio shop at dawn, ascant 20 hours after the initial phone callhad been received.

“We had already obtained the neces-sary clearance documents to allow thetruck into the city, and the State Policeescorted the truck and a team of techni-cal personnel downtown. Another build-ing had been selected for the installationof the new site equipment, and within afew hours it was fully operational andbeing used to coordinate rescue opera-tions by the State Police, Nassau County,and the Port Authority,” says Wolf.

In a letter to M/A-COM Regional SalesManager Doug Williams a week after theevent, Captain Carlton expressed his thanksfor helping to ensure that the radio systemwas fully operational by the time a contin-gent of 500 state troopers arrived in thecity on Sept. 12, the day after the attack.

“We all really appreciate his thanks,”says Williams. But, while grateful for theacknowledgement, the entire M/A-COMteam responded with praise of their ownfor the actions and supreme efforts putforth by the Port Authority and State Police,especially in view of the personal loss of somany friends and colleagues who workedin and around the Trade Center towers.

Doug Williams perhaps summed it upbest: “The police, fire and rescue workersdeserve all the real praise. We were justpart of a team, doing our job in support of their activities. I guess the thing toremember is that no amount of emergencyplanning can anticipate everything thatmight possibly happen. The challenge isfor the responsible agencies – and us asthe supplier and system experts – to havethe response mechanisms in place to beable to act as a team to deal with extremesituations. In this case the disaster wasoverwhelming in its impact on human life.But because we all have had experience inhandling emergencies and in teamwork,we were able to assist the State Police andthe Port Authority to restore their commu-nications as quickly as possible.” ■

At 9 p.m. on Sept.11 the delivery truck rolls past a securi-ty guard on its way to New York. It would arrive at its des-tination in New York at dawn.

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The ECTis located at

the hub of Europe.

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Located smack in the middle of theNetherlands coastline along the North Sea,

Holland’s Port of Rotterdam is perfectlyplaced for its role as the largest seaport in theworld in terms of cargo tonnage.

Deep water access with no tidal restric-tions, no locks and no bridges means that the largest ocean-going freighters can comeright up the RiverMaas to dock,unload and load car-goes ranging fromcrude oil and petro-chemicals to auto-mobiles, grain andsteel. Fully 60 percent ofU.S. exports to Europepass through Rotterdam,and a glance at the exten-sive infrastructure – theport stretches 25 milesfrom the North Sea up riverto the center of the City ofRotterdam – of roads, rail, airand river transport shows why.The area is a hub for the trans-portation of goods all across theEuropean continent, and from Europeto the rest of the world.

The European Combined TerminalsThe port itself is comprised of numerous terminals operated by various entities, one of them being the European CombinedTerminals (ECT). Since its founding in 1966,ECT has grown into Europe's biggest and

most advancedcontainer

Communications help Port of Rotterdamcontainer operator speed cargo around the globe

SYSTEM OVERVIEWPRIMARY USE:Voice communicationsfor port activities

TYPE:Single-site EDACS

FREQUENCY: 450 MHz

SPECIAL FEATURES:Customized dispatch termi-nals to accommodate specialoperational requirements

INTERNATIONAL

CASEHISTORY

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A total of 83 stacking cranes load and offload containers at the

European Combined Terminals(ECT) 365 days a year.

Photos courtesy ECT

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terminal operator. The company has earneda worldwide reputation for its use of tech-nology to speed the handling of the hun-dreds of thousands of containers that passthrough the port every year.

Despite the company's development andreliance on technology, however, aspokesperson says that “in many ways, thecontainer business is still a people business.”Customers want their goods to be handledsafely and quickly, and there can be noexcuses for delays resulting from weather -this is, after all, the North Sea – mechanicalbreakdown or administrative lapses. Evenwith all the automation so prevalent in thecontainer industry, coordination and hands-on management of all the elements must benear perfect, day-in and day-out, 24 hours aday, every day of the year.

Communications key to coordinationHelping the ECT to coordinate this massiveexchange of cargo, much of it hazardousfuel oil and petrochemical products, fromship to rail, barge, truck and air transport, isthe company’s radio com-munications network.

“The ECT purchasedand installed a 450MHzEDACS® single-site voicesystem in 1997,” says M/A-COM’s RegionalDirector, Sales-Europe,Robert Jastram. “The sys-tem is used to coordinateall of the container han-dling operations,” he says.

The number and scale of the machin-ery used in the process is impressive.“The container terminal has four kilome-ters of quay, all served by 83 massive over-head cranes. While much of the opera-tions are automated, ground handlers and

supervisors must keep in constant touchthrough their radios. They are really indis-pensable,” Jastram says.

Reliability is a key concern for ECT man-agement, and they credit the EDACS system

as essential in helping main-tain their excellent record.“More than ever before,”says a company spokesper-son,“clients expect excel-lent service from their con-tainer terminals. The key-word in this respect is relia-bility. ECT has worked hardon expanding capacity byconstructing new facilitiesand extending the ECT net-

work. Our main target now is to fine-tuneour services in order to continue meetingour clients’ needs.”

Speed and safety are essentialOne of the services customers demand is speed. For cargo ships, time lag isexpensive in terms ofincreased overhead, lostincome and, in some cases,penalties for late delivery.Despite the difficulties ofhandling the massive con-tainers, ECT says thatcargo delivery can bemade within 30 minutes ofunloading, and client deliv-eries to the port are possi-ble even during loading

The radio system is veryimportant to us, and wehave had no major prob-lems with it since it wasinstalled in 1997.”Sidney Nederlof, ECT

“

Radio talk groups are comprised of a stacking crane operator, one or two dock workers (below,left) and a supervisor. Coordination by radio is essential for safety as well as speed.

Photo courtesy ECT Photo courtesy ECT

Photo courtesy ECT

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operations. Obviously, tim-ing and coordination areessential in keeping tonsof equipment and cargomoving quickly and safely.

“The container terminaloperates a fleet of 138‘robot trucks’ [no drivers]which move containersbetween stacks on the loading dock andthe ships. A total of 83 stacking cranesare in constant motion, piling one con-tainer upon another. The dock workers,machine operators and supervisors mustbe in constant communi-cations to ensure speedand safety,” says SidneyNederlof of the ECT.

“The EDACS trunked sys-tem allows us to set up a

talk group for each of the83 stacking cranes used toload and unload containers.Each talk group is com-prised of four individualswho remain in constantcontact with each other tocoordinate the activities,”says Nederlof.

A total of 17 consoles are used to moni-tor and control the operations of the 83talk groups, and the company maintains itsown radio shop to ensure that any prob-lems encountered are attended to immedi-

ately. “We operate threeshifts, 24 hours a day,every day of the year,” saysNederlof. “If we lose com-munications, our opera-tions come to a halt. It’s

“We operate three shifts,24 hours a day,

every day of the year. If we lose communica-tions, our operations

come to a halt.”Sidney Nederlof, ECT

Seventeen dispatch consoles allow supervisors to monitor operations from their command post overlooking the port.

The ECT purchased its single-site450 MHz EDACS system in 1997

to replace an outdated conventionalradio system that had become

increasingly unreliable.

Photos courtesy ECT

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very important that we have technicianson duty and available at all times.” Happily,Nederlof reports that the radio system hasnever failed them.

“The radio system is very important tous, and we have had no major problemswith it since it was installed in 1997. Wehave 250 portables and 250 mobile radios,plus the 17 consoles to keep in goodrepair. We sent a group to the U.S. fortraining at the Lynchburg,Virginia, facili-ties when we first purchased the system,and were very pleased with the results. Wefeel the training was excellent and wouldrecommend it to others,” Nederlof says.M/A-COM’s Jastram points out that trunkedradio communications is a natural fit forport operations for a number of reasons.

“A port like this is an ideal situation forEDACS,” Jastram says. “It’s a compact area,so only one site is typically needed. The

radio system is proven and very reliable,which is a necessity for port operations, asis the easy grouping and re-grouping offleets and subfleets. When required, super-visors can talk with everyone in a group,or with individuals, and stay in touch at alltimes. In addition to all that, the radiosthemselves are rugged enough to stand upto the harsh environment and hard use.”

Expansion plannedAlready in the works is an expansion of theport, with a new ECT terminal being con-structed right at the point where the Maasflows into the North Sea. In an operationthat is well-known to the Dutch, land isbeing filled-in and reclaimed for the new ter-minal, which is expected to be in operationin 2002. “Expandability is a key feature ofthe EDACS system. We’re talking with ECTnow about the details and how we can helpthem continue to handle their cargo quickly,efficiently and safely,” says Jastram. ■

The dock workers,machine operators and supervisors must be in constant commu-nications to ensure speed and safety.”Robert Jastram

“

Photo courtesy ECT

Photos courtesy ECT

The USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), one of six carriers with an EDACS®-based HYDRA system, gets underway for deployment to the western Pacific to provide support for Operation Enduring Freedom.

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MILITARY&FEDERALSYSTEMS

CHANNELS

At first glance, shipboard communications might seem a relatively straightforward

task. But the fact is that warships havesome distinctly unique requirements, includ-ing the ability to sustain battle damage andwithstand a harsh environment. In addi-tion, the needs of the modern Navy dictatea number of engineering features notshared by terrestrial counterparts. Based onyears of research and development, the U.S.Navy has determined that wireless commu-nications for the fleet must:� provide instant, reliable, ship-wide

communications� be a “survivable” system that supports

all ship operations in both peacetime andwartime

� be economical and employ Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) technology

� minimize space and power requirements� be self sustaining and easy to maintain

and service by shipboard personnel� be readily expandable to meet evolving

ship requirements� be simple, rugged, reliable and have

intrinsically safe portablesIt’s a tall order to meet such require-

ments. Not surprisingly, it has taken a num-ber of years to deploy wireless systems that

achieve that task. Kevin Fleming, M/A-COM’sfederal systems manager, explains.

“Until the mid-eighties, the primary meansof communications used an old technologycalled sound-powered phones. These phonestraced their history back to World War I.”

Sound-powered phones required a cableconnecting the users, however, and theylacked the easy portability of wireless com-munications. That, plus the necessity tospeak with various talk groups, eventuallymade radio communications a necessity onmodern warships.

In the mid-eighties, wireless conventional

US Navy continues to expand use of EDACS-based HYDRA shipboard communications systems

“Our systems have beenoperationally proven

to meet the uniquerequirements specified

by the Navy.Kevin Fleming

”

The catapult officer (known as a “shooter”) launches anF-14 Tomcat from the USS Enterprise. Clear communi-cations are critical for such high-noise environments.

Photo: U.S. Navy

Photo: U.S. Navy

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radio systems were introduced to the fleet.But they still provided no interoperabilitybetween different communications systems.On aircraft carriers, for instance, there werefive separate wireless systems: Flight DeckCommunication Systems (AN/SRC-47),Protected Voice Portable CommunicationSystems (PVPCS), DC WIFCOM used forDamage Control, Man-on-the-MoveCommunications and a system for generalcommunications. These systems had onlylimited interoperability with each other.

Because of this interoperability problem,the U.S. Navy recognized the need for a sin-gle, common integrated wireless communi-cations system for all vessels and beganevaluating shipboard systems designatedHYDRA (Hierarchical Yet DynamicallyReprogrammable Architecture). HYDRAsystems consisted of a set of specificationsdesigned around the concept of COTS(commercial off-the-shelf) technology, a pro-gram instituted by the Navy to bring costsdown and improve availability and reliabili-ty of Navy equipment. “Essentially,” saysFleming,“this meant that HYDRA systemswould be commercially available wirelesssystems modified to meet the stringentrequirements of the Navy.”

From flight deck to whole shipThe initial emphasis of HYDRA was to pro-vide an integrated wire-free system to replacethe legacy Flight Deck CommunicationSystem and the separate below-deck commu-nications used on aircraft carriers. The firstinstallations of HYDRA were EDACS-basedand began on the USS Eisenhower (CVN-69)in 1994, and on the USS Enterprise in 1995.

Providing a suitable system required thatM/A-COM engineers develop a low-powerradio for flight deck operations, plus the

critical helmet circuitry that makes the intel-ligibility and audio fidelity in the high-noiseflight deck environment superior to anyother system now operating. In addition,M/A-COM created a special hierarchical five-level pre-emption capability for the FlightDeck Announcing System (5MC) interface, aswell as for the Air Boss, Mini Air Boss andthe Carrier Air Groups (CAGs).

“In addition to the Eisenhower and theEnterprise, HYDRA systems are currentlysupporting both flight-deck and below-deckcommunications on the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Truman (CVN-75) as well asseveral large-deck amphibious ships. And wehave just received an order from NewportNews Shipbuilding to provide an integratedHYDRA System for the newest aircraft carri-er, the USS Ronald Reagan,” Fleming says.

HYDRA continues to evolveIn order to reduce the probability for detec-tion, interference with other critical ship-board systems and with land based LMR sys-tems in the same frequency band, Flemingsays the M/A-COM engineers developed low-power HYDRA systems and low-power (20 mw) radios. Low-power systems havethe additional advantage of significantlyreducing the space, power and environmen-tal requirements of installations.

“The first of these low power systemswas installed on the U.S Navy’s SmartShip(USS Yorktown) in 1996. Since then, withfew exceptions, all the EDACS-based HYDRAsystems we have installed have been lowpower,” says Fleming.

Another evolution was in the frequencybands used by HYDRA systems. “Up until lastyear, all HYDRA systems operated in the UHFband [406-420MHz]. This is a frequency bandused by many Federal Government agenciesin addition to the DOD. As a result, it wasbecoming next to impossible to obtainenough approved frequencies to installHYDRA systems on new ships. So, the Navyrequested HYDRA systems that would oper-ate in a digital narrowband mode in the 380-399.9 MHz frequency band, which the DODuses exclusively,”Fleming says. “We were ableto deliver the first low-power digital trunkedHYDRA system for the amphibious ship USSNassau (LHA-4) only three months after thecontract award. Since that first system, wehave delivered similar systems for three addi-tional LHA class amphibious assault shipsand for eight LSD class amphibious ships.”

EDACS-based HYDRA shipsAircraft CarriersUSS Constellation (CV-64)USS Enterprise (CVN-65)USS Eisenhower (CVN-69)USS Nimitz (CVN-68)USS Stennis (CVN-74)USS Harry Truman (CVN-75)USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)*

Surface CombatantsUSS Gonzales (DDG-66)USS Klakring (FFG-42)USS Nicholas (FFG-47)USS Nicholson (DD-982)USS Thorn (DD-988)USS Ticonderoga (CG-47)USS Yorktown (CG-48)USS Valley Forge (CG-50)USS Mobile Bay (CG-53)USS Monterey (CG-61)USS Ford (FFG-54)

Amphibious Assault ShipsUSS Tarawa (LHA-1)USS Saipan (LHA-2)USS Nassau (LHA-4)USS Pelelieu (LHA-5)USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6)USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7)USS Ponce (LPD-15)USS Fort McHenry (LSD-43)USS Tortuga (LSD-46)USS Rushmore (LHD-47)•USS Ashland (LSD-48)USS Oak Hill (LSD-51)USS Pearl Harbor (LSD-52)USS San Antonio (LSD-17)*

Supply ShipsUSS Ranier (AOE-7)

•Delivered, not installed

continued on page 18 ➜

We are the only vendorto support both below-deck and flight deck communications with one integrated system.” Kevin Fleming

“

An F-14 Tomcat attached to the “Black Aces” of FighterSquadron Four One prepares to launch during nightflight operations aboard USS Enterprise.

Photo: U.S. Navy


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for superior voice clarity and recognition.� An integrated (non-dedicated) control

channel and distributed processing forenhanced efficiency and reliability.

� Easy scalability to allow for economical growth.

� Maximum spectral efficiency in a time of frequency overcrowding.While EDACS and OpenSky were designed

to meet similar customer requirements withrespect to features and performance, and toprotect user’s investment in costly infrastruc-ture over the system’s anticipated life span,each follows a separate technology path. It’sthis difference in underlying technology that

provides each system withdifferent strengths for spe-cific applications and userrequirements.

According to M/A-COM’sDirector of Product Integra-tion, Jay Herther, the key to

OpenSky’s strength lies in the system’s useof IP and packet switching technology.

“IP packet switching is the enablingtechnology for OpenSky,” says Herther. “Sowhat does that mean? First, for the users,IP is at the heart of the voice and data con-vergence on today’s networks. Everythingon an OpenSky network has a unique IPaddress. That means OpenSky can carryintegrated voice and data messages andprovide over-the-air software updates andre-provisioning on every device. Also, itaccommodates standard IP data applica-tions and peripherals. Another significantadvantage of the OpenSky packet switchednetwork is scalability. Just like adding anew PC to an existing LAN, additional sitesand peripherals are easily added.”

“Overall,” adds M/A-COM’s Manager ofBusiness Development,Tom Hoyne,“EDACS

WHILE MOST CHANNELS READERS ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TECHNOLOGICAL STRENGTHSOF EDACS,® THE UNIQUE TECHNOLOGY BLEND UTILIZED BY OPENSKY® AND ITS RESULTINGFEATURE SET IS NEW. HERE’S A BRIEF HISTORY AND OVERVIEW OF OUR LATEST OFFERINGFOR CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS USERS WORLDWIDE.

OpenSky brings more choicesimproved spectral efficiency and new

technologies to wireless users

,

With the introduction of M/A-COMWireless System’s OpenSky in 1999, Land

Mobile Radio (LMR) users suddenly foundthat they had access to higher-speed integrat-ed mobile voice and data,TDMA spectral effi-ciency, and Internet Protocol (IP) connectivi-ty. As one of the newest entries in the criticalwireless communications market, OpenSkyleverages some of the latest technologiesto achieve some very impressive results.

A blending of technologiesOpenSky differs from other existing trunk-ed communications systems in its uniqueblending of wireless with evolving cellularand Internet/intranet com-puter networking technolo-gies. Together, these tech-nologies offer some distinctadvantages, including thehighest commercially avail-able integrated voice anddata rates, more cost-effective networkexpansion and the spectral efficiency ofTDMA (Time Division Multiple Access).

In addition, OpenSky makes use ofindustry-wide open protocols such as IP,CDPD (IS-732) and APCO’s Project 25. Theuse of these industry standards assuresuser organizations of easy scalability andgraceful migration, as well as competitiveprocurement of peripherals and ancillaryequipment such as mobile data terminals,printers, scanners and video devices.

OpenSky was designed to provide themany desirable features that critical radiosystem users say they want, including:� Forward and backward compatibility within

its own family and with legacy systems.� Integrated voice and data on a single

platform.� Advanced digital processing techniques

CHANNELS

SPECIALREPORT

“There are nearly 20,000user terminals currently

in the FedEx system.”Ed Clemente

14

and OpenSky are complementary systems.They share many of the same general fea-tures that make them attractive to criticalradio system users, such as integrated voiceand data, distributed processing and grace-ful evolution, yet each has its own individ-ual strengths. For example, though bothfeature integrated voice and data on thesame channels, OpenSky delivers at leasttwice the capacity due to its use of TDMAtechnology. It also allows a higher 19.2kbps raw data rate. So for users requiringhigh-speed data and the advantages of IPpacket switching, OpenSky may providethe best solution in certain situations.”

But, Hoyne adds,“EDACS is often a morecost-efficient solution that can still providedata connectivity and also allows one whofaces frequency constraints to employsimulcast technology. Ultimately, the bestsolution will depend on an assessment ofany system’s total requirements,” he says.Frequency availability, voice requirements,network size and anticipated growth, costof implementation – all these factors willinfluence the choice of technology.

“The key point is that users now have

more choices, more options and greaterflexibility in the design and selection ofthe system that will most successfully andeconomically meet their critical communi-cations needs,” Hoyne says.

The FedEx connection: driven by user needsA little background on the evolution ofOpenSky helps in understanding why andhow the system provides these advantages,particularly with respect to mobile data.M/A-COM’s Director of Wireless Communi-cations, Dr. Dennis Martinez, explains:

“In the early 1990s, Federal Express[now FedEx] was looking to increase thecapacity of its network to support itsgrowing business.

“M/A-COM had a history of developingvery sophisticated RF systems for defense,and in 1995 the company was selected by FedEx to develop a unique nationwidemobile voice and data system. A systemwas designed that met the requirementsand, in 1997, M/A-COM began the roll-outof the new system.”

FedEx dubbed the new system “Monarch,”and its applications include the scanning


The OpenSky network architecture is significantly differentfrom more traditional LMR architectures in its use of IP net-work access [the Regional Operations Center (ROC)], and inthe use of small local repeaters (called Cell Sites) to augmentcoverage in specific areas.

The SkyGate is a multi-channel analog voice interfacethat connects existing analog equipment to the digital OpenSkynetwork. A fully integrated IP voice and data controller based onCDPD architecture, the SkyNet Controller administers frequen-

cy re-use and automatic handoff through the IP packet-switchedbackbone. The IP-based Network Management System allowsintegrated subsystems to enable comprehensive network status,fault, performance and configuration management. Servers androuters allow the connection of multiple ROCs (via a WAN) tothe OpenSky private network. “Cell Sites” are a cost-effectivemeans of providing local, focused coverage in a compact, envi-ronmentally-hardened enclosure that allows low-profile installa-tions on utility poles, walls or mounting pads.

OpenSky: How it is different

OpenSky now has a feature set that makes it attractive for all the traditional LMR applications.”Dennis Martinez

“

continued ➜

15

and tracking of packages; two-way messag-ing for primary dispatch; and voice dis-patch as a backup.

“There are nearly 20,000 user terminalscurrently in the system,” says Ed Clemente,FedEx Program Manager with M/A-COM.“We’re still rolling out the second phase of thesystem and have seven regional networks thatare delivering data at 19.2 kbps. An additional12 regional networks interoperate throughmulti-mode radios with legacy analog systems.In all, 19 regional systems nationwide arelinked together throughFedEx’s intranet using theInternet Protocol.”

From Monarch to OpenSkyWhile the FedEx system isextraordinarily effective inmeeting that company’sexacting data needs, M/A-COM realized thatwith certain modifications the same basicplatform could appeal to a wide range ofcritical radio system users. With this inmind, the system was enhanced to support800 MHz public safety needs. “OpenSkynow has a feature set that makes it attrac-tive for all the traditional LMR applications,including public safety and service; trans-portation, transit, and courier services; theutilities and industrial users, as well as themilitary and numerous government agen-cies,” says Martinez.

OpenSky systems are currently beingdeployed by the Orange County (Cal.)

Transit Authority (OCTA) and several coun-ties in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the Stateof Pennsylvania in 1999 contracted withM/A-COM for a statewide radio networkthat is currently being deployed.

What’s next for OpenSky and EDACSWhatever the two systems’ respectivestrengths, it’s clear that with two suchwell-accepted and versatile communica-tions systems, M/A-COM customers haveexpanded choices for their critical radio

communications needs.“We are extremely fortu-

nate to be able to offersuch technological depthto our customers,” saysM/A-COM Wireless SystemsVice President JohnVaughan. “Our plans are to

continue the development process for bothEDACS and OpenSky, taking full advantageof the opportunities for technologicalcross-pollination and co-developmentwhere it will best serve our customers. Weare committed to maintaining a high levelof research and development, regardless ofthe usual business fluctuations, because weknow that only through continuously striv-ing to improve will we be able to establishand maintain our position as leaders inwireless communications.” ■

For more information on the OpenSky network visit us on the Web at www.opensky.com.

“Our plans are to continue the development

process for both EDACS and OpenSky.”

John Vaughan

“Users now have morechoices, more optionsand greater flexibility.

Tom Hoyne”

Seven regional networks are cur-rently delivering data at 19.2 kbpson the FedEx system, while an addi-tional 12 networks interoperatethrough multi-mode radios withlegacy analog systems. A total of 19regional systems are linked togeth-er through the FedEx intranet.


M/A-COM’s Nationwide FedEx Rollout(Sept. 2001)

The new high-performance Jaguar 700Pidigital radio offers a number of features

for firefighters, including high resistance towater immersion and volume and channelcontrols that are more easily operated whilewearing bulky firefighter’s gloves.

“More than 2,200 firefighters, lawenforcement officials and safety administra-tors helped us to design Jaguar’s mix of fea-tures, functions and physical attributes,” saysGreg Farmer, M/A-COM wireless productline manager. “We wanted to know whattheir priorities were in selecting a portabletwo-way radio, and the result of that effortis what you see in the new 700Pi.”

Farmer says that the radio meets MIL-STD810E and offers critical functions such as sta-tus and alert messaging as well as data down-loads. ProFile™ (over the air reprogramming),ProScan™ (advanced wide area roaming), andPriority System Scans add efficiency and ease

New immersible Jaguar™

meets special needs of firefightersof operation. Jaguar’s features are also easilyexpandable through software upgrades.Other features of the radio, which operatesover EDACS®, ProVoice™ and conventionalsystems, include:� IMBE™ (Improved MultiBand Excitation)

vocoder for improved digital audio clari-ty and superior audio in high-noise envi-ronments

� ProVoice DES,Aegis™ DES and Aegis VGE encryption available

� Low-power operation to extend battery life� Large three-line display and lighted

control pad for poor-visibility conditions � Storage of up to 99 call ID numbers and

99 telephone interconnect numbersThe Jaguar 700Pi can be configured for

up to 800 different trunked systems/groupcombinations, and available accessoriesinclude headset, ear- piece speakers andlapel microphone. ■

16


NEWPRODUCTS

CHANNELS

The new M-803 mobile radio offers inte-grated voice and data at 19.2 kbps, easy

connectivity to multiple peripheralsthrough a CAN (Control Area Network)interface, and integrated GPS for AutomaticVehicle Location (AVL).

“The M-803 is our top-line mobile radiofor public safety users,” says M/A-COMProduct Marketing Manager for OpenSkyBurt Keirstead. “It’s based on the sameproven and highly reliable mobile [see story,page 13] that’s currently in use by FedExcarriers nationwide. We’ve added the fea-tures demanded by firefighters and lawenforcement personnel such as compliancewith MIL-STD 810, full- and half-duplex oper-ation, and support for Mutual Aid channelsand APCO Project 25, among others.”

The CAN protocol was developed specifi-cally for high-speed in-vehicle networking,and is widely accepted in automotive appli-cations, Keirstead explains. It has emergedas one of today’s major standard protocolsfor industrial networking, and allows easy

connection to peripherals such as multiplecontrol heads and siren/PA systems. “The M-803 can support as many as six controlheads through the CAN interface,” saysKeirstead,“making it ideal for fire trucks aswell as patrol cars and EMTs.”

In addition, the M-803 supports the fol-lowing key features:� IP Data Services� Vehicular Repeater Network Extensions � Emergency button services �“Over-the-Air” Download� Software-configurable subscriber

system parameters or personalities “Additionally, for users who have

already installed a trunk-mountM-803, a Vehicular Repeater Base can be added that allowsthe radio to function as a localbase station to create an isolated network at an emergency scene,or as a network repeater to extendnetwork coverage of portable radios,”says Keirstead. ■

New OpenSky mobile offers higher-speed integrated voice & data

OpenSky®

EDACS®

The EDACS Jaguar 700Pi is available

with or without the fullalphanumeric keypad.

OpenSkyM-803 Mobile Radio for Public Safety

new

sbites

Poland’s Balice Airport selects EDACSThe Balice Airport in Poland recentlyannounced the selection of a M/A-COMEDACS® trunked radio system for Phase I of a new voice and data system to be usedby the airport facility. Plans for a Phase IIexpansion are expected in 2002.

Base Radio Systems for U.S. federal agenciesM/A-COM was recently awarded a contractto supply equipment for the U.S. Govern-ment’s Base Radio System (BRS) program.The BRS program enables U.S. federal agen-cies to procure land mobile radio systems,equipment and services that comply withDepartment of Defense Guidance andNational Telecommunication and InformationAdministration narrow-banding mandates.

Mississippi Department of CorrectionsThe Mississippi Department of Correctionshas announced the selection of EDACS

ProVoice™ for their radio system project.When operational, the new system willprovide all-digital trunked communica-tions for three primary facilities through-out the state.

Palm Beach County selects OpenSkyFlorida’s Municipal Public Safety Commu-nications Consortium, Inc. of Palm BeachCounty, recently selected M/A-COM’sOpenSky® Wireless IP Network to fulfill itspublic safety communication needs.

The agreement, which includes two phas-es spanning 18 months, calls for M/A-COMto provide infrastructure equipment, sub-scriber equipment and implementation ser-vices for a countywide digital voice and datawireless network.

North East Utilities expand data networkNorth East Utilities, based in Berlin, Connecti-cut, recently doubled the size of its data collec-tion network with the addition of 235 Orionmobile radios used as Remote Terminal Units.Included in the expansion is an additionalEDACS site,plus a new IMC and Data Gatewayto extend its wireless data operations.

Space and Naval Warfare Systems CenterThe U. S. Navy’s Space and Naval WarfareSystems Center, Charleston, S.C. has awardedan indefinite-quantity/indefinite-delivery,fixed-price contract to M/A-COM for EDACS-based HYDRA trunked mobile radio systemsto support wireless interior communicationsfor the Center’s fleet. M/A-COM was alsoawarded an extensive training contract.

Passenger terminal at the John Paul II Krakow-Balice International Airport in Poland.


17

ed at the Port of Rotterdam in Holland

relies upon an EDACS® radio system to

coordinate Europe’s biggest and most

advanced container terminal operation.

In another story about M/A-COM’s

EDACS-based radios, we highlight their

importance in maintaining shipboard

communications aboard U.S. naval fleets

around the world.

We also introduce you to our newest

entry in critical wireless communica-

tions, OpenSky®, which features IP and

packet-switched technology. Read about

continued from page 1

how the OpenSky solution helped Federal

Express increase its network capacity in

support of its fast-growing business. And

if you’re curious about what’s next for

EDACS and OpenSky, keep reading

Channels. We’ll provide the answers.

For further information about

this issue, or past issues that featured

stories of interest, please contact us at

[email protected].

Visit our website for new developments at

www.macom-wireless.com.

— Kitty Coleman, Editor

Pho

to c

ourt

esy

Bal

ice

Airp

ort

The USS Enterprise Battle Groupsteams in formation followingtraining exercises in the PuertoRico operating area.

First and Second Quarter Schedule2002Make training a number-one priority for supervisory personnel, users and mainte-

nance staff. Call 1-434-832-6573 for complete information on our schedule and tofind out more about class availability.

M/A

-CO

MTra

ining

Cen

ter C

lasse

s


Introduction to Trunked System MaintenanceJan. 28 – Feb. 8 • Apr. 8 – Apr. 19Jun. 10 – Jun. 21

Trunked System AdministrationFeb. 4 – Feb. 8 • May 6 – May 10

Communications System DirectorFeb. 11 – Feb. 13 • Apr. 22 – Apr. 24Jun. 24 – Jun. 26

Jaguar™ 700P Radio MaintenanceFeb. 11 – Feb. 13 • Jun. 17 – Jun. 19

Trunked Systems Master TechnicianFeb. 18 – Feb. 22 • Jun. 3 – Jun. 7

MASTR® III Station MaintenanceFeb. 25 – Mar. 1 • May 13 – May 17

RF Test & TroubleshootingMar. 4 – Mar. 8

System Management WorkshopMar. 4 – Mar. 8

Orion™ & EDACS® 500 Radio MaintenanceMar. 11 – Mar. 15 • Jun. 24 – Jun. 28

LPE™ & M-RK™ Radio MaintenanceMar. 18 – Mar. 22

PBX Gateway OperationApr. 8 – Apr. 12

Mobile Data on Trunked SystemsMar. 11 – Mar. 20

Prism MASTR StationApr. 22 – Apr. 26

Simulcast System MaintenanceApr. 29 – May. 2

Subsequent to that contract award, the U.S.Navy recognized the need to interoperatebetween an amphibious ship’s well deck andits amphibious craft, such as LCACs [ground-effects landing craft], which have radios oper-ating in the VHF frequency band and manu-factured by a different vendor. In response tothis need, M/A-COM developed and installeda UHF/VHF linker. The Linker allows the welldeck officer on an amphibious ship to use hisHYDRA radio to talk directly to his LCACs. “Itused to require two radios; now we accom-plish the same thing with one,” says Fleming.

Primary HYDRA vendor“The Navy began evaluating the first EDACS-based HYDRA systems in 1994, and todaywe have systems installed on 29 U.S. war-ships. We have also delivered an additionalthree HYDRA systems, including one for theU. S. Navy’s newest amphibious ship, theLPD-17. And we currently have contracts to deliver systems for an additional sixships,” Fleming says.

In addition to the U.S. Navy systems,Fleming says that M/A-COM has deliveredsimilar EDACS-based wireless systems forinstallation aboard 53 French Navy ships.

And, while acknowledging that M/A-COM isnot the only HYDRA vendor for the U.S.Navy, Fleming says that M/A-COM has wonthe bulk of the contracts. “Thus far, we arethe only manufacturer to provide low power,digital narrowband (380-400 MHz) systems.We also are the only vendor to support bothbelow-deck and flight deck communicationswith one integrated system,” he says.

Indeed, M/A-COM’s HYDRA system is nowfound on almost every class of U. S. Navyship, including aircraft carriers, cruisers,amphibious assault ships and auxiliary ships.“Our systems have been operationally provento meet the unique requirements specified bythe Navy,” says Fleming. “And we have doneso while pushing the envelope of develop-ment for new capabilities andoperational features such asour UHF/VHF Linker foramphibious ships. We intendto continue development ofour HDRA capabilities whileoffering the navies of theworld the advanced wirelesscommunications they need to succeed in fulfilling theirmissions.” ■

continued from page 12

18Photo: U.S. Navy

M/A-COM WIRELESS SYSTEMS

P.O. BOX 2000

LYNCHBURG

VIRGINIA 24501 U.S.A.

PHONE: + 1 434 385 2440

FAX: +1 434 385 2886

[email protected]

www.macom-wireless.com

Product and service names used in this publication are trademarksor registered trademarks of M/A-COM, Inc. Other products or ser-vices are trademarks of their respective owners.

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