COMMS  CONNECT  2014  

 RF  in  the  IT  domain  –  it’s  not  just  wireless  Presenter  –  Mar+n  McLeod    

ARCIA  Vice  President    

@CommsConnectAus   #comms2014   COMMS  CONNECT  2014  

Radio  background  

•  Originally radio communications were ‘silo-based’ with each application being a stand-alone function

•  The first incursion into the IT or data domain was with narrow-band systems such as taxi despatch systems.

•  Over time ‘Gateway’ devices allowed for more flexibility, however, the radio/data systems were still stand-alone systems •  True connectivity was becoming an option J

IP  Connec+vity  

•   With  the  development  of  Voice-­‐over-­‐Internet-­‐Protocol  (VoIP)  technology  there  were  many  aGempts  to  run  radio  systems  over  IP  connec+ons.  •   These  were  with  only  limited  success  due  to  the  radio  requirement  of  a  con+nuous  circuit    for  the  radio  Press-­‐to-­‐talk  (PTT)  func+on  •   Specialised  Radio-­‐over-­‐IP  (RoIP)  products  were  developed  and  the  first  of  the  true  connec+vity  op+ons  came  onto  the  market    J  

The  digital  radio  age  dawns  

Digital  radio,  the  new  dawn  is  here,  with  plaOorms  such  as  -­‐  •   P-­‐25,      

•   Tetra,      

•   DMR  and  dPMR      

•   All  of  these  technologies  offer  one  common  advantage,  the  ability  to  transfer  data  as  well  as  voice  signals.    J    

Now  radio  is  not  just  voice  

•  The  radio  system  can  now  become  mul+-­‐func+onal  with  voice  communica+ons  but  also  with  data  capability.  

•  Most  systems  can  now  transfer  GPS  informa+on,  external  I/O  states,  messaging  and  bio-­‐metric  informa+on  as  well  as  voice  within  the  one  protocol  

•  There  are  Applica+ons  (‘Apps’)  available  that  will  take  this  informa+on  and  manage  it  to  make  the  radio  network  a  transparent  communica+ons  plaOorm  

•  Radio  equipment  is  now  ‘IP  Connected’  with  equipment  becoming  just  another  IP  address  on  the  network    J  

How  is  radio  different?  Perhaps  we  should  consider  the  alterna+ves:  •  Cellular  phones  –  are  basically  designed  for  one-­‐to-­‐one  calls  

and  the  user  pays  by  the  minute  –  very  flexible  •  Scada  or  fixed  data  systems  –  excellent  for  permanent  

monitoring  and  control  systems,  but  s+ll  require  specialised  installa+on  and  so_ware  –  not  very  flexible  

•  Wi-­‐Fi  –  very  good  for  short-­‐range  systems,  however,  system  conten+on  and  network  design  become  an  issue  for  anything  but  the  basic  networks  –  flexible  but  limited  

•  Fibre  OpMc  and  cabling  –  suited  to  large  scale  fixed  installa+ons,  but  inflexible  with  regard  to  infrastructure    J  

Why  is  radio  different?  •  Systems  can  be  one-­‐to-­‐many  and  are  usually  very  low-­‐cost  on  

a  per  unit  basis  •  Systems  are  flexible  with  regard  to  informa+on  transfer  •  Radio  systems  provide  much  more  reliable  coverage  over  

wide  areas  than  Wi-­‐Fi  –  admiGedly  data  rates  are  lower  •  Network  configura+on  and  ‘Apps’  allow  for  a  much  more  

flexible  IT  management  formula  •  Radio  fixed  equipment  becomes  ‘just  another  IP  address’  •  ARCIA  members  give  accurate  and  predictable  advice  

regarding  system  coverage  and  performance    J  

Convergence  –  a  new  era  

•  The  introduc+on  of  digital  radios  and  IP  connec+vity  means  there  can  now  be  more  highly  planned  networks  

•  No  longer  is  there  a  mul+tude  of  different  ‘silos’  of  informa+on  –  IP  connec+vity  has  opened  up  the  op+ons  

•  All  of  the  protocols  men+oned  earlier  can  be  accommodated  within  one  properly  designed  IT  network.  

•  Systems  can  truly  be  designed  to  meet  the  clients  needs,  not  limited  by  the  restric+ons  of  protocols  or  equipment  

•  For  your  clients,  convergence  of  communicaMons  networks  means  efficiency  and  flexibility                J  

But  .  .  RF  in  the  IT  domain?  •  Yes,  it  is  another  op+on,  but  it  takes  a  liGle  courage  •  Radio  is  not  a  ‘black  science’  •  The  ‘Laws  of  Physics’  prevail  •  Yes,  there  will  be  limits  with  regard  to  data  rates  •  And  there  will  be  some  areas  to  configure,  especially  with  

regards  to  latency  on  data  signals  •  However,  the  exci+ng  new  world  of  digital  radio  and  the  ever  

increasing  range  of  ‘Apps’  opens  up  many  doors  •  And,  help  is  available,  you  don’t  have  to  be  alone.      J  

There  is  a  ‘help’  line  

•  Your  local  ARCIA  member  should  be  on  your  phone  list  for  ‘dial  a  friend’  

•  Two-­‐way  radio  professionals  can  predict  radio  coverage  and  offer  a  wealth  of  helpful  advice  

•  They  can  provide  the  network  of  RF  systems  to  give  you  the  coverage  you  need.  

•  They  do  understand  the  IT  world,  certainly  much  more  than  many  of  you  will  understand  the  radio  world  

•  Working  with  an  ARCIA  partner  will  be  a  mutually  rewarding  experience                        J  

Looking  to  the  future  

•  From  an  RF  perspec+ve  we  see  convergence  as  being  the  key  to  success.  

•  Look  outside  of  the  tradi+onal  spheres  to  see  where  you  can  offer  your  clients  the  best  outcome  

•  Don’t  be  afraid  to  challenge  the  technology  silo  –  the  results  will  be  worthwhile  

•  So  there  it  is  –  RF  in  the  IT  domain  is  not  just  ‘wireless’  –  there  is  so  much  more  to  examine  and  learn      J  

RF  in  the  IT  domain  

It’s  not  just  ‘wireless’  .  .  .  .  there  is  so  much  more  to  converged  IT  and  radio  soluMons.  

 

•  Ques+ons?  

•  Thank  you  for  your  aGen+on  

A  presenta+on  by  Mar+n  McLeod,  Vice  President  -­‐  ARCIA  Australian  Radio  Communica+ons  Industry  Associa+on  (Inc.):