CITEL
Citel Inc. unveiled a new line of coaxial surge protectors that provide protection against lightning surges and electrical transients. They use gas tube technology, making them suitable for broadband applications. The new line includes: N, BNC, TNC, SMA and 7/16. P8AX coaxial protectors are available for any power from 1 watt to 1,000 watts and any frequency from DC up to 10 GHz. The surge protectors feature a low voltage standing wave ratio and insertion loss. Grounding can be done through an external ground screw or through a bulkhead mount. (800) 248-3548.
ORA
Ora Electronics Inc. received a U.S. patent on technology used in its Telcar line of products. Telcar allows data and voice communications between cellular and personal communications services devices and other vehicular-based systems, such as the sound, security, navigation and visual display systems, as well as other automotive peripherals. The system uses a data bus to interface automotive-based electronics systems with cellular phones and other wireless communications devices. Hands-free operation of wireless handsets is the most common application for the Telcar system, which automatically mutes the car’s sound system when a call is in progress. Ora also is developing a Telcar version in conjunction with Microsoft Corp. and other participating companies for use in Microsoft’s Auto PC, a Windows CE-based platform for use in vehicular applications, and Universal Serial Bus transport. The Auto PC system will be able to summon police and rescue vehicles and relay automotive diagnostic information via an infrared interface with portable palmtop, laptop and other portable computers and wireless phones. Ora expects to start shipping Auto PC-based systems later this year, while also continuing to offer its own proprietary operating and data bus systems. (818) 772-2700.
AMERITEC
Amertic Corp.’s SWARM (Subscriber Wireless Automated Remote Maintenance) system helps cellular and personal communications services carriers identify network problems that result in poor audio quality, dropouts and blockages. The three-part system consists of responders, a master unit and the analysis system. Each responder is about the size of a cigar box and contains a Global Positioning System receiver. Responders could be mounted on the service providers’ own sales or service vehicles. The carrier also could contract with a taxi, delivery or municipal transit companies to carry responders, possibly offering vehicle location information using the GPS receiver in exchange. The master unit is an analog, T1 or E1 interfaced unit that generates calls on multiple lines to the deployed responders. The analysis system is comprised of a computer running Windows NT, an Oracle database and ESRI maps for activity display. The analysis system generates reports and shows colored dots that indicate where good, marginal and bad events occurred. (626) 915-5441.
NEC AMERICA
NEC introduced the NCT-2000, a recently developed Microsoft Windows-based management system designed for managers of small- to medium-sized NEC Series 2000 digital microwave networks. The scalable element management system consists of a desktop personal computer, a laptop-also called the local craft terminal-and an alarm management card installed in the microwave radio. The desktop PC is the network element manager that gives the user complete network visibility from one central site. The laptop is used to provide the network elements at the time of installation and can be used to query the network elements about the alarm status. The alarm card gathers and reports events to the central computer. NCT-2000 offers fault, performance, provision and security management. (972) 751-7211.
CUSHCRAFT
A new patch antenna and a line of polarized beam-shaped antennas were introduced by Cushcraft Corp. The S8248P12NF is a cellular/Global System for Mobile communications low-profile patch antenna. Engineered with etched copper circuitry, the antenna is designed to decrease interference and lost calls. The antenna consists of a single broadband microstrip patch, which provides 8 dBi gain with a nominal 65 degree by 70 degree half-power beamwidth. The antenna has an impedance of 50 ohms and a voltage standing wave ratio of 1.5: 1. The weather-resistant antenna housing is vacuum formed out of polyvinyl chloride in a UV-stabilized radome. Custom configurations of radome finish, color and texture are available to complement any environment, such as industrial complexes, office environments, shopping malls, parking garages, airports and hospitals. The patch antenna measures 8 inches by 12 inches by 1.75 inches, proving a solution for building out seamless microcellular and picocellular cell sites. The SR1857 line of antennas provides for reception and transmission of linearly polarized signals in the 1710 MHz to 1880 MHz and the 1850 MHz to 1990 MHz frequency bands. The antennas for personal communications services and digital cellular system networks have a very broad H-plane beamwidth, ranging from 120 degrees to 180 degrees. The linear elements provide a minimum 7 dBi gain. The SR1857 also has a voltage standing wave ratio of 1.5: 1 maximum of impedance 50 ohms. Standard models are gray with a textured finish. The PCS/DCS antennas measure 11.75 inches by 5.5 inches by 0.75 inches. Mounting configurations can provide fixed or variable pointing angle. (603) 627-7877.
HIRSCHMANN
Hirschmann Inc. recently unveiled a new industrial, scientific and medical band disk antenna designed for use in discrete frequency applications such as wireless local area networks, PCMCIA card, handheld data-collection devices and wearable communications units. The disk antenna operates on frequencies between 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz, and the center frequency can be adjusted through factory tuning from 2.2 GHz to 2.6 GHz for other applications. The antenna measures just slightly more than one-half inch by one-half inch. The dielectrically loaded antenna provides a uniform, omnidirectional, vertically polarized radiation pattern, with bandwidth that can be increased through the addition of simple reactive elements. The disk antenna has a 0dB gain, and can handle up to 5 watts of power. (800) 225-0524.
MSI
Mobile System International launched an enhanced version of its Planet software-Planet CDMA version 2.8-that supports third-generation systems, including wideband Code Division Multiple Access, W-cdmaOne and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System technologies. The new version is designed to work with multiple user types, allowing mixed traffic types scenarios to be analyzed, including different users, types of traffic and types of mobile handsets. Other features include bandwidth on demand and variance in bandwidth, traffic rates and designs for both fixed and mobile subscribers. Planet CDMA is fully compatible with earlier Planet releases. The new version provides additional saving and exporting capabilities so that systems can be analyzed against live data and simulations. Version 2.8 also allows for multiple carrier analysis in congested areas. The update software offers an improved integrated microwave-planning and database-query tools. MCI also recently announce availability of Planet on Microsoft Windows NT, and it will continue to be available on the Sun and HP UNIX platforms. (972) 644-6886.
