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The Spot Family of Products Offers a Safer Way to Communicate with SOS Capabilities and Peace of Mind for Outdoor Enthusiasts

Thursday, January 23rd, 2020

Covington, La. (January 21, 2020) – SPOT, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE: GSAT), and the leader in satellite messaging and emergency notification technologies, will be showcasing its affordable satellite communications solutions at the upcoming SHOT Show in Las Vegas, January 21 – 24.

As SPOT technology rapidly approaches 7,000 rescues initiated worldwide, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts continue to rely on SPOT products for remote safety and communication, asset location tracking and a mapping interface that offers protection for users. Via dedicated S.O.S. functions, SPOT initiates two rescues a day on average, and delivers location-based messaging and life-saving emergency notification technology to hundreds of thousands of users worldwide. Of the nearly 7,000 rescues the brand has executed to-date, approximately 30% are hunting, hiking and mountain sports related, proving that SPOT products should be a part of every outdoor enthusiast’s kit.

The newest addition to the SPOT family, the SPOT X®, offers users 2-way messaging functionality, the flexibility of connecting to a smartphone via Bluetooth® wireless technology to send and receive satellite messages direct from the device or . SPOT X is an ideal communication device for outdoor enthusiasts who frequently go off the grid, offering reliable connectivity and tracking. Other SPOT products include:

SPOT Gen3® is a rugged and affordable satellite messenger providing off the grid messaging, GPS location tracking, emergency alerts, extended battery life, and extreme GPS tracking upgrade at 2 ½ minute intervals.
SPOT Trace® is a GPS tracking device allowing users to track anything, anytime and anywhere by receiving theft-alert SMS texts or emails when movement is detected.

As part of a SHOT Show exclusive offer, attendees can receive any SPOT device for FREE with the purchase of an annual service plan. To receive this offer and learn more about SPOT products and services, stop by booth #1910.

About SPOT LLC

SPOT LLC, a subsidiary of Globalstar, Inc., provides affordable satellite communication and tracking devices for recreational and business use. SPOT messaging devices use both the GPS satellite network and the Globalstar Satellite Network to transmit and receive text messages and GPS coordinates. Since 2007, SPOT has provided peace of mind by allowing customers to remain in contact with family, friends and co-workers, completely independent of cellular coverage and has helped initiate nearly 7,000 rescues worldwide. For more information, visit FindMeSPOT.com.

Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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ShadowTrack 24-7 & ST-Lock, Official Launch, Booth 20000 (SERT), SHOT Show

Monday, January 20th, 2020

Fletcher, NC – January 18, 2020

SERT, LLC will be supporting the official launch of ShadowTrack 24/7 GPS tracking solutions during the 2020 SHOT Show at their Booth 20000 in the main LE Hall, January 21-24 at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.

ShadowTrack 24/7 was founded to bring innovative GPS tracking solutions to a wide-based clientele. Their solutions are customizable and unique to each customer’s need to track valued assets. In addition, the company’s “best-in-class” approach offers solutions that are innovative as well as cost effective and ultimately open untapped market opportunities.

ShadowTrack 24/7 will also be introducing the ST-Lock secured by Nok?, connecting all your locks, sharing data in real time, sending you updates and keeping valuable assets safe. ST-Lock padlocks are key-less, heavy duty locks with an industrial strength body and intelligent core. These powerful locks are tamper resistant , work in harsh environmental conditions and are also available with a shrouded shackle for extra protection.

These new solutions and products, plus many more, will be on display at Booth No 20000 (LE). For more information on ShadowTrack 24/7, please visit www.shadowtrack247.com or contact Brynne Williams at info@shadowtrack247.com for more information.

Posted in Comms, Digitization, Press Release, SHOT Show | Comments Off on ShadowTrack 24-7 & ST-Lock, Official Launch, Booth 20000 (SERT), SHOT Show

Persistent Systems Improves MPU5 Radio – Releases Software Update

Thursday, January 16th, 2020

PERSISTENT TO RELEASE FIRMWARE VERSION 19.5.3 ADDRESSING DIRECT FEEDBACK FROM THE U.S. ARMY 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION

NEW YORK, NY. – Dec 04, 2019 – Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”) is excited to release Firmware Version 19.5.3 for the MPU5 and Embedded Module. This firmware addresses feedback from a readiness exercise conducted by the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division.

“Thank you to the Rakkasan’s for the in-depth after-action report. Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps Persistent continue to improve the MPU5 in ways that are most beneficial to the warfighter,” said Eric Stern, Director of Engineering at Persistent.

Firmware Version 19.5.3 contains significant performance improvements specifically intended to benefit dismounted end users. Improvements include:

• Improved Battery Life: about 3-hours increase in MPU5 runtime on a standard 6.8 Ah battery pack reduces the number of batteries soldiers must carry to support their mission duration. Power consumption improvements also benefit Embedded Module users.

• Improved Audio Quality: new Opus audio codec implementation, delivers crystal clear audio and an 8x reduction in network utilization for voice traffic. Improved audio clarity further reduces the cognitive load on the soldier.

• Rotary Knob implementation: users can now modify Audio Volume or select their Intercom Talk Group via the 8-position knob on the MPU5.

• LED Blackout Mode: users can now disable the status LED to support low-visibility operations.

• Simplified Web Management: Web interface is now streamlined based on the cables currently connected to the radio and displays only relevant settings to the user, improving ease of use and ensuring users are maximizing the capabilities of the MPU5.

• Multicast Firmware Upgrade: firmware upgrades to large MPU5 networks now occur via multicast, enabling a rapid upgrade of a large number of nodes.

• Rapid Configuration Tool: implementation of a tool to help automate the mass configuration of MPU5s. As users continue to create larger networks, rapid configuration becomes even more critical.

“We want to empower warfighters with industry-leading capabilities, and receiving direct user feedback from operational units is extremely beneficial. Their feedback allows us to focus on improving existing capabilities and developing new ones to address capability gaps that can only be discovered in real-world deployments of the network,” Stern added.

Firmware Version 19.5.3 is immediately available. Existing customers will receive an email notification and can download the firmware from the new Persistent Customer Support Portal. All customers are encouraged to upgrade.

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New Customer Within the US Department of Defense Selects INVISIO and Places a First Order of SEK 28 Million

Monday, December 23rd, 2019

A new customer within the US Department of Defense, has selected INVISIO to provide a suite of hearing enhancement devices that will enable users to communicate in critical situations while at the same time protecting their hearing. The order is valued at approximately SEK 28 million, and deliveries will take place in the first half of 2020.

“We are very proud to be selected by another unit within the US Department of Defense. It is an important reference win for us, as the rest of the world closely studies what solutions the US forces use,” says Lars Højgård Hansen, CEO of INVISIO.

Posted in Advertiser, Comms, Contracts, Press Release | 1 Comment »

ENVISTACOM Awarded Million Multi-Year Task Order By U.S. Army for Deployable SATCOM Terminals

Saturday, December 14th, 2019

ATLANTA – December 4, 2019 – Envistacom today announced a $47.8 million, three-year award to support the Deployable Ku Band Earth Terminal (DKET) program managed by the U.S. Army’s Product Manager Satellite Communications (PdM SATCOM). The task order was awarded under the Deployable Adaptive Global Responder Support (DAGRS) indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract worth up to $480 million over five years. Envistacom will provide installation, training, relocation, integration, and upgrades for new, legacy and existing DKETs, DKET LT (“Lite” version) and mobile DKET (MKET).

PdM SATCOM is responsible for the Army’s tactical multi-channel satellite ground and commercial terminal programs and Envistacom will help upgrade existing terminals, as well as spares, new terminals, installation, relocations and necessary interface equipment and services. Additionally, the new deployable SATCOM terminal antennas provided by Envistacom will be multi-band capable, operating in Ku, Ka and X-Band frequencies.

“Envistacom will help support the Army’s PdM SATCOM achieve its modernization goals through the implementation of virtualization, and other new technologies,” said Nelson Santini, Senior Vice President of Sales at Envistacom. “We have built a strong rapport with the Army, and we are pleased to be selected for such an important program providing satellite transmission capability within the Department of Defense global network for almost 20 years.”

The DKET is the backbone of long-haul transmissions for the U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), with over 80 DKETs deployed to support multiple areas of operation (AOs). DKET provides intra-country communications within and between regional commands globally, and inter-theater communications with reach back capabilities to other countries and continents.

For more information on company solutions or contract vehicles, follow Envistacom online at www.envistacom.com, and on Facebook , @Envistacom on Twitter, as well as on LinkedIn and YouTube.

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82nd Paratroopers Test Command and Staff Palletized Airborne Node

Wednesday, December 4th, 2019

Recently, the 82nd Airborne Division’s Devil Brigade conducted an Airborne Operation. While many Devils were in flight to the drop zone, members of the Brigade Staff were testing the CASPAN (Command and Staff Palletized Airborne Node) – a large, roll-on/roll-off workstation designed for in-flight mission command collaboration with the Key-Leader Enabler Node, allowing Devil 6 to maintain communication with subordinate commanders during flight.

The CASPAN – equipped with ten airline-style seats, four LED screens, ruggedized laptops and headsets – provides yet another advancement to the Devil Brigade, and will allow them to maintain real-time comms during Airborne operations and exercises, like next Spring’s Defender 20 in Europe.

Posted in Comms, Parachuting | 4 Comments »

New Anti-Jam GPS Systems From General Dynamics Fielded To Soldiers In Europe

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

General Dynamics Mission Systems subsidiary GPS Source, Inc. has developed jam-resistant GPS systems designed to provide soldiers in combat vehicles with more reliable access to positioning, navigation, & timing data.

Imagine a soldier in a U.S. Army vehicle convoy using GPS to travel through harsh terrain in unfamiliar territory. Suddenly, their GPS signal is interrupted. The soldier may not even know it yet, but his convoy is now hundreds of miles from their destination without their primary method of navigation.

Attacks on GPS signals from adversaries are becoming more frequently reported in the news and are an active threat to U.S. Forces. These attacks affect not only navigation systems, but also warfighters’ ability to fire GPS guided missiles, identify the locations of friends and foes, and maintain precise timing for their communications systems.

In response to this threat, the U.S. Army has begun fielding Mounted Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (MAPS) systems designed to provide soldiers in combat vehicles with more access to GPS signals and alternative GPS data input and validation.

The 1st Generation (Gen-1) version of the MAPS GPS system was developed by General Dynamics Mission Systems subsidiary, GPS Source, Inc. These jam-resistant GPS systems are designed to provide trusted and reliable positioning, navigation, and timing data, independent of the availability or integrity of GPS signals. The MAPS Gen-1 system includes GPS Source’s latest Assured Positioning, Navigation, & Timing (APNT) products:

Enhanced D3 (ED3) Receiver – Provides access to SAASM and M-Code protected GPS data

VICTORY CSAC Accessory Module (VCAM) – Contains a Chip Scale Atomic Clock (CSAC), software designed for electronic surveillance / electronic protection (ES/EP), and allows for integration of other solutions such as an Inertial Navigation System (INS) and anti-jam antennas

Anti-Jam Antenna System (AJAS) – Mitigates impact of enemy jammers with the use of a FRPA antenna and Anti-Jam Antenna Integration Module (AJAIM)

The MAPS Gen-1 GPS system has been shipped out for use by the Army’s 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Germany in the Fall of 2019, to generate quick feedback from the field, allowing for rapid improvement and development in the 2nd and 3rd generation phases. Eventually, the Army hopes to roll out the systems on a larger scale to troops throughout the world.

Mounted Assured PNT System (MAPS) Gen 1 is now available for order via the Common Hardware Systems (CHS-5) contract for indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) acquisitions.

www.gpssource.com/collections/pnt-hub

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US Army Project May Improve Military Communications by Boosting 5G Technology

Sunday, November 24th, 2019

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. (Nov. 21, 2019) — An Army-funded project may boost 5G and mm-Wave technologies, improving military communications and sensing equipment.

Carbonics, Inc., partnered with the University of Southern California to develop a carbon nanotube technology that, for the first time, achieved speeds exceeding 100GHz in radio frequency applications. The milestone eclipses the performance — and efficiency — of traditional Radio Frequency Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor, known as RF-CMOS technology, that is ubiquitous in modern consumer electronics, including cell phones.

“This milestone shows that carbon nanotubes, long thought to be a promising communications chip technology, can deliver,” said Dr. Joe Qiu, program manager, solid state and electromagnetics at the Army Research Office. “The next step is scaling this technology, proving that it can work in high-volume manufacturing. Ultimately, this technology could help the Army meet its needs in communications, radar, electronic warfare and other sensing applications.”

The research was published in the journal Nature Electronics.

The work, funded by ARO, an element of U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command’s Army Research Laboratory, is a part of a Small Business Technology Transfer Program. The program focuses on feasibility studies leading to prototype demonstration of technology for specific applications.

For nearly two decades, researchers have theorized that carbon nanotubes would be well suited as a high-frequency transistor technology due to its unique one-dimensional electron transport characteristics. The engineering challenge has been to assemble the high-purity semiconducting nanotubes into densely aligned arrays and create a working device out of the nanomaterial.

Carbonics, a venture backed start-up, and USC, successfully overcame this challenge. Projections based on scaling single carbon nanotube device metrics suggest the technology could ultimately far exceed the top-tier incumbent RF technology, Gallium Arsenide.

Carbonics employs a deposition technology called ZEBRA that enables carbon nanotubes to be densely aligned and deposited onto a variety of chip substrates including silicon, silicon-on-insulator, quartz and flexible materials. This allows the technology to be directly integrated with traditional CMOS digital logic circuits, overcoming the typical problem of heterogeneous integration.

“With this exciting accomplishment, the timing is ripe to leverage our CMOS-compatible technology for the 5G and mm-Wave defense communication markets,” said Carbonics’ CEO Kos Galatsis. “We are now engaged in licensing and technology transfer partnerships with industry participants, while we continue to advance this disruptive RF technology.”

In 2014, Carbonics spun-out from the joint center of UCLA-USC and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia called the Center of Excellence for Green Nanotechnologies.

The research is based in part, on work funded by the Army more than 10 years ago at University of California Irvine. A graduate student who worked on that project for his doctoral thesis research, Dr. Christopher Rutherglen, is now Carbonics’ chief technology officer.

By U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory Public Affairs

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