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Archive for the ‘Comms’ Category

AUSA – Bluewater Defense & Vorbeck Introduce Wearable Antenna

Wednesday, October 14th, 2015

I walked up to the Bluewater Defense booth and noticed that they were sharing it with an electronics company named Vorbeck.  Intrigued, I introduced myself to the Vorbeck team and they started to show me what they were up to.  About a minute into the presentation on their flexible 4G LTE antenna I was hooked.  

  

The technology is a printed graphene broadband antenna on a thin substrate that can be encapsulated between pieces of fabric for concealment into clothing or equipment.  Testing indicates it doubles the range of a cell phone.  

The frequency range is 824-894, 1850-1990, and 2400-2500 MHz.  Additionally, it has 50 Ohms impedance and 2:1 VSWR ratio.  While it’s currently tailored for 4G, the technology offers a great deal of opportunity.  In addition to cellular use for transmitting voice and data, it can also be used for Tagging, Tracking & Locating of friendly, threat and other targets of interest.  I can’t wait to see how Bluewater Defense integrates this technology into clothing and lad carriage. 

AUSA – OTTO Handheld Audio Recording Interface System

Tuesday, October 13th, 2015

  

Currently undergoing evaluation by the US Air Force, OTTO’s Handheld Audio Recording Interface System (HEARS) is a 6-pin cable mounted recording device which goes between the hand/headset and radio.  It records up to 100 hours of traffic in .wav format which can be downloaded directly to an Android device, but relax, there’s an on/off switch. HEARS has a battery life of 15 hours.  

www.ottoexcellence.com

MDM – BDAT Assaulter Cable

Thursday, September 24th, 2015

Created at the request of users who don’t require a full APex Predator hub, the Assaulter Cable from Black Diamond Advanced Technologies combines the ability to power accessories through the radio’s side connector. Additionally, the Assaulter Cable allows the attachment of a radio battery/5590 connector as well as the ability to connect up to two devices including an Apex cable such as a cable to a AN/PRc-152 / 148, as well as a handheld device in a Juggernaut case, GPS or camera.

  

bdatech.com

MDM – AegiSound

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015

AegiSound is in the business of hearing protection in high noise environments. Currently, they provide hearing protection for Navy flight deck crews and are the hearing protection for all ground crews for the F35.

  
For the F35 system, they provide triple noise protection consisting of over the ear, plus customized plugs and in-ear active noise reduction. This is combined with digital noise cancelling microphones. FR high noise levels they add a shield around the microphone with a push-to-talk button.

www.aegisound.com

Savox Communications To Attend DSEI

Thursday, September 10th, 2015

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Savox Communications DSEI Preview Press Release

High Impact, DSEI 2015 Presence for Savox Communications

· Pivotal European launch of future soldier headgear system expected to turn heads

· Contract wins and latest compact intercom C3I communications developments

Espoo, Finland, September, 2015 – Leading provider of C3I and communications solutions for defence, security and professional public safety users, Savox Communications, will be exhibiting at the World Leading Defence and Security event, DSEI 2015 (15-18 September), at ExCel, London, (Stand N5-442). At the show, Savox will launch the latest variants of its combat headgear system and its compact intercom C3I solution into the European market. The company will also be making a further major announcement at the event.

Taking pride of place on the Savox stand will be its THOR Combat Headgear System, which will be unveiled to a European audience for the first time – not simply to look at, but also to try out for themselves. Already adopted for use by its first customer, the Finnish Defence Force, THOR is an ideal component for the many future infantry soldier modernisation programmes underway globally. It has a major role to play on tomorrow’s battlefields, whether in traditional combat scenarios, or in urban counter-terrorism and security operations, homeland security and Special Forces’ ops.

Also to be showcased at DSEI, the company’s compact intercom system, IMP-CH. Visitors will be able to experience IMP-CH through a working simulation demonstrating its capabilities, daily, throughout the event. IMP-CH has been developed to meet the most demanding C3I requirements for applications aboard the widest B-vehicle inventory on land. At sea, IMP-CH is suited for use aboard small vessels, such as RIBs and larger ships, including corvettes, destroyers and aircraft carriers.

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Mikael Westerlund, Savox Communications’ SVP Global Marketing, said, “DSEI is a milestone for Savox, as we demonstrate our strengths in communications and security solutions, gained over 30 years, to an audience with limited experience of our capabilities. We expect to surprise them.

“Both THOR and IMP-CH, the two highlights on our stand, meet the evolving needs of a range of demanding defence and security end users; introducing them into Europe promises to be very exciting, as we make our mark firmly as a defence industry player. For its part, the THOR Combat Headgear System on display will offer visitors a vision of the soldier of the future; as for IMP-CH, we are expecting some good news on that front at the show, so watch this space! ”

VISIT SAVOX COMMUNICATIONS ON STAND N5-442 AT DSEI 2015 AND BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN EUROPE TO EXPERIENCE THE FUTURE OF BATTLEFIELD HEADGEAR.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU TO OUR STAND!

AFCEA TechNet 2015 – GATR Technologies – Satcom

Saturday, September 5th, 2015

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-Recently used for 25th ID Cobra Gold rotation after their SATCOM was rendered NMC during sealift. A 4 man team deployed via commercial air with a 4M GATR and provided DIV MAIN CP comms. What used to take a long bed 5-ton can now be put in the bed of a 4-pax or a large sedan.

-No component weighs over 80lbs. The ball was 77lbs. The ball itself can be transported in a canvas bag. Not jumpable unless soldier is 6’4″ + but definitely door-bundle per the retired JM rep. It can operate in windspeeds up 50 kts or so, well beyond the threshold of normal rigid dishes due to the aerodynamics of a ball versus a bowl.

-The two Pelican boxes hold the electronics and blowers. The Hardigg box holds the ball in its bag for palletizing. Not essential.

-The dish reflector shape is held by differential pressurization between the halves of the ball. If the ball is damaged punctured (by fragementation or small arms), the blowers kick up to compensate for air loss. It comes with a patch kit and is made of rip-stop material.

-Note the “Satellite this way” markings on ground mat and sizing of the anchor plates to allow ammo cans, 5 gallon jugs, sandbags, or bricks to be used. All tie-downcabling and turnbuckles are integrated for quick setup and no line snags. The protractor is also integrated for elevation checks of the dish. A clear vinyl window allows a visual check on the reflector shape without guessing. The slightly blurry photo with the oval in the corner is the view inside.

-Blowers use regular radio batteries for the UPS.

Available in smaller sizes, too.

www.gatr.com

Submitted by Fly On The Wall

AFCEA TechNet 2015 – Leidos – MLS “KVM Switch For Audio” Headset

Friday, September 4th, 2015

Leidos MLS System

Click to view .pdf

Sensor, ISR, and C2 node personnel often have to work at multiple levels of classification with a sea of different headsets, handsets, and speakers to deal with two or more classification systems. The cramped nature of many systems makes multiple handsets and headsets problematic.

Additionally, spillage and crosstalk are real things: the very human possibility of grabbing the wrong H-250 handset and telling uncleared personnel or your erstwhile Green force allies that “John has a long moustache” is a serious danger to compromising sensitive capabilities and TTPs. Finally, consider the distinct possibility of Green overhearing Blue comms if they happen to be in the TOC when monitor speakers are setup. There simply aren’t enough personnel to have dedicated RTOs for each level of classification and some LNO guy is probably going to be in your C2 area during joint or combined ops.

Leidos MLS headset allows simultaneous monitoring of multiple levels of classification. One operator or communicator can now discretely monitor or communicate on two or more networks with complete channel isolation and no “bleedover.”

Initial testing and fielding with ISR assets has resulted in some product improvements. The boom mic and some of the internals has now been moved to the opposite side to produce a better balanced headset to reduce neck strain. While it may seem trivial to worry about neck strain on some pogue in a TOC or airconditioned shelter, realize that pogue is probably going to be wearing this headset 14+ hours a day for months or years at a time. Much like NVG counterweights, a balanced load on the head makes for comfort, efficiency, and long term prevention of repetitive strain injury.

www.leidos.com

Submitted by Fly On The Wall

AFCEA TechNet 2015 – Tricom Research

Friday, September 4th, 2015

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Tricom research has some fantastic, manportable communications system packaging solutions. Using standard Storm/Hardigg type cases, systems that would normally require bulky vehicle type racks and docks are now mounted in hand or man-packable configurations that can be popped open and used quickly without dealing with a sea of cables, connectors, or bulk.

Hands-on fiddling with the systems revealed lots of attention to detail and significant input by military communications personnel, especially those who operate out of non-standard vehicles or need to be able to set up C2 without a 463L pallet of hardware. Open the box, plug in the antenna, and start talking.

Additionally, the Tricom rep was particularly proud of the thermal tolerances in the hardware. If the customer supplied radio and operator can take the heat, the Tricom packaging and amplifier solutions won’t be the link that holds you back.

www.tricomresearch.com

Submitted by Fly On The Wall