Amphonel Fiber Systems International provides tactical fiber optic solutions. If you’re a comms guy, you’ve probably worked already with their products. What’s really cool about their products is that they facilitate the repair of fiber optic cables and connectors, saving both time and money.
Tags: ADS Inc, Warrior Expo
Posted in ADS, Comms | Comments Off on Warrior Expo 2011 – Amphonel
Already the techno websites are making much hay of the Army’s move to a new End User Device that will, most assuredly, wipe the notion of what was Land Warrior/Nett Warrior from our collective bad memories. By removing 70% of the weight from the Soldier, the End User Device is simultaneously enhancing the capability of the system as a whole.
What has tongues wagging is that, thankfully, the Android-based systems currently being evaluated are not phones. That’s right. As PEO Soldier, BG Camille Nichols stated at yesterday’s media roundtable, they are NOT 3G devices. Instead, the Army will connect these End User Devices to the Rifleman’s Radio variant of the Joint Tactical Radio System or JTRS. It is pronounced “jitters” as in, that radio system that is still in development hell after 15 years gives me the JTRS. At any rate, the Rifleman’s Radio segment of JTRS actually works and much better than its predecessors the PRC 126, 127 or God forbid 68 (if you are old enough). Plus, it handles data pretty well which is critical for a system like this.
Why no 3G you might ask? Simple, it’s all about the infrastructure, or lack thereof. Oddly enough, we rarely fight in places with a nice, new 3G (or better) network in place. And even if it is there, the bad guys are using it so we have to knock it out in order to disrupt their Command & Control. Sure, there are new portable mobile networks being developed, but they are still just phone networks that rely on switches. A radio on the other hand does not. Radios can talk to other radios without a switch and if a redundant mobile network goes down, radios continue to Soldier on. Yes, we know that a cellphone uses a radio. Unfortunately, it requires a complex infrastructure to work. Like it or not, the Rifleman’s Radio is the key here.
This strategy can also be cheaper. If a newer End User Device is approved you aren’t stuck with that pesky contract. Instead, you just go out and buy the new one. Likewise, if we upgrade radios there’s no need to replace everything.
And then, there’s that whole accreditation issue. How do you keep the data and access to the network safe safe from the enemy? That’s the current long pole in the tent, working out the security for the device. But, we are very pleased to hear, that the Army gets it. Unfortunately, those writing about it don’t seem to.
Most of the comments flying around the interwebs about this issue are confounded about why we can’t just go buy the latest ‘Droid, let the troops upload some apps, and go kick ass. That’s because those commenting know two things about warfighting. That’s “Jack”, and you can guess the other one. What’s worse, they don’t seem to have much of a grasp on telecommunications either.
So, big points here:
Army looking at Android based tablet or handheld devices.
Army is not going 3G with the End User Device.
Mobile Devices require a network, networks don’t exist in places we tend to fight.
Consequently, radios are not going away.
Discuss amongst yourselves…
On the heels of release of their C4OPS Hybrid Headset, Silynx Communications has announced a new accessory, the Headband Boom Mic. It connects to the Hybrid Headset via a quick disconnect connector on the collar clip. The low-profile headband is manufactured from a lightweight material and can be worn under a helmet. This is a good option for those that are regularly donning and doffing their helmet so that the mic will always be on you.
Garmin’s GTU 110 is a tracking unit. Think of it as a tag. Boasting up to four weeks of battery life and up to seven days of location information, the unit can be immediately queried by phone or computer.
At this point the only limitation of the GTU 10 is that coverage is only available within the US and Canada. This still makes it great for tracking assets or investigative work. In fact, since you can check the data via the Internet, it’s a great way to keep track of a sketchy spouse while deployed.
As always, our favorite place to purchase Garmin is Strohman Enterprise.
We first introduced the innovative C4Grip from Silynx Communications right before SHOT Show. As you will recall, the C4Grip incorporates a built-in wireless PTT and controls to activate the light, laser aiming devices, and tactical radios. The only thing missing when the C4Grip was released was a production flashlight that was compatible with the device.
Now, Silynx has announced the release of a SureFire® KM2 Flashlight Head + Adaptor for the C4Grip. It attaches a standard KM2 flashlight head directly to the front of the C4Grip and it’s exactly the type of thing that can happen when you remote the power source from the actual device. The KM2 flashlight head can be activated (momentary, constant, and strobe) by the C4Grip. This combination transforms the light and switch into a much lighter, more compact, and ergonomic package.
The KM2 from SureFire is an LED light head normally used as a drop-in upgrade to older lights. It offers both white light and IR output from one dual-LED emitter assembly selectable by a positive lock bezel selector. Additionally, the KM2 utilizes a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) lens that produces a comparatively tight beam suited for close- to medium-range applications.
To learn more, visit www.silynxcom.com.
Silynx has just released the C4OPS Hybrid Headset Configuration. Designed for use in high noise environments such as aircraft and boats, it consists of an in ear bud paired with an optional helmet mounted boom microphone. The kit features a modified steel core cable, new cable MOLLE clips, and a modified collar/vest clip.
Designed specifically with the Ops Core chinstrap, the boom integrates with their proprietary buckle. While primarily envisioned for use with the FAST helmet, the Ops Core chinstrap is standard issue throughout SOCOM for the MICH and is available for use with numerous helmet shells so there is a great deal of versatility here.
It features a quick disconnect connector.
One of our readers sent this to us and it is impressive. Developed by Georgia Tech to get communications up and running after disasters, it institutes a multi-path WiFi-based ad-hoc comms network that is affordable, easy-to-deploy, requires low-to-zero infrastructure, consumes little power and facilitates Internet access. It offers access to applications including chat, voice messaging, MIS systems, etc.
Traditional comms infrastructures often rely on single points of failure such as Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) or commonly known as cell towers. On a micro scale, the WiFi networks we use at work and home has the router as a single point of failure.
LifeNet, on the other hand, allows different end-user devices such as laptops, smart-phones and routers communicate with each other in an ad-hoc fashion without any intermediate governing device. Every device becomes a node and serves as a peer to all other devices. Two devices that are close by can communicate directly with each other, while communication between far off devices can be relayed multi-hop fashion by intermediate nodes using a protocol called ‘Flexible Routing.’ With LifeNet, every device functions both as a host and as a router.
In order to get all of these disparate device types to work together, they have developed a new layer in the networking stack. This design decision also simplifies the porting effort onto different RF communication technologies such as different flavous of WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n, WiMax, etc. Once installed and switched on, devices discover one another and communicate.
Finally, it’s inexpensive. The software is free and loads on to devices already in service. In fact, it’s already been ported for use on the Android platform. Designed for disaster recovery, LifeNet could also be instituted in other environments such as a battlefield. It allows a wide area network to be set up virtually anywhere there are loaded devices. All that is required is a powered, loaded device and line of sight to another loaded device.
For full details visit thelifenetwork.org.
Thanks JA!
The Soldier Equipment & Technology Expo & Conference is next week. Make sure you stop by TEA to check out the INVISIO X50 MultiCom headset.
The Digital Ears X50 is a digital in-ear bone conduction headset system with built-in active hearing protection. It uses bone conduction which captures vibrations caused by speech which travel up the jaw bone to the ear. This helps eliminate ambient noise and produce clearer voice signals. Additionally, the system features electronic hear-thru and impulse noise protection (Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 23db) with volume control for enhanced hearing. Finally, the X50 is designed for dual communication with radio autosensing and full-duplex/VOX capability. Consequently, unlike other Invisio products, the X50 is designed to worn in both ears.
The ear piece features the Soft SpringTM which adapts to the contours of the ear to provide a secure fit and enhance comfort as well as compatibility with helmets, eyewear, and protective masks. In fact, the X50′s fit is secure enough that it is well-suited for Military Free Fall operations. Additionally, the interface box seen above features switches for On-Off Open Mic Selector, PTT Button, Volume Up and Down as well as Hear-Thru and Mic Volume Selector.
