Archive for December 11th, 2008

December 2, 2008 – The IAFF and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) have released a new manual, Voice Radio Communications Guide for the Fire Service, that provides updated information on communications technology and discusses critical homeland security issues and concepts that did not exist when the original manual was first published in 1996.

The new manual, developed from a joint IAFF and USFA study of safety and technology and conducted with support from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) SAFECOM Program Office, is designed for a wide fire service audience with a minimum level of familiarity with basic communications issues such as hardware, policy and procedures and human interface.

“The safety of both fire fighters and citizens depends on reliable, functional communication tools that work in the harshest and most hostile of environments,” says IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “The IAFF is pleased to work with USFA on this important project.”

U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade adds, “The need for an understanding of today’s modern communications concepts and technology for fire fighter and citizen life safety and operational effectiveness remains as valid, if not more so today than it did in 1996. USFA is pleased to work with DHS SAFECOM and the IAFF on this study to provide critical information to the fire service.”

For more information, click here.

MCLEAN, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Spacenet Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of satellite networking solutions, announced that its Channel Partner Orbital Data Net (ODN) recently deployed Spacenet’s high-performance Connexstar satellite services in support of emergency networks for government agencies to help bring vital communications online during severe weather conditions. The services enable rapid deployment of completely converged communications to support voice, video and broadband data via satellite for emergency response teams.

ODN, a leading satellite network integrator and emergency services solutions provider, deployed an emergency satellite communications network for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety to support critical operations during and after back-to-back hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Spacenet’s industry leading Connexstar services, deployed by ODN, provided support for the State’s VPN connections and Voice over IP emergency telephones. The network connected the Department of Public Safety in Baton Rouge to Highway Patrol Trooper Headquarters located at sites across the affected zones. The satellite systems proved to be extremely reliable, enduring winds in excess of 100 miles per hour for sustained periods of time.

ODN also deployed an advanced emergency management network in Missouri to help government agencies and community organizations resume data and voice communications during the aftermath of severe flooding. With damaged terrestrial networks and with cellular towers down, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) provided a transportable and rapidly deployable satellite network to The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). The emergency communications network, based on Spacenet’s industry leading Connexstar Performance service and implemented by ODN, provided support for Voice over IP (VoIP), radio backhaul, and VPN Internet access.

MoDOT Traffic Division Communications Coordinator John Diggs said, “Spacenet’s satellite services combined with ODN’s Emergency Satellite Network provided the mission-critical communications support that we needed during our flood recovery efforts. Unlike previous alternative satellite systems that we used which proved to be unreliable, the solution provided by Spacenet and ODN met all of our requirements and was designed specifically for the unique needs of emergency responders.”

Spacenet President and COO Glenn Katz said, “Reliable communications are a critical component of emergency response efforts during the aftermath of any natural or man-made disaster. Spacenet’s satellite services provide the needed communications services that help meet emergency recovery efforts. We are pleased that integration partners like ODN have chosen Spacenet’s services to provide a dependable communications solution for their customers.”

About Orbital Data Net, Inc.

With decades of experience in satellite, Orbital Data Net (ODN), formerly Heifner Communications is a leading provider of fixed and mobile emergency satellite communication systems. ODN can be contacted at (573)445-8101 or visit http://www.orbitaldata.net/.

About Spacenet®

Founded in 1981, Spacenet Inc. is one of the world’s leading providers of high-performance satellite and hybrid terrestrial networking solutions for US based enterprise, government and small office/small business customers. Spacenet has a longstanding tradition of industry leadership and innovation, and today has more than 100,000 operational network endpoints for customers including many Fortune 500 companies and major government agencies. Spacenet’s services include its custom satellite and hybrid network solutions for enterprise and government; Connexstar™ VSAT services for primary, backup and disaster recovery networks; and StarBand® broadband Internet by satellite. Spacenet is based in McLean, Virginia, and operates its own end-to-end services infrastructure including network management, field services and teleport facilities in McLean, VA; Atlanta, Georgia; and Chicago, Illinois. Spacenet is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd. (Nasdaq:GILT). Visit Spacenet at www.spacenet.com.

Expanded Family of EMI Filters Offers Advanced Filter Attenuation Performance

SUNNYVALE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc. (AOS) announced the release of AOZ803x, a family of multi-line EMI Filters. These devices are designed and optimized to suppress unwanted EMI/RFI signals and provide ESD protection for next generation portable handheld devices such as cell phones, smart phones and portable navigation devices.

Leveraging the company’s advanced [TVS]2 TM technology (Transient Voltage Suppression utilizing Trench Vertical Structures), the new products are ideal for EMI filtering and ESD protection of data lines in LCD displays and I/O interfaces in handheld devices.

“Compared to competing devices, our new multi-line EMI Filters provide a consistent -35dB filter attenuation from 0V to 5V which covers the entire display operating range. This feature greatly optimizes filter attenuation performance to improve overall device reliability and user experience,” said Wayne Eng, Marketing Director for AOS’ TVS products.

Technical Highlights

The AOZ803x EMI Filter product family features three products. The AOZ8030, AOZ8035 and AOZ8033 protect 8, 6 and 4 lines, respectively. The filter performance is rated at -35dB attenuation from 800MHz to 3.0GHZ over the full operating range of battery powered LCD displays.

In addition, the device’s excellent low channel clamping voltage of 10V maximum at 12A peak pulse current provides superior protection to sensitive IC components. All devices are rated to provide ESD protection of ±20kV for contact and ±20kV for air discharge.

The AOZ803x products come in small footprint 0.4mm pitch DFN packages which are ideal for handheld applications where board space is limited.

Pricing and Availability

The AOZ803x family is available immediately in production quantities. The table below shows brief specifications and pricing.

Part Number Lines Protected Description Package Unit Price (1K+)

AOZ8030 8 lines -35dB attenuation from

800MHz to 3.0GHz

DFN1.2×3.5,

0.4mm pitch

$0.22

AOZ8033 4 lines -35dB attenuation from

800MHz to 3.0GHz

DFN1.2×1.8,

0.4mm pitch

$0.15

AOZ8035 6 lines -35dB attenuation from

800MHz to 3.0GHz

DFN1.2×2.5,

0.4mm pitch

$0.19

About AOS

Alpha & Omega Semiconductor, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company that develops leading-edge analog power management solutions. AOS offers a wide portfolio of power MOSFET, Power IC and Transient Voltage Suppressor products that incorporate advances in device design, silicon, and packaging technologies. AOS’ products meet the ever increasing performance and power efficiency requirements in high volume consumer applications such as portable and desktop computers, digital cameras, cell phones, and LCD panels. AOS has offices worldwide including the United States, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea. For more information, please visit www.aosmd.com.

BOULDER, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Intuicom, Inc.™, a leader in wireless data solutions, released the RTK Bridge-C®. Designed to provide Network RTK Corrections to radio-based GPS applications, the RTK Bridge-C provides a crucial communications hub in precision GPS applications.

Intuicom’s RTK Bridge-C provides radio access to the growing number of GPS/GNSS Networks that are being deployed throughout the U.S. and worldwide. Until now, precision GPS application required special firmware and cellular modems to access Network RTK Corrections. Many applications in construction and precision farming did not support such networks. With the RTK Bridge-C, Network corrections are available to any GPS that previously relied upon a base station and a radio.

The RTK Bridge-C provides connectivity to Networked GPS corrections via cellular modem and then rebroadcasts the corrections through either an internal radio or any 3rd-party external radio, pushing corrections to construction sites, mines, farms, and project sites. The RTK Bridge-C is the follow-on to the RTK Bridge-E® which provides radio access to network corrections over Ethernet lines.

The RTK Bridge-C:

Reduces need for GPS Base Stations

Reduces the costs of multiple cellular modems

Supports legacy radio systems

Improves productivity and efficiency

“The RTK Bridge-C provides the corrections the GPS applications need but have not been able to access over traditional radio links,” said Peter Miller, Director of Engineering for Intuicom, Inc. “This product solves a problem and can immediately contribute to higher productivity.”

About Intuicom, Inc. Intuicom provides wireless data solutions designed to satisfy the most demanding requirements for long range remote or mobile device networking. Founded in 1999, with headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, Intuicom solutions enhance precision GPS applications, traffic control, transportation, automation, and asset tracking. Find out more at www.intuicom.com.

Intuicom, RTK Bridge-C, and RTK Bridge-E are trademarks of Intuicom, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

RESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–NCI, Inc. (NASDAQ:NCIT), a leading provider of information technology (IT), engineering, and professional services and solutions to U.S. federal government agencies, is pleased to announced that it has been awarded a task order from the Army National Guard (ARNG) and Air National Guard (ANG) worth an estimated $173 million under the ITES-2S contract, if all options are exercised. The award of the competitive task order continues and expands NCI’s important role with these important customers. The period of performance covered by this new task order is for a 10 month base period and options that will extend to September 2015.

Under this task order, NCI is responsible for managing all IT and telecommunications equipment and systems operating in the ARNG and ANG National Capital Region environment as well as supporting end-users of this equipment. Services to be provided under this contract include: data communication; voice communication; security management; email, web services, active directory, and other back office support; server and desktop support; video and audio conferencing engineering support; and other information technology services.

“We are very pleased and honored to have been chosen by the ARNG and ANG to provide their information technology support services. Our association with these important customers is extremely important to our company and we look forward to a strong partnership in supporting both the ARNG and ANG to meet their vital missions,” stated Charles Narang, NCI Chairman and CEO.

About NCI, Inc.:

NCI is a leading provider of information technology (IT), engineering, and professional services and solutions to U.S. Federal Government agencies. As an ISO 9001:2000–certified company, NCI’s award-winning expertise encompasses areas critical to its customers’ mission objectives, including enterprise systems management; network engineering; information assurance; systems engineering and integration; program management, acquisition, and lifecycle support; engineering and logistics; medical transformation/health IT; and distance learning and training solutions. The company is a member of the Russell 2000 index. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, NCI has approximately 2,400 employees and nearly 100 locations worldwide.

SAN FRANCISCO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–URS Corporation (NYSE:URS) today announced that it has been selected to provide on-going repair, recertification, refurbishment and technical support for the Navy Tactical Computer Resources (NTCR) program. The indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract has a 24-month base period, followed by three twelve-month priced options. If all options are exercised the contract has a five-year maximum value of $40 million to URS. There also are five additional option years, which currently are unpriced.

The scope of the legacy electronics contract includes providing depot repair support to the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC), Crane Division, in Crane, Indiana, and the Naval Inventory Control Point in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The electronics are used in Navy standard computers, displays and peripherals used in navigation, communication and fire control systems embedded in most surface and subsurface combatants.

Commenting on the contract award, Randall A. Wotring, President of the EG&G Division, said: “We are very proud to have been selected to support the Navy in its effort to ensure the upkeep and readiness of critical legacy equipment. URS is a leading provider of engineering and electronics support to the Department of Defense and we look forward to continuing our work on the NTCR program.”

URS Corporation (NYSE: URS) is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies around the world. The Company offers a full range of program management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services. URS provides services for power, infrastructure, industrial and commercial, and federal projects and programs. Headquartered in San Francisco, the Company operates through three divisions: the URS Division, the EG&G Division and the Washington Division. URS Corporation has more than 50,000 employees in a network of offices in more than 30 countries (www.urscorp.com).

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Globecomm Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: GCOM), a leading provider of satellite-based communications infrastructure solutions and services on a global basis, today announced that the Company has received a contract modification from NATO valued at $7.3 million to extend communication services for on site support for the Company’s previously deployed GPS-Based Force Tracking System (FTS).

Globecomm previously announced approximately $27.5 million in contracts from NATO to design and install a GPS FTS, bringing the combined contract value to $34.8 million. The FTS provides NATO with high levels of tracking data and messaging traffic. It enables NATO to identify where its personnel are located at all times, identify other multi-national forces and have the ability to do so in routine and operational situations. This is critical in assisting with the identification of friendly versus enemy forces and helps prevent fratricide or “blue-on-blue” incidents.

Paul Knudsen, Vice President of Globecomm’s Eastern Atlantic Team, said, “Globecomm’s relationship with NATO continues to expand. This on-going project demonstrates how Globecomm’s infrastructure business units complement the Company’s service operations and validates our end-to-end solution business model.”

About Globecomm Systems

Globecomm Systems Inc. provides end-to-end value-added satellite-based communication products, services and solutions by leveraging its core satellite ground segment systems and network capabilities, with its satellite communication services capabilities. The products and services Globecomm offers include pre-engineered systems, systems design and integration services, managed network services and life cycle support services. Globecomm’s customers include communications service providers, commercial enterprises, broadcast and other media and content providers and government and government-related entities.

Based in Hauppauge, New York, Globecomm Systems also maintains offices in Washington, DC, Maryland, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.