One of the largest Project 25 (P25) networks in the world provides reliable, resilient and secure voice and data communications to the thousands of men and women of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who patrol and secure the U.S. Southwest frontier. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers and other federal officials use the

network as well.

The overall project provides communications capabilities for CBP field personnel in 20 geographic focus areas across the United States.

System Overview

1. Provide 24/7 secure, digital P25 service along the entire length — nearly 500 miles — of the Arizona/Mexico border;
2. Provide continuous two-way radio service in the event critical communications facilities such as radio links, telco hubs or equipment are lost;
3. In the event of a site equipment failure, provide the ability to remotely access the problem site and provide a patch-around capability;
4. Provide a minimum latency transport infrastructure to enable operation of key P25 features such as over-the-air rekeying (OTAR)and programming (OTAP);
5. Full support of non-networkbased appliances on the IP network without affecting radio network traffic performance;
6. Support for all P25 base and repeater equipment interfaces including interfacing to the Motorola Quantar and AstroTac via V.24 interfaces;
7. Provide full online remote access to all Motorola equipment via Motorola’s Radio Service Software (RSS) port, minimizing the need for on-site support personnel;
8. Provide a true mesh least-cost networking capability for nearinstantaneous alternate routing in the event of site or link failure;
9. Allow remote operations for multiagency and disaster operations;
10. Provide the ability to quickly and securely provision the network for special needs and requirements;
11. Support maintenance via a deep ability to remotely diagnose and monitor traffic of all LMR and non-LMR assets;
12. Enable federal, state and other governmental agencies to independently and securely use the network;
13. Minimize site installation and provisioning visits by pre-staging, provisioning and testing each network site prior to installation;
14. Support T1 to DS-3 telco service connections; and
15. Provide support to future broadband wired and wireless media connectivity.

New Concepts Employed

The Arizona CBP digital network upgrade featured several new concepts in logistics, mobile radio IP networking, and techniques of the administration and operations and maintenance (OAM) of large networks

• Pre-staging and provisioning of each site;
• Mix-mode IP transport and packet switching of circuit- and packet-based P25 traffic;
• Using both new and existing legacy infrastructure media such as UHF and microwave;
• Analog and digital telco facilities; and
• Advancing techniques of remote diagnostics, remediation of faults and system provisioning.

Solutions Provided

• IP backbone site controllers and networking equipment (SAFARI™ Wireless Networking Controller)
• Integration of backbone networking equipment (SAFARI™ Commander)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metric Systems Corporation Delivers Secure, Reliable LMR Networking Solution to Assist U.S. Border Patrol Mission Success

VISTA, Calif., September 10, 2010 — Metric Systems Corporation (MSC) successfully completed phased delivery of its SAFARI™ Wireless Networking Controller to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Agency in support of the their land-mobile radio (LMR) technology upgrade in the Yuma and Tucson, Arizona sectors.  The SAFARI™ Wireless Controller enabled the CBP to cost-effectively build sector-wide, multi-vendor LMR networks incorporating both network-ready and legacy equipment.  This LMR upgrade is a key component in the Department of Homeland Security’s mission to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Completed in September 2010, the CBP SAFARI™-based network consists of one hundred plus sites scattered over some of the globe’s most treacherous terrain.  Interconnected via broadband wireless, microwave fiber, and commercial circuits, this network provides a secure and fault-tolerant system instantly to connect field agents with their headquarters and other field agents.

This is the largest digital CBP LMR network deployed to date.  Its design introduced and proved a number of new productivity innovations which accelerate installation and enhanced operation, effectively reducing labor and operational expenses.

The SAFARI™ Controller is platformed on a single x86-high performance 1U shelf, incorporating an open architecture, Linux-based solution that provides an integrated gateway, router, and wireless system device application driver solution.  Its open architecture, non-proprietary approach eliminates the need for multiple proprietary vendor boxes and enables end-user systems integrator to provide tailor-optimized solutions.

About Metric Systems Corporation

Metric Systems Corporation designs and manufactures fixed and mobile wireless networking solutions that support and enable commercial, industrial, public safety, and military users to successfully perform their mission worldwide.  Metric Systems Corporation was established in 1992 and is headquartered in Vista, California, USA.

Contact:  Bill Brown, President, Metric Systems Corporation, 760.560.0348

When the alarm goes out, 911 dispatchers in Surrey, British Columbia, have less than 6 minutes to get a team of firefighters to the scene.

The fire department’s dedicated Telco line network was outdated and inefficient at handling the number of calls coming in from this fast growing metropolitan area.

Metric Systems Corporation designed a tailored system that effectively networks the region’s 17 fire halls across 130 square miles. The system integrates a range of radio equipment and technologies, ensuring that calls trigger action almost immediately.

Key features of the system include:

• Wide-area operation covering over 130 square miles TCP/IP, 900 MHz infrastructure network
• Plug-and-play replacement for dedicated 2400 baud line to 19.2 Kbps
• No change to existing PSAP or dispatch software
• In operation for 10 years

Robust Wide Area Water District Network

A North County San Diego water district stretching from the Pacific coast to inland wanted to enhance its existing communications infrastructure to support user growth and network-based process control devices.

The district asked Metric Systems Corporation to analyze their current communications infrastructure and develop a staged deployment plan.

The network design had to meet the following criteria:

• No single communications fault could affect more than one remote site
• Infrastructure must support Ethernet/IP and legacy proprietary serial interfaces – in this case, ModBus
• Infrastructure must minimally impact existing UHF and VHF licensed SCADA networks
• Existing licensed system traffic must be supported by new infrastructure

Key features of the system include:

• Redundant broadband backbone ring
• Adaptation to various geographical topologies
• Concurrent support for Ethernet/IP and proprietary serial protocols
• Network-based concept allows quick and easy system maintenance and network evolution
• Full support for peer-to-peer, VPN, multicast and broadcast traffic
• Full online network monitoring, status and configuration
• Provides transport for VoIP and video services

Usibelli Coal Mine, Inc. is a Healy, Alaska, operation that provides coal to a range of North-American energy providers.

The region’s climate and topology often make it hard for engineers to be on site. The company had devised a SCADA information management system to provide real-time, 24/7 monitoring of their major dragline operations. What was missing was a way to transmit that data to the company’s head office.

Metric Systems Corporation developed a mobile wireless networking system based on our packaged Mavric™ Explorer and RAMM™ 2000 solutions. The system transmits data via a relay (repeater) station to the control office, allowing Usibelli engineers to make split-second decisions and adjust practices out in the field as necessary.

Key features of the system include:

• Unlicensed 900 MHz/2.4 GHz operation
• End-to end Ethernet connectivity
• Conversion of non-Ethernet data to Ethernet/IP compatible data
• 100 % 24/7 system monitoring
• Cold temperature survivability -40°C to 85°C operation
• Vibration resistant
• Expandable to multiple remote vehicles/platforms (trucks, portable units, etc.)
• Throughput of 115 Kbps

Tactical Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN)

Customer

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) is a leading provider of advanced weapon and space systems. In addition, ATK is the world’s leading supplier of solid rocket motors and the nation’s largest manufacturer of ammunition.

Project Objective

Design and manufacture a NetCentric UHF COTS-based Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) system to provide wide area connectivity to ATK Mobile Ground-to-Air Radar Jamming System (MGARJS) shelters deployed over hundreds of square kilometers. Deliver production quantities in six months ARO.

System Solution Approach

To meet ad hoc mesh and redundancy requirements, a multiple radio configuration approach was chosen. This physical link architecture coupled with a highly efficient multi-cell Media Access Control (MAC) scheme, together with a MANET proactive routing scheme met the ATK requirement for a flexible, redundant fixed and mobile wide area wireless network.

Equipment Description

SAFARI™ DCR900 Controller

The SAFARI™ DCR900 Controller is at the core of the NetCentric WWAN system, with each controller consisting of two independent high speed RF spread-spectrum frequency-hopping modems for operation in two independent bands. Each modem is independently configurable to support multiple hop patterns per band. The SAFARI™ DCR900 WWAN supports multiple physical link topologies, including peer-to-peer, peer-to-multipoint, and ad hoc mesh configurations. A robust network management and embedded diagnostics suite provides real-time local and remote system and network monitoring.

SAFARI™ DCR900 Amplifier

The SAFARI™ DCR900 Amplifier shelf provides the additional RF power required to punch through noise and reach out for more than 100+ km.

TacNET Mission Planning and Network Administration and Monitoring Application

TacNET is a Windows®-based network design and real-time verification software tool that enables mission commanders to graphically design SAFARI™ networks and subsequently verify operations in the field. Individual network configuration files can be uploaded directly to fixed or mobile nodes via Ethernet or over the air.

End-to-End System Solutions

Metric Systems can provide you with a tailored communications system to meet your specific networking and environmental requirements.

Options

• Power amplifier output options — 10 to 100 watts

• Security — The SAFARI™ DCR900 comes standard with 64/128-bit WEP/TKIP/AES-CCM/802.1x, WPA security features.

• Frequency bands — single or multiband support available
  • Military 30 MHz to 6 GHz
  • Federal, state and local government 30 MHz to 6 GHz
  • International unlicensed bands — 400 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz

• Data rates supported
  • 64 kbps to 10 mbps +

• Network topologies supported
  • Point-to-point, peer-to-peer, bridge
  • Point-to-multipoint, ad hoc, ad hoc mesh

• Physical link redundant options
  • Auto-rerouting
  • Predefined recover links
  • Tandem links

Typical Configuration

TacNET screenshot

SAFARI™ DCR900 WWAN Data Sheet

To learn more about the capabilities of the SAFARI™ DCR900 WWAN, please download our data sheet (PDF, 209 kb), or to discuss your specific requirement, please contact us.