FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rice University Selects Metric Systems Corporation to Provide White Spaces Test Equipment for Houston’s Technology For All Project

VISTA, Calif., February 28, 2011 – Vista, California-based Metric Systems Corporation (MSC) is proud to announce that it has provided a Rice University research team headed by Drs. Edward Knightly and Lin Zhong with the wireless test equipment necessary to explore the use of white spaces for low cost, widespread WiFi-like connectivity. The Technology For All Project, serving Houston’s East End neighborhood, “aims to develop fundamental information technology advances that address the unique needs of underserved communities and developing regions.”

“Using MSC’s patented white space cognitive radio development platform, a.k.a. the WSCR-100, Rice University researchers now have an efficient means to develop and evaluate advanced protocol, modulation, and network concepts,” says Bill Brown, President of Metric System Corporation. “The WSCR-100 provides both standard command line and embedded controls, along with a web-based user interface for setting UHF operating center frequency.”

Aimed directly at fulfilling the needs of academic and industrial research, the WSCR-100 cognitive radio concept was brought to reality following the Federal Communications Commission’s September 2008 decision to open the white spaces spectrum between 300MHz and 400MHz. This unlicensed spectrum, created when the United States completed the HDTV transition from analog to digital television, provides great opportunities to organizations innovating wireless solutions that take advantage of the long-range, obstacle-piercing capability of the spectrum channels.

Consisting of four key components—an UHF up/down 2.4-2.5 GHz translator, a 600 MHz x86 Ethernet processor, two 6 dB directional log periodic antenna, and bundled S-band drivers and Linux wireless measurement tools—the WSCR-100 comes prepared to test networking concepts for not only academic, but also industrial and commercial applications.

For organizations seeking a less comprehensive solution, MSC delivers the UHF to 2.4 GHz up/down converter as a standalone unit as well. Conversely, MSC also provides concept-to-completion product design services for firms and institutions seeking a full service approach to white space system development.

Brown states, “With new FCC rules allowing for the exploration of white spaces, the product development opportunities are limitless. The sheer capabilities of white space-based technologies to extend wireless ranges up to distances of 5-10 Km and penetrate physical impediments is unlike any wireless product the market has seen yet. White spaces really are a game-changer.”

For more information, visit Metric Systems Corporation at http://www.safari-networks.com.

About Metric Systems Corporation (MSC)

MSC, a privately held California Corporation founded in 1992, designs and builds specialty infrastructure and last link wireless networking communications solutions for government, industry, and commercial interests. Its purpose-built, requirement-based terrestrial, satellite, and mobile wireless equipment solutions provide critical multimedia wide-area backbone transport for government and industry uses.

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Contact Danielle Reyes-Acosta, Director of Marketing, or Bill Brown, President, at info [at] metricsystems.com, or 760-560-0348.

Tools for Learning

Education is essential to innovation and technical creativity. That’s why Metric Systems Corporation offers a host of resources to help inquiring minds discover and explore the field of wireless networking.

• “WiFi on steroids? First “WhiteFi” prototypes hit testing stage” – Article from Ars Technica
  
  
  

• Find White Spaces Nearby – Microsoft Research (KNOWS Project) Provides a Dynamic WhiteSpaceFinder
  
  
  

• Information Pack – The InfoComm Development Authority of Singapore provides a “Trial of White Space Technology Accessing VHC and UHF Bands In Singapore”
  
  
  

• 10 Things You Need To Know About White Spaces – European Broadcast Union (EBU) Technical has published a user-friendly fact sheet on white spaces.

Check back often as this page is currently under construction!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.