Subscriber Radio Network - Queensland, Australia

The customer

A joint venture between mobile radio technology companies Philcomm and Vertel has used TB8100 base stations to set up a new TaitNetMPT 1327 subscriber-based radio network for South East Queensland, Australia.

Philcomm and Vertel are both Tait dealers, providing clients in the transport industry, government, and emergency services with radio equipment and network access, as well as ongoing service and support.

The challenge

These Tait dealers saw a need to establish a wide area network for South East Queensland that would provide customers with cost-effective radio communications well suited to their business needs. The coverage area around Brisbane currently stretches south to the New South Wales border, west to the edge of the Toowoomba Range, and north to Gympie. This coverage is expected to increase in the future.

There are nine air-conditioned sites with battery backup, including a solar power site at Flinders Peak that is only accessible by helicopter. Each site has up to four base stations, each with one control channel and two to four voice channels.

The solution

The TB8100 delivers network reliability and provides longevity for the life of the system, says Philcomm Managing Director Fred Van Tuinen. "We wanted the best, and we wanted to 'future-proof' the network. With the TB8100 we were able to standardise the equipment, and the product has several features that create ease of setup and maintenance. TB8100 keeps our options open, particularly for possibilities of upgrading to digital radio," Mr Van Tuinen says.

The TB8100 is software driven, providing useful information for monitoring, diagnostics and configuration at the click of a button. The Power Management Unit of the TB8100 includes features such as 'Battery Protect Mode', which means no third party equipment is needed to manage battery backup, and 'On Mains Failure' which facilitates automatic and seamless switchover to DC supply and back.

The TaitNet TN5100 system which runs the network has the capability for up to 960 sites, customisation options, capacity for more than 30 despatchers, call options such as network wide group calls, and full network management. The TN5100 Network Management Terminal provides complete network control and is used to monitor statistics on failed and successful calls, and measure call loading on each repeater.

The outcome

TaitNet provides Full Off Air Call Setup (FOACSU). Normal call setup opens a traffic channel automatically and unnecessarily occupies the traffic. FOACSU can track a radio terminal's location, then rings the radio until it is answered without occupying the traffic channel. This makes more efficient use of network resources and increases the ability for other calls to get through.

Commit with confidence

Some of the largest and most complex organisations in the world are putting their trust in trunked solution because the benefits are proven: control, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.