INSIGHT

Up close and personal
Professional development is the cornerstone of our working lives. It gives us the drive to progress our careers, keeps the industry competitive and makes us more employable. This feature takes an in-depth look at the chosen career paths of professionals and focuses on how they’ve adapted to challenges along the way.

Focus: Paul Gill, Managing Director, JFMG

Planning at (almost) the speed of light
Only in politics is a week a long time. In radio network planning, it’s the blink of an eye – which is why a project that ran from concept to completion from Monday to Friday is causing a stir...more >>

The middle-aged spread of wireless networks

Wireless networks are not mellowing with middle age.

Despite having been around for 50 years, they can still present hellish problems for operators and contractors.  Over-engineering is one extreme example, with post-installation ‘optimisation’ the other.  But is it really that difficult?  How do we get it right first time?  This article gives some pointers.

User-friendly software

Meeting software face-to-face can put a nose out of joint.

There is no single solution for how people and computer programmes should communicate with each other and software-user interfaces are always a trade-off between a number of competing factors. 

Successful modelling: the latest fashions

Fashion and radio network planning have in a lot in common.

In both worlds, models are things of beauty intended to present a design so it can be scrutinised, checked, analysed and improved – and fashion designers and radio engineers are agreed that it is always vital that the right model is chosen for the job.

Making radio sound good to business

Wireless networks require millions of pounds to create, and organisations financing them need to know what they will get in return.

Anybody intending to invest in a future wireless network needs to understand how many customers will be captured, how much traffic they will generate and how much revenue can be expected from them and to weigh this against total cost. That cost is dependent on the number of base stations or sites needed and the cost of equipment at these sites.  The balance between revenue and costs is largely within the network operator’s control, and decisions can be made on what market is attacked and what services are offered to achieve adequate return on investment.

Why civilians cannot be the first casualty of war
The Cold War has been replaced by conflict hotspots. With it, the old rules of military spectrum management have disappeared for good...more >>

Editorial: The end game
Market forces are taking control of spectrum access. Economics are gradually replacing command and control in determining who gets resources in Europe...more >>

Waking up to to the new radio market
Europe’s radio industry is waking up to the new realities of spectrum management. But, as with many awakenings, it brings with it an alarm - and some people feel it is all just too damn early.
..more >>

Spectrum Regulation in Europe

Europe is beginning to tackle the question with the biggest implications for the business of spectrum access: who runs the spectrum?

This article looks at four European countries and how they are managing their spectrum.

Taking the right line for railway communication

Independent expertise is keeping vital GSM phone systems for railways from going off on the wrong track.

The process of creating the communication networks that are essential to rail safety has always been more of a political challenge than a technical one, and that process is being aggravated by public-private finance initiatives (PFIs).

INSIGHT

Up close and personal

Professional development is the cornerstone of our working lives.  It gives us the drive to progress in our careers, keeps the industry competitive and makes us more employable.  This feature takes an in-depth look at the chosen career paths of professionals and focuses on how they’ve adapted to challenges along the way.

This article focuses on Paul Jeffery, Product Manager, Samsung

Bringing rationality to TETRA

The spotlight is back on TETRA as the standard enters its mature phase providing the system of choice for the emergency services and other private users with specific tasks to perform.

But, although TETRA networks are free from the revenue imperatives which drive public cellular network roll outs, its implementation is often still problematic.

This articles outlines issues relating to cell planning.

What is in a model? Europe's spectrum future in the balance
Can the free market ever guarantee that radio spectrum users will enjoy the business benefits they seek while not suffering undue interference from others? This is the thorniest question in the industry today and an issue to which there is no simple answer...more >>

On battlespace spectrum management

The battlespace is a hostile place – in more ways than one.  Increased use of spectrum for civil activities in all countries in support of economic progress means that there is less left for the military.  This means less left for any intervention or assistance forces.   As Paddy Ashdown, the former High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina suggests in his recent book, the incidence of intervention to aid world stability must surely increase in the next 20 years ; equating to less spectrum but more intervention.

Apples and oranges: techniques in comparing technologies

Companies and government agencies need to be able to compare how different spectrum dependent technologies fare in meeting expressed requirements when evaluating tender responses.  The problem will get more difficult as technology neutrality in spectrum management allows all manner of competing systems to have spectrum access.  Previously this was seen in a mild form with TETRA, Tetrapol and MPT1327.  All were a form of radio trunking.  All provided basically the same user function but all did it in a different way.  How does the contracting company choose a winner?

The answer is by simulating the offer against the requirements.

Going forward in neutral: the technology paradox

The crock of gold at the end of the rainbow is the optimised use of the radio spectrum. ATDI managing director, John Berry (pictured) examines the options.

Military personnel discuss the future
Leading military personnel and system integrators gathered in the largest ever meeting of its kind to discuss the sector’s latest developments...more >>

Conflict in the air: who gets to rule the waves?
Administrative Incentive Pricing and other market measures will soon determine how much spectrum both civil and military sectors control in many countries. How can the spectrum best be managed to meet both civil and defence needs and ensure the military can fight where and when it needs to? ATDI managing director John Berry examines the problems and potential solutions...more >>

How to avoid getting caught in the Net

Information is the new gold – but significantly harder to protect.

While traditional villains sought bullion, today bytes are more valuable as they represent the difference between business success and failure. And such is the constant threat to information systems that the average time an unprotected computer can now spend on the Internet without being compromised is six seconds.

New German website
ATDI is reinforcing its presence in the German market by appointing a new liaison for the country, Torsten Zoehl. Torsten will coordinate the company's work in the country and be the first point of contact for ATDI's customers...more >>

New - ICS Viewer is now available as download

ICS Viewer allows you to display and check results generated by ICS Telecom without a licence. Free download.

Editorial - Living with Newtons Legacy

Sir Isaac Newton acknowledged his debt to his scientific forebears by saying he could see furthest only because he was a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants. Radio engineers today, often giants in their field, remain fixed in the template that the dwarf gave them.

And though we all work to the precepts he laid out, we still fall into three categories: those who believe all can be known from those precepts, those who think we can know nothing, and those who think Newton could have saved us a lot of bother by devoting more time to his day job at the Royal Mint.

Future Tools - download revolution is about to hit radiocommunications

With everything from topographical information to Dad’s Army already available at the click of a mouse, now planning and modelling tools are being readied for online access. The move will mean that engineers can determine the performance of any transmitting device on the ground or in the air using web-accessed tools and calculators.

The Future Tools project run by ATDI is a the development  that has already been named runner up in the Federation of Communication Services’ Gerald David OBE Business Radio Innovation Award 2006.

Spectrum Management - EU highlights spectrum control issue

To license or not to license – that is the question facing Europe’s regulators.

The debate over the degree to which the radio spectrum should be controlled had gone quiet in the UK. But now the European Commission is putting the spotlight on this fundamental issue once more by asking each national radio authority what progress it has made towards liberalisation.

ATDI receives award for Innovation

ATDI’s ground-breaking online planning and modelling tools have been honoured by a team of industry experts for achievement in innovation.

The Federation of Communication Services (FCS) named ATDI’s online initiative as runner-up in its Gerald David OBE Business Radio Innovation Award 2006. The award was set up to promote excellence and to recognise achievements in the radiocommunications sector.

Photo: Adrian Grilli, managing director, JRC Ltd, and an ATDI customer accepting the award on ATDI's behalf from Gerald's wife, Deen David.

New Book: Mobile Radio Network Design In The VHF And UHF Bands: A Practical Approach
A new book on radiocommunications engineering is giving a novel insight into the critical factors affecting overall project success, including the one for which science has no answer: people...more >>

RRC06: ATDI HELPS ADMINISTRATIONS TO A SMOOTH APPROVAL PROCESS
ATDI’s customers get best-in-class results at RRC06 for the agreement of the new digital broadcast plan: more than 30% of the countries were supported by ATDI’s software suite and consulting services...more >>

New buses system. Just the ticket

Radiocommunications are playing a pivotal role as London’s bus fleet grows by 40% to 8,000 vehicles.

London Buses’ existing voice radio communications system had been in place since the early 1970s providing communications with depots and central control. Enhancing the old network to meet new challenges was nearly impossible.

ATDI software invaluable for police

ATDI software is being used to lengthen the long arm of the law.

The company’s flagship ICS Telecom system is being described as “an invaluable tool” by the Police IT organisation (PITO), which is responsible for Airwave - the national digital police radio system.

Engineers turn detective to find network solution
A routine microwave planning task turned into a detective story when engineers had to solve interference issues with a parallel existing network...more >>

Radio planning without compromises

Radio planning without compromises

The challenge of planning radio networks has never been greater and effective solutions are more critical when lives are at stake. The aerospace and defence company EADS implements safety-critical radio networks for professional users worldwide dealing with security tasks.

Planning in the air

The next generation police communications networks covering the UK are close to full deployment with emergency services personnel enjoying the benefits of ubiquitous secure voice and data communications. ATDI’s latest involvement with these networks, designing a pan-UK frequency plan for ground-to-air services, adds to an already extensive involvement with this project.

BBC acquires map server and world mapping
The BBC World Service has recently purchased ICS Map Server to assist them reduce planning time and develop elevation models. They anticipate that this will cut lead times for acquiring map data from weeks to a single day.
..more >>

Measuring coverage compliance - part II

Measurement of coverage in mobile networks is used to show performance to contract: demonstrating that coverage has been achieved.  That demonstration requires the gathering of evidence to show that the service, as delineated in the requirements, has indeed been supplied.

This second article is a follow on to the earlier 'Defining Coverage' article.

Trading, Liberalisation & Spectrum Commons - Impact for future services

With significant changes being made to the management of the spectrum in the future, the UK must consider the implications for all parties in trading, liberalisation and use of spectrum commons.

This article outlines some of the benefits and pitfalls this market charge will bring.

Defining Coverage - part I

Coverage is something of a “hip” word – you’ll often hear teenagers talk about it, radio engineers bandy it about and yet few really understand its real impact.  In our business it is probably the most poorly defined word there is.  This article aims to develop a clear definition and dispel some of the myths surrounding the term.

Meeting Military Challenges

Fact#1:  ATDI derives a substantial part of its turnover from the military sector. 

Fact#2:  For the most part, and for obvious reasons, we are not able to discuss any projects completed, advertise satisfied customers nor describe any of the software systems supplied. 

This article highlights, in abstract, some of the recent projects completed by ATDI.

Review of Wireless Broadband Forum, November 2004

The wireless broadband forum held in Cambridge, UK in November showed just how much the fixed wireless industry of the late 1990’s has evolved. However it also illustrated how little has really changed to meet the new, more mature demands of 2005 and beyond.  This article looks at these similarities and differences concluding with a short paragraph on the way ahead for radio modelling in WLAN, WiMAX and other emerging technologies.

Spectrum research news from Ofcom, the UK regulator
Quotient Associates / ATDI and Indepen / Aegis Systems reports on the international framework of spectrum management...more >>

''On the move'' radio planning - new function in HTZ Warfare

ATDI has incorporated an on-the-move (OTM) function in HTZ Warfare, its flagship military modelling platform.