IP Communications

Looking to help public safety agencies communicate with one another, the Raytheon (News - Alert) Company has enhanced the interoperability of its new interoperability server.

Bringing in P25 users directly via IP, P25 talk groups can be dynamically linked to any of the member agencies of the interoperability system, including other P25 talk groups, Raytheon's P25 ISSI capability moves the radio gateway concept beyond the donor radio approach. For local interoperability and to convert non-IP communications (from radios, telephones, etc.) for transfer to the server via IP, the server uses other gateways, such as Raytheon's ACU-5000, the company stated in a press release.

“Improving voice communications among first responders will always be our Number 1 priority," said TJ Kennedy, director of Public Safety and Security Systems for Raytheon's Network Centric Systems business. “But no one can discount the usefulness of key metadata such as user identification and emergency call. The new server continues our mission of providing interoperability among existing equipment and also facilitates budget-friendly, phased-in deployments of new systems by linking the upgraded and existing portions of the network.”

Broadening the base of applicable communications devices, the system will also include mobile apps optimized for laptops and smartphones. The features include the ability to bring in P25 radio users over Internet Protocol (IP), and to connect 4G/LTE (News - Alert) (Long-Term Evolution) system users by a Bluetooth link to a system handset. There is the ability to transfer data with both the features, the company has stated.

Recently, the company announced that it delivered the first international version of its APY-10 surveillance radar to Boeing (News - Alert). To meet requirements for the Indian navy, Raytheon has added an air-to-air mode, which provides the detection and tracking of airborne targets, allowing customers to detect threats in the air as well as at sea. In addition, an interleaved weather and surface search capability has been added to provide the cockpit with up-to-date weather avoidance information while performing surveillance missions.