BitWave nears volume production of chip 

By Donny Jackson

BitWave Semiconductor is “on target” to begin volume production of its frequency-agile Softranceiver chip late this year or during the first quarter of 2009, a company official said this week....

Myriad obstacles stand in the way of 911’s bright future 

By Glenn Bischoff

A panel discussing the future of the 911 system and emergency communications spoke of wondrous new capabilities, some of which first responders “haven’t even dreamed of yet.” ...

Verizon, Cisco team to make offering 

By Donny Jackson

Verizon, Cisco, to provide network-based interoperable communications between disparate systems while leveraging entities’ existing LMR infrastructure....

Kenwood unveils P25 repeater system 

By Glenn Bischoff

The system consists of the TKR-740/840 repeater and the TRK-C40 P25 controller, which supports up to four conventional P25 channels to deliver digital communications while also providing continuous service to analog operations....

JPS adds advanced trunking capability to P25 platform 

By Glenn Bischoff

Raytheon’s JPS Communications has added composite channel trunking to its P25net Project 25-compliant, digital, trunked radio communications system...

Cisco, Positron launch new platform 

By Donny Jackson

Cisco and IPC-Positron today announced a new platform that integrates Cisco’s unified communications system and IPC-Positron’s VIPER offering to provide an IP-based solution for a new generation of emergency-response communications....

Exalt announces deployment with New York county 

By Donny Jackson

Wireless-backhaul vendor Exalt Communication yesterday announced that Orleans County, N.Y., has deployed its 4.9 GHz solution to replace a microwave system that the county opted to discontinue after less than a year of usage....

Motorola to cut 150 jobs with R&D restructuring 

By Donny Jackson

Motorola has announced a research-and-development (R&D) restructuring as part of its strategic review process that is expected to result in 150 job cuts, according to a company spokeswoman...

Positron launches new CAD system 

By Donny Jackson

TAMPA--Positron Public Safety Systems announced VIPER CAD, its new computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system that features a flexible, scalable architecture and a unique user interface, at the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) annual conference this week....

Arch Rock unveils OEM version of wireless networking suite 

By Mary Rose Roberts

Arch Rock today unveiled an original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, version of its IP-based PhyNet technology suite that now can be embedded into third-party sensing and control devices for the public safety, utility and municipal sectors...

IAFC working group releases digital best practices 

By Donny Jackson

Some digital-radio problems in fireground settings can be offset with proper procedures and training, the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) said yesterday while releasing a presentation on technical best practices for using portable digital radios...

Cobham to buy M/A-COM unit 

By Donny Jackson

Cobham recently agreed to pay $380 million for the radio-frequency components and subsystem business of M/A-COM, which is separate from the public-safety business of Tyco Electronics’ M/A-COM....

MA-COM announces availability of high-power 4.9 GHz WiMAX solution 

By Donny Jackson

Tyco Electronics’ M/A-COM yesterday announced the availability of new high-power, 4.9 GHz WiMAX base stations and subscriber stations that are designed to be used by utilities and public-safety agencies...

Court tells FCC to revisit BPL rules 

By Donny Jackson

FCC commissioners need to do a better job justifying the agency’s rules governing broadband-over-power-line (BPL) emission levels, according to a federal appeals court...

Motorola announces availability of point-to-point offering 

By Donny Jackson

Motorola this week announced the availability of its PTP 500 series of wireless Ethernet bridges, which are designed to complement the vendor giant’s existing point-to-point portfolio...