AA

PA

April 27, 2005Patrick Geisler Wireless Design Engineer

American Association of Port Authorities

WIRELESS 101

AgendaAgenda

•• IntroductionIntroduction

•• RF FundamentalsRF Fundamentals

•• Frequency BandsFrequency Bands

•• Equipment ExamplesEquipment Examples

•• Deployment ExamplesDeployment Examples

•• ConclusionConclusion

•• QuestionsQuestions

Wireless 101AAPA

•• Proliferation of Wireless TechnologiesProliferation of Wireless Technologies–– Smaller, more inexpensiveSmaller, more inexpensive–– Faster ROIFaster ROI

•• BenefitsBenefits–– Reduced installation timeReduced installation time–– Possible cost savingsPossible cost savings–– Greater visibility of assetsGreater visibility of assets

•• ConcernsConcerns–– ReliabilityReliability–– SecuritySecurity–– MaintenanceMaintenance

IntroductionIntroduction

Wireless 101AAPA

RF FundamentalsRF Fundamentals

•• Radio System ComponentsRadio System Components–– Transmitter / ReceiverTransmitter / Receiver–– AntennaAntenna–– Transmission lineTransmission line

•• Radio WavesRadio Waves–– Electromagnetic spectrum (3 kHz Electromagnetic spectrum (3 kHz –– 300 GHz)300 GHz)–– Most frequencies must be licensed from the FCCMost frequencies must be licensed from the FCC

Wireless 101AAPA

Radio Frequency SpectrumRadio Frequency Spectrum

Depiction courtesy of IT Research Institute

Wireless 101AAPA

Frequency BandsFrequency Bands

•• Public Safety VHF & UHFPublic Safety VHF & UHF–– 150 MHz typically used for inter150 MHz typically used for inter--local communicationslocal communications–– 450 MHz typically used for intra450 MHz typically used for intra--county communicationscounty communications–– 800 MHz 800 MHz trunkingtrunking radio systemsradio systems

•• Cellular / PCSCellular / PCS–– 800 MHz Cellular A&B Bands800 MHz Cellular A&B Bands–– 900 MHz Paging900 MHz Paging–– 17001700--1900 MHz PCS A1900 MHz PCS A--F BandsF Bands

•• Homeland DefenseHomeland Defense–– 4.9 GHz for Public Safety use4.9 GHz for Public Safety use

•• Unlicensed BandsUnlicensed Bands–– 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.3 GHz, 5.8 GHz900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.3 GHz, 5.8 GHz–– Commonly used for cordless phones and Commonly used for cordless phones and WLANsWLANs

Wireless 101AAPA

Frequency BandsFrequency Bands

•• Licensed MicrowaveLicensed Microwave–– Typically 6 GHz Typically 6 GHz –– 30 GHz30 GHz–– PointPoint--toto--point data communicationspoint data communications

•• RFID FrequenciesRFID Frequencies–– Range from 50 kHz Range from 50 kHz –– 2.5 GHz2.5 GHz–– Asset trackingAsset tracking

Equipment ExamplesEquipment Examples

•• RFID TagsRFID Tags–– Asset trackingAsset tracking–– Merchandise securityMerchandise security–– Toll tagsToll tags

•• 22--Way RadioWay Radio–– Primary voice Primary voice commscomms..–– Nextel pushNextel push--toto--talktalk

•• Mobile DataMobile Data–– WLAN coverage zonesWLAN coverage zones–– Data transfer on the moveData transfer on the move

•• Microwave RadiosMicrowave Radios–– Data and video transportData and video transport

Wireless 101AAPA

RFID EquipmentRFID Equipment

Wireless 101AAPA

Wireless 101AAPA

TwoTwo--Way Radio EquipmentWay Radio Equipment

Mobile Data EquipmentMobile Data Equipment

Wireless 101AAPA

Wireless 101AAPA

Microwave Radio EquipmentMicrowave Radio Equipment

Deployment ExamplesDeployment Examples

•• Yard ManagementYard Management–– RFID tags for inventory managementRFID tags for inventory management–– Data sent to central database via WLANData sent to central database via WLAN

•• Equipment ManagementEquipment Management–– Monitoring use of container moversMonitoring use of container movers–– Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systemsAutomatic Vehicle Location (AVL) systems

•• Network ExtensionNetwork Extension–– PointPoint--toto--point links connecting buildingspoint links connecting buildings–– WLAN coverage in officesWLAN coverage in offices

•• Security / SurveillanceSecurity / Surveillance–– Transport of security camera videoTransport of security camera video–– Access of video via mobile data terminals or Access of video via mobile data terminals or PDAsPDAs

Wireless 101AAPA

ConclusionConclusion

•• AdvantagesAdvantages–– Shorter install time / Less costly alternativeShorter install time / Less costly alternative–– Aid in operations managementAid in operations management–– Can be a security multiplierCan be a security multiplier

•• Common PitfallsCommon Pitfalls–– Underestimating cost and complexityUnderestimating cost and complexity–– No site survey conductedNo site survey conducted

Wireless 101AAPA

Questions?Questions?

Wireless 101AAPA