Connecting the RIU to Cisco Call Manager

Surprisingly easy to connect the RIU using Cisco Call Manager....

I recently visited a client to integrate radio over IP into a system they were developing that provided telephone and video conferencing to a vehicle over satelite. Not knowing the exact configuration of the other equipment involved I brought my RIU for connection to the radios and also a VS-64, (see earlier entry), for push-to-talk access.

As often happens during customer tests and demonstrations plans changed upon my arrival. The customer had configured Cisco Call Manager in his vehicle and this was connected by a satelite link to a remote building which had another Cisco Call Manager installation. They wanted to add the radio as an extension on the telephone system so that they could make calls from phones in the vehicle or in the remote building and talk to a field worker with a portable radio.

I hadn't planned on this, but since the RIU has a SIP user agent I suggested we could possibly set up the radio as a SIP extension. After 10 minutes of configuration changes we had added the RIU to their network and set up a SIP dial peer on the Call Manager installation. We could make calls from the IP phones, and wi-fi phones on the network. I was quite surprised at how simple this was and how good the audio quality was.

We were using military SINCGARS radios and using voice detection within the RIU to generate the PTT signal.

Public Safety VOIP Working Group

C4i recently demonstrated its RIU with embedded SIP User Agent at a Public Safety Working Group "Plugfest" held at the Twisted Pair Solutions facility in Seattle. C4i demonstrated interconnection to WAVE, Sytech's RIOS, Raytheon/JPS, and Mutual Link. The event showed that the SIP based Bridging Systems Interface (BSI) specification is an efficient mechanism for linking interoperability systems across a network.

C4i, Inc. is Moving

C4i is moving its US office to larger premises in Reston, Virginia. The new location has larger lab, repair and demonstration facilities and will enable us to better meet the needs of our growing number of customers in North America.

The new facility is at 1840 Michael Faraday Drive, (Suite 210), Reston VA 20190 and the change of address will be effective from 22 September, 2008. Phone, fax and email contacts will remain.

C4i Demonstrates Radio Interface Unit at IDLS2008 in Sydney

At the International Data Link Symposium in Sydney from 19-21 August, C4i participated in an net-centric interoperability demonstration showing the ability of various manufacturers' equipments to work together to support a variety of missions. The RIU formed part of Ultra Electronics Tactical Communications Package for UAVs. The C4i equipment was linked by an IP connection to other WAVE partners demonstrating a command & control voice communications capability. The small size and rugged construction of the RIU make it ideal for mobile tactical communications packages involving reachback and radio relay.

New Part Numbers for C4i's Radio Interface Unit

To meet customer needs, C4i is now offering the Radio Interface Unit in three standard configurations:
685-333-000, is the Basic RIU supporting PoE or 48VDC input power;
685-335-000, is the Basic RIU without PoE but able to accept DC power from 18 to 75VDC; and
685-332-000, is an RIU with an embedded CPU and Windows XP. This also operates on 18-75VDC input power.
12VDC power adapters are also available, with cables for cigarette lighter or Mil-Std batteries. To address the needs of tactical users, C4i is delivering the RIU to meet Ground Mobile environmental requirements of Mil-Std-810F including operating temperatures of -30C to +55C.

Tait Mobile Radios

C4i has recently been appointed a dealer for Tait radios. Why, you might ask, are we re-selling radios? Actually, C4i, as a voice communication systems supplier has been integrating, buying and installing radios for many years. It made sense for us to partner with an industry leader with a strong reputation and presence in our markets. A close relationship with a reliable supplier makes it easier for us to respond to the needs of our customers.

C4i decided to partner with Tait for a number of reasons.

• Tait is a world leader in mobile and portable radios with a strong presence in transportation; public safety; utilities and defense.
  
• Tait's radios are renowned for their reliability and rugged construction.
  
• Tait has a full range of fixed, mobile and portable; conventional and P25 radios.
  
• Tait's offerings are cost effective and typically offer capabilities equal or better than other major manufacturers at competitive prices.
  
• Significantly, Tait manufactures standards compliant radios. Tait's P25 radios have been tested and shown to be fully compatible on other manufacturer's networks. This means that if an end user buys P25 infrastructure from one vendor, he is not locked into future handset purchases from the one vendor. Tait's handhelds can be purchased and used side-by-side with other manufacturer's radios.

Learn more about Tait at www.taitworld.com; learn more about C4i at www.c4i.com

Simple Radio Over IP System

A low cost, reliable radio-over-IP communication system can be implemented using C4i's Radio Interface Units (RIU) and VS-64 Operator stations. All that is required is a network that supports multicast, (or SIP). Each RIU will connect to 4 radios for voice and data and each VS-64 provides 4 PTT channels, a mic and speaker.

The RIU retails for just over $7,000 and the VS-64 around $2,000. Any number of devices can be implemented in a customer's network to provide intercom and radio access.

Both units will operate from PoE or from AC adapters. They are easily configured and require no additional servers or software.

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More data on these products can be obtained from C4i - www.c4i.com