Uncategorized

TCI International, Inc. (an SPX Technologies Company) is once again pleased to host industry and government professionals from around the world at a tuition-free training course offered by the United States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) at TCI corporate headquarters in Fremont, California:

USTTI Course 23-151

Practical Applications of Spectrum Management and Spectrum Monitoring

May 01–May 05, 2023
Fremont, California (Northern Silicon Valley)

Course description

The course focuses on the practical application of ITU-compliant spectrum management and monitoring techniques and the modern-day challenges associated with them. The course employs classroom and hands-on activities to provide students with an overview of spectrum management and a practical review of monitoring techniques and their interaction. Classroom time is used to instruct in the system planning and coverage analysis, operational principles of a monitoring station (fixed, mobile, and transportable), principles of signal measurements, radio direction-finding, and signal identification and recording. The hands-on portion of the course will demonstrate real time application of the principles taught in the classroom and include mission planning, operational set-up, running missions, and data analysis and management.

Learning Objectives

To learn practical implementation of spectrum management, spectrum monitoring, radio direction-finding, and signal measurement techniques as they relate to the international standards of the ITU and today’s signal environment. This includes:

• Monitoring coverage and planning tools.
• Radio direction-finding.
• Signal monitoring, identification, and correlation to the frequency management database.
• Spectrum occupancy observations and analysis as part of the frequency management function.
• Transmitter measurements as required to ensure compliance to the radio regulations.
• Management and monitoring trends, and big data management.

Focus

Managerial and high-level technical, with emphasis on hands-on demonstrations.

TCI’s longstanding commitment to spectrum monitoring includes advancing the state of technology and enhancing the expertise of users. This year’s seminar offers an unusual opportunity to acquire practical knowledge and technical insights from an exceptionally accomplished team of spectrum professionals.

Apply online for Course 23-151 at https://ustti.org/course/spectrum-monitoring-training-sequence/

Many will look back on 2022 as a year marked by conflict and social unrest, from the war in Ukraine to protests in Iran. In such defining times, we’re compelled to assess our role and responsibilities not only to our clients but also to our employees and societies worldwide.

We enter 2023 by taking stock of our successes and failures to date, of global political, economic and social footing, and consider how we will continue to best serve our stakeholders and societies around the world through innovation. In doing so, we aim to be one step ahead of the world’s next challenge and continue to inch closer to a smarter and more secure future for us all.

Boundless support, both domestic and overseas

Defence teams, governments and their civilians rely heavily on real-time spectrum monitoring and data transmission helping protect entire communities within and outside national borders.

Our Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum technologies have enabled them to do this faster and more accurately than ever before.

Overseas, our Battlespace solutions are being deployed in active conflict, aiding military and defence teams with crucial information to carry out their operations. As our equipment is being used in modern conflicts, it’s also proven. Ongoing feedback from operational users helps us make the necessary improvements for real-life scenarios – meaning great flexibility and agility in our response and greater benefits for our clients.

Finding better ways to simplify and positively impact operations within our national borders, for civilian organisations and commercial entities, is equally critical. A current example is the strengthening of the UK’s West Midlands Emergency Services response to incidents by implementing data receiver technology, supplied by our Data Links division. Another example in 2022 was the inauguration of Kosovo’s National Spectrum Monitoring System (NSMS), supplied by our Spectrum Monitoring division. NSMS is part of the Kosovo Digital Economy Project (KODE), which aims to improve access to better quality and high-speed broadband services in project areas and online knowledge sources, services and labour markets among citizens, the public and academic institutions.

More recently, our team members and spectrum monitoring solutions were deployed to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in support of the Communications Regulatory Authority’s (CRA) upgraded network for RF spectrum monitoring, which provided enhanced radio frequency security during the event. In developing countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe, our technology is helping their governments secure crucial income from private companies – with spectrum RF licensing being a significant revenue generation to support their communities.

So, how will we continue to respond and adapt quickly, understand the greater picture of where our products and services fit in, and best support our clients, employees and society?

Growing business to achieve greater positive impact

Just over a year ago, TCI and Enterprise Control Systems joined forces to combine decades of expertise in RF countermeasures and encrypted data links systems with leading RF detection and location systems, creating the global infrastructure that we know today as SPX CommTech. Since then we’ve not only observed significant changes in our company structure, but also a rapid expansion of business operations which culminated in 2022’s multi-million contract wins for the first jointly developed BLACKTALON Counter Unmanned Air Systems (C-UAS) solution.

Our primary goal has always been to use our technology to deliver innovation and progress, not only for external customers, but to also drive our internal teams and employees to make a difference. In 2022 our US and UK teams were able to introduce the concept, develop the prototype and launch the BLACKTALON solution, which is currently being deployed in conflicts in Eastern Europe. This cross-border collaboration has allowed us to expand our SPX culture and diversity – from ethnicity and gender, to culture and work styles – from an American company to a broader global corporation which continues to expand.

As a result, today over 100 employees operate in regions across the globe – including Europe, APAC, the Middle East & Africa, and Latin America. As part of the wider SPX Technologies group, our financial results for the third quarter of 2022 show an increase in revenue for the ‘Detection & Measurement Segment’, which SPX CommTech is part of, from $106.4 million in the third quarter of 2021 to $142.7 million in the same timeframe of 2022 – including a 14.4% increase from the acquisitions of companies such as Enterprise Control Systems.

Innovation, sustainability and empowered employees

Today we continue down the path of sustained organic growth and are accelerating our impact through continued product innovations, expanding our reach across the globe with products and services, and most importantly, striving to achieve customer satisfaction with our offering. In addition, we’re also committed to inorganic growth through the development and acquisition of technologies and companies that help diversify our work even further, allowings us to look at new opportunities from a hardware and software perspective, as well as for employees across our company.

While we continue to focus on growth we have ambitions to do this sustainably – for the business and for the environment. We’re committed to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 2030, and greater transparency in our diversity and inclusion disclosures, as we focus on enhancing our performance annually. These commitments align closely with our emphasis on continuous improvement and sustainability, and on building and maintaining a strong, diverse, and highly effective team.

Ultimately, as we continue to scale our operations, our employees are presented with a unique opportunity to grow in their individual careers and also be a part of a larger corporate framework, engaging with different types of business models. This feeds into our company philosophy which is rooted in humble management and a mentality of continuous improvement. By allowing everyone an equal voice we ensure great ideas and values are shared across all levels of the organization, whilst allowing a space to reflect, challenge and learn from others. Continuous improvement also drives us to want to deliver constant advancements to our existing products and what comes next, not only in the next twelve months, but in the next twelve years.

2 February 2023 – Radio Frequency (RF) solutions manufacturer SPX CommTech, part of SPX Technologies, today announces a strategic partnership in Europe. Aviation sales and service provider, Global Aviation Systems will cover German and Switzerland exclusively as well as Austria, Czech Republic and Slovakia. The new agreement is part of the company’s initiative to drive growth and bolster in-country support for its Tactical Data Link portfolio, particularly for aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).

Jackson White, Business Development Director at SPX CommTech: “In response to growing demand for proven innovation in the aviation and security spaces, we’re expanding European operations via a new partner network. This is a strategic move to allow a greater number of end-user customers and key system integrators to access SPX CommTech solutions, which are already helping to create a smarter, more secure future all over the world.”

Combining decades of technology innovation and expertise, SPX CommTech’s Tactical Data Link portfolio – developed by Enterprise Control Systems (ECS) – allows a range of aviation, security, military and emergency service teams to securely and reliably transfer video and data between enabled-aircraft and ground teams over long distances for airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) requirements. The ECS Evenlode system is operationally proven and provides its users with secure long range video and bidirectional TCP IP data transfer of up to 20 Mbs.

Alexander Fischer, member of the board of Directors at Global Aviation Systems: “With over 40 years’ experience in the aviation industry, at Global Aviation Systems we’re greatly customer orientated and rely on sustainable partnerships, based on clear and aligned business ethics. That’s why we’re working closely with SPX CommTech and the ECS team to support its growth in Central and Eastern Europe. We look forward to combining our strong customer relations and orientation, technical skills and experience in mission systems, with ECS’s high technical performance, quality products and excellent project management.”

Based in Germany, Global Aviation Systems will now provide SPX CommTech Tactical Data Link solutions, granting in-country technical support to its customers.

About SPX CommTech – ECS

SPX CommTech, part of SPX Technologies Inc, innovates specialised technologies within the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum to ensure a smarter, more secure future for all.

SPX CommTech’s Tactical Data Link portfolio allows intelligence gathering agencies, special forces, emergency response, and security teams to securely and reliably transfer video and data between enabled-aircraft and ground teams over long distances for airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR).

Combining decades of technology innovation and expertise with agile and collaborative teams, SPX CommTech delivers sustainable and exceptional results to customers across the globe – in regions including Europe, APAC, the Middle East and Africa.

For more information on SPX CommTech Tactical Data Links visit www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk

See the ECS LinkedIn post: (21) Post | LinkedIn

Fremont, CA – January 2023. TCI would like to congratulate the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Qatar for their successful conclusion to the FIFA World Cup Qatar.

Not only was the event efficiently run for hundreds of thousands of FIFA World Cup patrons, but behind the scenes CRA provided excellent communications for fans worldwide on their wireless devices during the entirety of the World Cup. In addition, all media and first responders had consistent clear channels of communication during the event.

In early 2022, CRA contracted with TCI International, Inc. to provide an upgraded network for radio frequency spectrum monitoring that provided enhanced radio frequency security during the event.

CRA’s installed RF monitoring network, consisting of seven TCI fixed spectrum monitoring stations, four TCI mobile spectrum monitoring stations, 13 TCI TDOA fixed stations, and two TCI TDOA transportable stations, provided continuous 24/7 spectrum monitoring from 9 kHz to 40 GHz. In addition, a full set of spare parts was delivered onsite that ensured continued operations during the event.

As part of their commitment to provide a stable and reliable radio spectrum, CRA implemented a special support services contract whereby two TCI senior field support engineers were onsite during the entire period of the World Cup. The engineers proactively monitored the health of the spectrum monitoring system and addressed any issues to guarantee that systems were in full operation at all times.

About TCI

TCI International, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of SPX Corporation. TCI provides turnkey solutions for spectrum management and monitoring, direction-finding, geolocation, and communications intelligence to civilian, government, military, and intelligence agencies and provides antennas for communications and high-power radio broadcasting. TCI is headquartered in Fremont, California, USA. For more information, contact ann.bustamante@spx.com.

Please see the recently published article in Edition 30 of Soldier Modernisation, entitled “The Future of Tactical Data Link Technology: Meeting battlefield challenges in 2023 and beyond”, featuring our Director of Business Development, Jackson White.  

In this question and answer feature, Jackson  discusses the development of Tactical Data Link (TDL) technology in enabling more secure and reliable data transfer between aircraft and ground teams for effective real-time ISR.   Please read the full article published in Soldier Modernisation. 

Traditionally, spectrum management has largely focused on static allocation; coexistence arrangements enforced through fixed geographic and spectral boundaries.

Consequently, spectrum measurements are typically short-term ad hoc efforts to collect snapshots of incumbent spectrum usage in particular frequency bands.

Spectrum crunch brought on by new radio access technologies (wider instantaneous bandwidth, network densification, small cells, massive MIMO, low power transmitters) and use cases (wider coverage, mobility, hotspots, QoE, QoS) demand a dynamic approach to spectrum management.

TCI Spectrum Surveyor® leverages developments in distributed sensor technology (e.g. TCI 709/739) and advances in computing speeds, data storage capabilities, information management systems (e.g. Big Data) and service-oriented architecture to confront the spectrum management and scarcity challenge.

KEY FEATURES

• Data Driven Intelligence for Spectrum
• Management & Enforcement
• Networked or Stand-Alone Operation (for sensor nodes with limited connectivity)
• Task and Control network of monitoring sensors simultaneously (using groups) or individually
• Centralized Tasking and Measurement
• Results Database (TMRDB) facilitates Data Fusion and Analysis
• Built-In 3D Data Visualizations: Spectrum Occupancy, Field Strength, Coverage Maps and much more
• Automate routine spectrum monitoring tasks using Measurement Task Plans (MTP)
• Support for Data Analysis Tools: Power BI, Tableau, Qlik…etc.
• Compatible with TCI Spectrum Monitoring Systems

Smart Spectrum Assistant for Spectrum Analysis & Management

TCI Spectrum Surveyor®’s centralized data warehouse with built in analytics, visualizations and reporting enables users in assessing the available spectrum to answer the following questions:

1. Identify White Spaces by Frequency Band and/or Geographic Region.

2. Identify changes in the optimal use or uses of bands over Time.

3. Identify and Classify users- Licensed, Unlicensed, Primary vs. Secondary across frequency bands.

4. Identify frequency band that can be allocated to a secondary user.

5. Quantify differences in band occupancy at National, Regional, Local and Block level.

Monitoring with MTP

Fine-grained spectrum occupancy measurements require periodic and repetitive measurements carried out at different times in both space and frequency dimension. Each frequency band has different characteristics in terms of used bandwidth, channel spacing, channel access method, transmit power etc. that necessitate different measurement parameters for the frequency band of interest. TCI’s Measurement Task Plans (MTP) and push button approach enables users to automate measurement campaigns for specific frequency band/s and to schedule measurements at predefined intervals or at specific times. MTPs also enables users to schedule measurement campaigns concurrently on a network of monitoring sensors; each sensor running the same measurement or tasked separately depending on their location or group association.

Data Collection, Fusion & Integration:

TCI Spectrum Surveyor® offers a unified database to integrate measurement task plans (MTPs) and accompanying spectrum measurement data from a network of distributed sensors. The ability to handle voluminous data in a centralized database enables data fusion, analysis and sharing across the organization.

Data Analytics & Visualizations:

TCI Spectrum Surveyor® with advanced data analysis enables spectrum regulators and administrators to identify and determine the extent and source of interference. 3D Visualizations allow unprecedented ease of use in fi ne-grained analysis of spectrum utilization by region and spectrum occupancy by frequency band/s. Users can filter spectrum measurement results by frequency, field strength, occupancy, individual stations (or team of stations), task, date/time, time-of-day, or day(s) of the week.

Spectrum Surveyor® Dashboard

Data Visualizations

Spectrum Surveyor® is a Registered United States Patent and Trademark in the USPO.

Custom Visualizations

TCI Spectrum Surveyor®’s powerful data analytics and visualizations enable users to undertake spectrum monitoring-enforcement goals by leveraging data driven intelligence. The goal of attaining higher spectral utilization and associated licensing revenue is easily achievable with TCI Spectrum Surveyor®.

TCI Spectrum Surveyor® Requirements

• Windows Server 2022 Standard Edition Operating system and license

• SQL Server 2019 Enterprise Edition software and license

• TCI Spectrum Surveyor® Database Maintenance software

• TCI Scorpio Client software and license Microsoft® SQL Database Server (On Premise) Hardware Requirements*

• Memory: > 64 GB DDR4

• Processor Speed Minimum: > 2.0 GHz

• Processor: Intel Xeon Silver 4215 2.5G, 8C/16T, 9.6GT/s, 11M Cache, Turbo, HT or higher

• Hard Disk Drive: 2TB or higher

• Storage: 20 TB HDD (typical)

• Power Supply: Dual Redundant Power Supply

• I/O Ports: 4 x 1Gbe Ports, 6 x USB 3.0, 1 x VGA, 1 x Serial Port

• Drives: 1 x CD-DVD-RW (double layer) Note: System Requirements are subject to change based on the intended use case and data volume.

Spectrum Surveyor®: Data Integration, Analysis & Visualization for Actionable Intelligence