This specially engineered wireless link powers a fully encrypted digital signal. That signal, in turn, creates a private broadband network that is solely dedicated to bomb-detection monitoring. Through this connection, MSA's SmartTech bomb technicians receive images and a voice-over-IP (VoIP) channel from the x-ray machines that screen packages. Images are transmitted in real time to the SmartTech Operations Center, where experts evaluate suspicious parcels and advise on-site security staff in emergency situations.

Outside of such surveillance and monitoring applications, a host of opportunities have emerged in the public-safety arena. In fact, many engineering firms are entering the homeland-security market through this sector. Unfortunately, the stories of the communications failures that took place on September 11, 2001 have turned out to be rather foreseeable. Local, state, and nationwide forces simply did not have interoperable communications systems. More recently, the DHS and many states have made the funds available to correct this problem.

These funds have translated into an opportunity for many different players. For instance, PCTEL Antenna Products Group (Bloomingdale, IL) recently announced the MAXRAD BMEFC49005 elevated-feed, mobile data antenna. This antenna was designed to operate in the 4.9-to-5.0-GHz Public Safety Band. It provides 5 dBi of gain. In addition, it operates both on and off a groundplane without suffering any degradation in VSWR performance. The BMEFC49005 targets installations that require the antenna to be elevated over surrounding objects that could prevent true omnidirectional coverage. Examples include ambulances, police cars, and other public-safety vehicles with rooftop light bars.

First-responder communications problems have even created an opportunity for cable vendors. Last year, Times Microwave Systems (Wallingford, CT), a Smiths Group company, entered the homeland-security market through a customer, Pioneer Energy Products LLC or PEPRO (Oil City, PA). PEPRO has developed the Secure Mobile Communication System (SMCS), which was specifically made to provide emergency communication in life-threatening situations (Fig. 1). This system, which has already been purchased by emergency services in Boston, has attracted the interest of many cities across the country. The system comprises an unguyed, articulated tower that is 30 to 90 ft. high. That tower, which can be raised and lowered hydraulically, promises to meet or exceed TIA-EIA specifications. It can accommodate multiple antennas. Impressively, the SMCS can be deployed in disaster areas by one person in 20 min. or less.

To make itself suitable for varied and harsh terrain, the SMCS-80 boasts a low center of gravity, a high-degree tipover angle, and high ground clearance. Its independent suspension was designed for rough terrain. The system is housed in a shock-mounted enclosure. It boasts RF, EMI, and lightning protection. With the deployment of downriggers, it also can be self-grounded. The SMCS runs on a propane or diesel generator up to 20 kW. It comes in two standard sizes: a 20-ft. trailer with CLP-2 and a tower that is up to 60 ft. tall (14,500 GVW) or a 26-ft. trailer with CLP-4 and a tower that is up to 90-ft. tall (17,000 GVW).

Interestingly, PEPRO ran into a problem when it came to actually implementing the SMCS. It needed a cable system that was strong enough to act as a harness. According to Vic Garmong, President of PEPRO, the company finally found an answer in Times Microwave's braided cable (Fig. 2). Times was the only company to offer a woven coaxial-cable assembly capability. To maintain a low profile and organized cable configuration, these cables are woven together using a variety of materials. This approach speeds up the winding and unwinding process while eliminating tangled and unwieldy cables. Such a characteristic is critical to mobile, emergency, and portable cell sites like PEPRO's SMCS, where the cables are unwound and re-wound numerous times.

Although solutions like PEPRO's SMCS can enable communications where none exists, there is still the widespread problem of radio interoperability in existing communications systems. To solve this problem, M/A-COM, Inc. (Lowell, MA) has come out with the voice-over-IP-based NetworkFirst Interoperability Solution. Last month, M/A-COM was awarded a contract to implement this solution for the Denver, CO police department (Fig. 3).

NetworkFirst is an Internet-Protocol-based network solution for public-safety communications interoperability. The solution will tie together disparate radio systems, thereby enabling various Denver-area public-safety agencies to communicate with each other during emergency situations. Unlike patch solutions, NetworkFirst provides "intelligent interoperability" by using talkgroups as the fundamental entity for facilitating interoperability. It provides 256 talkgroup priority levels. Because it uses an IP, packet-switched infrastructure, the solution also offers superior scalability. It can connect two nearby agencies, multiple agencies across an entire state, and more.

The public-safety radios themselves are another hot area for development. Recent growth can be largely attributed to APCO Project 25 (P25). This public-safety technical standard is driving increased growth for land-mobile-radio (LMR) equipment. The standard strictly safeguards interoperability and other compliance requirements as government and public-safety radio users migrate to digital-radio equipment.

Here too, M/A-COM is quite active. In its latest effort, the company is expanding the P25IP line of Project 25 portable and mobile radios to add 800-MHz products to the existing VHF and UHF models. It is introducing 800-MHz P25 trunking to both the P7100IP and M7100IP product lines. Those digital-signal-processor (DSP) -controlled, multi-mode radios are capable of concurrently hosting P25, EDACS, and conventional analog modes operating in clear or encrypted voice.

APCO Project 25-compliant radios also fall under the expertise of RELM Wireless Corp. (West Melbourne, FL). In May, the company received orders from agencies of the US Department of the Interior for BK Radio digital-radio products, which comply with the P25 standard. In addition, RELM has enhanced its BK Radio V Series digital base stations. These base stations also comply with the APCO Project 25 standard for public-safety digital-radio equipment. Now, they offer the added capability to transmit and receive signals via VoIP. Among the other players in this segment is EF Johnson, Inc. (Irving, TX). It just received a whopping $2.9 million order from the Department of Defense (DoD) for Project 25-compliant radios and accessories.

Clearly, this country's homeland-security needs have created a multi-pronged, evolving market. This market shifts constantly according to both the variety of targets and the unimaginable and varied forms of potential attacks. Yet the needs of our first responders and defense agencies remain consistent. They need to be able to respond in real time to threats, intelligence, and attacks. With the help of engineering companies, they are steadily gaining the communications, surveillance, and intelligence support that they need to protect this great nation.