Wireless networks can do what wired networks cannot, and that is provide mobility. Mobile networks can be designed to carry a variety of communications, ranging from general voice and data communications to workforce automation. The services provided for mobile data networks include:

• Requirements definition
  • Define the functional & coverage requirements
  • Review operational & cost implications
  • Develop technical requirements based on the functional requirements
  • Document requirements in a manner supporting design activities
• Demand studies & capacity analyses to size radio equipment
  • Evaluate number & location of users, and traffic load
  • Forecast capacity needed for both initial & new services
  • Develop cell & link capacity requirements based on utilization
• Technology surveys & analyses
  • Review technology options available, including strengths & weaknesses
  • Discuss operational & cost implications
• Feasibility studies to examine system design options & costs
  • Signal level thresholds for coverage
  • Radio link performance & reliability
  • Antenna heights & sizes
  • Equipment recommendations
  • Equipment & installation costs
  • Implementation schedules
• Spectral analyses & frequency recommendations
  • Spectral analysis of the proposed deployment area for potential interference
  • Operational frequency recommendations based on analysis results
• Detailed system design
  • Base station location recommendations & radio coverage predictions
  • Equipment selection
  • Site Site surveys
  • Interconnection with other systems or equipment
  • FAA studies
  • Budget & schedule development
• RFP development & bidding process support
  • Development of radio system sections of the RFP
  • Support in working with bidders
  • Bid evaluation support
• Project management & implementation support
  • Project management support for the radio portion of the network
  • Implementation support for the radio portion of the network
• Test program development
  • Development of a program to verify compliance with design & performance requirements
  • Development of specific test procedures used for testing & collecting data
• Performance verification
  • Execution of the radio portion of test program
  • Review & validation of test data

Wireless data networks can do what wired networks cannot, and that is provide mobility. Mobile networks can be designed to carry a variety of communications, ranging from general voice and data communications to workforce automation and mobile access of security cameras. The services provided for mobile data networks in municipal or public agency applications include:

• Requirements definition
  • Define the functional & coverage requirements
  • Review operational & cost implications
  • Develop technical requirements based on the functional requirements
  • Document requirements in a manner supporting design activities
• Demand studies & capacity analyses to size radio equipment
  • Evaluate number & location of users, and traffic load
  • Forecast capacity needed for both initial & new services
  • Develop cell & link capacity requirements based on utilization
• Technology surveys & analyses
  • Review technology options available, including strengths & weaknesses
  • Discuss operational & cost implications
• Feasibility studies to examine system design options & costs
  • Signal level thresholds for coverage
  • Radio link performance & reliability
  • Antenna heights & sizes
  • Equipment recommendations
  • Equipment & installation costs
  • Implementation schedules
• Spectral analyses & frequency recommendations
  • Spectral analysis of the proposed deployment area for potential interference
  • Operational frequency recommendations based on analysis results
• Detailed system design
  • Base station location recommendations & radio coverage predictions
  • Equipment selection
  • Site Site surveys
  • Interconnection with other systems or equipment
  • FAA studies
  • Budget & schedule development
• RFP development & bidding process support
  • Development of radio system sections of the RFP
  • Support in working with bidders
  • Bid evaluation support
• Project management & implementation support
  • Project management support for the radio portion of the network
  • Implementation support for the radio portion of the network
• Test program development
  • Development of a program to verify compliance with design & performance requirements
  • Development of specific test procedures used for testing & collecting data
• Performance verification
  • Execution of the radio portion of test program
  • Review & validation of test data

Fixed broadband radio networks are a cost-effective alternative to placing new fiber in developed areas. The cost of placing new cables can be quite high due to existing development and building entry issues. Fixed point-to-point microwave radio networks have the advantage of being less expensive and much quicker to install in these instances. The services provided for fixed radio networks in in municipal or public agency applications include:

• Requirements definition
  • Define the functional requirements
  • Review operational & cost implications
  • Develop technical requirements based on the functional requirements
  • Document requirements in a manner supporting design activities
• Demand studies & capacity analyses to size radio equipment
  • Evaluate current circuit terminations & usage
  • Forecast growth in existing traffic & capacity needed for new services
  • Develop link capacity requirements based on existing & future utilization
• Technology surveys & analyses
  • Review technology options available, including strengths & weaknesses
  • Discuss operational & cost implications
• Feasibility studies examining system design options & costs
  • Radio network topology options
  • Radio link performance, reliability & survivability analyses
  • Antenna heights & antenna sizes
  • Equipment recommendations
  • Equipment & installation costs
  • Implementation schedules
• Spectrum recommendations
  • Frequency coordination & licensing support for licensed systems
  • Spectral analyses & frequency recommendations for unlicensed systems
• Detailed system design
  • Radio system path analyses
  • Equipment selection
  • Site surveys
  • Interconnection with other systems or equipment
  • FAA & FCC studies & applications
  • Budget & schedule development
• RFP development & bidding process support
  • Development of radio system sections of the RFP
  • Support in working with bidders
  • Bid evaluation support
• Project management & implementation support
  • Project management support for the radio portion of the network
  • Implementation support for the radio portion of the network
• Test program development
  • Development of a program to verify compliance with design & performance requirements
  • Development of specific test procedures used for testing & collecting data
• Performance verification
  • Execution of the radio portion of test program
  • Review & validation of test data

Video surveillance using streaming video over Ethernet networks has become very popular in recent years and is seeing wide-spread implementation. The biggest impediment to deploying these networks is connecting the camera locations to the rest of the network, and depending on the system architecture, fixed point-to-point or point-to-multipoint can be used. Radio links used for video surveillance are a special application of fixed broad-band radio networks described above. Depending on the application, either licensed or unlicensed radio links can be used, with the licensed links providing protection from interference. The services offered include:

• Requirements definition
  • Define the functional requirements
  • Review operational & cost implications
  • Develop technical requirements based on the functional requirements
  • Document requirements in a manner supporting design activities
• Demand studies & capacity analyses to size radio equipment
  • Evaluate current circuit terminations & usage
  • Forecast growth in existing traffic & capacity needed for new services
  • Develop link capacity requirements based on existing & future utilization
• Technology surveys & analyses
  • Review technology options available, including strengths & weaknesses
  • Discuss operational & cost implications
• Feasibility studies examining system design options & costs
  • Radio network topology options
  • Radio link performance, reliability & survivability analyses
  • Antenna heights & antenna sizes
  • Equipment recommendations
  • Equipment & installation costs
  • Implementation schedules
• Spectrum recommendations
  • Frequency coordination & licensing support for licensed systems
  • Spectral analyses & frequency recommendations for unlicensed systems
• Detailed system design
  • Radio system path analyses
  • Equipment selection
  • Site surveys
  • Interconnection with other systems or equipment
  • FAA & FCC studies & applications
  • Budget & schedule development
• RFP development & bidding process support
  • Development of radio system sections of the RFP
  • Support in working with bidders
  • Bid evaluation support
• Project management & implementation support
  • Project management support for the radio portion of the network
  • Implementation support for the radio portion of the network
• Test program development
  • Development of a program to verify compliance with design & performance requirements
  • Development of specific test procedures used for testing & collecting data
• Performance verification
  • Execution of the radio portion of test program
  • Review & validation of test data

Radio Frequency surveys and spectral analysis is a powerful tool associated with wireless system design. On occasion, our clients elect to plan and deploy their own wireless equipment for smaller projects. There are numerous wireless devices deployed these days, all of which share common blocks of the radio spectrum. Because of the proliferation of RF devices, it is recommended that an RF site survey be performed prior to purchasing and installing equipment to be sure there is not any interference that could be a "show-stopper." For smaller installations, this may not be feasible, but for the deployment of large systems using license-free spectrum, it is highly advisable. The services offered for RF site surveys and spectral analysis include:

• Spectral sweeps at all frequencies that have equipment that can meet the requirements
• Identification and documentation of all potential interference sources
  • Type of signal
  • Source
  • Location
  • Intensity
  • Frequency & bandwidth
• Assessment on the impact of the system planned for deployment
• Recommended mitigation measures
  • Customized hopping sequences
  • Channel selection to avoid interference
  • Shielding & other mechanical mitigation techniques

PCN Professionals offers a number of support services to system operators covering a variety of areas. These include:

• RF channel additions
  • Existing MW radio systems
  • Existing mobile radio systems
• FCC & FAA licensing support
• Interference analyses
• Support in radio system relocations for new services
• Assistance in moves & changes due to 800 MHz rebanding
• FCC auction support
• Special studies & evaluations