Backhaul — November 2019

25 YEARS AGO. The cover of the December/January 1994–95 issue of What’s New in Radio Communications featured the Tait inform text dispatch system, which could be used as part of an off-the-shelf voice and data system using open standards such as MAP27 and MPT1327. Inside the magazine, we reported on Panasonic releasing what was thought at that time to be the world’s smallest GPS receiver, with a mass of 510 g and dimensions of 92 x 54 x 177 mm. We also reported on Telstra Mobile Satellite & Radio Service extending the Radphone Direct Dial HF service due to popular demand (with the number of users exceeding forecasts by 300%). And we had a fascinating article on BHP halving the cost of managing more than $40 million of spare parts using a Santa Cruz Operation (SCO)-based wireless inventory control system, which used barcoding methodology, RF networking and paperless workflows running under SCO UNIX to manage more than half a million different items. It was believed to be one of the earliest sites in Australia using spread-spectrum RF technology.

10 YEARS AGO. The cover of the November/December 2009 issue of Radio Comms Asia–Pacific featured the Rohde & Schwarz NRP family of power sensors, capable of measuring DC to 67 GHz and from 200 pW to 30 W. Inside the magazine we reported on the formation of the Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) Association, the goal of which was to make DMR “the most widely supported 21st century digital radio standard for business”. The ACMA was reported to have released a discussion paper as part of a review of the technical frameworks that apply to spectrum licences. The ACMA had also signed a contract with the Wireless Institute of Australia for the latter to issue amateur radio certificates of proficiency, make recommendations to the ACMA about call signs and provide examination services to the amateur community.

Pictured: The Tait inform text dispatch system.