Comms Connect 2013

Don’t miss the strong line-up of speakers and exhibitors from Australia and around the world at the nation’s leading radio and combined communications conference and exhibition.

Where: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

When: Pre-Conference workshops, 20 November 2013; Conference and Exhibition, 21-22 November 2013

Web: comms-connect.com.au

Australia’s leading radio and combined communications conference and exhibition, Comms Connect 2013, is only weeks away. The conference and exhibition will run over two days, 21-22 November, with industry sector preconference workshops running the day before, 20 November.

The world-class line-up of speakers will discuss technology developments, from apps to professional LTE, case studies in mining, energy, transport and more. And over 80 exhibitors will present the very best technologies and solutions from around Australia and across the world.

Comms Connect is in the unique position of being able to deliver to delegates and visitors the full range of solutions needed to make informed decisions. At the core of the conference and exhibition is still radio communications, its uses, applications and benefits, but with the convergence of technologies being seen - from IP to mobile broadband and more - the shift is a reflection that the event is no longer just about two-way radio, but a whole range of technologies and solutions, all of which will be found on the exhibition floor and discussed during the conference and workshops.

Speakers - Conference day 1

The line-up of conference speakers is a veritable who’s who of the communications industry, from representatives of manufacturers to government and non-profit organisation leaders.

A special keynote address will be given by Len Ricardo, Operations Manager at NASA’s Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, who’ll speak about the special challenges of communicating with spacecraft over distances of millions and billions of kilometres through deep space. This should be a mind-expanding presentation for everyone in the ‘terrestrial’ radio industry.

Of particular note will be a keynote address by Inspector Lance Valcour (Ret) O.O.M., Executive Director, Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (CITIG). Inspector Valcour, who spent 33 years in the Ottawa Police Service, will discuss public safety communications interoperability in the Canadian/US environment and its relevance to the Australia/New Zealand landscape.

Greg Bouwmeester (Motorola Solutions) will speak on how public safety LTE can provide new standards of intelligence. Hannu Aronsson (TCCA apps working group) will explain how data and apps on narrowband networks can improve productivity. Rob Hockings (Tait Communications) will speak about unifying critical communications and Gary Ertel (Data Over Radio) will talk about increasing productivity with digital radio.

Ben Pearce (Codan Radio Communications) will speak about integrating HF into P25 systems, and Trish Messiter (Clarinox Technologies) and Anthony Lister (Tait Communications) will speak on short-range wireless applications.

Daniel Oliphant (Zetron Australasia) will discuss command and control systems, Dale Stacey (SAT) will present a case study on an LTE mobile system, Don Kitchin will present a case study on remote repeater sites and Sameer Kaul and Moti Shalev (both from Axell Wireless) will present a case study on communications within Australia’s longest tunnel, the Brisbane Airport link.

Simon Lardner (Challenge Networks) will present a case study on LTE for mining projects and Ben Hamilton (Titan ICT) will discuss integrated communications networks for coal seam gas operations. Andy Grimmett (Simoco) will speak about M2M communications and the IP revolution in radio, Shane Murphy (KORE Wireless) will talk about GSM and satellite for M2M and John Yaldwyn (4RF) will speak about high-performance, narrowband UHF SCADA radio.

Speakers - Conference day 2

Day two will begin with a state-of-the-industry presentation by Hamish Duff, the new president of ARCIA. That will be followed by a keynote address by Peter Clemons (Hytera Mobilfunk) on how joined-up critical communications will create safer cities for us all to live in.

Tasso Mangos and Rick Hammersla (both NEC Australia) will make a presentation on ‘Radio is dead, long live radio’. Scott Geldard (Ergon Energy) will present a case study on the implementation of Ergon’s P25 system and Chris Jaeger (BAI Group) will present a case study on building a wireless network in New York’s subway. Another case study will be presented by Mohd Fauzi Bin Abdul Hamid (Malaysian Airports) on moving from analog to TETRA, followed by further case studies by Jose Martin (PowerTrunk) on TETRA in North America.

Phil Kidner (TCCA) will discuss possible paths to broadband/LTE for mission-critical communications, Henrik Jacobsen (Applied Satellite Technology Australia) will speak on extending close user group, David Atkinson (ITC Global) will discuss the merits of VSATs and Aaron Camp (dPMR Association) will speak on deploying dPMR.

The two final case studies will be: Steve Harvey (Commscope), speaking on provision of P25 in Ausgrid’s underground high-voltage tunnels and Andy Reid (CSE-Transtel Australia) will speak on the TETRA solution for the Gold Coast’s rapid transit system.

Roy Wittert (Cambium Networks) will discuss fixed wireless coming of age, Zsolt Remias (Titan ICT) will discuss considerations for RF planning and licensing and David Sheppard (Kordia) will speak on the delivery of in-building DAS systems and their sector-specific applications.

Finally, Mark Loney (ACMA) will present an update on 400 MHz developments.

Industry workshops

This year sees a big increase in the number and scope of training workshops offered in response to their limited introduction in 2012. The workshops will take place on 20 November, the day before the conference proper begins. The topics and presenters will be:

Infrastructure and towers - Steve Brimson (Flight Bros), Bogdan Klobassa (Times Microwave Systems) and Lawrence McKenna (Sinclair Knight Merz).

Advanced radio over IP - Paul Whitfield and Heinrich van der Westhuizen (Omnitronics), and Les Scott (Zetron) and Jason Cox (Tait Communications).

In-building distributed antennae systems - Leo Doherty (RF Industries).

Mobile broadband and LTE for critical communications - Inspector Lance Valcour (CITIG) and Simon Lardner (Challenge Networks), along with numerous panel members from public safety and industry.

TETRA masterclass - Members of the Australasian TETRA Forum and guest speakers.

Implementing a digital radio system - Hamish Duff (Master Communications and Electronics), Phil Sidebottom, Stuart Heath, Aldo Antolini (Motorola Solutions) and Chris Martin (TRBOapps).

Gala dinner and awards

Running in conjunction with Comms Connect will be the annual ARCIA Industry Gala Dinner and Industry Excellence Awards presentations. These events will be held at the same venue, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, on the evening of Thursday, 21 November. Full details are available by visiting arcia.org.au.

In summary, if you’re involved with communications for a public safety or emergency services agency, in transport and logistics, mining and exploration, security, public utilities - or any other commercial or government enterprise that relies on critical communications - then you really need to be at Comms Connect. We’ll see you there!

Comms Connect 2013 exhibitors

There’s been an amazing 20% increase in the amount of exhibition space booked over last year’s event, with many new exhibitors. Make sure you allow plenty of time to visit them all. (Free exhibition-only passes are available with prior registration.) Exhibition opening hours are 10 am-6 pm on Thursday, 21 November and 10 am-4 pm on Friday, 22 November.

• 3M Peltor
• 4RF Australia
• Agilent Technologies
• Airwave Solutions Australia
• Anritsu
• Applied Satellite Technology Australia
• ARCIA
• Auria Wireless Pty Ltd
• Australasian TETRA Forum
• Avara Technologies
• Axell Wireless
• Benelec
• Blufi Wireless Australia
• Cambium Networks Cassidian
• CISTECH Solutions
• CNE Custom Cables
• Codan Radio Communications
• CRS Accessories
• CSE-Uniserve
• Data Over Radio
• DMR Association
• dPMR Association
• Duons
• Exelis C4i
• Funkwerk Security Communications GmbH
• G Spotter Antennas
• GE Digital Energy
• Global M2M
• GMG Solutions
• Huber+Suhner
• Hytera Communications
• ICOM Australia Pty Ltd
• ICS Industries
• Innovative Energies Ltd
• IP Mobilenet
• JDSU
• JRD Communications
• Kenwood
• KORE Wireless
• LAN1 Pty Ltd
• Lightning Protection International
• Logic Wireless
• Loop Technologies
• Madison Technologies
• McKay Associates
• MiMOMax Wireless Ltd
• Motorola Solutions
• MTA Sales
• National Instruments
• NEC Australia
• Nexion Data Systems
• Omnitronics
• Orion
• Panorama Antennas
• Polar Electronics
• RF Technology
• RFI Wireless
• Rohde & Schwarz
• Rohill
• Rojone Pty Ltd
• SAF Australia
• Schneider Electric
• Security Solutions Magazine
• Sepura
• Siemens-RuggedCom
• Simoco
• Spectrum Engineering Australia
• Standard Communications (GME)
• Survey Technologies Inc
• Tait Communications
• Telephus
• TeleResources Engineering
• Teltronic
• TRBONet
• Trio Test & Measurement
• Vicom Australia
• WAVE1
• Wireless Data Solutions
• Wireless Pacific
• ZCG Scalar
• Zetron Australasia

For more information on the exhibitors, visit comms-connect.com.au/pages/meet-the-exhibitors.