Comms of yesteryear — Backhaul, April 2018

25 YEARS AGO. The cover of the April/May 1993 issue of What’s New in Radio Communications featured the news that a five-year contract for the installation and operation of a trunked mobile radio network for NSW government agencies had been awarded to Telecom and Motorola. The chosen technology (Motorola SmartZone Digital Trunking Network) would enable the replacement of 30 existing networks and their 200 base stations, with a single network needing fewer than 40 base stations covering an area bounded by Newcastle, Muswellbrook, Orange, Queanbeyan and Wollongong. Elsewhere in the magazine, we covered the announcement that the APCO Project 25 Steering Committee had voted unanimously to forward the Digital Radio Technical Standard to the Telecommunications Industry Association for consideration as an interim standard. We also had a detailed profile of OTC Fleetcoms, a land mobile system that was being progressively introduced around Australia, using Philips MPT 1327 technology. And RF Industries was reported to have attained ISO-9001/AS3901 quality standards for antenna manufacturing at its NSW and Victorian offices, the culmination of a two-year effort.

10 YEARS AGO. The cover of the March/April 2008 issue of Radio Comms Asia-Pacific featured the Tait 8100 range of analog portable radios and the 9100 range of digital portable, mobile and base station radios. In accordance with Tait’s philosophy, all of the gear was made in New Zealand. Elsewhere in the magazine we reported on ARCIA opening applications for its industry accreditation program, the aim of which was to provide businesses with a benchmark with which to become recognised providers of a standardised level of service and business practice. We also reported on Applied Satellite Technology winning a contract to provide the WA Department of Environment and Conservation with an Iridium-based satellite communications system involving voice, data and remote asset tracking services. And Steve Harrison, GM of ZCG Scalar, opined on the importance of the benefits of combining the sourcing of overseas components with overall manufacturing operations here in Australia.

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