Tune in to RadioComms Connect for a great reception in November

The event will open at the Telstra Dome on Tuesday 18 November and proceedings begin at 10 am with workshops. The main event opens at 12.30 and, after a light lunch, a keynote presentation at 2 pm will launch the presentations.

For the first time at RadioComms Connect, delegates will be able to get their hands dirty and pick up practical experiences of antennas and test and measure equipment and methods during the morning. However, these topics are still to be confirmed.

On Wednesday there is a full day of seminars and an exhibition with about 30 stands. On Tuesday evening the ARCIA dinner will be held in the Medallion Rooms at the Dome.

There will be ample time for visitors to meet and talk with presenters and exhibitors during the day and at the dinner. There is a major prize draw at 5.30 on Tuesday for those who complete the show passport by visiting a range of sponsor stands during the day. The prize, by the way, is a 42” plasma television.

To reflect its growing importance and the resurgence in radio, this year’s event has moved to the Dome where there will be about twice as many exhibitors as last year, including GME Standard, JRD, Pacific Wireless, Tait and Vertex. Newcomers this year will include C41, Benelec, Deafcom and Infraworks.

With the explosion in digital/analog two-way radios, these are expected to be highlighted on some of the stands with equipment from accessory providers giving strong support.

Radio Comms Asia-Pacific magazine and ARCIA (Australian Radio Communications Industry Association) supported by other sponsors are the moving forces behind the event.

A major feature of the two days will be the seminars.

With some 20 papers to be presented, the range of topics is wide. Technology features strongly with Tait Electronics discussing the current P25 digital standards and their future development towards spectrum efficiency. TETRA comes in for discussion by Teltronic.

Cognitive radio is the subject of a presentation by Victoria University. Possible usage changes for operators in the 400 MHz band will be suggested. A case study from a Motorola user will describe why the future of two-way radio is digital and why it is no longer a simple voice vehicle.

With the current interest in the ACMA paper on the use of the 400 to 520 MHz spectrum still fresh, the authority will update its position and talk about some of the submissions it has received. Conserving the spectrum as a public safety environment is a case study with input from Telstra, the Victorian police and JRD.

ARCIA will explain its progress and objectives as an organisation and give more information about its accreditation program designed to increase professionalism and maintain high standards among dealers and manufacturers.

Antennas, a keystone in any radio system, will come under scrutiny by ZCG Scalar, who will look at the design and challenges of making antennas technically efficient while at the same time aesthetically acceptable.

One of the most important problems facing two-way radio is the shortage of qualified RF engineers and technicians who can service and set up the modern analog/digital two-way. In a bid to alleviate this almost critical situation, RMIT University will outline its new course, an ‘Advanced Diploma of Electronics and Communications Engineering’, that can be delivered as a four-year apprenticeship.

Integrating communications systems is an ongoing challenge that will be further examined by Zetron when it looks at a variety of topics including HF radio. Interoperability and integrating dispatch radio systems, including radio over IP, will be discussed by Cerulean.

Comparisons between P25, TETRA, NextEdge, IDAS and MotoTRBO will be made by Pacific Wireless, who will go on to look at the history and standards of these technologies.

Environmental solutions and continued remote site development are rapidly emerging challenges facing communications managers. How some of these can be overcome will be discussed by Idatech from the US.

Data applications supported by existing radio infrastructure through combining voice with vehicle tracking, data dispatch and fleet management will be issues taken up by Nexion.

A three-way approach to government radio systems will be examined by a South Australian government spokesman in a case study that will look at the experiences of the SA government.

The delegate fees are $349 early bird and $449 after October 17. The cost includes the two days with tea and coffee, lunches and workshops. However, there is a 40-place limitation for each workshop.

So, once more, it’s RadioComms Connect starting on Tuesday 18 November and with the exhibition and seminars continuing all day on Wednesday. The place is the Telstra Dome in Melbourne and the ARCIA dinner is in the Medallion Rooms on Tuesday evening.

For ongoing information on the event, please go to www.radiocommsconnect.com.au.