California Rail Line Deploys Strix System For Critical Communications

Department of Homeland Security Funded the California project for critical trackside and on-board communications infrastructure with Strix Systems high-power, high-performance Access/One Outdoor and Mobile products.

San Diego California - today critical locomotive data is delivered via high-speed secured track-side and on-board mesh WiFi system designed for railroad operations. The system, comprised of Strix Systems Access/One high performance outdoor and mobile systems was funded through Department of Homeland Security grants. It's completely solar-powered and allows engineers to monitor and critical diagnostics and view miles and miles of railroad track from a central location.

"One of the things that intrigued us is that we can use the Strix system to communicate with other agencies. This interoperable communications not only fills the requirements of the County of San Diego but also fills federal and state requirements under the Department of Homeland Security." said David Papworth, Chief of Transit Enforcement, North County Transit District of San Diego Police and Public Safety.

The Strix OWS nodes are specifically designed to the task using Strix patented multi-radio technology for inter-carriage and trackside high-speed backhaul communications. While inter-car communications is provided using 802.11g access and additional security is designed specifically with the use of encryption technologies and licensed high-power 4.9 GHz (DSRC-C) for public safety applications. The Strix system provides 24 x 7 uptime and emergency backup for uninterrupted railway communications to and from stations, tracks, bridges, and tunnels. Remote video surveillance allows for 24x7 monitoring in and around the trains. Video surveillance along the track improves safety and provide evidence should a serious or catastrophic event occur.

Strix Systems recently announced new innovations in large-scale, long-dtance railroad networks and lococomotive and carriage management for such dynamic WiFi systems. This capability, called "SuperCloud", allows for locomotives and carriages to be changed as needed while the WiFi network system automatically adjust to the changes. Unlike any other WiFi system used on trains, no further intervention is required.

"This is a revolutionary change to the way WiFi systems must be managed for large-scale and long-distance WiFi systems," said Kirby Russell, director of marketing for Strix Systems, "WiFi systems have been tested or used on trains for years and have either failed, proved difficult to manage, or under-performed. Strix Access/One OWS with SuperCloud and new Mobile Wireless System makes railway deployments a cost effective one-time event with minimal ongoing management. From then on it's all seamless high-speed long-distance broadband connectivity".

Strix Systems recently published a paper on Wireless Broadband/WiFi for railway applications. The paper can be retreived by going to http://www.strixsystems.com/railway

Strix Systems products are installed worldwide for transportation (air/sea/ground), city, municipal, public safety, industrial, enterprise and many other applications. Strix family of products include the Outdoor Wireless System (OWS), the Mobile Wireless System (MWS), Indoor Wireless System (IWS), Edge Wireless System (EWS) and Manager/One WiFi and network manager. The solution is compatible with all wireless 802.11a/b/g WiFi client devices and is further manageable with industry-leading network management platforms.

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