'White Space' Waterway Communications System Evaluated

Hosted by the Port of Pittsburgh Commission, Metric Systems Corp. carried out Beta-testing of its 'White Space' spectrum wireless networking systems with successful results.

The trial was a tough, real-world application showcasing the superior propagation capabilities of the newly opened unlicensed TV bands, called White Space spectrum, says Metric Systems.

Using the production RaptorX (VHF/UHF Network Radio) continuous high-definition broadband wireless video communication was established and maintained over a rugged, densely forested, five-mile (8 km) stretch of the northern Ohio River using predominantly non-line-of-sight propagation.

Based at Georgetown, Pennsylvania, the RaptorX enabled a harbor work boat to consistently access multiple Internet-based streaming videos and web services while underway on the Ohio River between the cities of East Liverpool and Shippingport, PA.

The Port of Pittsburgh Commission conducted the test program as part of the commission’s ongoing Interoperability Test Bed Program (ITB) to demonstrate and evaluate new technologies and services aimed at enhancing inland waterway safety, transportation efficiency and environmental systems management.

Carried out under an experimental license from the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET), the trial demonstrated the ability of RaptorX to securely access the locally available White Space spectrum and effectively provide critical broadband enterprise level communication in areas and geography ill-suited for terrestrial microwave and WiFi systems.

Bill Brown, president and founder of Metric Systems Corporation, stated: “The use of White Space cognitive radio systems will find wide application in domestic and export industries such as Energy, Telecommunications and Transportation, providing broadband services in previously under-served or topographically challenging areas.”

http://www.metricsystems.com