Wireless Systems News

David Clark Company is best known within the marine market for its wireless and digital headset workboat crew communication systems – the Series 9900 Wireless Marine Headset System and the Series 9100 Digital Marine Headset System. The company has over 20 years of experience designing and manufacturing boat crew communication solutions for a variety of workboats, e.g., patrol boats, fire/rescue craft, and offshore service vessels.But you may not know that David Clark Company started…

Ships Electronic Services Ltd (SES Ltd) has supplied Clear-Com FreeSpeak II digital wireless communication systems to the UK Ministry of Defence for three of its naval vessels, with more in the pipeline. SES Ltd, working with SeaKing Group Ltd, based in the North West of England was tasked with delivering strong, efficient and continuous wireless communication links throughout the vessels. “The MoD required clear communications for its engineers working in engine rooms and machinery spaces,” said Jeff Dixon, Sales Manager at SES Ltd. “This is a challenge faced by many vessel operators who traditionally use magnetic loop, conventional radio or infra-red solutions.

Because communication on the water is serious business, David Clark Marine offers a number of system solutions tailored to meet specific needs. On board the City of Marco Island’s Firestorm 32 High Speed Aluminum Fireboat, made by MetalCraft Marine, first responders depend on their wireless communication gear every day. Surrounded by wind and engine noise, salt spray, choppy seas and all of the unexpected variables that come with operating in a harsh, unforgiving marine environment, communication is key to effective performance. Nowhere is that reality more evident than for firefighters and first responders everywhere, as they patrol and perform a myriad of public safety missions.

Elmer A. Sperry casts a long shadow over the history of modern naval, nautical and aeronautical technology, one few people know much about, but should, for a man crowned both the “father of modern navigational technology” and “the father of automatic feedback and control systems,” as well as a pioneer of rocket and missile technology. “It is safe to say that no one American has contributed so much to our naval technical progress,” eulogized Charles Francis Adams III, Secretary of the Navy from 1929-1933, on the death of engineering genius Elmer Ambrose Sperry, June 16, 1930, at 69.

Better communication and hearing protection in the maritime environment through wireless headsets. Clear communication is essential for a safe, effective and productive workplace. Too often, however, excessive levels of background noise make communication difficult. An estimated 22 million Americans are exposed to hazardous levels of workplace noise each year — four million are exposed every day. If you work in the maritime environment, you are likely among those four million.

David Clark Company Series 9900 Wireless Headset Communication Systems is designed to provide maximum freedom and mobility, without being tethered to the vessel. Communication is clear and safety is dramatically improved. Ideal for a wide variety of work boats, tugs, towboats, barges, ferries, harbor patrol and Coast Guard vessels, as well as go-fast and high-performance watercraft. Series 9900 systems consist of weather-tight components including noise-attenuating headsets, gateways…

Sonetics, manufacturer of rugged wireless team communication systems, today announced the immediate availability of pre-configured wireless systems that allow small teams to benefit from a combination of continuous hands-free full-duplex communication and hearing protection. The Small Team Communication (STC)  systems consist of two to four completely wireless headsets and an ultra-portable MiniHub™ for applications such as traffic management, heavy recovery, utility and construction crews, tree trimming and logging, survey crews, print shops, warehouses, fork lift drivers and more. Teams can enjoy up to 800 feet of range, 24dB of hearing protection and 12 hours of operation per battery charge.

Sonetics Launches Wireless Made Easy Trade-Up Program to Provide Reliable Team Communications for Users of Legacy Wired Systems. Sonetics has announced the Wireless Made Easy Trade-up Program for users of legacy wired headsets. The program offers credits up to $150 per wired headset redeemed towards the purchase of completely wireless Apex and Triton headsets providing a cost-effective transition to wireless benefits while upgrading from David Clark, Peltor, Piratecom, Avcom and other legacy systems. Millions of headset users remain tethered to intercom systems, repeatedly repairing unreliable decades-old wired equipment at substantial ongoing cost.

Dr. Ir. Sluiman, of eXpert ICT, is a naval reserve officer assigned to the Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) organization of the Netherlands. All analyses and views expressed in this article are those of the author. Communication between ship and shore is essential for the efficient operation and management of ships. The wireless systems to communicate from and to ships, however, are not always secure and the confidentiality of the communication may be invaded. Owners, operators, managers of vessels and shipmasters should be aware of this risk when using a communication system. Information theft by competitors may erode competitive advantages and could damage relationships with customers, information theft by pirates and terrorists may lead to attacks on ships.

Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) announced the publication of a new guideline entitled, Guidelines on Shipboard Wireless LAN Systems. The use of wireless LAN systems is becoming more accessible in public areas onshore such as airports, train stations, and hotels. However, with the exception of some passenger ships, LAN systems onboard ships have predominantly been limited to wired systems. Even though it is difficult to predict the transmission characteristics of radio waves within the hull structure of a ship completely surrounded by steel plate, there have been increasing calls for being able to use wireless IP phones, remote wireless cameras, and wireless personal computers onboard ship as such systems become ever increasingly more popular.

PetroCom is making great strides in repairing its communication systems that were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Patched very small aperture terminal (VSAT) satellite and wireless systems that were quickly operational with ingenuity and resourcefulness are now repaired properly and working near capacity. “My staff has done an unbelievable job of improvising and thinking outside of the box to restore services. Our first goal was to patch communication trunk-lines and make them operational, which allowed us to evaluate the full extent of the damages,” said PetroCom President & COO Ken Wright. PetroCom’s DS3 fiber-optic connection has been repaired in New Orleans and VSAT satellite services are fully operational and capable of running at full capacity.