Microwave Radio

Effective tool for providing interoperability in hurricane

regions

Microwave

Wireless Point to point links

Frequencies 2 to 38GHz

1.5Mbps – multiples of 180Mbps

Microwave

Radios

Hurricanes

With Winds > 74mph (119 km/hr) the storm transforms into a Hurricane

Historically 30 years cycle on hurricane activity

~ 1990-2020 active

Now we are more vulnerable due to Coastal population growths and property development

Cat 4 - Hugo,1989, Luis, Felix 95

Cat 5 –Andrew,1992,Mitch 1998

Causes of Damageto Telecom

Networks

•High Winds

•Flooding, heavy rainfall

•Lack of planning

UTCTestimoni

al

William R. Moroney CEO

(UTC) United Telecom Council

US House of Representatives

Performance of Gulf Coast Critical Infrastructure Communications Networks

Katrina, Rita & Wilma

www.utc.org

“Microwave Systems stood up to the Storms”

Surprisingly the strong winds caused minor damaged to towers and attachments.

Microwave sites were located on top of buildings or at higher grounds. They were not affected by flooding.

Critical Infrastructure Entities had built in redundancies and robustness.

Anecdotal:

Difficulty was to get to the sites due to road obstacles

Securing fuel supplies for generators.

South Florida Water Management

UserTestimoni

al

“A critical element in responding to these

conditions was the ruggedness, reliability,

and resiliency of the public safety

communications network. South Florida

Water Management District . . . uses an

advanced microwave communications

system . . . during hurricanes and other

storms to limit flood damage to property

and minimize the threat to life as much as possible.”

August 2005, 9-1-1 Magazine, “Radio Systems and Flood Control: Microwave helps close the floodgates”

•Locating the communications site on high ground•Using double tie-backs on antenna structures•Flood-proofing communications shelters•Securing backup generator systems•Providing sufficient generator fuel capacity(two weeks)•Deploying ample battery backup•Implementing proper lightning protection •Proper site grounding, antenna grounding

Site Planning Hurricane Regions

Radio Planning Hurricane

Regions• New modulation schemes

• Higher System Gain smaller antennas

• High power TX power smaller antennas

• Automatic or Dynamic TX Power control

• Protection schemes: Space diversity, MHSB

• Ring Architecture, self healing rings

• Management systems, for remote troubleshooting.

New radio technologies

Effective recovery toolPost -Huricane

It was microwave’s flexibility that allowed it to be so quickly deployed following Katrina.

It became the primary transport medium during the initial phases of the recovery effort.

In areas where lines were down, microwave links were rushed ordered for repair of the existing public safety networks, and equipment was up and running within 48 hours. In situations such as this, wireline networks are simply not a viable option for quick turnaround.

Microwave radios provided critical network connectivity among a wide variety of radio systems used by local emergency response teams, public safety organizations, and other agencies.

Microwave radio communications are critical during disaster response

#1 supplier of Microwave Radios in North America and a leader worldwide

Best-in-class communications products, systems and services

Provider of choice for organizations with mission-critical applications

Harris Radios

For more information, please contact:Juan Carlos CalleTerritory Manager

Harris CorporationMicrowave Communications Division

Caribbean Operations

Call:Tel: 1-919-593-2330

Or email:jcalle@harris.com