CSI News

CSI's Tom Croda presents at INFOBATT 2011

September 12th 2011

CSI's Tom Croda presented "Off Grid Solar Power System for Public Safety Communications and Associated Protection Issues - Project Update 2011" at INFOBATT 2011, Canadian Energy Symposium on September 12, 2011. A pdf of Tom's presentation can be downloaded here.

The session addressed the design and construction of a very remote "off grid" solar power system to provide the necessary power for a Public Safety Communications Facility. In addition to the system design and electrical protection issues, construction problems and the associated solution are also covered. Systems such as this provide the basis of reliability for critical public safety communications in extreme conditions where they must also be able to be maintained by simple means and remotely monitored.

CSI's Bill Ruck delivers keynote on CAP at NAPCO

November 18th 2010

On Thursday, November 18, 2010, CSI's Bill Ruck was the keynote speaker at NAPCO (Northern California Chapter of the Association of Police Communications Officers). Bill's presentation on CAP: Common Alerting Protocol proposed that the adoption of CAP was another step in the evolution of a system to provide speedy and accurate alerts and notifications to the public.

Two presentations from CSI's Tom Croda

July 12th 2010

CSI's Tom Croda presented "Off Grid Solar Power System for Public Safety Communications and Associated Protection Issues" at the Protection Engineers' Conference, PEG 2010 on March 18, 2010. A pdf of Tom's presentation can be downloaded here.

Tom also presented "DC Power Systems for Public Safety Communications" at INFOBATT 2010 on April 12, 2010. The session addressed the requirements and design of typical public safety communications systems DC power infrastructure. Such items as system architecture, component reliability, equipment life, DC to DC converters, and AC inverters were covered; as well as alternate energy solutions such as solar power for off grid applications. A pdf of Tom's presentation can be downloaded here.

CSI releases the white paper "Narrowband Conversion and Digital Modulation" by William F. Ruck

July 12th 2010

In response to ever growing demands for more radio channels and faced with a limited radio spectrum, in March 2007 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted new rules to make more radio channels available in the 150-174 MHz VHF and 421-512 MHz UHF Industrial/Business and Public Safety Radio Pool bands (which include most state and local governmental agencies).

The FCC reduced the bandwidth of the channels to 15 kHz from 30 kHz (VHF band) and to 12.5 kHz from 25 kHz (UHF band), half the size of the currently existing channels in these frequency bands. All licensees must migrate to the new, narrower channels by January 1, 2013 by modifying their licenses and by ensuring that all of their equipment is certified to operate in the narrower bandwidth.

There are narrowband modulation technologies that meet the new rules with both analog and digital forms of modulation. Contradictory information about the rules and technologies has resulted in confusion for licensees. As an independent engineering consultant, unaffiliated with any equipment manufacturer, CSI offers this white paper to clarify what the FCC has and, more importantly, has not mandated as licensees convert to narrowband.

Download the complete Narrow Band Conversion and Digital Modulation by clicking here.

CSI's Tom Croda was awarded the 2009 ATIS Award for Distinguished Service in Communications Standards!

May 4th 2009

Tom Croda was recently recognized by ATIS (Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions) at its Annual Meeting of the Committees which was held in Indian Wells, California. Tom received the Award for Distinguished Service in Communications Standards. It is presented to a single committee or forum participant for unique and outstanding contributions to the work of ATIS committees during a period of five or more years. Tom currently represents CSI Telecommunications, Inc. as the Chair of the Network Power Systems Subcommittee of the Network Interface, Power, and Protection Committee. Tom has been serving on these committees and their predecessors since 1984. He is also a member of the ATIS Protection Engineers Group.

ATIS is the leading technical planning and standards development organization committed to the rapid development of global, market-driven standards for the information, entertainment, and communications industry. Approximately 300 companies actively formulate standards in ATIS's 20 Committees. CSI Telecommunications, Inc. has been an ATIS member since 1987 because it allows us to advocate for the interests of our clients in the development of these critical industry standards.