RACOM has been on the road again, spending quality personal time discussing market and product issues with current and prospective customers alike, ensuring that RACOM maintains its reputation as a market leader and innovator. Thanks to all who were happy to share their time with us.

Our travels started in Orlando, Florida at the Wireless Communications Expo (IWCE). IWCE’s conference program offers support with new technologies and the latest industry changes and trends. It is the most comprehensive program the communications technology industry offers in North America. Our VP Sales, Mark Sutton attended to support Simoco, who are partnering us in the US.

As part of its product portfolio, Simoco was exhibiting its Xm radio modem and also RAy microwave units and M!DGE routers. These products all generated considerable interest from all in attendance. The event proved to be an ideal vehicle to launch this new US partnership and allow RACOM to bring its product lines to a larger market.

Later in the same month, RACOM was back in the Americas, this time in Rio de Janeiro, attending UTCAL. The main event of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Utilities in South America, this year was generally considered one of the best ever. As a regular sponsor of this event we are now regarded as a key player with the customer base in Latin America, who appreciate the high levels of reliability and robustness we have delivered to the applications where our equipment is employed.

In May, we were again represented in the US by our partner Simoco at UTC Telecom and Technology in Palm Springs, California. UTC is an ideal platform for the best in the utility industry to discuss the latest technology, get up-to-date on key policies and connect with important industry professionals. The attendees appreciated the opportunity to find out more about our products at first hand and witness how closely RACOM works to support its partners.

Nearer to home we have also been busy. In late March we supported our partner Sabur at Automaticon, Warsaw. The most important trade fair for automation, control, measurement and robotics in Poland, the show helps our partner extend its market share and RACOM’s reputation for quality in this market.

Most recently our Product Management team attended the Critical Communication World event in Berlin. We were invited by CCW to deliver a Master Class titled ‘Private UHF data networks and their role in utility networks and critical infrastructure’.  The class was well received by the participants.

Collective feedback suggests we will have a busy year ahead of us.

UTC Telecom and Technology

7th – 11th May, Palm Springs, California, USA

RipEX, already the radio modem of choice in many SCADA networks and other applications, has once again set new standards in the market. The latest FW release offers yet more unique features to further enhance the capability of this adaptable radio modem.

These new features are available from 1.8 fw version:

Nomadic mode

Nomadic mode is an extension of the Flexible protocol, used for easy expansion of an existing network by adding a remote unit (Nomadic Remote). Routing is automatically established between Centre and Nomadic Remote. Any Nomadic Remote can be transferred to any other place within radio coverage and is automatically reconnected to Centre.

QoS – Quality of Service

This feature allows the user to prioritise the order in which packets from different applications and/or management connected via any interface (COM’s, Ethernet) are transmitted to Radio channel.

NAPT – Network Address and Port Translation

This is a technique in which private IP addresses and port numbers (assigned to devices behind RipEX) are mapped to one RipEX IP address. For example, it is ideal when all RTU’s in network have the same IP address.

In addition to the features listed above other miscellaneous improvements have been added.

Please see RipEX firmware release notes, RipEX web page and Flexible protocol Info sheet for all new features or contact us for more information.

AUTOMATICON Warsawa

21st & 22nd March 2018, Warsawa, Poland, meet us at Sabur Booth, Hall 1, A2/B1

UTC AMERICA LATINA
TELECOM & TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT 2018

4th – 6th April, Rio de Janeiro-Brazil, HOTEL WINDSOR

International Wireless Communication Expo (IWCE)
Orlando, Florida

7th & 8th March, Stand #2535

Now that is a hard question to answer and I suppose it all depends on your own definition!

If defined as growth, RACOM has again increased turnover to new highs thanks to increased sales in all product lines by over 15% compared to 2016 figures. This has been achieved through the dedicated efforts of everyone linked to RACOM, from company staff to our partners and distributors, our suppliers and of course, our customers who place their faith in the quality and reliability of our products. A big thank you must go to everyone for the part they have played in our continued growth.

However, turnover is only the result of other inputs. It must be recognised that steady growth year on year, would not be possible without key strategic decisions in place that guide our development and in these terms, 2017 is no different from past years.

Strategic partnerships became something of a theme this year. In June we announced a strategic partnership with Leax Arkivator Telecom. This partnership involves LEAX producing Class 3 antennas with direct mounting of RAy Microwave units. Leax will also support current and future RACOM development to produce antennas specifically designed to offer the optimal solution for end to end links. Early feedback from the market is very promising.

In September we announced another strategic partnership agreement, this time with SIMOCO wireless solutions. With over 70 years of experience and a forward thinking approach to constantly provide innovation and new technologies for a driven future, Simoco wireless solutions makes an ideal partner for RACOM, sharing the same visions for the future of the industry.

Our products too, received enhancements to ensure they remain at the forefront of their respective markets:

• RipEX now incorporates IPsec which provides a full range of security requirements including authentication, encryption, protection and key exchange
• The RAy Tools App has revolutionised the way engineers can perform antenna alignment on RAy links using their mobile phones with WiFi connectivity to the link. Indeed, engineers from a prominent microwave customer recently commented on how easy they found set up of RAy to be and that it must have been designed with engineers in mind
• M!DGE is being used in ever increasing numbers within hybrid networks alongside RipEX, offering an unrivalled solution for combining GPRS and UHF/VHF licensed radios in a single network

Our global reach is also expanding, thanks in no small part to the efforts of our sales management team, promoting our products on the global stage and to the ever increasing list of approvals our product lines are achieving in different countries around the world.

So, 2017 – The best year ever? We will leave you to be the judge of that.

But what RACOM does know for sure is that there will be big expectations for 2018 – We are confident we will meet that challenge.

2018 promises to be a VERY big year. WATCH THIS SPACE!

Best wishes to all our customers, suppliers, partners, colleagues and friends. Have an enjoyable break over the festive period and every success for the year ahead.

RACOM’s long-standing cooperation with the Police of the Czech Republic began in 1995, when we started delivery of over 4500 radio modems developed for special use by the police, meeting the highest standards for communications, security and reliability.

The Czech Police recently took the decision to upgrade their entire network and went out to tender in 2017. After lengthy consideration, taking all options and possible global suppliers into account, it was decided to upgrade the entire network with customised RACOM RipEX radio modems, chosen as the optimal technical solution. In order to meet the full tender specifications, special functionality has been incorporated into each radio.

Within the framework of the public procurement contract for the Modernization of the SCO Police System, the existing 160 MHz radio data network will be gradually exchanged to a new RipEX over the next 3 years. The total scope of the project for RACOM will be the delivery of over 3000 radio modems and selected accessories.

We are delighted, that after many years of cooperation, the Czech Police continue to select RACOM products as an optimal solution to retain a modern and effective central protection system. Czech Police appreciate the high levels of customer service received throughout our long-standing cooperation and have complete confidence in the quality and reliability of our radio modems.

Early in 2017, RACOM and Leax Arkivator Telecom formalised a Strategic Partnership and production of the new Class 3 LEAX-RAy antennas with direct mounting for RAy microwave units began.

Since RAy units with LEAX-RAy antennas have now been used in the field for more than 3 months, RACOM has been liaising closely with some of its partners to collect their experiences and feedback.

The feedback received has been generally positive. Users are impressed with the narrow and sharp beam pattern which makes antenna alignment much easier, especially when using the RAy Tools App. Additionally, excellent side lobe suppression, the light weight and easy installation have been appreciated.

Let us share a few quotes received from our partners:

Martin Králík, NHK Solutions, installing RAy links mainly for CETIN and Vodafone:
“LEAX-RAy antennas very good side lobe suppression as well as exceptional resistance to interference of RAy units have made it easier for us to mount the links in premium positions on busy sites and still experience excellent signal strength and speed”.

Ondřej Dvořák, SUPTel-DISK, installing RAy links mainly for Vodafone:
“Although it is hard to believe, RAy’s unique filter for 10 GHz band is further enhanced in harsh conditions by the side lobe suppression built in to LEAX-RAy antennas. We have got less troubles on Vodafone crowded sites now”.

Miroslav Bebjak, RACOM SLOVENSKO, supplying RAy links mainly to ISP market:
“Our ISP customers are always asking for reliable long haul links. Combining RAy’s exceptional system gain with the excellent antenna gain offered on LEAX-RAy antennas has increased signal strength in real terms on such links and is very much appreciated by our ISP customers”.

All this positive feedback catalyses RACOM-Leax co-operation in the field of R&D. We are hoping to introduce the next generation LEAX-RAy antennas soon.

Towards the end of September, we attended the EUTC annual conference, hosted this year in Lisbon, Portugal. The core theme of the conference was ‘Telecommunications empowering the digital utility’.

EUTC continues the quest to inform, understand and share best practices from around the world in the highly specialised world of Utility Telecommunications. The conference brings new insights to this field, updates on progress across working groups and actively encourages the sharing of expert opinion and practical deployment through formal and informal discussion. Delegates have ample opportunity to network in an intense, focused but enjoyable atmosphere, over three days of presentations, panels and workshops.

Becoming a focal talking point in recent years, security once again featured highly in discussions. Perhaps appropriate then that RACOM chose this event to introduce the latest RipEX firmware release including IPsec and other security features, to provide a fully secure radio network without compromises!

As ever, our guys took full advantage of the focused attention of so many influential people from the utilities market to establish current and future requirements in the market and ensure that RACOM continues to position itself where it can meet that need and remain placed, as a producer that should be considered as a viable option in any radio network.

Thanks for the time shared with so many friends, old and new and we look forward to meeting up again in the near future.