How do you modernise a nationwide water telemetry network – migrating from analogue protocols to secure digital communication – without adding new base stations, new frequencies or interrupting service? For Affinity Water, the largest water-only supplier in the UK, the answer was RipEX.

Affinity Water, serving more than 3.6 million people and delivering 900 million litres of water daily, identified the need to upgrade:

• 5 scanner (base) stations
• approximately 150 remote sites

The upgrade required meeting strict criteria:

• migrate from analogue to digital radio to enable modern security features
• avoid adding extra base stations, extra licensing or new frequencies
• allow both networks to run concurrently during migration
• ensure compatibility with legacy Proteus 2000 and Serck RTUs
• progress toward the Water Industry Telemetry Standard

As part of the tender process, suppliers were required to demonstrate high-stress migration scenarios.

Bench tests validated:

• full support for the legacy protocol
• correct routing of traffic through RipEX during hybrid operation
• transparent interoperability with existing RTUs

Field tests followed, using:

• one migration base station
• three weak-signal remotes
• legacy and migration networks running simultaneously
• shared operation on the same frequency

RACOM’s Migration Solution passed all tests smoothly, implemented by EMR Integrated Solutions with support from the RACOM team.

After evaluating multiple vendors, Affinity Water selected RipEX as the optimal platform for its multi-year telemetry upgrade.

Key achievements:

• no need for new frequencies, new licenses or additional base stations
• migration completed without interrupting the legacy network
• exceptionally fast rollout thanks to engineer-friendly operation
• seamless transition to secure digital telemetry
• powerful remote management tools

Affinity Water’s Telemetry Systems Manager, Andrew Fletcher, explained:

“With RipEX base stations we now have, we don’t need to revisit sites twice to change frequencies and we don’t need additional base stations or licenses. There’s a big benefit to that.”

Through RipEX’s advanced monitoring features, engineers can remotely detect atmospheric interference, track trends and respond faster:

“With RipEX we can log in remotely, see how interference is climbing and where. It reduces the effort required to identify the problem and it’s speedier for us to respond.”

A Future-Proofed Digital Telemetry Network

RipEX now forms the backbone of Affinity Water’s upgraded telemetry system, providing:

• secure digital communication
• improved fault diagnosis
• streamlined maintenance and fewer site visits
• substantial operational cost savings

The project demonstrates how even large, complex water telemetry networks can migrate smoothly and efficiently – with RipEX enabling digital communication for years to come.

How do you build a real-time environmental monitoring network in harsh marine conditions – where saltwater corrosion, long radio paths and 24/7 reliability requirements rule out most technologies? In Kuwait, the answer is RipEX.

The Arabian Gulf is one of the busiest shipping regions in the world, with frequent tanker traffic and offshore mooring points used for loading crude oil. Protecting these sensitive waters is a national priority.

The Environment Public Authority (EPA) of Kuwait required a monitoring system capable of:

• continuous real-time reporting from offshore buoys
• early warning of oil spills and water contamination
• long-distance communication over open sea
• operation in a corrosive and high-temperature marine climate
• extremely high reliability with minimal maintenance
• solar-powered operation
• support for multiple repeaters due to radio distance and curvature of the sea

Only an industrial-grade radio modem could meet these requirements.

After evaluating available technologies, EPA Kuwait selected RACOM RipEX as the only radio platform robust enough for continuous offshore operation.

The communication network operates in the 300 MHz band using Flexible protocol, enabling:

• multi-hop routing through several repeaters
• stable transmission across long sea paths
• reliable operation from solar-powered floating stations
• constant connectivity between the control centre and far-off buoys

RipEX’s industrial hardened design – including heavy-duty components, corrosion resistance and extended temperature tolerance – made it uniquely suited to the Gulf marine environment.

The system was commissioned in 2017 and has operated reliably ever since, helping Kuwait’s EPA:

• monitor coastal water quality
• detect and react to oil spills faster
• maintain regulatory oversight of tanker activity
• reduce operational costs thanks to minimal maintenance
• rely on stable offshore telemetry even during harsh weather

RipEX has proven to be a mission-critical component of Kuwait’s marine environmental protection strategy – ensuring the safety of one of the region’s most important ecosystems.

How do you extend reliable SCADA connectivity to remote rural communities scattered across mountains and semi-arid plains – where long distances, challenging geography and minimal infrastructure make communication difficult? For Edesa in Argentina, the answer was RipEX.

Empresa Distribuidora de Electricidad de Salta S.A. (Edesa) is responsible for electricity distribution across the province of Salta in northwest Argentina. The company is deeply committed to:

• delivering high-quality service
• ensuring safety in power operations
• enabling economic development for rural and agricultural sectors

But Salta Province is geographically complex:

• large rural zones with low population density
• long distances between substations and reclosers
• mountainous and semi-arid regions with minimal infrastructure

To fulfil its promise of providing electricity to every community that requests it, Edesa needed a reliable communication system capable of supporting reclosers and SCADA functions over long distances.

For a newly built rural distribution network, Edesa deployed RipEX radio modems to connect reclosers directly to the SCADA system.

Key solution characteristics:

• operation in Bridge mode for simple, transparent integration
• mounted in rugged cabinets installed on poles in both towns and remote mountain areas
• average link distances between 20 and 30 km
• use of the 400 MHz band for long-range, interference-resistant propagation

Why RipEX:

• built from heavy-duty industrial components
• robust die-cast aluminium housing
• excellent resistance to multipath propagation and radio interference
• proven 24/7 availability for mission-critical SCADA
• strong security functions
• simple configuration and remote management

RipEX now enables:

• secure, stable SCADA connectivity across long rural distances
• reliable recloser control in mountainous and semi-arid environments
• improved operational awareness for Edesa
• uninterrupted service for communities newly connected to the power grid

Edesa has been highly satisfied with the performance of the radio network and plans to continue using RipEX as it expands service to additional rural regions of Salta Province.

How do you deliver high-capacity connectivity across 10 km wireless spans – reliably, consistently and in all weather? ACE Telecom found the answer in RAy24.

Founded in 1997,  ACE Telecom is a fully Hungarian-owned ISP that set out to bring high-quality Internet services to business customers in areas underserved by traditional operators. Today, their portfolio has expanded significantly – and so have the demands placed on their network.

To keep pace with customer expectations, ACE Telecom needed a backhaul solution that could:

• Maintain maximum throughput even on long-distance links
• Deliver exceptional resistance to interference
• Guarantee reliability in full outdoor installations
• Provide a future-proof, carrier-grade foundation for further network growth

ACE Telecom became one of the first ISPs in Hungary to deploy RAy24 microwave units in their backbone network. The decision was driven by RAy’s exceptional system gain, robust disturbance immunity, and proven engineering quality.

Equipped with 68 cm antennas, the RAy24 links deliver remarkable performance across long distances. One of ACE’s flagship links – stretching 10.2 km – has been operating at full capacity of 360 Mb from the very first day.

Attila Farmosi, Managing Director of ACE Telecom, reports high satisfaction with the stable, high-throughput data transfer that RAy24 provides.

With RAy24, ACE Telecom has achieved:

• Consistent full-speed operation even across 10 km+ links
• Robust performance thanks to exceptional system gain
• High reliability in fully outdoor, all-weather deployments
• A scalable backbone preparing the network for future expansion

ACE Telecom now considers RAy24 not just an upgrade – but a core building block of its long-term infrastructure strategy.

How do you guarantee constant, deterministic communication for cableways and funiculars operating in tunnels, blind bends and extreme mountain terrain? In both France and Czechia, operators turned to RipEX to ensure the highest level of passenger safety.

RipEX in 160 MHz ensures 100% link availability despite blind bends and tunnels

In the Rhône-Alps region of France, operators of the Saint-Hilaire du Touvet funicular sought to implement a positive-safety communication system. The funicular connects Montfort with the alpine village of Saint-Hilaire du Touvet, climbing 600 metres and famously transporting participants of the Icarus Cup, one of Europe’s largest free-flight festivals.

The challenge:

• the route includes two blind bends and a tunnel, making radio communication extremely difficult
• the system required a continuous “OK” heartbeat from each train every two seconds
• any missed frame must trigger an immediate stop for safety

After evaluating multiple technologies, only RipEX provided a signal with 100% availability, thanks to its exceptional sensitivity and robust performance in obstructed terrain.

How it works:

• each funicular car is equipped with a RipEX radio
• a fixed RipEX acts as the base station
• every two seconds, the train sends an “OK” frame
• if any device sends an alarm or fails to receive its regular heartbeat, the system immediately stops the funicular

The system uses 169.4 MHz, a license-free band under strict conditions. RipEX’s high data rate ensures each frame uses only a few milliseconds – comfortably below the 1% duty cycle limit even with Flexible protocol and acknowledgements.

RipEX at 400 MHz adds a second independent safety system for gondola operations

In Horní Hanychov (Liberec), Easy Control Morava sought to strengthen safety on the gondolas transporting tourists to the top of Ještěd mountain, a major regional landmark with panoramic views into Germany and Poland.

To increase operational safety, a second independent communication channel was required between:

• the gondola drivers and the central control system

Multiple technologies were tested, but only RipEX provided the reliability required for this safety-critical application.

The system architecture:

• each gondola driver communicates with a PLC
• the PLC enforces an emergency stop if communication fails
• the application uses TCP/IP over RipEX
• operation is in the 400 MHz band, using Base Driven protocol and 16DEQAM modulation

Both installations benefited from close cooperation between the operators and RACOM’s support engineers, ensuring smooth deployment and commissioning.

In both France and Czechia, RipEX technology now plays a key role in:

• increasing passenger safety
• delivering stable communications in harsh and obstructed terrain
• enabling deterministic safety logic with immediate reaction
• complying with regulatory and operational requirements

Both operators report high satisfaction with the improved safety levels delivered by RipEX.

How do you deliver real-time video and telemetry from seven major traffic arteries – through a dense urban environment full of RF noise, reflections and limited installation options? Prague found the answer in RAy.

Prague’s road traffic has grown dramatically in recent years. To keep the city moving, the Prague Technical Maintenance Communication Centre launched a project to monitor traffic flow across key routes. The solution was designed and delivered by Kapsch TrafficCom Construction & Realization together with CAMEA and was deployed in 2015, with partial EU funding.

The system needed to transport:

• High-volume video streams from roadside cameras
• Telemetry and traffic-flow data
• Signals from visual-detection sensors
• All of it aggregated over repeaters placed along road corridors

Given the amount of data and Prague’s challenging RF environment, microwave links were the only viable choice.

After extensive comparison of technologies, CAMEA selected RAy as the backbone for all traffic-monitoring links.

Why RAy proved the optimal solution:

• High resistance to interference in dense urban environments
• Very low power consumption
• Full outdoor design and compact dimensions
• Ability to mount directly on existing street-light infrastructure
• Smaller antennas thanks to excellent sensitivity and system gain
• Simplified installation with no need for new power circuits or construction work

RACOM provided full path-analysis consulting during the design phase – recommending the ideal frequency (10 or 24 GHz) for each route based on potential interference and topology.

More than 60 RAy links are now in operation across the city, reliably carrying video and telemetry from seven arterial routes into the central control room.

Jan Sedláček, Head of the CAMEA IT Department, explains:

“The reliability of the RAy units was a key factor for us. Any microwave outage would interrupt the entire chain of data further along the route, and physical access for repairs would be costly and disruptive. After a year and a half of operation, our decision has been fully validated – there have been zero stability issues since day one.”

RAy has become the backbone of Prague’s traffic-flow monitoring system – delivering stable, interference-resistant connectivity in one of Europe’s busiest capitals.

How do you ensure reliable communication for mountain rescuers operating at 1,700 metres – in an area with steep cliffs, deep valleys, unpredictable weather and no line of sight? For TOPR, the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service, the answer was RipEX.

TOPR (Tatrzańskie Ochotnicze Pogotowie Ratunkowe), founded in 1909, is responsible for:

• mountain rescue operations
• avalanche and weather reporting
• supporting helicopter rescue teams
• protecting hikers and climbers in the Tatras region

A key element of the rescue infrastructure is a permanently staffed mountain shelter located at 1,700 m altitude. While the PMR base station near the shelter provided local radio coverage, it had no backhaul connection to:

• other PMR base stations in the valley
• dispatch teams
• helicopter crews

As a result:

• rescuers at the shelter were isolated from the main communication network
• GSM service was extremely unreliable due to mountainous blind spots
• tourist traffic often congested the mobile network
• coordination during emergencies was significantly hindered

TOPR needed a private, reliable, trunked PMR backhaul link between the mountain base station and the valley.

A 5 GHz microwave solution was evaluated, but link analysis showed it was impossible due to NLOS conditions.

RipEX was selected because it could reliably operate:

• in full NLOS,
• over a 15 km mountain path,
• with high interference resistance,
• and with sufficient throughput for PMR backhaul.

Technical design:

• 450 MHz UHF operation
• 50 kHz channel
• 16DEQAM modulation
• 140 kbps throughput
• 2 W RF power

Despite the challenging terrain, RipEX delivered stable connectivity for Kairos trunked PMR communications.

Benefits for TOPR:

• continuous interconnection of PMR base stations
• reliable communication between rescuers in the shelter and teams in the valley
• restored coordination with helicopter crews
• independence from unreliable GSM networks
• robust operation in freezing temperatures, wind and snow
• resilience to multipath propagation across steep terrain

RipEX now plays a critical role in ensuring that TOPR can coordinate rescue missions quickly and safely.

With its proven reliability and rugged industrial design, RipEX will continue supporting life-saving operations in the Tatras for many years to come.

How do you deliver a reliable, high-capacity last-mile solution for one of the world’s largest telecom operators – with zero maintenance costs and hundreds of links across the country? The answer is RAy.

A major global telecommunications provider – serving more than 450 million mobile and fixed customers across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific – required a standardised, license-free microwave platform for its Czech corporate last-mile network.

The new solution had to deliver:

• High reliability in all weather conditions
• Coverage across dozens of sites nationwide
• Support for 10, 17 and 24 GHz bands
• Simple deployment via local partners
• Zero or near-zero maintenance requirements
• Remote diagnostics with full network visibility

After extensive evaluation, the operator selected RAy as its official license-free microwave platform for all 10 GHz, 17 GHz and 24 GHz point-to-point links.

Deployment was carried out in cooperation with RACOM partners NHK Solutions and SUPTel – DISK.

Why RAy was chosen:

• Exceptional reliability proven in large-scale deployments
• Full outdoor design with low power consumption
• Remote diagnostics and monitoring – enabling instant status overview
• Stable performance in demanding urban and rural environments
• Consistent installation experience across all frequency bands

To date, hundreds of RAy links have been installed at numerous sites throughout Czechia – with the network continuing to expand.

Customer feedback confirms:

• Near-zero maintenance cost, thanks to high reliability
• Fast and trouble-free commissioning
• Immediate visibility of network health through remote monitoring
• Uniform performance across all frequencies

RAy has become a trusted standard for the operator’s corporate last-mile connectivity – a backbone component enabling high-quality services for businesses across the country.

How do you manage heavy freight traffic on a 180 km single-track railway – in extreme desert heat, with no fixed timetable and only a handful of repeaters? Ferronor found the answer in RACOM’s MR160.

Ferronor operates over 1,800 km of private freight railways across Northern Chile. The busiest corridor runs from an iron-ore mine through the remote Atacama Desert to a Pacific port – an area known for:

• Temperatures exceeding +50 °C
• Vast, unpopulated terrain
• Zero local infrastructure
• Long distances with no line-of-sight continuity

With rising production, manual coordination of trains on the 180 km single-track line became impossible. Ferronor needed an automated train-management system that would:

• Track locomotive positions in real time
• Securely manage desolate crossing zones
• Support non-fixed itineraries of mining convoys
• Provide reliable communication between conductors and the central control room
• Operate under extreme climatic conditions

After extensive evaluation, Ferronor selected RACOM MR160 radio modems, integrated with GPS, as the backbone of the new train-management system.

Why MR160 matched the requirements:

• Integrated GPS for continuous locomotive tracking
• Mobile roaming protocol enabling automatic handover between base stations
• Multiple Ethernet and serial interfaces for parallel applications
• Rugged design suitable for +50 °C desert operation
• Flexible architecture capable of acting as mobile unit, repeater or base station

Only three repeaters were needed along the 180 km route. Placed at dominant high points, they provided complete coverage in the 160 MHz band, thanks to MR160’s excellent propagation characteristics.

Network design

• Frequency A: Locomotive ↔ repeater ↔ main base station
• Frequency B: Main base station ↔ control centre

This two-frequency setup ensured high reliability and optimal airtime utilisation.

The MR160-based system delivers several critical capabilities:

• Transparent switching of communication routes through repeaters
• Real-time position information for conductors
• Alerts on approaching trains and passing points
• Text-message communication with dispatchers
• Seamless management of non-fixed mining-convoy itineraries
• Integration of proprietary rail-automation applications

Ferronor emphasised that RACOM’s support was fundamental to the project’s success – including assistance with modem selection, repeater placement, MR160 configuration and remote validation.

Thanks to its success, the system has been replicated in another region of Northern Chile, improving:

• Personnel safety
• Protection of rolling stock
• Efficiency and coordination of freight operations

MR160 now forms the communication backbone for one of the most demanding rail environments in the world.