Fidelity Comtech Installs Smart Antenna RF System at Washington United Terminals
LONGMONT, Colorado – Fidelity Comtech, Inc. (FCI), announced today that it has completed installation of its Phocus Array™ 802.11 wireless RF solution at the Port of Tacoma’s Washington United Terminals (WUT). WUT is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Korean-based Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), which purchased the Phocus Array™ system to improve Wi-Fi communications at WUT’s 103-acre terminal and intermodal yard located on the Blair Waterway.
The Phocus Array™ solution is based on Fidelity Comtech’s innovative and patented smart antenna technology, which substantially reduces previous problems found in container terminals with RF signal propagation caused when metal trailers and containers interfere with wireless signals. By using a phased array antenna capable of generating custom RF beam patterns, the Phocus Array™ is able to focus coverage on the desired operating area.
In addition, the Phocus Array’s™ 8 antenna elements can receive partial signals, which remediates the problem with multi-path found in a container yard. With the Phocus Array’s™ significant immunity to signal “bounce,” terminal employees reliably receive real-time information on the location and destination of individual containers, which allows for a smooth flow of operations in a difficult operating environment.
“Fidelity Comtech was able to save WUT a tremendous amount of money and speed the installation because only ten Phocus Arrays were needed, compared with more than 50 of the competition’s access points,” says Joe Carey, Fidelity Comtech’s President. “Furthermore, the Phocus Array’s™ ability to tailor the wireless coverage to the terminal area results in better coverage with fewer APs, while still providing the redundancy that WUT requires and minimizing interference from neighboring networks.”
The Phocus Arrays™ are small and light enough that they could be easily mounted to existing light poles. Overall, the Fidelity Comtech solution saved WUT 40 percent over competing bids. In addition, working with local partner SHJ Electric, the system was installed and operational in 60 days.
This proprietary technology has made Fidelity Comtech a leader in RF coverage for large, open air facilities found in the maritime, rail and auto processing industries. “Fidelity Comtech is a pioneer in this area and they offered the best solution to address our requirements for coverage, redundancy, and low interference,” says Todd Cameron, IT Manager at HMM.
The ability to synthesize specific coverage patterns with the Phocus Array™ makes it easier for HMM to meet its operational performance requirements. Cameron adds, “Fidelity Comtech provides redundant coverage with fewer conflicting channels and greater broadband which results in better wireless coverage. In fact, we were able to increase fleets operating outside from 100 Honeywell Vx8 mobile units to 160-170 with zero impact on performance.”
Previously WUT used an older 900 Mhz wireless network, which frequently dropped connections, causing downtime, Cameron says. “With the new Phocus Array 802.11 solution, we are able to offer a real-time experience for our trucking vendors and we can provide more information than before, with no delays. We also are able to send our customers data and files containing all of the latest graphical user interfaces and we have many additional options for future communications,” he says.
Cameron also extols Fidelity Comtech’s installation process and “very impressive time to market.” The solution was up and running in 60 days, “with only a few minor tweaks,” he says.
Moreover, Carey notes, the Phocus Array’s™ ability to tailor coverage patterns is a competitive differentiator that no other RF solution can provide. It optimizes coverage inside the customer’s premises, while reducing susceptibility to outside interference and making it more difficult to intercept signals from off-site. In addition, the custom tailored patterns make the best possible use of existing light poles that were not originally intended to provide wireless coverage. “No other manufacturer has this capability,” he says.
About WUT
Located in the Port of Tacoma on the Blair Waterway, WUT offers the shortest gateway from Asia and the best protected harbor in Puget Sound.
The 103-acre, 2-berth facility utilizes the latest in cost-effective, advanced cargo-handling technology and equipment. The four Post-Panamax gantry cranes, each with a capacity of 50 long tons, and two Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes, each with a capacity of 65 long tons, are backed by a well-maintained fleet of tractors, reach-stackers, sideloaders, and top-picks.
About Fidelity Comtech, Inc.
Fidelity Comtech, Inc. is headquartered in Longmont, Colorado. Since 2001, Fidelity Comtech has been a premier provider of radio frequency (RF) solutions, and custom wireless solutions for commercial and government customers, including JAXPORT in Florida; the Port of Charleston, South Carolina; the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Halterm Container Terminal, Nova Scotia; Sea Freight at Port Everglades, and the Ceres Global container terminal at the Port of New Orleans, Louisiana.
FCI’s Phocus Array™ System and GeoLocation products use flexible Vector Modulated Technology™ based phased array antenna system (FlexVMTTM), which are changing and improving the way the world uses wireless communications.
Fidelity Comtech is a leader in outdoor extended wireless systems. Its products deliver the flexibility of traditional Wi‐Fi IEEE 802.11 wireless products with the capability on a packet‐by‐packet basis to dynamically steer, shape, and size extended signal beams for miles while deriving standoff location information about the Wi‐Fi client.
Phocus Array™, FlexVMT, and Vector Modulated Technology are trademarks of Fidelity Comtech, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. VMT is an acronym for the technology covered by U.S. patent #6,894,657.
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Bradley
bradleycomm@earthlink.net
928-208-9300
The Phocus Array™ solution is based on Fidelity Comtech’s innovative and patented smart antenna technology, which substantially reduces previous problems found in container terminals with RF signal propagation caused when metal trailers and containers interfere with wireless signals. By using a phased array antenna capable of generating custom RF beam patterns, the Phocus Array™ is able to focus coverage on the desired operating area.
In addition, the Phocus Array’s™ 8 antenna elements can receive partial signals, which remediates the problem with multi-path found in a container yard. With the Phocus Array’s™ significant immunity to signal “bounce,” terminal employees reliably receive real-time information on the location and destination of individual containers, which allows for a smooth flow of operations in a difficult operating environment.
“Fidelity Comtech was able to save WUT a tremendous amount of money and speed the installation because only ten Phocus Arrays were needed, compared with more than 50 of the competition’s access points,” says Joe Carey, Fidelity Comtech’s President. “Furthermore, the Phocus Array’s™ ability to tailor the wireless coverage to the terminal area results in better coverage with fewer APs, while still providing the redundancy that WUT requires and minimizing interference from neighboring networks.”
The Phocus Arrays™ are small and light enough that they could be easily mounted to existing light poles. Overall, the Fidelity Comtech solution saved WUT 40 percent over competing bids. In addition, working with local partner SHJ Electric, the system was installed and operational in 60 days.
This proprietary technology has made Fidelity Comtech a leader in RF coverage for large, open air facilities found in the maritime, rail and auto processing industries. “Fidelity Comtech is a pioneer in this area and they offered the best solution to address our requirements for coverage, redundancy, and low interference,” says Todd Cameron, IT Manager at HMM.
The ability to synthesize specific coverage patterns with the Phocus Array™ makes it easier for HMM to meet its operational performance requirements. Cameron adds, “Fidelity Comtech provides redundant coverage with fewer conflicting channels and greater broadband which results in better wireless coverage. In fact, we were able to increase fleets operating outside from 100 Honeywell Vx8 mobile units to 160-170 with zero impact on performance.”
Previously WUT used an older 900 Mhz wireless network, which frequently dropped connections, causing downtime, Cameron says. “With the new Phocus Array 802.11 solution, we are able to offer a real-time experience for our trucking vendors and we can provide more information than before, with no delays. We also are able to send our customers data and files containing all of the latest graphical user interfaces and we have many additional options for future communications,” he says.
Cameron also extols Fidelity Comtech’s installation process and “very impressive time to market.” The solution was up and running in 60 days, “with only a few minor tweaks,” he says.
Moreover, Carey notes, the Phocus Array’s™ ability to tailor coverage patterns is a competitive differentiator that no other RF solution can provide. It optimizes coverage inside the customer’s premises, while reducing susceptibility to outside interference and making it more difficult to intercept signals from off-site. In addition, the custom tailored patterns make the best possible use of existing light poles that were not originally intended to provide wireless coverage. “No other manufacturer has this capability,” he says.
About WUT
Located in the Port of Tacoma on the Blair Waterway, WUT offers the shortest gateway from Asia and the best protected harbor in Puget Sound.
The 103-acre, 2-berth facility utilizes the latest in cost-effective, advanced cargo-handling technology and equipment. The four Post-Panamax gantry cranes, each with a capacity of 50 long tons, and two Super Post-Panamax gantry cranes, each with a capacity of 65 long tons, are backed by a well-maintained fleet of tractors, reach-stackers, sideloaders, and top-picks.
About Fidelity Comtech, Inc.
Fidelity Comtech, Inc. is headquartered in Longmont, Colorado. Since 2001, Fidelity Comtech has been a premier provider of radio frequency (RF) solutions, and custom wireless solutions for commercial and government customers, including JAXPORT in Florida; the Port of Charleston, South Carolina; the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Halterm Container Terminal, Nova Scotia; Sea Freight at Port Everglades, and the Ceres Global container terminal at the Port of New Orleans, Louisiana.
FCI’s Phocus Array™ System and GeoLocation products use flexible Vector Modulated Technology™ based phased array antenna system (FlexVMTTM), which are changing and improving the way the world uses wireless communications.
Fidelity Comtech is a leader in outdoor extended wireless systems. Its products deliver the flexibility of traditional Wi‐Fi IEEE 802.11 wireless products with the capability on a packet‐by‐packet basis to dynamically steer, shape, and size extended signal beams for miles while deriving standoff location information about the Wi‐Fi client.
Phocus Array™, FlexVMT, and Vector Modulated Technology are trademarks of Fidelity Comtech, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. VMT is an acronym for the technology covered by U.S. patent #6,894,657.
For more information, please contact:
Melissa Bradley
bradleycomm@earthlink.net
928-208-9300