CALABASAS, Calif., August 1, 2005 – Strix Systems, the leader in high-performance wireless mesh networking, today announced that International Speedway Corporation (ISC), a leading promoter of motorsports in the United States, has selected Strix’s Access/One Network wireless mesh solution to create instant, self-configuring networks at all 12 of its motorsports facilities. ISC has deployed Strix’s Indoor Wireless System (IWS) nodes and Outdoor Wireless System (OWS) nodes at the race tracks and in each of the merchandise trailers that travel from track to track, providing wireless point-of-sale capabilities throughout each of their facilities. ISC selected Strix’s multi-radio, multi-RF, multi-channel Wi-Fi mesh system as an extension of its existing wired network infrastructure because it was the only mesh system that could extend network capacity by dynamically creating a wireless network which includes its mobile merchandise vehicles.
“With mobile merchandising stations that travel from track to track, we needed a wireless solution that offered the highest degree of flexibility in design, and ease of management while maintaining the highest degree of security. Strix Systems was able to meet these needs and reduce costs by eliminating the need to pull fiber to all merchandise locations,” said Michael Tanguay, Senior Network Engineer of ISC. “Strix’s high-performance mesh nodes in each of the trailers allows the network to auto-configure itself as the trailers enter the facility, forming a self-configured wireless mesh network. Not only does the Strix system support the existing bandwidth requirements, but its ability to maintain high throughout across multiple hops has opened the door to exciting future applications supportable on the existing network.”
ISC has deployed a combination of Strix’s IWS and OWS at multiple race tracks, including the Daytona International Speedway, home of the Daytona 500®. Each truck has a Strix Indoor Wireless System (IWS) node which is wired to the truck’s PoS equipment and acts as the single termination point in every merchandise vehicle. The tracks are strategically outfitted with Strix IWS and OWS nodes, which automatically associate with the merchandise trailers node via a 5Ghz wireless backhaul link.The IWS nodes then detect and connect to each other and to the fixed nodes, creating a mesh network that enables real-time point-of-sales transactions from within the race track’s facilities.
By using a mix of Strix’s IWS and OWS nodes, ISC was able to create physically movable mesh networks at each site that can automatically discover and reconfigure based on the movement and placement of the merchandise trailers. Since the merchandise stations are mobile, the interoperability of the Strix IWS and OWS enable seamless coverage throughout the facilities no matter where the trailers are parked or how the facilities are configured. IT personnel no longer have to spend time planning and re-configuring the network, providing ISC with complete freedom over the design and layout of each event.
The ability of Strix’s multi-radio mesh to maintain high-throughput and low-latency across multiple hops provides fiber-like network performance for all applications. Point-of-sale applications that once took over a minute to process transactions on ISC’s previous wireless network now take less than five seconds.Strix’s modular design and ability to simply add additional radios will enable ISC to easily accommodate this future network demand.
“We continue to see more and more customers that need to wirelessly support real-time applications in unique and challenging environments, and ISC’s deployment is yet another testament to the versatility and high-performance of Strix’s multi-radio architecture – regardless of the applications supported,” said Bruce Brown, CEO of Strix Systems. “With all of their merchandising stations being mobile, ISC needed a solution that could automatically change and adapt to the constant movement of the trailers without any intervention from IT personnel.”
“By deploying Strix’s multi-radio solution rather than running wire to each station, ISC is yet another proof point that only Strix can eliminate the complexity of planning and deploying a wired network in a changing environment while also providing the performance of a dedicated wired line – all at a fraction of the cost,” said Jim Mooreland, vice president of worldwide sales at Strix Systems.”
About ISCInternational Speedway Corporation is a leading promoter of motorsports activities in the United States, currently promoting more than 100 racing events annually as well as numerous other motorsports-related activities. The Company owns and/or operates 11 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities, including Daytona International Speedway in Florida (home of the Daytona 500); Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama; Michigan International Speedway located outside Detroit; Richmond International Raceway in Virginia; California Speedway near Los Angeles; Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas; Phoenix International Raceway in Arizona; Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida; Martinsville Speedway in Virginia; Darlington Raceway in South Carolina; and Watkins Glen International in New York. Other motorsports entertainment facility ownership includes an indirect 37.5% interest in Raceway Associates, LLC, which owns and operates Chicagoland Speedway and Route 66 Raceway near Chicago, Illinois.
The Company also owns and operates MRN Radio, the nation’s largest independent sports radio network; DAYTONA USA, the "Ultimate Motorsports Attraction" in Daytona Beach, Florida, the official attraction of NASCAR; and subsidiaries which provide catering services, food and beverage concessions, and produce and market motorsports-related merchandise under the trade name "Americrown." For more information, visit the Company’s Web site at
http://www.iscmotorsports.com.
About Strix SystemsStrix Systems designs, develops, and delivers high performance wireless mesh networking systems based on the company’s unique multi-radio, multi-channel and multi-RF wireless architecture. Sold globally by a network of integrators and resellers, these solutions address the high cost of hard-to-wire environments while providing the high throughput and low latency needed to support wireless voice, video, and data applications.Strix’s Access/One solutions provide scalable, reliable wireless connectivity in both indoor enterprise deployments as well as in the emerging outdoor public safety, municipal, and metropolitan Wi-Fi marketplace. For more information about Strix Systems, please visit
www.strixsystems.com