CORE NEWS FACTS

CALABASAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Strix Systems, the leader in high-performance wireless mesh networking, today announced that the North County Transit District (NCTD) of San Diego has installed Strix’s Access/One® Network Outdoor Wireless Systems (OWS) and Indoor Wireless System (IWS) to provide real-time mobile communications for its Coaster rail line. Consulting firm Datel Systems installed the Coaster network. The second most traveled rail line in the U.S., Coaster rail line in southern California averages 48 passenger trains and two freight trains a day.

“We see railways and transportation as a strategic market for wireless mesh networks, and Strix OWS and IWS fit this market well,” said Nan Chen, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing, Strix Systems. “Customers worldwide realize that Strix OWS has the industry’s best architecture for all wireless applications, mobile and stationary. The installation at the Coaster rail line is an excellent example of systems that take full advantage of Strix’s performance and mobility.”

Coaster uses Strix OWS and IWS to implement mission critical railway applications:

Remote video surveillance provides 24x7 monitoring inside the trains and the surrounding track to improve safety and provide evidence should a serious or catastrophic event occur.
Secured encrypted transport for railway communications secures stations, tracks, bridges, and tunnels.
Completely solar-powered Strix OWS nodes provide 24x7 uptime and emergency backup.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paid for the Strix OWS/IWS network, which currently extends 10 miles along the Coaster rail line in San Diego.

Our Coaster rail line runs right through Camp Pendleton, one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the nation,” said David Papworth, Chief of Transit Enforcement, North County Transit District of San Diego Police and Public Safety. “Our relationship with Camp Pendleton has been excellent; they understand the role of the NCTD and our wireless network in protecting our infrastructure and they assist us with that. One of the things that intrigued us is that we can use the Strix system to communicate with other agencies. This interoperable communications not only fills the requirements of the County of San Diego but also fills federal and state requirements under the Department of Homeland Security.”

Datel Systems chose Strix’s OWS/IWS combination for its performance, ease of set-up, flexibility, scalability, and Strix 4.9 GHz public safety band, which is easily upgraded in the field.

Bandwidth testing demonstrated throughput of 17 to 20 Mbps across the over ten miles deployed, which was the strongest finding on the market.
Each OWS node has four antennas; two omni-directional antennas communicate with trains, while the other two antennas provide backhaul ingress and egress.
Datel found the nodes were easy to install, with installation/mounting time of only about 15 minutes.

“Strix promised exceptional performance, and unlike many other vendors, delivered on its promise,” said Bill Bryant, Director of Sales, Datel Systems. “Once we tested Strix products, it was clear that only the Strix OWS could support Coaster’s demanding applications. In fact, we were able to implement more applications than we originally envisioned. Installing a Strix OWS is nearly as easy as installing a home wireless system. The entire Coaster OWS network was up and running in only three months, and that included setting up poles and getting power for the signaling equipment.”

In the next phase of deployment, the North County Transit District will use its own funds to extend Coaster’s Strix high-speed wireless transportation solution to cover the entire 42 miles of rail.

The Strix Access/One OWS and IWS modular mesh products deliver the largest capacity (up to six radios and 768 users per node, three to six times the norm), highest throughput (five times the norm at 35 Mbps), and best scalability (users can add more radio boards or new technologies). An independent wireless mesh test, sponsored by Light Reading and completed in June 2006, found Strix’s OWS 2400-30 delivers the best throughput and capacity and the greatest scalability for voice applications and mobility/roaming. Strix networks scale to 10 or more wireless hops with near-zero throughput loss and latency, enabling customers to deliver real-time applications with a minimum of wired connections for a given area, which reduces CapEx and OpEx.

Strix Systems is the worldwide leader in wireless mesh networking. Strix’s Access/One products are the industry’s only modular (chassis-based) mesh systems, delivering the largest capacity, highest throughput and best scalability. This new generation of products provides the broadband mobility and reach to support voice, video, and data applications. Sold globally by a network of first-class distributors and integrators, Access/One solutions have been deployed in hundreds of networks worldwide, outdoor and indoor, for service providers, metros, public safety, government, energy, transportation, hospitality, education, enterprises, and residential markets. For more information about Strix Systems, please visit www.strixsystems.com.

Datel is a single-source provider of IT hardware, software and peripherals for business. With access to over 150,000 products, Datel can supply, install, maintain and support hardware and software solutions of all sizes. Experience enables Datel to provide business solutions designed specifically to needs of the customer. Datel offers expertise in Windows XP, Server 2003, network security and compliance, voice over IP (VoIP), a range of virtual IT services and network monitoring. For more information on Datel Systems, please visit www.datelsys.com

NOTE: Strix Systems and Access/One Network are trademarks or registered trademarks, in the United States and certain other countries, of Strix Systems. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of the individual companies and are respectfully acknowledged.
MULTIMEDIA SUPPORT

    * Strix Access/One Network Outdoor Wireless System (OWS)
    * Strix Wireless Mesh Network Solutions
    * North Country Transit District
    * Datel Systems
    * Strix Long-Range 4.9GHz

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