Adapt4's XG1™ family of products provides such a solution. The cognitive radios support point-to-multipoint (star) and point-to-point networks. Each remote may serve as a repeating radio to link distant sites or networks. XG1 cognitive radios use patent-pending ASAP (Automatic Spectral Adaptation Protocol) cognitive frequency management in which the radio may use up to 45 radio channels simultaneously, each of which can instantly change to avoid interference - this requires no human intervention.
By using ASAP frequency management in the band below 1 GHz, the network owner has wide coverage with a secondary license, thereby avoiding the circus atmosphere and poor coverage of the higher-frequency unlicensed bands. (Additional bands will be added in the future.)
XG1 networks support a wide variety of applications through the radio's Ethernet and serial interfaces. With its multicarrier capability, the XG1 cognitive radio can support a variety of applications, including SCADA, telemetry, security (including video surveillance), mobile IP and others.
Bandwidth
The network owner can remotely manage XG1 networks to adjust the bandwidth used from 1200 baud to 100 Kb/s. The radio uses from one to forty-five 4 Kb/s channels simultaneously. The radio spreads the user's data over the channels. And if one of the channels becomes interfered with, that individual channel will move to another frequency automatically.
Versatility
The XG1 cognitive radio has Ethernet and serial ports. Ethernet enables a wide variety of switched and routed applications. The XG1 operates as an Ethernet switch and is therefore transparent to the network layer, such as IP, IPX and others. Adapt4 has qualified several Ethernet cameras for use over the network and many others will work without problem. The serial ports support a variety of asynchronous RS-232 applications, including transparent async, SCADA protocols and telemetry protocols. Asynchronous data can also be tunneled over Ethernet. XG1 cognitive radios also enjoy full integration with the Data Flow Systems line of telemetry and SCADA networking products.
Immunity to Band-Crowding
Adapt4 is a pioneer in implementing practical, cognitive radios. The XG1 cognitive radio is the first commercial product of its kind. The XG1's ASAP frequency management feature enables the radio to constantly scan the entire band to look for and avoid interference from other users (including other secondary or primary licensees). Should a frequency in use by the XG1 suddenly become interfered with, the radio will instantly select a free channel from its constantly updated Free Channel List. Each of the radio's 1 to 45 channels is individually managed in this way, so that segments of bandwidth throughout the entire band can be used. And to minimize further the possibility of extended interference, the radio will constantly change its frequency even without interference to minimize its profile in the band. In other words, ASAP has the advantages of frequency hopping spread spectrum without the disadvantages.
Coverage
The 217-220 MHz band has excellent propagation characteristics compared to the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and other unlicensed bands. The 217-220 MHz band is less susceptible to fading related to growing foliage, buildings, terrain and weather. Adapt4 will support other favorable bands in the future as well. The lower frequency permits the use of shorter towers at the remote sites (as little as 20 ft.) since the antennas do not have to be above the tree canopy.
Network Architecture
Networks comprised of XG1 cognitive radios may be configured as point-to-multipoint (star) fixed networks, with single or redundant base stations. This configuration also supports mobile applications. Each remote data radio can operate as a repeater station to link in distant remote data radios. (The XG1s may also serve as digipeaters in Data Flow Systems telemetry and SCADA applications.) XG1 radios will operate in point-to-point mode, while retaining their cognitive interference-avoiding features.
Cost of Ownership
Perhaps the most important advantage of XG1 radio networks is cost of ownership. Some of the factors contributing to lower cost include:
Frequency Management: Every aspect of the radio configuration can be managed remotely...including frequency. This frequently eliminates the need of expensive truck rolls (site visits). In the case of frequency changes needed due to interference, human intervention is not needed at all; the secondary license permits operation in the entire band and the ASAP cognitive software automatically changes the frequencies as needed. Of course, the radio does not have to be changed out, as is the case of fixed-frequency radios.
Application Management: XG1 radio software is downloadable over-the-air. In addition, the bandwidth of the radio service can be changed remotely by the network management system to accommodate new applications. So, unless new end-user hardware is to be added, no site visit is needed for product upgrades or configuration changes.
Network Management: The network management system enables the network operator to manage the network remotely. Network monitoring features minimize costly downtime through early detection of problems.
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