Tropos GridCom Launch
Networking the Smart Grid
America’s power grid is a vast patchwork of systems that comprises transmission and distribution networks across the continent, connecting power generation to electricity users.  The Department of Energy projects that U.S. electricity demand will increase between 18 percent to 39 percent from 2006 to 2030…even with current efficiency programs in place.  Today’s power grid simply can’t meet the needs of tomorrow. 

The vision of smart grids is to create a fully automated power delivery network that provides bidirectional flow of information from power plants to appliances.  The three key components of smart grids are: distributed intelligence, broadband communications and automated control systems.  To learn more about smart grids and in particular about the key communications system requirements, check out Tropos’ “Network the Smart Grid” white paper. 

Introducing Tropos’ GridCom Architecture for Smart Grids
Building a communications network for smart grids requires layered communication technologies to fulfill the requirements at the various levels of the network from Home Area Networks (HAN) to Neighborhood Area Networks (NAN) to Wide-area Aggregation Networks, and finally the utility’s Core Network. 

Tropos has introduced GridCom in April, a wireless wide-area aggregation network architecture for smart grid communications.  GridCom is a highly resilient, scalable, high-performance, and secure network architecture that seamlessly extends the utility’s existing enterprise network and systems.  It utilizes open-standards and is based upon Tropos’ field-provien tehnologies that combines outdoor optimized routers; the patented Tropos Mesh OS build for large scale, mission critical outdoor network deployments; and a carrier-class centralized management and control system.

To learn more about Tropos GridCom WAN aggregation network architecture for Smart Grids, check out the Tropos GridCom white paper.

Tropos 802.11n Product Line Launch

Tropos has released a line of 802.11n compatible outdoor wireless mesh routers.  Field test results on a live customer network with low-power mobile clients and smart phones revealed the new products significantly outperform Tropos’ previous generation of 802.11a/b/g products.

• Latency reduction of up to 50 percent within the mesh, and dramatic increases in throughput
• An increases of over 20% in coverage area, and higher data rates within the coverage footprint
• 2-3 times gains in uplink performance as a result of greater signal strength – application to 802.11b/g/n client

Click here to read the complete press release.

Tropos Ships First 802.11n Based Outdoor Mesh Routers in Europe
Tropos became the first vendor to offer outdoor wireless 802.11n-based routers in Europe that are tested for Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) compliance.  All the 802.11n Tropos routers are in compliance with ETSI EN301 893 V1.4.1 and draft V1.5.1 standards for radar detection and interference avoidance.  While ETSI requires shipment of all wireless routers to Europe After April 1, 2009 to comply with V1.4.1, Tropos chose to implement both V1.4.1 and draft 1.5.1 in the new product to provide customers with a more future-proof solution.

Click here to read the complete press release.

Tropos Granted Three New Patents
The three new patents brings the total number of patents granted Tropos to 14; there are 50 more patents still pending.  Tropos continues to lead the market in delivering innovative products that integrate field-proven, patented technologies that enable customers to build resilient, secure large-scale outdoor wireless mesh networks.  The three recent patents relate to: multi-channel mesh routing; channel assignments in mesh networks; and mesh link performance assessment. 

Click here to read the complete press release. 

Tropos Completes New Round of Venture Funding
Earlier this month, Tropos announced its completion of a new round of venture funding.  Participants in the round were venture firms that had previously invested in Tropos; Integral Capital Partners lead the round.  The funds will primarily be used for accelerating expansion of the company into the fast growing smart grid market with its GridCom architecture.

Click here to read the complete press release.

Village of Wellington Uses Tropos Networks to Improve Water Utility Efficiencies…and Much More!

The Village of Wellington in Florida initially planned to use its citywide Tropos wireless broadband network for a range of water utility department applications including Automated Meter Reading (AMR); mobile worker communications; and SCADA.  They have already expanded its use for other city services such as building and code inspectors.  Click here to read the full press release.

Since the January press release, the Village has already begun experiencing some significant benefits using the Tropos network for a range of municipal applications, including:

Water Utility

• 15% increase in billing revenue
• Faster detection of leaks with scheduled meter reads every 4 hours instead of once a month
• Reduced usage of cellular data cards resulting in a savings of $2,000 per month
• 3 staff have been reallocated from meter reading to other customer service functions, increasing customer responsiveness
• Lift station data response time has been reduced from as much as 6 minutes to just over 10 seconds per station
• Lift station configuration time has been reduced from 8-10 hours to just over 30 minutes

Building Inspectors

• Real-time access to information in the field
• Ability to print inspection results in the field
• Faster, less expensive communications with office staff

Code Enforcement

• Using GIS maps in the field provides accurate, up-to-date graphical data for use in the field
• Ability to access case files live in the field has increased productivity and customer responsiveness

Oceanside Uses Tropos to Improve Efficiencies of Public Safety and Utilities

The city of Oceanside in California deployed their Tropos network with the initial goal of providing public safety and public works organization with greater flexibility and real-time access to information in the field.  Their plans are to continue to additional applications to the network for other city services.  Click here to read the full press release.

Some of the initial applications are:

Public Safety - Mobile workers have fast access to critical information in the field, reducing response times and increasing efficiencies.

Water Department Field Crews – Ability to obtain up-to-date information and GIS data in the field.

Reservoir Monitoring – Remotely monitored SCADA system monitors reservoir water levels from central location.

In case you were unable to attend some of the recent live webinars presented by our customers, you may want to check out the recordings:

       

Building a Multi-Use Wireless Broadband Network for Communitywide Benefits – A Case Study on Ponca City Oklahoma
Special Guest Speaker: Homer Nicholson, Mayor, Ponca City, Oklahoma
Guest Speaker: Craige Baird – Technical Services Director, Ponca City, Oklahoma

Building a Citywide Wireless Foundation to Enhance Municipal Services
Guest Speaker: Jimmy Bagley – CIO, Rock Hill, South Carolina

Building Municipal Wireless Broadband through Cooperation in Tucson, Arizona
Guest Speaker: Francisco Leyva, Project Manager, Transportation Department, City of Tucson

The next Tropos training classes will be August 24-28, 2009, at Tropos’ headquarters in Sunnyvale, California.  If you would like to learn more about our training classes or sign-up, please click here.

Check out the Tropos blog or follow us on Twitter to keep updated on the latest happenings at Tropos!