Sunday, March 19, 2006

SkyPilot's SkyExtender TriBand Integrates Public Wi-Fi and 4.9 GHz Public Safety Bands

SkyPilot Networks introduced its SkyExtender TriBand product for integrating its 5 GHz synchronous mesh backhaul platform with two high-power access points, one dedicated to licensed 4.9 GHz public safety applications and one dedicated to 2.4 GHz public Wi-Fi access.



The SkyExtender TriBand is designed for the combined requirements of public/private partnerships between municipalities and service providers. Such networks may use US-licensed 4.9 GHz public safety spectrum to serve the field connectivity needs of first responders, including police, fire and emergency services, and may use 2.4 GHz to deliver public Wi-Fi access.



Through the use of industry standard IEEE 802.11a, SkyPilot enables connectivity with 4.9 GHz public safety solutions, including solutions from In Motion Technology, Padcom, and Ubiquiti Networks.



  • In Motion Technology's onBoard Mobile Gateway (oMG) is a trunk-mountable, environmentally hardened wireless communications gateway for use in police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and other public safety vehicles. As part of a mobile service delivery platform, the oMG transparently enables multiple Ethernet, Wi-Fi (802.11i) or serial devices in the vehicle to connect securely with the agency's headquarters over SkyPilot's 4.9 GHz technology or carrier networks such as EVDO based on best available coverage.


  • Padcom's TotalRoam Mobile VPN software provides a continuous mobile connectivity solution that integrates wireless broadband and public and private wide area networks, allowing users to seamlessly and securely roam between available networks without the need to reconnect. In addition, Padcom's in-vehicle Remote Access Router hardware platform manages mobile connectivity for public safety vehicles, such as police squad cars, fire trucks, and ambulances.


  • Ubiquiti SuperRange4 Cardbus solution is a high-power 4.9 GHz Cardbus product that provides laptops with connectivity to the US-licensed 4.9 GHz public safety network.


The SkyExtender TriBand is currently in trials and is scheduled for first customer shipments in May. The list price of $4,199 is inclusive of the full dual access point configuration with 2.4 and 4.9 GHz omnidirectional antennas and synchronous mesh backhaul with a 5 GHz eight-way directional antenna array.

http://www.skypilot.co