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Qatar’s New TCI Contract Includes Turnkey Spectrum Monitoring System and Fixed Site Development

Fremont, CA – The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Qatar’s independent communications regulator, has contracted TCI International, Inc., (TCI) to provide the technology, project management and training for its new turnkey spectrum monitoring system.

The contract, awarded on July 22, 2014 after a rigorous tender process, provides for the development of four fixed sites, including one hybrid station combining Angle of Arrival (AOA) and Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) geolocation capabilities. Development of two mobile stations, two 20 MHz to 6 GHz TDOA sensor sites in the Doha area and a control center are also part of this project. In addition, TCI will provide factory and on-site training, factory acceptance, implementation supervision, as well as spare parts and maintenance under the five-year contract.

Qatar’s new fixed sites, networked via leased lines, will employ the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)-compliant TCI Model 737 — the highest-performance member of TCI’s 700 series of spectrum monitoring systems. Equipped to detect signals from 9 kHz to 8 GHz, the Model 737’s digital processing provides an extensive selection of measurement bandwidths from 500 Hz to 40 MHz. This system will perform HFDF using TCI Model 632 array antennas at two sites and Watson-Watt antennas at the two other sites. Development will involve providing road access, site grading and preparation, installing 40-meter towers, generators, fencing, equipment cabinets, UPS, batteries and video surveillance.

The mobile component of Qatar’s system, networked via cellular links, will include two 4WD Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans equipped to address the frequency range of 9 kHz to 8 GHz. They will be complemented by handheld spectrum analyzers with portable antennas for monitoring from 800 MHz to 40 GHz.

The heart of Qatar’s system will be a control center with five TCI Scorpio™ workstations, a database storage server and network communications to remote and mobile stations. As at these stations, TCI will provide state-of-the-art signal analysis software to perform complex analytics on digitally modulated signals, as well as Scorpio Field Strength Mapping, Alarms and Realtime DF. The control center also will provide an interface to the LS telcom spectrum management system.

About TCI
TCI International, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of SPX Corporation. TCI provides spectrum monitoring, direction finding and signals intelligence solutions to civilian, government and military agencies, as well as antennas for communications and high-power radio broadcasting. TCI is headquartered in Fremont, California. For more information, visit www.tcibr.com.

About the Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA)
The ‎ Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) is the communications regulator in the state of Qatar established by virtue of Emiri Decree (42) in 2014. The CRA regulates the Telecommunications and Information Technology sector, postal services, access to digital media and spectrum. The CRA encourages and supports an open and competitive Information & Communications Technology (ICT) sector that provides advanced, innovative and reliable communications services. Balancing the rights of consumers with the needs of service providers is at the heart of everything the CRA does. For more information please visit www.cra.gov.qa.

GCC Member Country Selects TCI 350 Blackbird NextGen Systems

Fremont, CA – TCI Blackbird NextGen integrated signal search and survey technology will soon be supporting the signal monitoring efforts of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member country.

A contract awarded in March 2014 will deliver three TCI Model 350 modular RF platforms. Two will be configured for HF monitoring and one for VHF/UHF monitoring. These client/server systems combine fully integrated, precision RF hardware with TCI’s next generation Blackbird software to provide integrated signal survey, detection, visualization, recording and reporting.

The Model 350’s updated GUI and automation facility make it easier for operators to specify and identify both live and previously intercepted signals of interest. The systems will include modulation recognition, signal classifiers and audio signal analysis.

Upon deployment, these new Model 350 systems will cover the HF band from 9 kHz to 30 MHz and the VHF/UHF/SHF bands from 20 MHz to 6 GHz. TCI also will provide training and installation supervision services.

Botswana Upgrades SMS Systems with the Latest TCI Technology

Fremont, CA – The Republic of Botswana has committed to a significant upgrade of its national Spectrum Monitoring System (SMS) with the award of a contract for high-performance SMS systems from TCI.

The Botswana Communications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) chose to enhance its network by replacing previous-generation systems with TCI’s Model 737 technology. The Model 737 offers the highest performance in the field-proven TCI 700 series of SMS systems. It employs an exclusive, multi-channel, wideband architecture that supports a broad range of processor-measurement bandwidths. Botswana’s upgraded ITU-compliant spectrum monitoring network will now include state-of-the-art hybrid precision geolocation capabilities which combine Angle of Arrival (AOA) and/or Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) measurements.

TCI’s contract includes a combination of HF/VHF/UHF Fixed Station Monitoring Systems and HF Fixed Station upgrades totaling 16 sites, as well as two HF/VHF/UHF Mobile Monitoring Stations for Botswana’s Land Rover platform. TCI also will provide a significant upgrade to BOCRA’s current Automated Spectrum Management System (ASMS) enterprise level software package. The ASMS upgrade will include a high-performance server, telecommunications license classes, integration with Sage accounting system and TCI’s new WebCP (Web Customer Portal) option for online radio spectrum license applications.

Additional upgrades also included in the program will equip fixed sites with the versatile TCI Model 643 dual-polarized VHF/UHF DF spectrum monitoring antennas. The mobile systems will receive TCI’s Model 647D dual-polarized, wide-frequency range antenna. All TCI spectrum monitoring systems utilize Scorpio Client Software, which supports complete remote control of spectrum monitoring and direction finding (DF) operations.

The first phase of the contract was completed in late 2013. The second phase, which includes new TCI 707 TDOA sensors for integration into BOCRA’s AOA network, has completed factory acceptance and is planned for installation in July 2014.

Oman Telecommunications Regulators Add TCI Mobile Capabilities

Fremont, CA – Sultanate of Oman will deploy TCI mobile technology for spectrum monitoring and direction finding as the result of a contract awarded earlier this year.

The mobile station ordered in January 2014 by Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) will allow regulators to monitor and localize signals in the range from 20 MHz to 8 GHz. A spectrum analyzer controlled from TCI’s Scorpio client/server software will extend monitoring capabilities from 8 GHz to 26.5 GHz. The Scorpio client application provides complete command and control of spectrum monitoring and direction finding (DF) operations and is fully compliant with applicable ITU recommendations.

Oman’s mobile capabilities also will include a handheld interference hunter and an interface between spectrum management and monitoring systems. TCI’s state-of-the-art signal analysis software will perform complex analytics on digitally modulated signals, as well as field strength mapping, real-time DF and alarm functions. The system will receive signals through TCI’s 647D dual-polarized DF and spectrum monitoring antenna.

About TCI
TCI International, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of SPX Corporation. TCI provides spectrum monitoring, direction finding, and signals intelligence solutions to civilian, government and military agencies, as well as antennas for communications and high-power radio broadcasting. TCI is headquartered in Fremont, California. For more information, visit www.tcibr.com.

TCI Delivers Soldier-Portable SIGINT Systems to U.S. Government Customer

Fremont, CA – A U.S. Government customer has accepted and taken delivery of eighteen TCI Model 903S transportable COMINT systems. Equipped with TCI’s Blackbird NextGen signals intelligence software, these compact and rugged man-portable systems can survey, search, detect, identify, collect and analyze signals of interest in both the HF and VHF/UHF frequency ranges — and include an optional frequency extension capability of up to 8 GHz. The systems feature TCI’s Lookback Collection, which allows operators to view and collect past signals; and TCI’s wideband direction finding (DF) capability, which can be used stand-alone or in netted operation to geolocate VHF/UHF targets.

Each Model 903S unit delivered to the Government includes a TCI Model 649 compact VHF/UHF DF and monitor antenna array. Optimized for high performance and easy transport, the antenna’s unique design provides a balance between compact size and sensitivity over the 20 to 3,000 MHz frequency range. The antenna combines a multi-element direction finding array and magnetic flux gate compass with an omnidirectional monitoring antenna.

TCI also delivered four vehicle kits that employ TCI’s Model 645 DF/monitoring antennas, enabling the Government end-user to operate 903S units in both mounted and dismounted configurations.

Explore additional COMINT system solutions.

TCI Completes Installation of Innovative National Spectrum Monitoring System for the Republic of Macedonia

Fremont, CA – TCI recently completed the installation of the world’s first national hybrid Spectrum Monitoring system for the Republic of Macedonia’s regulatory agency, the Agency for Electronic Communications (AEK).

TCI’s integrated equipment and software technologies provide AEK with a state of the art national system for hybrid geolocation of the full spectrum of RF transmitters utilizing both angle-of-arrival (AOA) and time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) techniques. This design provides enhanced speed and precision of operation when compared to previous monitoring technologies. The full system includes eight fixed hybrid monitoring stations, three mobile hybrid monitoring stations, 75 TDOA monitoring stations as well as portable signal measurement equipment. The fully integrated network provides a geolocation capability from 20 MHz to 6 GHz and is controllable from multiple AEK operational centers.

Awarded in December 2012, TCI completed delivery, installation and commissioning of this project six months ahead of the contractual schedule.