Editorial - Living with Newtons Legacy

Sir Isaac Newton acknowledged his debt to his scientific forebears by saying he could see furthest only because he was a dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants. Radio engineers today, often giants in their field, remain fixed in the template that the dwarf gave them.

And though we all work to the precepts he laid out, we still fall into three categories: those who believe all can be known from those precepts, those who think we can know nothing, and those who think Newton could have saved us a lot of bother by devoting more time to his day job at the Royal Mint.

Future Tools - download revolution is about to hit radiocommunications

With everything from topographical information to Dad's Army already available at the click of a mouse, now planning and modelling tools are being readied for online access. The move will mean that engineers can determine the performance of any transmitting device on the ground or in the air using web-accessed tools and calculators.

The Future Tools project run by ATDI is a the development  that has already been named runner up in the Federation of Communication Services' Gerald David OBE Business Radio Innovation Award 2006.

Spectrum Management - EU highlights spectrum control issue

To license or not to license - that is the question facing Europe's regulators.

The debate over the degree to which the radio spectrum should be controlled had gone quiet in the UK. But now the European Commission is putting the spotlight on this fundamental issue once more by asking each national radio authority what progress it has made towards liberalisation.

ATDI receives award for Innovation

ATDI's ground-breaking online planning and modelling tools have been honoured by a team of industry experts for achievement in innovation.

The Federation of Communication Services (FCS) named ATDI's online initiative as runner-up in its Gerald David OBE Business Radio Innovation Award 2006. The award was set up to promote excellence and to recognise achievements in the radiocommunications sector.

Photo: Adrian Grilli, managing director, JRC Ltd, and an ATDI customer accepting the award on ATDI's behalf from Gerald's wife, Deen David.

New Book: Mobile Radio Network Design In The VHF And UHF Bands: A Practical Approach
A new book on radiocommunications engineering is giving a novel insight into the critical factors affecting overall project success, including the one for which science has no answer: people...more >>

RRC06: ATDI HELPS ADMINISTRATIONS TO A SMOOTH APPROVAL PROCESS
ATDI's customers get best-in-class results at RRC06 for the agreement of the new digital broadcast plan: more than 30% of the countries were supported by ATDI's software suite and consulting services...more >>

New buses system. Just the ticket

Radiocommunications are playing a pivotal role as London's bus fleet grows by 40% to 8,000 vehicles.

London Buses' existing voice radio communications system had been in place since the early 1970s providing communications with depots and central control. Enhancing the old network to meet new challenges was nearly impossible.

ATDI software invaluable for police

ATDI software is being used to lengthen the long arm of the law.

The company's flagship ICS Telecom system is being described as "an invaluable tool" by the Police IT organisation (PITO), which is responsible for Airwave - the national digital police radio system.

Engineers turn detective to find network solution
A routine microwave planning task turned into a detective story when engineers had to solve interference issues with a parallel existing network...more >>

Radio planning without compromises

Radio planning without compromises

The challenge of planning radio networks has never been greater and effective solutions are more critical when lives are at stake. The aerospace and defence company EADS implements safety-critical radio networks for professional users worldwide dealing with security tasks.

Planning in the air

The next generation police communications networks covering the UK are close to full deployment with emergency services personnel enjoying the benefits of ubiquitous secure voice and data communications. ATDI's latest involvement with these networks, designing a pan-UK frequency plan for ground-to-air services, adds to an already extensive involvement with this project.

BBC acquires map server and world mapping
The BBC World Service has recently purchased ICS Map Server to assist them reduce planning time and develop elevation models. They anticipate that this will cut lead times for acquiring map data from weeks to a single day.
..more >>

Measuring coverage compliance - part II

Measurement of coverage in mobile networks is used to show performance to contract: demonstrating that coverage has been achieved.  That demonstration requires the gathering of evidence to show that the service, as delineated in the requirements, has indeed been supplied.

This second article is a follow on to the earlier 'Defining Coverage' article.

Trading, Liberalisation & Spectrum Commons - Impact for future services

With significant changes being made to the management of the spectrum in the future, the UK must consider the implications for all parties in trading, liberalisation and use of spectrum commons.

This article outlines some of the benefits and pitfalls this market charge will bring.

Defining Coverage - part I

Coverage is something of a "hip" word - you'll often hear teenagers talk about it, radio engineers bandy it about and yet few really understand its real impact.  In our business it is probably the most poorly defined word there is.  This article aims to develop a clear definition and dispel some of the myths surrounding the term.

Meeting Military Challenges

Fact#1:  ATDI derives a substantial part of its turnover from the military sector. 

Fact#2:  For the most part, and for obvious reasons, we are not able to discuss any projects completed, advertise satisfied customers nor describe any of the software systems supplied. 

This article highlights, in abstract, some of the recent projects completed by ATDI.