The TDEM 2024 Texas Emergency Management Conference was once again held in Ft. Worth, TX at the Convention Center and just like last year – was very well attended by First Responders from all over the State of Texas. CCS has been attending this conference for 15+ years but I do not remember a year where the State has had so many weather events going on right before and during the Conference. The recent tornadoes and flooding in all parts of the State just emphasizes the importance of these events and the work that these brave men and women do to keep us all safe. CCS was there with our friends from IP Access, JPS, and Zumro Air Shelters to demonstrate some of the latest technology available to First Responders to help them perform their daily missions.
This year there was a big focus on the new LEO satellite network and hardware offers which have greatly increased the bandwidth and network connectivity available in both a mobile and fixed environment. CCS had Starlink sat hardware on display as well as One Web based products including the Kymeta and Intellian LEO satellite platforms. Part of our demonstration was how we are using the IP Access Gigaplan Service to bond this LEO satellite service with LTE/5g service through the use of a Dejero, Pepwave, or CradlePoint router. This LTE service is bundled in with the LEO satellite service to offer a very robust network package.
CCS also rolled out our newest product offering which is a joint venture with Zumro Air Shelters – a small portable inflatable tower (mast) system that allows our customers to quickly set up a 22 foot tower to deploy small satellites, antennas, cameras, etc.. The unit is made out of a very robust polyurethane which allows it to be flexible enough to be easily stored but rigid enough to be very firm when deployed. It is equipped with a simple trolley system to allow comm gear to be mounted to the mast head after the mast has been inflated and then raised and secured at the mast head. It also has multiple tie down points to secure the unit, internal LED lights on the mast head, a 12 volt battery system for deployment, an internal air pump, and a pressure guage that monitors the air pressure and automatically disperses more air when needed. When stored this unit can fit in the back of a truck or Tahoe type vehicle.
CCS and JPS also had our full line of PERC units on display equipped with a JPS interoperability server – one with a Z2 and one with a ACU-M. We like to refer to the PERC as a “mobile command center in a box” as it is equipped with an internal lithium battery bank, a 5G LTE/5g router, a 4 port POE switch, a USB charging port, battery meter – all installed in a small Pelican case allowing it to be carried or backpacked into any location. By adding the JPS servers, we give our customers the ability to also provide networked radio interoperability. Our customers have been packaging these PERC kits with their LEO satellites to increase their bandwidth and operate in areas with no cellular service.
Special thanks to TDEM for hosting this great event and for allowing CCS to host a training session to educate more customers on these new LEO satellite offers. The rumor is that the Conference will return to our home town of Ft. Worth in 2025 for the 3rd straight year.