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No licence fees. . . no call fees . . . up to 100 individual users (or more) . . . no approvals needed . . . completely private and encrypted conversations . . . anyone can call anyone (or everyone!) . . . small, rugged, waterproof handheld sets Review by . . . easy to set up, maintain and use. Ross Tester OK, what’s the catch? ICOM’s new “IP” TwoWay Radios L et’s imagine you’re starting a business which needs reliable internal communication between staff. Hmm. . . Mobile phones? Too restrictive (one conversation at a time), virtually uncontrollable – and could be very costly (where’s the storeman’s cousin Bob? Baghdad?). You could go the very cheap route and use CB radios (lots do!). If you can 96  Silicon Chip At around 60 x 26 x 110mm (plus whip antenna, if fitted) and weighing just 200g, they’re a lot smaller than most of the twoway radios you’ve used in the past. But don’t let the size fool you! Inset top right is the radio without the whip antenna – it’s obviously shorter but the range will be somewhat reduced. find a clear channel (and it’s a big if, particularly in cities) and if you can stand any amount of interruption, interference and even malicious meddling, that might be an option. Many construction companies, for example, use CBs to communicate on site, though we shudder to think what might happen if someone nearby thought it funny to tell a crane driver to drop or move a load while workers were underneath . . . Or you could elect to go the totally secure route and get two-way radios on your own licenced frequencies. That’s not easy to do these days, with the bands so crowded, and it will cost you a significant amount of money. It’s more than likely you will need to share your channels with another user, hopefully far enough away as to not cause you interference. siliconchip.com.au IP ADVANCED RADIO SYSTEM IP100H • IP100FS • IP1000C This simplified diagram shows a typical setup. Many users can communicate simultaneously, even in full duplex (à la a telephone) if an optional headset is connected to the IP100H radio and users can roam from access point to access point. The IP100FS shown above is the software which drives the system – it’s supplied on a USB flash drive. But at least you won’t have to put up with the “smartalecs” which seem to be legion on the CB frequencies. Nor would you have to worry that anyone within range could eavesdrop on your (perhaps sensitive) company communications. It happens with CB! There are organisations, by the way, who specialise in providing licenced two-way radios, using their own dedicated frequencies, on either short-term or long-term basis. But again, it’ll cost you! Now there’s another option: IP radios Recently introduced by world communications leader ICOM, the IP100 Advanced Radio System changes the way you’ll think about two-way radio. They’re neither traditional radio nor CB, even though their handsets look and operate (as far as the user is concerned) quite similarly to both. IP radios (IP stands for Internet Protocol) offer the best of both worlds, having been described as “bridging the gap” between the two. They’re digital, not analog, with all the benefits that technology brings. But that’s not the major benefit. Instead of using power to transmit long distances, they are designed to siliconchip.com.au operate over the type of distances you’re used to with WiFi-equipped tablets, phones etc. Most traditional handheld two-way radios operate with around 1-5W output. The output power of the IP100 is the same as your other WiFi devices, less than 10mW. Indeed, IP radios operate via WiFi and your computer network, using either existing or purpose-installed WiFi Access Point(s) – the radio operates within the same 2.4GHz WiFi band, using the same 802.11a/b/g/n standard. It can also operate on the 5GHz WiFi band. Just as the WiFi equipment you currently use does not need to be individually licenced (like your other WiFi devices, it’s covered by a “class” licence), there’s no annual fee to pay. As with WiFi, IP radio range is somewhat limited – usually reckoned at 50-100 metres – but you can easily increase this by either using a WiFi range extender or by adding more access points. For example, by putting an access point (or multiple access points) on each floor of a multi-storey building, you could talk anywhere within the building. Or perhaps you have a shopping centre, a college or university campus, a freight terminal, even an office and warehouse . . . you name it! You can expand the system out as far as you wish to ensure 100% reliable communications. With appropriate expansion equipment, the IP radio system can also link into other gear such as other radios, phones, an IP phone system and even multi-site trunked radios to give you both within-site and out-ofsite coverage. The IP100H has an internal antenna which is fine in an ideal signal location but limits range if it is less than ideal. For maximum range, you can screw in the 80mm-long mini-whip antenna (supplied) to its SMA connector. Sound quality Communication over a wireless LAN offers wider frequency bandwidth than does a traditional twoway radio communication system; therefore, the sound quality of the IP100 system is higher – in fact, it’s comparable to that of a mobile phone. This often overlooked “feature” (or lack of it!) in analog two-way radio systems can mean the difference between their often difficult-to-decipher transmissions and the much easierDecember 2014  97 to-understand messages of a digital system. What you need In its simplest form, all you need to set up the system is a couple of IP100H handsets (as photographed opposite), a WiFi access point and an IP1000C controller. The IP1000C connects to a PC via Cat5E cable, while the access point similarly connects to the controller. The IP100H handsets are connected to the WiFi network by giving them a name (eg, Security 1) then assigning IP addresses just as you would for any other piece of WiFi hardware. ICOM recommends that the first time you set the system up, it be done on a stand-alone computer system. It’s quite possible (maybe even probable) that the IP addresses used by the IP1000 system will have some conflicts with your existing network and you don’t want to bring the network down while troubleshooting! Having said that, it is perfectly acceptable to use it with existing access points: once it is operational in standalone mode (it’s good learning for you!), you can then transfer it to your building WiFi network and resolve any conflicts that occur. Of course, if you do have a computer network/WiFi specialist available, so much the better. Setting it up You really don’t need a high level of computer skills to install the IP1000 system, just a basic understanding of wireless networks, access points and IP addresses. (If you don’t have these skills, ICOM have a comprehensive step-bystep instruction manual available for downloading). You’ll need a PC running Windows 7, 8 or Vista, an 802.11a/g access point, Cat5E cables, the IP1000C controller, IP100FS software and as many IP100H handheld transceivers as required (minimum 2). The various addresses, SSID, authentication and so on are set and the IP100H handhelds are registered, and that’s just about all there is to it. Now one handheld can talk to the other in the normal “radio” way – push to talk and release to listen. Add a headset and it can all be done duplex. A multiple handset installation would normally use the IP1000C 98  Silicon Chip The IP1000C controller, which is the “heart” of the ICOM system and connects to a PC via Cat5 cable. It keeps track of all the radios on the network (up to 20 or up to 100). Up to 11 IP1000Cs can be interconnected for HUGE radio networks (ie, up to 1100 stations). controller. By setting up user IDs handhelds can call specific units or the controller can call specific individuals, groups, or all units. You can even send messages, similar to text messages on a mobile phone, to the same. There’s enormous flexibility built into the system for advanced users – far more than we could review here. Other benefits • Because each IP100H radio logs onto its closest access point, the controller (running the IP100FS software) can roughly see where each transceiver – and therefore its user – is situated. “Hmm. I thought XYZ was supposed to be in purchasing, not lazing around in the lunchroom . . .!” • If your networks have been connected as VPNs (with their own access points), communication between separate locations is entirely feasible. • If there is a software or other maintenance upgrade, most happen wirelessly (and without user intervention) over the network. • The same wireless security protocols as used in your WiFi network (WEP (64/128bit), WPA-PSK and WPA-PSK2) encrypts the calls to and from the handsets. • Up to 27 hours operation is possible with the standard Lithium-Ion battery supplied. • Standard size systems are either 20 or 100 users. But if you have need for an either bigger system, you can interconnect up to 11 IP1000C controllers, giving you massive expansion. • Hands-free operation is possible with an optional headset (this also gives full duplex communication). • You can set the system up with individuals or with groups sharing a common channel. • The system is not limited to speech – it will also handle SMS (text) messaging where required. • High security is built into the system. In the event of a lost or stolen unit, it can be remotely “killed”, “stunned” and even “revived”. • In an emergency, the IP100FS can command the IP100H transceiver to transmit whatever its microphone can pick up (without the user doing anything). • A “mixing” function receives multiple transmissions at once; one-to-many transmissions are also catered for. • A vibrate alert warns you of incoming voice or text messages. • IPX7 waterproof (1m immersion for 30 minutes) so it’s ideal for lessthan-ideal locations. Where from, how much: The IP100 Wireless LAN Radio System is available through authorised ICOM Australia dealers (see www. icom-australia.com/dealerlist.html). Included with each transceiver are a battery, belt clip and whip antenna. A range of options is available, including higher capacity batteries, headsets, desk microphones, speaker microphones, rapid and multi-chargers and cables (if required). Recommended retail prices (all including GST) for the various components are: IP100H Transceiver: $539 (each) IP100FS PC Software: $1320 IP1000C Controller: (20 user): $1650 IP1000C Controller: (100 user): $6050 ICOM (Australia) Pty Ltd are at Unit 1, 103 Garden Rd, Clayton, Vic 3168. Tel (03) 9549 7500 SC siliconchip.com.au