December 20, 2012 - RuggedCom released RuggedMAX 4.3 firmware. Enhancements include improved scalability, security feature set, handover capability, tighter frequency reuse and expanded frequency range, among others. Included in the release is support for the 4.9 GHz RuggedMAX product line.
This frequency band is targeted at customers eligible for coordinated use with public safety users, such as municipal utilities, rail or intelligent traffic applications. RuggedMAX 4.3 firmware introduces a capability known as Standalone Mobility (SAM). SAM allows for seamless handover at high speeds while maintaining full session persistence without the need for a centralized router or ASN gateway. SAM provides customers the ability to implement a full mobility network without a single point of failure, with greater simplicity and lower capital costs.
The initial target for SAM will be in the rail market, but there are also applications in military, public safety and industrial sectors. One of the challenges in the smart grid is determining the sequence of events that happen in the power grid by providing a common and accurate timing reference. RuggedMAX 4.3 allows the subscriber unit to act as a highly accurate source clock to provide a timing source to subtending devices, to time stamp events as they happen.
RuggedMAX 4.3 has been tested by customers in the rail, electric power and oil and gas markets as the final step in its Controlled Introduction Release process, with excellent results. The software is available immediately for all RuggedMAX customers.
