Harris to demonstrate innovative radios at ShakeOut

Harris Corporation will demonstrate advanced systems for restoring first responder communication links as part of the Great Southern California ShakeOut, the largest-ever earthquake preparedness drill in the United States. The exercise, scheduled for tomorrow, 13 November, will model the effects of a magnitude 7.8 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault and has more than five million registered participants.

Harris is supplying California law enforcement authorities with high-frequency (HF), multiband, and high-capacity line-of-sight (HCLOS) radios for the ShakeOut exercise, along with technical and networking expertise and support. The company’s systems will be used quickly to re-establish communication links between first responders in the field and their commanders, who would otherwise be unable to communicate following a major earthquake.

“This demonstration highlights how our advanced radio products address the unique challenges and critical requirements of public safety agencies. When lives are on the line, first responders must be able to talk to each other,” said George Helm, vice president and general manager of the Government and Public Safety business unit at Harris RF Communications. “Our product portfolio provides those critical communication links anytime, anywhere, by eliminating interoperability issues that have previously plagued first responders. Our radios also provide advanced capabilities such as the delivery of video assessments back to command posts and emergency voice and data communications over satellite links. The ShakeOut drill will showcase our ability to address a new customer base with enhanced, assured communications.”

Note that Harris has broadened its focus on non-military communications users with the introduction of Unity, a family of multiband software-defined radios that will allow federal, state, and local public safety agencies to communicate more effectively by allowing users direct, full-spectrum interoperability. The Unity XG-100 covers all portable land mobile radio frequency bands in a single radio and is compliant with APCO Project 25 technical standards. The radio is approximately the same size as currently fielded, single-band radios and will be available next year.