Traditional Radio Programming
Yesterday’s Technology
Radio configurators allow end-users to program their own radios with their system frequencies and various radio personality options. For trunked radios, the programming can be extensive.
The trunked radio program or personality is commonly referred to as the radio codeplug. Each trunked radio requires its own unique codeplug. Over time traditional radio configurators have developed “cut and paste” and “cloning” tools to help the end-user to create multiple codeplugs.
Today’s trunked systems can support thousands to tens of thousands of radios. For these large fleets, using a traditional configurator is simply not adequate to the task: building unique codeplugs and updating radios one-by-one demands significant manpower hours and is very prone to human programming errors. Introducing Armada® Fleet Management.
Introducing Armada Fleet Management
A Modern Solution
Modern radio fleet management solutions demand an approach that can accommodate programming and maintaining multiple fleets of radios.
Armada® is an intuitive, easy-to-use trunked radio fleet management tool that has been specifically designed to program and maintain the radio codeplugs in a safe, efficient manner.
Unlike traditional configurators Armada is template-based: the fleet manager creates a master template for a fleet of radios and then links the template to multiple radios in the fleet. Once linked, Armada will update the radio profile as indicated by the fleet manager. Templates can be edited and the corresponding radio profiles are updated simultaneously, providing consistency and error-free programming across the radio fleet.
Armada’s template structure allows for multiple layers of templates to be created from a single Master template. This allows systems with numerous agencies to have their own template while maintaining the integrity of the system-specific data.
Once the master template is created, the fleet manager or agency manager can duplicate that template as needed, e.g., for collaborating with and/ or adding agencies (police, fire, EMS) to the network; this eliminates the need to create a new, unique template for each department.
Advanced Programming Capabilities
Kiosk Mode
When necessary, Armada can be configured to update several radios via an off-the- shelf USB hub. They can remotely access computers per agency, update all radio profiles, and set the computer for Kiosk Mode. As end-users (e.g., police officers) come on shift, Kiosk Mode will alert them to any radio updates.
Over-the-Air Programming (OTAP) Mode
Over-the-Air-Programming (OTAP) enables a technician to program a fielded radio over a P25 radio system. Any KENWOOD Viking radio optioned and configured for OTAP will work with Armada OTAP. An OTAP-enabled Viking radio can be programmed automatically with a scheduled write update or manually written to by the fleet manager. The radio accepts the new codeplug the next time the radio power is cycled. Armada OTAP is compatible with all major manufacturers’ P25 trunked systems, including EFJohnson’s ATLAS System.
Over-the-Intranet Programming (OTIP) Mode
Over-the-Intranet Programming (OTIP) enables remote Viking mobile radio programming using IP-based network services. OTIP works with both wired (Ethernet) and wireless (Wi-Fi) networks. OTIP enables fleet managers to securely program mobiles from a Wi-Fi access point via their intranet, anywhere, at any time.
Elite Battery Management
Elite Battery Management allows administrators to track KENWOOD Viking portable battery health. This software application provides the status of all Viking portable batteries to Armada. This allows customers to identify batteries nearing the end of their service life, so they can proactively budget for battery replacement.
Battery health information can be provided to the end-user through the Viking portable radio display. This includes: current capacity, health, full charge capacity, and cycle count. The information can be sent wirelessly to the department responsible for maintaining the portable fleet. Alternatively, battery information can be read when the portable is directly connected to Armada via the USB programming cable. The information gathered in the battery server is used by Armada for the fleet view.
Testimonial
“One of the new features that came with the new system was a new suite of programming software which is called the Armada software. The ease of use of it is just unbelievable. The ability to program every radio or multiple radios at the same time has been a time-saving factor. One of the features that we do have in the City of Waterbury is Over-The-Air-Programming, which allows us to make any changes to any subscriber equipment right over the air. We’re no longer bringing in the radio, having to hook it up; we’re now able to do all these changes to the radio, right over the radio, over the air.”
Sgt. John Desmond,
City of Waterbury Police Department, CT
