Cellular Hardware for Traffic Management
TOLL ROAD AUTHORITY CONNECVITITY UPGRADES
Many of our nations highways run through mountainous regions, open deserts, vast plains, and other remote areas with unreliable cellular coverage. A large number of toll collection facilities, still operating on legacy 2G and 3G cellular devices, are scattered along those highways. As older networks are taken off-line, reliable network connections will be even harder to achieve, unless those outdated devices are replaced - and soon.
Challenges Faced
OUTDATED CELLULAR EQUIPMENT
State and County Toll Road Authorities manage hundreds of human and machine assets scattered across their respective territories. With many toll collection facilities operating with outdated cellular equipment, the reliability of their network connections has fluctuated. These organizations need as near 100% uptime as possible, otherwise traffic delays and lost revenues can result. They need newer, faster, and more reliable routers and antennas to keep their operations running smoothly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Customized Cellular Solutions
MATCHING HARDWARE TO EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
USAT clients operate in diverse industries with unique requirements. Many government agencies, such as toll road authorities, are using currently 3G routers and antenna kits from a set of preferred manufacturers. Often times, we are able to help them upgrade to 4G devices created by those same manufacturers.
That said, USAT will look at the hardware and software you're using currently to develop solutions that will allow the most seamless equipment upgrades as possible. Though those solutions may require a shift in device manufacturers, should there be no suitable upgrades available for your specific applications.
Several highway and toll collection agencies have reached out to the solutions experts at USAT to help guide the selection of new hardware, as well as to help them configure that hardware to operate within their existing network infrastructure.
Below, we've outlined examples of two different solutions we've provided recently. Please note: the solution we devise for your organization may be different depending upon your needs and requirements.
Solution Example #1
CRADLEPOINT SEMI-RUGGEDIZED IOT ROUTERS
USAT works with several Toll Road Authorities (TRA) across the USA. Many asked USAT to help them replace aging 3G hardware with more robust 4G solutions. They needed easy to manage cellular routers that could satisfy their core requirements and maximize system uptime. In this example, toll collection took place via both physical human interaction and via wireless tag scanning.
The team at USAT recommended IBR600C routers from Cradlepoint - delivering the auto-carrier selection, cellular failover, and WiFi functionality their fixed applications required. And with NetCloud IoT Essentials + Advanced Software they were able to easily register, configure, and monitor each of their IBR600C endpoints over-the-air.
In this particular example, the toll collection facilities were located within short range (under 2 miles) from the nearest cell towers in multiple directions. Because of this they were looking for antennas that operated within that range. Additionally, the antennas needed to be weather hardened, and capable of withstanding high vibration generated from all the vehicle activity on their particularly busy freeways.
USAT was able to recommend a variation of the Poynting OMNI-292 antenna - a durable wideband omni-directional antenna capable of boosting signal strength in outdoor environments.
In some cases, these same TRA's requested that we help design communications cabinets to house their new cellular routers. In those cases we were able to design and ship customized NEMA boxes with the routers already installed within them. And in nearly every case, we were also asked to custom cut and crimp the cabling to fit their standard configurations.
Solution Example #2
DIGI IX10 CELLULAR ROUTERS AND XPOL ANTENNAS
In this case, the Toll Road Authority was looking for Digi equipment for several semi-remote automated toll collection locations scattered across their county. Unlike in the previous example, they weren't in need of WiFi capable devices, and had a particular brand of device in mind. They also wanted a router capable of cellular failover, but were more interested in it's ability to operate at extremely low and extremely high temperatures given their counties temperate climate.
The team at USAT recommended IX10 routers from Digi International. It fit their speed and functionality needs, while having the added benefit of being a familiar manufacturer. They were able to easily add each device to their Digi Remote Manager accounts enabling over-the-air device registration, configuration, and monitoring.
In this example, the TRA needed antennas for several automated toll collection locations that weren't close to more than one or two cell towers (~5 miles away) . Because of this they were looking for focused longer range antennas that could connect under these specific circumstances. Just like in the prior example, the antennas needed to be ruggedized and capable of outdoor operation. And just like with their new routers, their new antennas needed to be able to operate within temperature extremes.
USAT was able to recommend a variation of the Poynting XPOL-2 antenna - an easy to install high-gain directional antenna capable of boosting signal strength across greater more targeted distances.
As in the prior example, though more common, TRA's needed weather hardened NEMA enclosures to house their cellular routers as well as the devices used to scan license plates and prepaid driver tags (like EZPass). And as before, we were also asked to custom cut and crimp the RF cabling to fit the height of their standard automated collectors.
Solution Example #3
AIRLINK RV50X AND HIGH POWERED ANTENNA ASSEMBLIES
In this case, a Highway Management Agency (HMA) was looking for equipment to enable cellular communications within extremely remote toll scanners and radar detectors located along long stretches of desert road.
They weren't interested in WiFi and were interested in failover, but more than anything, they were looking for solutions that were low power, and could potentially utilize solar arrays. Second to that, they needed devices that could withstand the temperature extremes of a desert environment.
The areas are low traffic, but they have recorded high instances of speeding related automobile accidents. The HMA already selected the scanning and detection equipment vendor, but this was the last piece of the groups puzzle - and USAT had the final pieces.
For this application, USAT recommended AirLink RV50X routers from Sierra Wireless. The lowest power device in it's class of routers for fixed applications. Each device comes with a free one-year subscription to AirLink Complete, which includes a subscription to ALMS, extended warranties, and technical support.
With their collection and scanning units located anywhere from 10-20 miles from the nearest cell tower, short and mid-range antennas just wouldn't suit their purposes. They needed long-range high-powered extremely durable antennas that could point directly at specific cell towers within range of each location.
USAT was able to recommend a variation of the Poynting LPDA antenna in a dual configuration - a high-gain directional antenna capable of connecting to far flung cell towers that USAT always has in stock.
For clients like this one, access to power lines was either extremely limited or non-existent. Thankfully for them, the USAT team has worked with many organizations with similar remote applications, like LNG pipelines, that have similar off-grid needs. Our IoT engineers were able to architect and assemble single panel systems designed for use with customized NEMA enclosures capable of powering their wireless modems and connected equipment.
To learn more about USAT's off-grid solar solutions, click here.
Interchangeable Solutions
MATCHING ANTENNAS AND ROUTERS TO THE APPLICATION
The main point of the examples provided within this article is to illustrate that their are potentially multiple router and antenna solutions that may be able to satisfy your organizations needs.
We also find it necessary to outline that the antennas we help you select will be specific to each use case. While many cellular routers are interchangeable for specific solutions, antennas are less so.
To find out which solution, or combination of solutions, best suit the needs of your organization, please reach out to the team at USAT for a quick consultation.
Contact USAT
If you need a solution for your county or state toll collection operations quickly, USAT has most the equipment featured in these use cases in stock and ready for immediate deployment. For the few items we don't stock, we can still deploy in accelerated timelines to meet your project needs. We also offer installation services across Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and some regions of Texas and Colorado.
USAT has broadband, secure, WiFi hot-spots and high-powered antenna assemblies designed to function under harsh conditions and in remote areas. We offer top-tier equipment from providers like Sierra Wireless, Cradlepoint, Digi International, Poynting, and more.
For More Information:
- Give Us a Call: (919) 942-4214
- Send Us an Email: info@usatcorp.com
- Request a Consultant: Click Here
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