DH Wireless Solutions

The U.S. Takes Steps To Spur Smart Grid Development

2011-06-22T16:27:00.027-04:00

A little while back we had a post discussing the smart grid and the standards for it finally being agreed upon. This past week we came across another article regarding the steps the United States is currently taking to spur the smart grid development.

The article discussed a number of new initiatives aimed to accelerate the modernization of the United States’ electric infrastructure, bolster electric grid innovation, and advance a clean energy economy. It also discussed how actions are being taken to enhance the security of the grid as well as the development of a Smart Grid Innovation Hub. All in all it appears the United States is making progress by taking some much needed initiative to ensure we get a smart grid established in a well thought out and secure way while still allowing for ongoing innovation.

You can read the full article here.

Sprint Offers “Open” Strategy to Drive Innovation in Telemedicine

2011-06-20T08:51:00.008-04:00

Sprint has been making some noise as of late in the telemedicine industry by offering what they are calling an “open” strategy to aid in providing opportunities for developers to create innovative applications and solutions for the medical community.

The press release discusses the benefits of bringing the health industry up to date with current technology as well as how Sprint has positioned itself to lead the cause. It also states that annual savings amongst all aspects of health care such as clinic visits, hospitalization, nursing home costs, etc are estimated to be around $21B if doctors were able to monitor patients with chronic disease such as diabetes or obesity remotely. This is a good step in the right direction in our eyes as we can see the benefits that these types of solutions will provide as well as the opportunities it will afford us as we continue to be at the forefront of integration in the M2M market. We always love a challenge in finding ways to get more devices connected.

You can read the entire press release at http://newsroom.sprint.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=1936

DH Wireless Solutions to Reveal DHARMA

2011-06-07T08:41:00.014-04:00

We have some exciting things going on at DH and are at the Axeda Connexion Conference. We are revealing an application we developed, DHARMA. What DHARMA is and how it works will all be demonstrated at the conference. Stop by and check it out; you won’t be disappointed.

IPv6 and M2M

2011-05-27T15:11:00.004-04:00

The rising use of M2M technology has brought to light an issue that seems inevitable. As more and more devices become connected we are seeing a much bigger push for the conversion to IPv6, driven mainly by the military; which have applied the rational that there is a shortage of IP addresses.

It is true; connecting millions of devices will increase the stress on the IPv4 addressing scheme. For years, the industry has played around the edges of making a transition from the older addressing scheme, Internet Protocol version 4, to the next level, which is IPv6. The reason is that the number of addresses available is nearing exhaustion. The move to IPv6 will increase the available addresses substantially. As some people know, June 8th is considered by many to be World IPv6Day. Two leading network vendors - Cisco and Verizon Business, have enlisted in an up and coming trial by fire of IPv6. Many others such as Google, Facebook, and Yahoo also plan on participating to show that they are fully capable of utilizing IPv6 with their products.

While all this talk has been going on I started to think; how will the M2M market be affected by all of this? It would seem that as more devices are being connected we would need a magnitude of IP addresses to facilitate the cause. That isn’t always the case, however. In some cases similar to a “smart” enabled home, all of the components communicate within an internal network inside the house and access the internet through one IP address; just as an apartment building may have dozens of living units but only one street address.

So while having more devices connected may not be a truly great reason for the push to IPv6, it is a valuable offering that is coming and I expect that it won’t be too far off. Some of the biggest transitions arrive stealthily. While machine-to-machine communication still sounds futuristic, it is here. One of the biggest questions that remain is just how far this is going to go.

Did You Know Sierra Wireless Allows You To Save Your Modem Configurations?

2011-05-23T11:16:00.005-04:00

The configuration of a modem seems to get more complex every day. As the manufacturers continue adding functionality it has now become a matter of not only activating the modem, but getting it configured to work with the device being attached; whether it’s a server, a camera or some types of I/O’s. No matter the device you’re hooking up to the modem, it can be cumbersome and time consuming to configure all the settings individually.

Thankfully, manufacturers such as Sierra Wireless allow us to save our configuration as a template. This allows for a much easier process of integrating future devices into your deployment.

Specifically with the Sierra Wireless models, they have provided an interface that allows you to easily save your configuration changes into a template. This is easily done within AceManager4 by selecting the boxes next to the configuration items you want saved in a template. Once you have selected all of the boxes you need, you can then export the template file. The template can then be uploaded to other modems to adjust the configuration. Too often we see customers who are having issues because they missed that step. Once you have your changes saved as a template, you can begin to load them onto other modems either individually or in batches if you are utilizing AceNet; which makes the process even more efficient.

While setting the modem up has become more complex, there are tools out there that can assist and ensure you’re able to get up and running in a timely manner. For anyone managing an M2M fleet, that’s great news.

For more information on the AceManager or AceNet products please emailsales@digitalhwysolutions.com.

Ford, Google Team Up to Make Smarter Cars

2011-05-18T16:23:00.003-04:00

As a child I often found myself thinking up inventions I would love to have had the resources to create. One of those ideas was to make a car that could drive without any human interaction needed. While this idea seemed far off back then it now seems closer than ever with Google testing this concept just last year. The project was just one in a line of concepts that Google has been working on. Most recently, Google and Ford have joined forces to develop cars smart enough to know where you’re going and how best to get you there.

The concept sounds interesting as it will utilize the power of Google’s remarkable Prediction API to create cars that determine where you’re going by examining where you have been. The Prediction API adds pattern-matching capability to existing cloud-based datasheets, using it to predict probable outcomes for current events. Basically the concept would allow for our behaviors to be learned thus enabling us to have more effective routing, fuel efficiency, and the like.

While this is all far beyond what I dreamt of as a child I am excited by all the possibilities this could open for the M2M and automotive world as a whole. It may still be quite a few years off and still highly theoretical, but don’t be surprised if some day you’re driving down a highway and come across a vehicle that is completely driving itself while its passenger takes a nap on their long trip. Seem too good to be true? Only time will tell.

See the news release at http://www.wired.com/autopia/2011/05/ford-google-prediction-api/

New 4G Networks with Verizon, AT&T and Sprint = The Need to Review Your Antenna / Modem Options

2011-05-13T16:49:00.012-04:00

With new 4G networks becoming available this year and moving forward, it is time to review and consider updated antenna solutions and modems for your current deployment. AT&T and Verizon are currently deploying their new LTE (Long Term Evolution) 4G technology that operates in the 700 MHz spectrum. Sprint has and continues to deploy their WiMax technology through their partnership with Clearwire. This is a complementary network to Cellular/PCS, which means that the modem and network will determine the fastest network that is available, and seamlessly connect users.

DH Solutions has partnered with vendors such as Antenna Plus and Sierra Wireless to bring to market antennas and modems capable of utilizing this new technology. Having some of our staff living in a 4G (WiMax) area, we have seen how this effects data speeds and are happy to report that it is a definite improvement over the current 3G options. That is one of the real catches with the whole 4G situation; you have to be in a covered area for the benefits to be seen. For those of you lucky enough to be in a 4G area; now may be the time to start looking at your current fleet and gauge whether or not an upgrade is both warranted and beneficial to your business.

Multi-Tech Partners with Sprint to Offer Data Plan with Developer’s Kits

2011-05-13T13:13:00.002-04:00

As some of our readers may be aware, Multitech has recently began a partnership with Sprint to offer a free 90-day data plan coupled with Multitech’s Cellular Development Platform (CDP). This recently launched ruggedized cellular modem provides an OpenEmbedded Linux development environment. We are excited because we can see the value in both the development platform and the offering from Sprint. We have been working with the CDP for some time and can see just how valuable this partnership can be for all parties involved.

This allows us to develop an application specific to a deployment while having the ability to pilot the solution on Sprint’s network. It is a great way to ensure the solution meets your requirements while also having 90 days to try it out.

Have you had any experience with the CDP or couldn’t find a device out of the box that met your project requirements? How do you see this affecting your business? Feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts.

See the full presss release at http://m2mworldnews.com/2011/05/04/multi-tech-partners-with-sprint-to-offer-data-plan-with-developer%E2%80%99s-kits/

Smart Grid Standards Finally Agreed Upon

2011-05-05T14:02:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP) took steps toward a unified smart-grid framework by agreeing on a new set of standards and guidelines. The documents, “Guidelines for Assessing Wireless Communications for Smart Grid Applications” and “Meter Upgradeability Standard,” address the need for wireless communications among grid-connected devices and standards for the ability to upgrade household electricity meters as the grid evolves.

This opens up a realm of possibilities. Imagine a home where a dishwasher starts to clean when energy rates are the cheapest, or adjusting the temperature in your house just by adjusting the thermostat with your Smartphone or laptop. Perhaps even creating a way to shut off sockets that have chargers attached to them at specific times to conserve energy. The technology to make this happen has been here for a while now, but a lack of standards, high costs, and an unclear value proposition has derailed smart homes and appliances from becoming a reality.

Now that standards have finally been agreed on, it appears the tide is changing. The smart grid would equip homes with a smart utility meter that communicates with home appliances and provides consumers with real time information about electricity usage and cost. The new standards could be the push needed to make “connected” homes a viable solution.

See the news release at http://m2mworldnews.com/2011/04/22/sgip-agrees-on-wireless-communication-standards/

Verizon Wireless and USA Technologies Partner to Deliver Industry-Leading Cashless Payments Services and M2M Solutions for Vending

2011-05-03T11:38:00.006-04:00

Verizon Wireless and USA Technologies, Inc. announced a collaboration that the companies believe will accelerate the adoption of small-ticket, wireless, cashless payment services and machine-to-machine applications via USA Technologies’ ePort Connect Service.

The solution currently offered by USA Technologies will now include the Verizon Wireless network for connectivity that enables wireless point-of-sale payments at vending machines via credit and debit cards. Additionally, USA Technologies expects to benefit from Verizon Wireless’ Machine to Machine Management Center portal managed through nPhase, a Verizon Wireless-Qualcomm joint venture and pioneer in helping business ease deployment and management of M2M applications.

Being a partner with nPhase, we have seen the nPhase portal and all of the additional features it comes with. It seems that this collaboration was a great way to grow both businesses’ ventures in the M2M world. We will have to wait to see this final product but it seems they are on the right track to creating the turnkey solution that the vending machine market could likely embrace.

ABK Tracking and DH Solutions Launch a New and Exciting M2M Product

2011-04-19T12:09:00.010-04:00

New technology will soon change the way drug testing is done. ABK Tracking worked with DH Solutions to develop and launch a new and exciting M2M product that officials say will keep more offenders out of jail, as well as keep the public safe at the same time. The technology is being marketed as ERAM which stands for Electronic Remote Accountability Monitoring. The package consists of a MultiTech rCell modem and an IP camera. It is installed in the participant’s home, and twice a day the participant will have to adhere to random testing. This option will only be available for select offenders and will be utilized to hold them accountable and get them the help they need, when they need it.

DH Solutions began working with ABK to help develop the solution and generated a pilot program very quickly and efficiently. To date, the pilot has been a success and if all goes well the final product may be deployed nationwide.

A short video of the news cast on this development is available after the break.

Sierra Wireless AirLink GX400: The Wait Is Almost Over

2011-04-15T16:19:00.007-04:00

Sierra Wireless announced a multi-purpose wireless gateway that defines next-generation intelligent machine-to-machine (M2M) networking back in February and the wait is almost over. The powerful Sierra Wireless AirLink™ GX400 gateway offers a leading-edge combination of features, including cloud-based device management, extensive hardware and software enhancements, mil-spec ruggedness, GPS and associated location-based services, and advanced configuration options with comprehensive expandability for both hardware and software features.

Flexible and powerful enough to meet the needs of a wide range of applications in the transportation, industrial M2M and enterprise markets, the AirLink GX400 will make solution deployment faster, easier and less expensive for mobile system operators, OEMs, application service providers and end customers. With the AirLink GX400, system integrators can standardize on a single gateway platform to serve the needs of all of their customers.

This device is a true game changer as it is innovative and adaptable. I personally am excited and can't wait to see the opportunities this device leads us into.

Really Simple Syndication Feeds

2010-11-10T08:45:00.001-05:00

Do you know what an RSS feed is? It allows you to subscribe to the content on blogs like this. In order to subscribe to a feed you need to have an RSS Reader.

As shown below, Outlook 2007/2010 has a built in reader listed in your navigation pane. Click on the image to see the full Outlook window.

To subscribe to a feed you can click the in your browser address bar, you can then copy and paste the web address into your RSS reader. If you have any questions or difficulty please let us know in the comment section.

Are you subscribed to any RSS feeds that you'd like to share?

Introducing the DH Wireless Solutions official blog!

2010-10-26T11:02:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the launch of DH Solutions interactive blog. It is our goal to provide product updates, technical assistance and overviews of solutions, carrier services and hardware that effect the M2M marketplace.

Your questions and feedback are key to our ongoing effort to provide a synergistic approach to the engineering, deployment and management of M2M initiatives. We look forward to the sharing of ideas.

Thanks!