ODN, Inc. (Orbital Data Networks) has just completed the first install of their automated satellite mesh system, designed specifically to support Motorola Astro25 digital radio networks. Utilizing this system, designed by ODN, the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, that owns and operates countywide voice and data radio networks with over 8,000 subscriber devices in the Minneapolis area, can on demand connect mobile infrastructure assets from any remote incident site back to their main critical infrastructure facility in Minneapolis at low latency.

Roger Laurence, Radio Communications Manager for Hennepin County said; “The ODN mesh system makes deployment of our Satellite Connected Communications Site on Wheels (SATCOW) easy, quick and affordable compared to other temporary backhaul methods. The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office SATCOW is an integral part of the State of Minnesota’s Strategic Technology Reserve and has been deployed to major incidents throughout the nation including Hurricane Katrina, Cedar River floods in Iowa and Red River floods along the Minnesota/ North Dakota border.”

Greg Heifner, CEO of ODN, Inc. said; “Digital Land Mobile Radio networks require very tight specifications in synchronization and delay. ODN has used its years of experience in high capacity satellite services to utilize new transparent mesh technologies for this purpose. Mesh provides a point-to-point connection to reduce round trip satellite latency. At the same time, it also provides robust Internet and telephone services from the same antenna system. We utilize a version of theSpacenet Inc. transparent mesh technology. This technology uses a standard Ku-band satellite payload and does not need routing capability from the space craft. The ODN solution also provides a T1 interface, programmed by ODN, so that a Motorola Astro25 router can accept it automatically as a alternate connection to a terrestrial service. This allows the network to be used for “park and point” instant connectivity, as well as standby protection of other T1 terrestrial assets that cannot be allowed to fail.”

“We are thrilled that our concept has gained such acceptance.”

About ODN
ODN, Inc. is a privately owned company with decades of experience in satellite communications. Its Emergency Network includes public safety organizations in Missouri, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Texas and Illinois. www.orbitaldata.net