Upgraded Comms Systems Support National Guard Training

In July, ASTi engineers visited the Bollen Live-Fire Range Complex, Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center to update its command communications infrastructure. The control tower's original Voisus Unified Comms system was installed over eight years ago, and ASTi's most recent visit upgraded its functionality by adding many new comms capabilities.

Originally, Bollen Range's Voisus system recorded network traffic by bridging analog interfaces to range radios. The upgraded system boasts fully digital radio bridging and remote radio control for four Collins 721S radios along with a Motorola APX 7500 multiband mobile radio. It provides the range control officer (RCO) with both wired and wireless access to these radios for flexibility during air operations. Voisus also provides networked communications among the noncommissioned officer (NCO) and scoring stations for coordination during live-fire training missions.

ASTi provided all the audio peripherals for Voisus, including a wireless David Clark headset, audio interface devices (i.e., AI-S, AI-Delta), wired headsets and hand microphones. ASTi also supplied 12" touch panel PCs hosting the Voisus Flex Client interface for the RCO, NCO and scoring stations. Voisus can be quickly adapted to customer requirements and feedback. During system configuration, ASTi engineers easily adjusted the Flex Client’s layout to meet the RCO's satisfaction and increase overall usability.

ASTi also upgraded the range's record system to the latest version of its Comms Logger product, a tactical comms archiving and retrieval tool. In addition to providing a centralized, web-based management system for all network audio, the latest Comms Logger features automated audio stream transcription and bookmarking in near real time.

Future plans for the ASTi systems at Bollen Range include integrating Voisus with public switched telephone network (PTSN) lines and a ringdown line to the New York Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) for air traffic coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during emergency conditions.