From the very beginning we have always maintained our wireless network to be modular in design. We have always tried to build our wireless platform for our design to be robust enough to have the capability to expand. So it probably comes as no surprise that our system can be operated in a variety of different ways.
The key to remember with our system is all the X series field devices (cameras, echos, feeders, activators, etc.) are all interchangeable between the different base receivers. So you can switch bases at anytime without having to do anything to your field units. I’m not going to go into every detail on every feature of the entire system, but my typical answer is whatever you want it to do – it probably can…. All the base receivers can handle up to 254 field devices and all utilize the same software. So to make thing easeir, I will just stick to the differences in the base receivers.
Our most common base receiver is what we refer to as the PC Base. This would be the base you would use when you have a computer within range of your field units (cameras, etc.)
The PC Base is connected to your computer’s USB port and comes standard with a dipole antenna. So your cameras (and echos, feeders, etc.) communicate directly to your computer via the PC Base. A typical upgrade to the PC Base is to upgrade the standard antenna to a high gain antenna. This will get the antenna outside and up higher so as to significantly increase the transmission range.
The next type of base receiver we offer is the CellBase. The CellBase is unique because it can be deployed in the same area as the field devices with no need for a computer to be within range. The CellBase can operate off standard wall power or battery power with solar panel and can be setup on most major carriers and cell providers worldwide. We have CellBase systems operating in Africa and being controlled by their owners in the USA, so the CellBase is quite versatile. Our first CellBase was deployed over 12 years and even back then we knew that we had to have a system that could utilize ANY cellular provider because some carriers just perform better in some areas. So we have always been able to operate on just about any carrier across the globe. The one key feature that most don’t realize is the ability to upgrade the CellBase as carriers switch “G’s”. The more recent trend for carriers has been to race to the highest G possible. So if you are using the standard “cellular camera” that was operating on 2G and the service went to 3G you were stuck with a cellular camera that would no longer work. With our CellBase design as carriers switch from 2G to 3G to 4G the CellBase can be upgraded as well. Our current CellBase can actually switch from 3G service to 4G service automatically on the fly as services become available without interruption. This may not sound like a big deal until your CellBase and 40 camera system is 600 miles away then it becomes a big deal.
The next base we offer is what we call the NetBase. The NetBase requires an Ethernet connection at location and the ability to locate the DCHP IP address on the network (typically private). From that point you can control all the field devices from the netbase over the network using the X manager software. This base is typically more for commercial applications utilizing communication towers in the field but we do have some consumer customers using the NetBase as well.
So in a nut shell we have the PC Base for those that have a computer within range of the field devices. The CellBase for remote applications and the NetBase for those DCHP savvy users..
I almost forgot that you can use a camera as a base and have all your devices report to a single camera so you only visit that camera to retrieve the SD card that will store all the other field devices images and videos. This is a great feature if you want to have a temporary setup (say like a hunting trip) but in most long term setups users quickly find what a difference a base makes and migrate to one of the 3 base options listed above.