Frag Out! Magazine

supply plugged in to the 230V socket. We tested the PIK while using the DMR's with the declared range not exceeding 2 km and a mobile phone. Communication with DMRs through the gate- ways was virtually possible without any limits in the areas covered with mobile networks. With a distance about 150 km straight between the ra- dios, a quality of the communication was compa- rable with that received within their declared ran- ge in the perfect conditions. The only noticeable effect was connected with a voice sound of the interlocutor – due the multiple signal processing it is slightly delayed, but it is also characterized by the specific sound. However, it does not disturb in understanding a message, and is rather a "cosme- tic" defect. Unfortunately, in the places where a mobile network signal, the PIK also lost its signal, but – it is due to a fact that a device has a greater output power than a mobile phone (it is possible to set its several bandwiths), it reconnected si- gnificantly faster. If a mobile phone with an app is used as a hand-held radiotelephone, a quality of the device is of the very high importance. Both when it comes to a quality of the microphone and a loud speaker (a device operates in the hand-free mode), and an antenna. The latter feature has an enormous impact on the connection quality and a range – the integrated antennas of the majority of the smartphones significantly limit these parame- ters. Therefore, for using a phone with the PIK ap- plication is necessary a rather strong signal in 3G/ LTE. Since the voice is transferred as data packet, there can be some lost packets and connection could be interrupted, it is hard to hear full senten- ces and understand a message. Mobile phone with PIK app was used in mounta- in region with limited mobile network coverage where it appeared to be not as reliable communi- cation device. In urban areas or relatively open ter- rain, the communication was flawless when 3G/ LTE network was available. A PIK gateway output signal will not interfere radio, TV or WiFi bandwith, nor does not interfere communication via a mobi- le network. When we place antennas on the car roof, we could notice strong interferences only in the case of the radio stations with a weak signal, first and foremost, local ones, or in the undergro- und garage. In the latter situation a communica- tion works flawlessly, but impedes a radio signal weakened by the walls of the building. To sum up – PIK from MindMade is an interesting communications platform which increases possi- bilities of the previously deployed digital commu- nication devices, which does not require neither an additional training of its user, nor investments in the purchase of the new devices (besides the PIK gateways), in 100% depended on the mobile network (with all its pros and cons), but such was an idea of its developing. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES

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