| The quick answer is that we use a Motorola RF modem and RIMII to listen to the Motorola 3600 baud control channel. We then
show all of the information to you on easy
to understand interfaces and optionally, put all of the thousands of bits of data into SQL tables. From there, easy to understand and flexible
optional reports can be run so you can better understand what is happening on your system. |
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Input Channel Hardware
First, you provide an RF modem, RIMII, antenna and cables. These are designed to listen to the nearest control channel that is part of your system.
The RF Modem (typically an MCS2000* or ASTRO® Spectra) and RIMII (TRN-7962 or TDN-8224B) are usually found in existing installations where there is also Site Lens, SystemWatch, SIMS, etc.
* Important news on the MCS2000. Please click here. |
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Data Is Decoded
GenWatch3® receives the data from the RIMII and begins its decoding of all of the thousands of packets and their variations. GW3 is software that resides on a PC that, at minimum, can be a P4; 2.4GHz; 1GB-RAM; 60GHD*; XPpro or 2003; SQL2005 (or MSDE for very small systems); MS-Excel. You can see that there is nothing incredibly unusual about this machine. You might even have one around the office that will work.
For even more information on the hard drive space that you will need for your operation, please click here. |
For a look at a sample Dell hardware configuration that will work very well for most installations, follow this link. |
Data Is Stored (Archive
Option)
Once a data packet is decoded, it is stored in one of several data tables, depending on the packet and depending on how you have set up GenWatch3. GW3 allows you to store everything, nothing and all variations in between. This includes RAW Control Channel data!
How much hard drive space you will need is related to several things:
- Your daily call volume.
- How long you want to keep the history in each type of table in the database?
- Do you want to store the RAW control channel data?
In general, the larger the drive, the better. At the price of hard drives these days, it is very inexpensive (less than $150) to get even a 120GHD and have more room than you want, plus some "wiggle room".
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Data Is Archived
GW3 can store your data as long as you want it stored. On the right you see our interface to help you manage the length of time that you keep your data. In fact, you can keep some information longer than other information, it is your choice. Since all of the data is kept in SQL2005 files, you are really only limited by drive space. We recommend a 60GHD only because that should store control channel data from an average system for one year without having the RAW capture on. If you want to store it longer and/or if you want to capture 100% of your RAW control channel data for one year, you use a larger storage device. Remember that at today's prices, hard drives are MUCH cheaper than gas for your car! |
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Storage Options
 Data redundancy and backup is your choice. After all, it is your data. You might like to use a RAID array storage as part of your GW3 machine. You might like to store the data somewhere else on your network. You might want to copy off the data to a DVD data storage device. The key is that you are in the decision seat. Yes, we're more than happy to help in the decision. |
Easy Access And Analysis
(Reports Option)
From the GW3 workstation, or from up to five other PC on your LAN (if you have added the GW3 machine to your LAN), you can access the GW3 Reports. Through the power of Microsoft Excel, you can analyze your data and report on it from more than just one location. With GW3 options, you can even have multiple copies of the databases in multiple locations. By the way, the GW3 window at the right gives you a visual thumbnail of each report to make re-running the report that much easier to select. |
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Live Data Views
While long term data archiving and reporting is the biggest feature in GW3, there are many other features that bring extreme value to you. Many of these fall into the "live" category. As we are receiving, decoding and storing the Control Channel data, we have lots of information available to be able to display things on the GW3 desktop. Things like:
- Filterable and colorable view of all Control Channel data packets that come through.
- Our Classic Talkgroup view windows that can be sized, colored and placed just about wherever you want them.
- There are many more things that you can view and even alerts that you can set.
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