RAD Data Communications Teams with FONEX DATA Systems to Provide Unique Data Transmission Solution to ATCO Electric

ATCO Electric of Alberta, Canada recently chartered Canadian distributor FONEX DATA Systems to provide a highly reliable data transmission solution. Servicing more than 166,000 utility customers for whom constant availability is mandatory, ATCO required the most reliable equipment possible. FONEX found the ideal solution in RAD’s Kilomux time division multiplexer. Together, FONEX and RAD worked to implement what FONEX’s Manager of Technical Services, Jérôme Brisset, hailed as a “rock-solid solution.”

ATCO has a multi-T1 microwave backbone with spurs of 900 MHz, 384 kbps. An application existed in which customer data needed to pass through one end of the microwave platform and the only access to the platform was through the T1 link. The implementation of the Kilomux enabled customer data to be sent without having to split up the 900 MHz bandwidth into 64 kbps clusters. “We wanted to be able to keep clusters to a minimum of 800 bps so we could utilize our backbone efficiently,” said ATCO Project Engineer Brian Krest.

FONEX implemented RAD’s Kilomux on ATCO’s radio frequency network. The Kilomux, of which ATCO is currently using 12 systems, is coupled with fiber optic modems to provide electrical isolation between a generation facility and a substation. Analog voice and RS-232 signals pass through RAD’s device for telemetry, telesurveillance, teleprotection and low speed data supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) application. The Kilomux is deployed as a subrate mux, which covers communications below T1 speeds. Not only is this solution unique, it is also highly dependable. “During the three years that we’ve had the Kilomux installed, it has never failed,” said Krest.

Not only did the Kilomux prove highly reliable, it was also simple to install. As Krest recalled, “ATCO provided FONEX with a description of what kind of circuit – be it voice or data – comes from each location. FONEX configured the Kilomux system for us. The process of putting the pieces together and setting up the system on our equipment racks took about a day. That was a pleasant surprise because we had budgeted two weeks to do this. FONEX’s technical knowledge made it easy to understand why they won RAD’s Technical VAR of the Year Award in 2000.”

Krest summed it up frankly: “There were three key criteria that helped us decide on RAD’s solution. The Kilomux is considerably more flexible than what we’ve used before. Also, it delivers excellent value. Most importantly, RAD and FONEX provided the support that we needed.” He continued, “We needed the Kilomux to work for us in the area of asset protection, and it succeeded flawlessly.