THE MTP8000EX SERIES - SMARTER BY DESIGN

Before we set about developing the next generation MTP8000Ex Series our key aim was to make a smarter ATEX radio that better addressed the needs of its users – the workers in hazardous environments. We listened to the challenges and frustrations these workers faced every day and did something about them. All with the aim of increasing their efficiency and improving their safety in hazardous environments whilst at the same time making the radios easier to use than ever before.

We achieved these aims by thinking smarter about the design of the radio – and in turn produced a radio that lets users work smarter. Through a series of simple and innovative design features we have made the MTP8000Ex Series much more than just another ATEX radio.

ADVANCED ERGONOMICS
One of the most effective things we did was apply advanced ergonomics to make the radio easier to use whilst wearing protective clothing and heavy gloves.

Based on our research we implemented a number of simple design innovations – the most obvious being the T-bar form factor making the radio easier to hold and harder to drop. Similarly the exaggerated control button makes it easier to select volume and talk group whilst wearing heavy gloves - and in the same way the textured Push-to-Talk button and the tactile keypad make the radio easier to use. Placing the enlarged emergency button at the base of the antenna – another simple idea - also makes it easier to locate without looking at the radio.

TOP DISPLAY
We also asked ourselves how we could make it easier for the workers to see key information - such as status alerts, emergency notifications, volume, battery level and talk group - when the radio is worn on the belt or on the chest without needing to unclip it.

The smart but simple solution to this problem was to add a display panel to the top of the radio. The user simply has to glance down to see the information they need rather than take out the radio to look at the front screen.

COVERAGE INDICATOR
We also asked ourselves if there was smart way of making sure users always know when they are in radio coverage and whether the coverage is good or not. The innovative solution to this problem was to put an LED Coverage Indicator at the base of the antenna, which clearly shows the user when coverage is poor or marginal.

It acts much like a traffic light with green, orange and red lights showing when coverage is good, marginal or poor – and the levels can be pre-set so you are in total control of your workers’ safety.

NAMEPLATE
Our customer research also showed us that many users mark their radio in some way to distinguish it from others, often using a sticky label or a permanent marker to write a name or number on the radio. This can often compromise the ATEX certification and as a result put the safety of the users at risk.

The solution to this problem was to add a nameplate to the back of the radios. This means users can simply write their name or number on the tab behind the clear Perspex cover and the radios can now be easily identified without compromising safety.

INTUITIVE USER INTERFACE
Another innovative feature is the simple and intuitive user interface which makes use of icons and the familiar menu style navigation. The menus can also be configured to only show those options needed by the workers, again making the radio quicker and easier to navigate.

BLUETOOTH
A major innovation was integrating Bluetooth Wireless technology to the MTP8000Ex Series. This means a range of wireless accessories can be securely and reliably paired with the radio. And, in the future this could include ATEX certified wireless headsets and microphones as well as Push-To-Talk buttons. This will make the radio easier and safer to use and reduces the risk of dangling wires catching on equipment such as ladders or projecting structures such as pipes.

COLLABORATIVE DEVICES
Smarter still the integration of Bluetooth Wireless technology means collaborative devices such as mobile computing devices can securely connect to the radios for data collection or other applications such as work scheduling. This makes frontline workers more effective and more efficient, giving them access to better information when they need it.

For even smarter safety, devices such as body worn gas sensors or heart rate monitors can also be connected to the radio, alerting the user and control automatically of rising gas levels or dangerous changes in the heart rate. In the future Bluetooth could also be used for indoor location with the installation of Bluetooth sensors in buildings allowing you to keep track of your people wherever they go. Integrating Bluetooth in to the MTP8000Ex Series opens up a world of smart solutions where the only limits are the availability of Bluetooth devices and the uses you can think of for them.

SMARTER BY DESIGN
The MTP8000Ex Series really is smarter by design from the T-bar grip to the top display, and from the coverage indicator to the integrated Bluetooth wireless technology. These simple and innovative design features make the MTP8000Ex Series safer and easier to use and the workers who use them more effective and efficient.

Want to know more? Watch our new Youtube video here or learn more about the MTP8000Ex Series TETRA ATEX radios here.

If you’d like to join the conversation about communication in hazardous environments, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Motorola Solutions Community EMEA LinkedIn Group.

HOW CAN OIL & GAS COMPANIES REVITALISE EXISTING WORKFORCE COMMUNICATIONS?

The oil and gas sector has always been an early adaptor of innovations in mobile communications. Teams operating in the harshest of remote working environments have embraced DMR and TETRA radio networks but are now looking to extend their capabilities.

Mobility is now a key issue for the industry. This is because the concept of mobile working has moved beyond just specialist, remote-working teams. We are all mobile workers now, equipped with smartphones, tablets and, increasingly, LTE/4G broadband connectivity.

The question is, what does this mean technically and operationally for oil and gas enterprises? There is a vast choice of mobile devices, networks and operating systems, and many users want to use these devices to enhance the workplace.

With such diversity, and the continuing evolution of the technology, standardisation is not a realistic option. Instead, oil and gas companies want a scenario in which each user has the best technology for their needs, and all users can communicate seamlessly with radio-like Push-to-Talk (PTT), in real-time, regardless of the device or network they use.

Motorola Solutions’ WAVE Work Group Communications delivers just this. It allows you to extend your workforce communications beyond radio to include devices connected across broadband networks for seamless communications in any location. WAVE is an interoperable, broadband PTT solution that delivers real-time voice and data securely over any network, using any device.

Two-way radios, smartphones, tablets, laptops or landlines; people can use the devices they already have and the networks they already subscribe to and communicate with other teams and individuals.

By overcoming traditional communication silos, WAVE unlocks vast new possibilities for productivity, efficiency and cost reduction.

Extreme situations are often used to set out the key benefits of solutions like these. In emergencies, the benefits of being able to patch everyone in and out as they are needed are obvious. But the implications of an integrated communications and collaboration infrastructure for the oil and gas industry go far beyond the worst-case scenarios.

When project managers can speak routinely with geographically dispersed teams, each user working with their preferred device, all kinds of irritating barriers to the smooth execution of a project can be overcome.

Conference calls no longer require everyone to gather round a single device, connected to a particular wireless standard. Everyone can participate on a shared PTT channel – no matter where they are or what technology they use – over a secure communications network.

Radio communications has proven itself over and over as a key tool for oil and gas industries. WAVE does not replace the need for specialist communications, it rather enhances everything you do in a very natural manner.

If the time-savings and improvements in decision-making are aggregated over the life of a project – and then over multiple projects and thousands of people – the transformation is significant.

With profit and revenue under relentless pressure for oil and gas companies, the efficiencies enabled by effortless cross-platform communication and collaboration can make a difference both operationally and strategically.

Better communication can accelerate return on investment and create competitive advantage by bringing in new revenue sources ahead of the competition.

The world of apps, smartphones and touch screens has much to offer the sector. WAVE gives you an integrated extension of the traditional two-way radio systems that has been proven and will continue to be so for years.

Motorola Solutions has published a white paper exploring these issues in more detail, which you can download here.

If you’d like to join the conversation about how to maximise the efficiency of the digital oilfield in today's ever-changing environment, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Motorola Solutions Community EMEA LinkedIn Group.

WITH THE MTP8000EX SERIES TETRA ATEX RADIO SAFETY ALWAYS COMES FIRST

When designing an ATEX radio safety comes first – it’s really that simple. That’s why we built the next generation of TETRA ATEX radios, the MTP8000Ex Series to be safer than ever before. They are designed to be the communications lifeline for workers, protecting them and keeping them safe in the most hazardous environments whether they are a maintenance team at an oil refinery or firefighters responding to an incident at a chemical plant.

BUILT TO BE SAFE
The starting point for all ATEX equipment is preventing the creation of an ignition source within a potentially explosive environment. And that is why we built the MTP8000Ex Series radios to meet the latest version 6 of the ATEX and IECEx safety standards. This ensures that industrial workers and firefighters can operate safely in the most hazardous and potentially explosive environments, safe in the knowledge that their radio – their communications lifeline - isn’t going to cause an explosion.

MORE THAN JUST ATEX
But it’s not enough to just build the radio to the latest ATEX and IECEx standards. There are other things to consider beyond making the radio intrinsically safe. These include coverage, audio quality, ruggedness and usability.

Radio users need to know that they will stay in contact with their team and with control wherever they go onsite and that he will hear and be heard wherever they are. Even in the noisiest of working conditions. They also need the radio to survive the toughest conditions and continue to work despite the roughest treatment. And it needs to be easy to use in protective clothing and heavy gloves.

ENHANCED COVERAGE
For this reason we have provided the MTP8000EX Series higher receiver sensitivity and higher transmit power. This gives the radios greater coverage and enhanced in-building performance so that your workers can go anywhere onsite and remain in coverage and stay in contact, safe in the knowledge that help is just a button press away if anything goes wrong.

COVERAGE INDICATOR
For ultimate safety, we have fitted the radio with an LED Coverage Indicator at the base of the antenna which clearly shows the worker when coverage is poor or non-existent. The indicator acts much like a traffic light with a green, orange and red lights showing when coverage is good, marginal or poor – and the levels can be pre-set to your exact requirements so you are in control of your people’s safety.

LOUD AND CLEAR AUDIO
The MTP8000Ex Series also has loud and clear audio for use in noisiest environments so your workers can hear or be heard wherever they are and communicate with their team when and where it really matters.

The radios have been optimised for excellent audio performance in all types of noisy environments. This means audio through both the speaker and any audio accessories is clear, even at full volume. Your workers know they can be clearly heard against even the loudest background noise.

BLUETOOTH WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY
The MTP8000Ex Series radios also have Bluetooth Wireless Technology added to make them safer still. It means a range of wireless accessories can be securely and reliably paired with the radio. And in the future this could include wireless headsets and microphones as well as Push-To-Talk buttons. This will make the radio easier and safer to use and reduces the risk of dangling wires catching on equipment such as ladders or projecting structures such as pipes.

For even greater safety collaborative devices such as body worn gas sensors or devices such as heart rate monitors can be connected to the radio through Bluetooth. This means both the worker and control can be alerted simultaneously of poisonous or rising gas levels. In much the same way an automatic alert can be sent to control if the heart rate monitor detects a dangerous level, either high or low.

RUGGED DESIGN AND ADVANCED ERGONOMICS
The radios are also now far more rugged, with an IP67 rating so that they can withstand the roughest treatment and still work when they are really needed. We have also made them easier to use than ever before when wearing protective clothing and heavy gloves. Advanced ergonomics give the radio a T-Bar grip and textured PTT button, tactile keypad and exaggerated control button for greater usability.

LARGE EMERGENCY BUTTON
The MTP8000Ex Series also includes an improved and larger emergency button, making it easier to use when it really matters, even with thick gloves.

EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE
And last but not least we have extended the battery life of the radios so that in the event of an emergency your workers can be confident the radios will continue to work far beyond their shift.

So what does this all mean for you? It’s simple really - it means both you and your workers can be safe in the knowledge that when they are on the job, wearing protective clothing and heavy gloves, wherever they are onsite, and when they need it most - their MTP8000Ex ATEX communications solution will keep them in contact at all times.

Want to know more? Watch our new Youtube video here or learn more about the MTP8000Ex Series TETRA ATEX radios here.

If you’d like to join the conversation about communication in hazardous environments, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Motorola Solutions Community EMEA LinkedIn Group.

According to the agreement, Motorola Solutions will deliver and implement a TETRA radio system including Dimetra IP TETRA switches, TETRA base stations, TETRA mobile radios, TETRA portable radios and TETRA radio modems.

Motorola Solutions will also integrate third-party solutions including a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system from Elkomtech and Mikronika to control power distribution equipment at remote sites. Motorola Solutions will also provide network integration services, dispatch console solutions plus post-sale service and maintenance.

“By choosing our Dimetra IP TETRA system, ENERGA-OPERATOR SA has selected a truly sustainable communications solution that can be upgraded and expanded to support Smart Metering, Smart Grid applications and LTE evolution when needed,” said Axel Rettig, MSSI vice president of Eastern Europe, Russia and Central Asia, Motorola Solutions.

• Digital radio communications to increase safety and reliability of power distribution
• Cost effective integration with customer’s existing control infrastructure
• Motorola Solutions’ largest utility communications contract in Poland

If you’d like to join the conversation about reliable and robust communication deployments in complex environments, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Motorola Solutions Community EMEA LinkedIn Group.

THE MTP8000Ex SERIES - JUST WHAT THE CUSTOMER ORDERED!

At Motorola Solutions we are always listening to the voice of the customer. When we started thinking about developing a new ATEX radio it became clear that our customers had 5 key requirements: better audio, better coverage, easier to use, rugged design and ATEX accessories. It also became obvious that they didn’t want just an ATEX radio; they wanted a complete ATEX communications solution.

Motorola has more than 20 years of experience in providing intrinsically safe two-way radios and has shipped more than 100,000 TETRA ATEX radios, making us the leading supplier of TETRA radios for communicating in hazardous environments. We have used all of this knowledge and experience, as well as the experience gained from developing our newer radios like the MTP6000 Series and APX8000, in developing the MTP8000Ex Series TETRA ATEX radios. In short, we've given our customers just what they asked for.

Loud and clear audio - the MTP8000Ex Series has been optimised for excellent audio performance in all types of noisy environments with higher audio power, Automatic Gain Control and Slimport technology.

Enhanced coverage - higher receiver sensitivity and higher transmit power give the MTP8000Ex greater coverage and better in-building performance. The radio also has an LED coverage indicator at the base of the antenna so users can easily see when coverage is good, marginal or poor.

Advanced ergonomics - the MTP8000Ex was designed to be easier to use, from the exaggerated control **** for volume and talkgroup, the tactile keypad, enlarged emergency button and textured PTT button, to the T-Bar grip and top display. The T-bar shape means the radio is easier to hold and harder to drop even in protective gloves and the top display makes it easier to see emergency notifications, talk group status and batter level when worn on the body or at the waist. MTP8000Ex also comes in two variants, the MTP8500Ex with a simple keypad and the MTP8550Ex with a full keypad so users can choose the model that is best suited to their needs. The battery life of the MTP8000Ex has been extended to in excess of 16 hours. Long enough to last for an extended shift or to deal with an unplanned event or an emergency.

Rugged design - the MTP8000Ex series are built to the latest V6 ATEX and IECEx safety standards and are IP65, IP66 and IP67 rated for use in the toughest and most hazardous environments, in both the cold and wet or dust and heat.

ATEX accessories - the ATEX certified Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) Remote Speaker Microphone was launched alongside the MTP8000Ex Series to give the customers the complete ATEX communications solutions they need and wanted. With two audio jacks, a NEXUS and a 3.5mm jack, the ANC Remote Speaker Microphone provides the connection to a comprehensive portfolio of ATEX accessories from tactical headsets and twin cup headsets for industrial users to helmet communication solutions and breathing apparatus for Fire and Rescue users.

The MTP8000Ex Series ATEX radios give workers the ability to work safer, work smarter and work anywhere.

Want to know more? Watch our new Youtube video here or learn more about the MTP8000Ex Series TETRA ATEX radios here.

If you’d like to join the conversation about communication in hazardous environments, we’d be delighted to welcome you to the Motorola Solutions Community EMEA LinkedIn Group.

COMMUNICATIONS IN HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS. ATEX radios are essential tools for those working in the oil and gas industry where the working environment may contain potentially explosive gas or dust.

The starting point for all ATEX equipment is the focus on preventing the creation of an ignition source within a potentially explosive environment. Beyond this key point, when designing any two-way communications equipment there are five key considerations: audio performance, coverage, ruggedness, accessories and usability.

AUDIO PERFORMANCE

The predominant user groups for ATEX radios - from workers in the oil and gas industry, and fire fighters, to airport ground crews and miners - all share challenging operating conditions. They all experience very loud environments, often in excess of 90dB. This drives the most obvious requirement that the two-way radio communications equipment must be able to deliver clear, loud audio which can overcome the background noise.

And here we encounter perhaps one of the toughest technical challenges of communications in an ATEX product. In a non-ATEX product the simple solution is to drive more power into a bigger speaker. Unfortunately to meet the ATEX standards we need to restrict the amount of current which can be used to drive the speakers in the radios and accessories. This in turn directly impacts the loudness and clarity which can be generated. The challenge is to drive the speakers to the loudest, clearest possible level to overcome the 85-90dB ambient noise levels without resulting in the radio becoming an ignition source.

We also find that in certain environments the ambient noise is of a ‘different’ type. The sound of a pump bay on the fire truck is very different to the sound of an airplane engine or a petroleum refinery. The actual noise levels, the loudness, can be very similar, yet the frequencies which are generated can result in very different audio interferences. This requires the radios and accessories to be optimised for each particular type of ambient background noise.

NETWORK AND RADIO COVERAGE

Often the networks in which an ATEX radio is used will be privately owned, by the plant or facility, in which the radios are being used. In the case of civil fire fighters, they will often operate on a regional or nationwide public safety network. In both of these situations, the communications managers will still want to optimise their network to minimise capital investment whilst maximising coverage. This means the transmission power and receiver sensitivity of the radio need to be maximised to give the best possible coverage.

Receiving a signal in the radio does not necessarily cause any major challenges from an ATEX perspective, however when transmitting voice or data from the radio, some of the internal components can generate heat. This in turn can raise the temperature on the outer skin of the radio - and the hotter the surfaces of the radio, the higher the risk of ignition of a gas or dust.

With more efficient RF design, higher transmission power can be achieved without raising the temperature of the radio. The challenge for TETRA has been creating a radio than can transmit at the same power levels as non-ATEX radios. The ETSI standard defines transmit power in “Class” levels – for example a Class 4 radio has a nominal Tx power of 1W, but the actual definition is 30 dBm +/- 2dB, allowing some design flexibility and manufacturing tolerance. For most modern non-ATEX radios the Tx power is aligned to the higher end of this tolerance – i.e. above 1W, however for ATEX radios the actual measured Tx Power of a Class 4 radio is less than 1W – often around 0.7W. This is driven by the need to limit maximum currents in the radio and to limit heating effects.

This obviously impacts the ability for a radio to operate in poor coverage areas of a facility and can result in ‘dead spots’ where communication is lost altogether. Thus the challenge for ATEX radios is how to enable improved coverage through higher transmission power and a more optimised system design, ensuring users are always connected, can hear all messages broadcast and can respond in all emergencies.

RUGGED FOR A TOUGH ENVIRONMENT

Many ATEX environments are found in the extremes of the planet. From the dust and heat of the Middle East, where temperatures regularly exceed 45C, to the cold and wet of Siberia where temperatures can drop below -20C with snow and ice. This drives the need for radios to operate in the most extreme environments, maintaining ATEX performance levels despite exposure to heat shock or extreme cold, as well as dirt, oil, metal dust and chemicals.

We also see ATEX radios deployed by numerous fire services as they will often be required to respond to situations where the risk of exposure to flammable materials and ignition from their equipment is very real. This is further exacerbated by the need to withstand exposure to multiple water sources. This results in the need for equipment to be able to provide multiple levels of IP protection, even after thermal cycling, heat shock and drop testing.

ATEX ACCESSORIES

An ATEX radio communications solution does not stop at the radio. There are a wide range of user requirements when it comes to accessories. Most are tailored for use in a particular environment and this has resulted in a wide array of accessories required by the numerous ATEX users: remote speaker mics; skull mics; boom mics; noise cancelling headsets; hardhat solutions; smoke diver face masks; earpieces; and large Push-To-Talk buttons. This drives the requirement for advanced interoperability between multiple types of accessories and the radio itself to satisfy all types of users.

USABILITY AND ERGONOMICS

A significant number of user groups operating in ATEX environments will be wearing gloves and possibly masks, helmets and other protective clothing when using their communications equipment. This means the radio and accessories need to be optimised for use by people who may have reduced tactility in their fingers, possibly restricted vision, and almost without exception, are working in a loud ambient noise environment. This drives design considerations to ensure users can continue to communicate regardless of potentially major restrictions to their normal senses.

A further aspect of usability is the duration of radio use between charges. Some users will be required to operate long distances from a charger or suitable power source and this encourages a need for extended usage time beyond an average shift of eight hours.

These five key requirements demonstrate the extraordinary technical challenges in delivering communications equipment which not only meet end user needs, but also comply with the ATEX and IECEX standards. The MTP850Ex TETRA ATEX radio has demonstrated, time and again, that it meets these extraordinarily tough technical needs with more than 100,000 radios already shipped to customers.