Avon-ISI develops Viking Z Seven Fire Protection SCBA

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ISI has developed the new Viking Z 7 that has some new features that has added benefits for everyone in the fire service. The new electronics uses a wireless network that communicates data between the control console and the PASS alarm assembly, eliminating a set of wires on the SCBA. Because these components are wireless, they have a discrete frequency that the control console and PASS send data to each other. Every console must be matched to an individual PASS. By using this type of wireless network, it eliminates cross communications from other SCBA’s in near proximity of each other.

ISI has chosen a proprietary wireless system to transfer this data. There are several major features that make this system beneficial for the fire service. This wireless system operates at 2.4GHz and is Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum ( DSSS). This means that it is a wide bandwidth with low noise network. This translates into the Viking DSSS system being immune to noise, resistant to other radio frequencies and no lost communications. This is the most efficient way to transmit data without loosing the signal, and it consumes less battery power. The current Viking draws 220ma of power. Using the Viking DSSS system in the same configuration only uses 100ma of power, which is a 55% drop in power consumption. This translates into greater battery life. Bluetooth technology is an excellent way to transmit voice and video, but this technology would use 75 % more power, greatly reducing battery life. The same DSSS wireless network is being used in new home construction, known as smart homes, where electronic appliances transmit data to a central location within the home and in office buildings with automated tracking devices. Each devise can be monitored from a central location. Because of this technology, in the future, a fire fighter could be tracked inside a home or building by local positioning by receiving a signal from the electronic devises. This wireless system is an extremely flexible platform, making it easy to be reconfigurable and to add addition features.