Radio Engineering Industries' Chris Sweeden

If only... If only I had the ability to predict what is going to happen in the coming 12 months. If only I’d had the vision to see the future this time last year. If only I could have predicted gas prices would hit $4! Who among us could have foreseen the resulting flight to public transportation? If only I could have predicted the looming economic turmoil that we find ourselves embroiled in today? My 401K wouldn’t resemble the desolate pock-marked landscape that it has become.

Although it is impossible for me to make predictions with 100 percent certainty, I am pleased to have the opportunity to share some of the exciting things going on at REI for 2009. Some of which is available today, some still on the drawing board and some remains conceptual.

Surveillance
Since 1992, the year in which REI sold its very first surveillance system, surveillance has matured greatly, and REI has been there every step of the way. Today, computer hard drives are used to store video images and other data. While many DVR’s employ 3.5” hard-drives, which are designed for in-home use, REI uses only 2.5” mobile-rated hard drives and we go to great lengths to design our hard drive mechanisms with vibration-dampening materials to ensure long life and reliability. In 2009, the catch phrase will be, “Solid-State Hard-Drives”. Conventional hard drives use moving parts, and are thus more susceptible to damage due to vibration and environmental issues. Solid state hard drives have no moving parts, however, they are very pricey and there is no expectation that prices will come down anytime soon, therefore I expect to see limited migration in 2009.

With record times now being measured in weeks, instead of hours, attention is also being turned toward High-Resolution cameras. High-Resolution cameras provide vast improvements in image quality over conventional cameras, and costs are coming down to affordable levels.

We are likely to see wireless use increase as well, as infrastructure costs come down and the technology that delivers video wirelessly improves. Video by its very nature however requires huge amounts of bandwidth, and this bandwidth does not come cheaply. On-site infrastructure costs are very high and download times are also very slow, but REI recommends downloading only the images that are essential to an operation. This allows a property to decrease its up-front infrastructure costs as well as implementation time.

Digital TV
By now everybody knows that in February television stations will be required to broadcast their signals digitally. For the average consumer, this means a cleaner, clearer over-the-air picture. But to the transportation industry, it means a whole lot more. In 2009, REI will introduce a mobile tuner that will not only capture and replay live, digital-quality television broadcasts aboard buses, but can do so at speeds of up to 100MPH! Historically, there has never been a need or desire to install TV in a transit bus because it was simply too unreliable. Implementation of this new technology however, allows operators and properties of all types of commercial vehicles to deliver crystal-clear, reliable, local television broadcasts to its passengers. Best of all, this is over-the-air, free TV!

Although the concept of Digital TV has been around for years, mobile reception was an afterthought. In fact, the protocol, or standard, was only established in late November of this year, so look for REI to expand its product line to include DTV tuners later in the year.

SUMMARY
Faster, more reliable storage media

Greater selection of Hi-Res cameras

More wireless integration

TV tuners on transit, school and motor coaches

BiOGRAPHY
As a continuing driving force for International business development, International Sales Director Chris Sweeden has been an important ingredient in the development of REI’s international presence. In 2004, Chris directed the opening REI’s São Paulo, Brazil facility, and in the last five years has positioned REI as one of South America’s strongest transportation electronics manufacturers.