Community
Outreach Division
"Getting
Your Bookmobile Online"
presented at the Indiana Library Federation
Conference
April 9, 1999
Speakers: Dan Trotter, Emergency Radio Service, and
Jeff Rose, GTE Wireless
Dan Trotter
Background on Emergency Radio Service: been in business
50 years; authorized Data-Radio and Motorola dealer; serves 30 counties
in Indiana
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- library software and server
- BDLC modem in library
- MRM modem on bookmobile (used to convert data to
radio frequency & back)
- antenna on bookmobile
- antenna on library
- coaxial cable
- FCC frequency license
SOFTWARE
- must have an asynchronous RS232 port
- must be able to communicate at 8000 - 9600 bits
per second
COVERAGE STUDY
- will do site visit
- determine software capabilities
- determine required antenna height, etc.
COST ESTIMATE
- total: $12,128
- includes all equipment, installation
- exact figures depend on geography & terrain
- does not include maintenance service agreement,
which can be added
Jeff Rose, GTE Wireless Data Solutions Manager
Background on GTE: in Indiana since 1982
ISSUES
- limited coverage
- connectivity to wireless
- propietary technologies
No longer a problem:
- national coverage
- robust, open architecture
- standard protocols
- proven products
- applications established
MOBILE APPLICATIONS
- all sorts of business applications: utilities,
FBI, UPS
- mobile/transportation
- utililize e-mail
- 2-way messaging
- improve employee communications
- access Internet, e-mail
- login to LAN, access online information services
SPEED
- 19,200 bits per second raw data
- 14,400 bps thru-put
- runs at about 7200 - 9600 bps
TWO TECHNOLOGIES
- Circuit-Switch
- use cell phone to transmit data
- concern is length of airtime, which leads to
high cost
- equipment is cheap or free
- GTE covers 3/4 of state (Ft. Wayne to Muncie
to Terre Haute, and south of that line)
- laptop costs approximately $2000
- modem costs $250 - $300
- CDPD: Cellular Digital Packet Data
- also known as "wireless IP"
- pay only for amount of data transmitted
- connected but not always transmitting data
- GTE covers Indianapolis (8 county surrounding
area) and Lafayette
- Ameritech covers Gary and NW quadrant of state
- costs about $30/month (for about 3000 kb of
data)
- roughly 8 cents per kilobite afterward
This page is based on notes I took while sitting in
the audience. I make no claims as to the accuracy of these statements.
Please send comments or questions to:
dilgerh@monroe.lib.in.us
Jeannie Dilger-Hill
Monroe County Public Library
(812)349-3050 ext. 2059
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