Quake Global Next Generation Satellite Data Modems to Use Trimble GPS

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Mar 19, 2010, 06:30 ET

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB) announced today that it has been selected by Quake Global, a leading manufacturer of Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communicators for multiple satellite and terrestrial networks, as its Global Positioning System (GPS) provider for the QUAKE™ Q4000 family of satellite data modems. The Q4000 modem is the industry's first M2M solution that can access multiple satellite and terrestrial networks using a single communications protocol and will use the Trimble® Condor™ C1011 GPS module. The Q4000 modem is used to track, monitor and control assets in industries such as heavy machinery, aviation, maritime, and trucking, as well as in utility, gas and oil, and rail applications.

"Trimble is excited to work with QUAKE and we look forward to supporting them in the wireless communications market," said Steve Ruff, general manager of Trimble's Embedded Products Division. "The Condor module offers unparalleled reliability and high-quality positioning backed by Trimble's 30 plus years of GPS experience."

"From the onset of its development, QUAKE's goal for the Q4000 was to achieve a truly next generation class of modem in terms of reduced size and power requirements, ruggedness, high level of reliability, flexibility and performance. Our selection of Trimble's Condor GPS module was instrumental in achieving these goals," said Sergio Ramos, Quake Global's chief technical officer. "Trimble GPS has exactly the blend of features, including reliability, size, performance, flexibility and ease of integration that our engineers were looking for."

Trimble Condor C1011 GPS Module

The Trimble Condor C1011 GPS module is a full-featured receiver that provides position, velocity and time data with leading edge acquisition times. The tiny Condor C1011 module packs powerful positioning performance into a small size, 10mm x 11mm x 2.01mm, which is ideal for handheld, battery-powered applications such as sport accessories, portable navigation devices, cameras, computer and communication peripherals as well as vehicle tracking, navigation, and security products.

The C1011 is one of the many modules that make up the Condor family. Trimble's Condor family of modules offers various form factors, features and flexible interface options to accommodate different applications. The Condor modules can generate position fixes with high accuracy in extremely challenging environments and under poor signal conditions (tracking sensitivity down to -160dBm). The receiver consumes typically 37mA at 3Vdc with continuous tracking. In addition, the receivers provide a configurable 1 PPS synchronized to GPS/UTC, typically within 25 nanoseconds (one sigma) and an update rate up to 5Hz.

Trimble's Condor GPS module is capable of receiving Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) corrections, including the U.S. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) and the European Geostationary Overlay Service (EGNOS). It also supports Assisted GPS (AGPS) for improved startup performance.

QUAKE Q4000 Satellite Data Modems

Though the Q4000 is small enough to fit in your hand, it is a rugged industrial grade (J1455) modem which combines dual-mode operability over multiple satellite constellations and GSM terrestrial networks with GPS into a versatile, all-in-one remote asset tracking solution. It is designed to meet stringent automotive power conditioning requirements and incorporates an application programming interface that allows developers to utilize its functions to create customized onboard applications. Customers have numerous customization options including multiple inputs/outputs, antenna detection, J1939 CAN bus, memory and network accessibility.

Utilizing QUAKE's patented technology and industry exclusive unified communications protocol, system integrators need only develop within a single protocol to communicate across multiple satellite and terrestrial networks along with GPS. This functionality not only significantly reduces development time and costs, but also provides end users with unparalleled flexibility to choose the most economically appropriate network to meet their varied network needs and usage patterns.

QUAKE offers the Q-Pro for customers seeking similar functionality within an environmentally sealed (IP-67) enclosure.

About Quake Global

Founded in 1998, QUAKE designs and manufactures industrial M2M modems and controllers for advanced data acquisition, machine, process and motion control and asset monitoring through satellite, cellular, GPS and other emerging technologies. QUAKE is the only manufacturer of network agnostic modems, providing its customers with a unified communications protocol for data coverage across multiple global satellite and terrestrial networks from a single device. From its San Diego headquarters and through a network of international distributors, QUAKE products serve companies in the heavy equipment, aviation, maritime and trucking industries, as well as in utility, gas & oil and rail applications. QUAKE is proud of its world-wide reputation for providing reliable, rugged, high-quality communicators to major international OEMs.

For more information, visit: www.quakeglobal.com.

About Trimble

Trimble applies technology to make field and mobile workers in businesses and government significantly more productive. Solutions are focused on applications requiring position or location—including surveying, construction, agriculture, fleet and asset management, public safety and mapping. In addition to utilizing positioning technologies, such as GPS, lasers and optics, Trimble solutions may include software content specific to the needs of the user. Wireless technologies are utilized to deliver the solution to the user and to ensure a tight coupling of the field and the back office. Founded in 1978, Trimble is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.

For more information, visit: www.trimble.com.

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