Lowell, Massachusetts-based Viewpoint offers a comprehensive scope of services spanning complete integrated security design and installation, remote (analog, digital, IP- based) video monitoring with audio, access control management, virtual property management and a state-of-the-art operations center. The company¡¯s coveted technology enables them to communicate, through speakers, with each camera they install or easily add the audio technology to systems already in place. Viewpoint Sales Manager Bill Reilly explains ¡°The Viewpoint Video Voice System provides a physical presence at the customer¡¯s location which is as effective as, and in most cases, more effective than a live security guard. While our patented technology allows us to speak at an unlimited amount of camera locations, Fluidmesh now allows us to do it wirelessly.¡±
Viewpoint first tapped into the Fluidmesh technology in January of ¡¯06 when they were working on a multi-unit housing project in Massachusetts. ¡°There was no way for us to trench 500 yards in a parking lot under a city street and into another parking lot down that street,¡± Reilly notes. ¡°Fluidmesh was the perfect fit and going with their wireless mesh network also greatly reduced the cost of the installation.¡±
¡°Viewpoint was looking for a reliable and easily deployable wireless system for its monitoring applications which had to support both video and audio in real time,¡± recalls Fluidmesh Director Cosimo Malesci. ¡°With our easily deployable mesh networks, Fluidmesh was able to successfully provide such a solution.¡±
Malesci explains that mesh networks provide a higher level of reliability compared to traditional wireless systems which make them the network of choice for many systems, particularly in urban areas. And Fluidmesh dual radio technology provides a greater level of redundancy than single radio mesh systems.
¡°The Fluidmesh network analyzes in real time the interferences in the area and will automatically pick the best frequency based on those results,¡± he says. Every Fluidmesh network runs on 2.4, 5.3 and 5.8 GHz simultaneously minimizing the chances of interference problems. In addition, the Fluidmesh proprietary transmission protocol is based on an innovative optimization system which guarantees a much lower latency and a much more reliable wireless connectivity compared to 802.11 systems. ¡°Latency is critical in VOIP system like the one used by Viewpoint CRM,¡± Malesci notes.
For the multi-unit housing project, Viewpoint CRM worked closely with Malesci and the Fluidmesh engineering team to design the mesh network according to the clients¡¯ needs. The network had to be laid out on a map and factors such as link distance, bandwidth, line of sight, and interferences needed to be taken into account. ¡°This is a service we provide to all our customers to make sure that our networks can match their expectations and that their clients will not be disappointed,¡± Malesci adds.
Viewpoint¡¯s Bill Reilly concurs that the client was super happy with the cost-effective solution they, in conjunction with Fluidmesh, provided. ¡°It took us awhile to have faith in wireless technology,¡± Reilly acknowledges. ¡°But we took a hard look at the Fluidmesh product. They gave us a demo and we tested it, and we believe in it. Fluidmesh was also gracious enough to work with us and hold our installation partner¡¯s hand through the initial setup and once we understood how their technology works, it became our wireless mesh product of choice. We have several more projects coming up with Fluidmesh because we believe in the product and they¡¯ve given us tremendous support and training.¡±
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