Siklu Backhaul Radios Help Bethlehem Police Department Secure Hoover Mason Trestle Elevated Walkway

The project included building a wireless network that could extend the BPD video surveillance system to the Trestle

Siklu's world’s smallest backhaul radios were selected by Bethlehem Police Department (BPD) and Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority (BRA) to provide Gigabit capacity and interference-free operation to help secure and protect the new Hoover Mason Trestle at SteelStacks, a ten-acre campus dedicated to arts, culture, family events that was once home to Bethlehem Steel, the second largest steel manufacturer in the nation. Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, provided cameras, while LTW (Let’s Think Wireless, LLC) provided system integration, design and installation services.

Speedy Deployment And Easy Integration

“When it came to selecting a solution, I do not recall any real competition to the speedy deployment and easy integration of Siklu’s powerful EH-600T and 1200FX radios,” said Peter Lutz, VP Government and Public Safety, LTW. LTW has already deployed Siklu’s connectivity solutions in a number of projects throughout Newark and Jersey City, NJ for both the Police Department and City IT Departments.

The Hoover Mason Trestle is the new elevated pedestrian way in the artsy zone, at an old steel factory site turned music and event venue in Bethlehem, Penn., known as SteelStacks. The elevated walkway opened in June, and scheduled events in the zone, in addition to the new walking path are expected to draw significant crowds to the area, both of which create a need for connectivity.

The project included building a wireless network that could extend the BPD video surveillance system to the Trestle, in an effort to ensure the safety and well-being of potential visitors.

Siklu’s 60, 70/80GHz radios were selected as they transmit on different frequencies than WiFi, and would therefore be able to assure reliable operation of the CCTV delivery system, even in potentially congested areas with much anticipated WiFi activity, such as the Trestle.

Partnering With Axis Communications

LTW set up the network utilising Axis cameras with Siklu EH-600Ts deployed at street-level in a daisy-chain configuration. Video from these cameras is aggregated to a rooftop Siklu EH-1200F. Video footage from the aggregation point is transmitted to the local police department, the Bethlehem Redevelopment Authority, and to additional Siklu links throughout the city.

The network needed to be up and running prior to the commencement of ‘Musikfest,’ the City’s major music festival. Project integration went smoothly, and deployment was ultra-swift, taking only seven days.

“Axis is very excited to partner with Siklu to provide solution architecture for physical security,” said Vince Ricco, Business Development Manager of Axis’ Technology Partner Program. “Siklu’s ease of deployment and scalability make an ideal solution to solve these types of wireless requirements quickly and easily.”

The surveillance system at the Hoover Mason Trestle provides continuous monitoring of a public walkway that is part museum, a community recreation resource and local attraction. The trestle is 46 feet tall and is 2,000 feet long. Now a local attraction, the narrow gauge railroad was once used carry the metals and minerals needed from the ore yards to the blast furnaces where they made iron.

“Siklu is excited to be part of this promising redevelopment project. LTW’s integration team’s understanding of Siklu’s unique technology benefits, such as extremely low delays enabling extended cascading, and predictably reliable performance, prove they listen to the customer’s pain points,” added Ilan Moshe, GM of Siklu Communication NA.