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Basic System Components > Front-end unit

Raw Data Logging

The RED System´s wireless data network, the SkyLINK, is capable of transferring a large number of short alert messages over long distances with a short lag time. This feature is unique among today‘s data networks.

However, this wireless technology is not an appropriate vehicle for the transfer of seismic raw data from thousands of sensors. Theoretically it could be done, but during these long data collection phases, the real time response of the system would be lost--an unacceptable condition.

Today, the intermediate storage of quite a lot of seismic raw data in a nonvolatile RAM doesn´t cost a fortune. Whenever these data need to be collected in a central data base and made available to the scientific research community, there are four possible options:

• Connecting the front-end unit permanently (in a fixed installation) to a standard telecommunications network (additionally), and downloading raw data by polling it whenever the connection is available--possibly no earlier than several days after a severe disaster.
• Connecting the front-end unit temporarily to a standard telephone line (by bridging with a long extension cable), but only at the specific request of the network administrator.
• Visiting all the stations and thus polling data directly from the front-end into a handheld terminal by using the IrDA port.
• Recording the data in an exchangeable memory device, such as a smart media card, and forwarding the data carrier in a prepared envelope or container.
• The procedure for swapping a smart media card is essentially the same as with any modern digital camera No specialist´s help would be required. The smart media card could easily be sent to any central network administration facility in California by using the US postal service.

Presumably, the last option is the most cost-effective of all. An additional positive aspect: the cost per MB of this medium will decrease considerably in the near future due tostrongly pushed all kindthe many fancy of multimedia applications on today‘s market.