Author: SWPhil

StreetWise CADlink now supports bi-directional communication of data between an agency’s computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and the StreetWise Central Server, allowing an agency to use StreetWise CADlink as its primary mobile data computer (MDC).

StreetWise now has a Return Data API (application programming interface) available to allow CAD vendors to receive unit data for an agency’s mobile devices, including any  GPS coordinates and  status timestamps. Through this Return Data API, the CAD vendor can use StreetWise data to update the location information for the agency’s mobile devices within the CAD software and update status timestamps (enroute, arrival, cleared) that indicate the unit’s current status or availability within the CAD resource tables. This Return Data API is fast, simple and easy to use, and will allow a CAD vendor to make full use of the StreetWise data in the same manner as data from any conventional mobile data workstation.

StreetWise cannot force data back into a CAD system, as any such software system is highly proprietary. The Return Data API is made available for CAD vendors to implement within their software and most CAD vendors will charge an agency to set this up. Contact your CAD vendor to discuss any desired implementation of the Return Data API and whether or not their system is capable of using the API and the data. Our staff is available to discuss the Return Data API directly with your CAD vendor by contacting us at 800-718-8027.

StreetWise CADlink is proud to announce its new strategic partnership with Pierce Manufacturing, the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. StreetWise has been selected as the navigation and response software available directly on the new Pierce® Command Zone™ advanced electronics system.  

The new Command Zone system offers expanded capabilities to benefit the driver, officer, and maintenance teams – and features technologies such as integrated GPS and Wi-Fi connectivity for a whole new level of performance.

Integrating directly with StreetWise CADlink, the Command Zone system will now be able to perform response and scene management functions, including navigation and routing. Incident data can be routed from the dispatch CAD system to the Command Zone device automatically and in only seconds. With Streetwise, many of the functions of a typical MDC are now performed directly on the in-truck Command Zone display. Situational awareness is improved through the display of hydrant locations, responding unit locations, tactical waypoints, and even preplans. Pierce Command Zone devices will share common information and will be interactive with other devices used by an agency, including tablets running the flagship Android version of StreetWise.

Philip Kouwe, President and CEO of Hangar 14 Solutions, LLC, the producers of the StreetWise CADlink product said, “We could not be more thrilled to be a part of the Pierce supplier team. Pierce is unquestionably the premiere apparatus manufacturer and we fully expect this relationship to mark a new era of advancements in apparatus technology and integration into response software.”

About Pierce Manufacturing

Pierce Manufacturing Inc. is the leading North American manufacturer of custom fire apparatus.  To learn more about Pierce, visit www.piercemfg.com.

We’re excited to announce the launch of “StreetWise University”, a great new way for firefighters to be trained on the use and features of StreetWise CADlink. The site contains a series of seventeen detailed video tutorials on topics ranging from the basics, like installation and receiving alerts, to more advanced features like photo sharing and preplan editing. The tutorial series covers both the tablet functions and the web client interface.

Firefighters can now learn at their own pace by viewing the entire series or just the videos they need. The videos are also suitable for use in a classroom environment under the direction of a training officer. Existing clients can also benefit by being able to “brush up” on infrequently used features and capabilities. Videos make extensive use of highlighted and captioned screenshots of actual feature demonstrations. Each video is available in both high and low resolutions.

Existing clients can get access to StreetWise University by contacting any of our customer service representatives. Soon, the entire video tutorial series will be available through a convenient application icon directly on the tablets as well. Visit StreetWise University soon and become a superuser!

In conversation with our various clients, we often hear about ideas that they think would make their duties easier and/or more convenient.  We listen and then make inquiry through our suppliers as to possible solutions.  We intend to make these “Little Gems” available as we come across them.

One of the items on a lot of wish lists is a solution for in-vehicle charging of tablets and other accessory items.  We would like to bring to your attention the following:Ventev Dashport r2240.

This is a top of the line car charger which plugs into a cigarette lighter receptacle (now called charge port).  It features two 2.4A USB ports and can charge two devices simultaneously; even two tablets, at their maximum rate.  It is advertised to be able to charge smaller devices safely and much faster than standard low-power chargers without additional wear and tear on their battery.  The design concept is long and thin, thereby taking up no space except that directly above the charge port.  Approximately 3” long, there is an illuminated USB port on the side and one on the end, ensuring that at least one of the ports is available even in an awkward location.

We have been playing with one for a few weeks and find it to be of very high quality and very quick.  It has both short circuit and temperature protection, comes with a 3’ micro USB cable and a limited lifetime warranty.

We can offer them for $22.50 each, shipping included.

From time to time, we have clients who ask us about locking out certain applications, features or settings on the tablets that are used for StreetWise CADlink. This can sometimes be helpful for a number of reasons.  Running numerous applications and services can cause the battery in your tablet to drain faster, or your department may need to try to limit its broadband consumption. In addition, when numerous applications are opened, Android may try to manage its memory capacity by shutting down StreetWise. For whatever reason you may have, there is an app for that.

App Lock (Smart App Protector) is a free app from the Google Play store that you can download and set up to lock down any of the apps, features, or even device settings you have on your tablet so that only authorized individuals can use or change them. If you have an app or setting locked, you’ll need a numeric passcode to access it.

If you search for it in the Google Play store, this is what you will be looking for.

After installation of App Lock, an icon will be placed on the home screen of the tablet you are installing it on. After following the relatively easy setup process, the authorized user can set a passcode and then select what applications and settings to lock.

If an unauthorized individual attempts to circumvent the lock by trying different passcodes and they don’t get the right one, App Lock can even be set to take a photo of the meddler and then alert the person with the right passcode that someone has been attempting to log in without authorization.

For whatever reason that you may want to lock down your tablets, we’ve found that this is one of the best free applications there is for this purpose. We already have a number of departments using it!

We’ve been busy this month updating many of the videos on our main StreetWise CADlink website. Some of the product demonstration videos were out of date and received a much needed facelift with new screenshots from the latest version of our software. In addition, a huge THANK YOU goes out to the fire fighters at both Pensacola Fire Department in Florida and Richfield Fire Department in Ohio. Both departments were willing and able to help StreetWise with the filming of our new introductory video that is seen on our main home page and is also featured on several industry websites, such as Firehouse.com and FireRescue1.com. The new video, set to release this next month, will focus on testimonials from existing users about functionality, ease of the user interface, reliability, speed and cost. Both departments were instrumental with their interviews, stories and even some action shots, complete with cameras in the trucks while responding to a call (and an awesome fireboat, in the case of Pensacola). So again, thank you to Chief Schmitt at Pensacola and Chief Mihalek at Richfield and all the fire fighters at both departments for their gracious help in filming the new video! Watch for it soon on our homepage or your favorite industry website.

The recent bad weather on April 30, 2014, affected Pensacola, FL and Pensacola Fire Department, a client of StreetWise CADlink. Part of the same system that spawned deadly tornados across Arkansas and Oklahoma, even destroying a fire station in Alabama, brought severe flooding to many parts of Pensacola. Pensacola Fire Department put StreetWise to good use both on the street and while using the live web interface map in the EOC. With many calls coming in very quickly, it was important for the EOC to closely track resource assignments. The new web interface allows a user to view the locations of their engaged units. This is a helpful tool when dealing with a large scale incident, such as a natural disaster. Waypoints can be instantly placed at appropriate spots to warn first responders that roads are flooded, power lines are down, or a bridge has been washed out.

Do you have a story about how StreetWise helped your department manage an incident or event? Share it with others so they can learn from your experience. Send your information and pictures to info@streetwisecadlink.com

We have written about the Pensacola Fire Department and their RAM Mounting systems and Gumdrop cases in the past, but we wanted to revisit it now that we have started to sell these great vehicle mounting system and cases. Pensacola offered to share the research they conducted on tablet cases and mounting systems. Pensacola has a deployment of seventeen tablets running StreetWise CADlink in their apparatus, including 6 engines, 2 ladders, 3 rescues, the fireboat, ARFF vehicle, and battalion chief.

Jarrod Gruber, a Lieutentant with the department and coordinator of the StreetWise project, said they had looked into various cases and mounting system before settling on products from Gumdrop cases and RAM mounting systems. “All of the components have worked perfectly and I wouldn’t change anything,” said Gruber in regards to both the cases and mounts.

Lieutenant Gruber said the department wanted the tablets to be easily accessible to the apparatus officer, but also easily removable in the event the tablet needed to be carried on the scene. The protection offered by Gumdrop’s “Drop Tech” cases reduced the risk of breakage to the consumer-grade devices due to drops or splashes.

The department was gracious enough to share the part numbers, listed below, for the hardware in the photos provided with this article.

RAM-234-6: RAM Mount Plastic Universal Netbook Laptop Tablet Mount Tough Tray II Cradle
RAM-201U-B: RAM Mount Aluminum 2.25 inch Short Length Dual 1.5 inch Socket Arm
RAM-202U: RAM Mount Aluminum 2.5 inch dia Base with 1.5 inch Ball
RAP-365-224-1U: RAM Mount Triple Locking Suction Cup Base with 1.5 inch C-Ball – needed for trucks only
RAM-316-1-202U: RAM Mount RAM POD1 Vehicle Floor Mount with 1.5 inch Socket and Round Plate – needed only for the Battalion Chief SUV’s

If you have interest in any of the things mentioned, please contact Rich Ferguson here at StreetWise and he will help you get your department set up with mounts and cases!

Hangar 14 Solutions can now accept payment for services and fees, along with payment for our complete line of mounting systems and hardware accessories by credit card. Contact our staff at 800-718-8027 if you wish to arrange credit card payments. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.

Readers may recall that we announced in September that Hangar 14 Solutions became a dealer for RAM Mounts and Mounting Systems. This month, we’re equally pleased to announce that we are going to start selling GUMDROP cases for Samsung tablets as well. We use these cases on our demo fleet and we have been very happy with the rugged protection they afford our tablets. Some of you may have seen Jake, one of our account reps, at a trade show tossing the tablet around the booth to demonstrate resiliency. They have an optional plastic screen protector that snaps into the surrounding case. They won’t just come off if dropped or thrown around. Though we do hope that you aren’t playing football with them, as we haven’t tested them that extensively, we know they stand up to the abuse Jake can dish out. If you are at all interested in a case (or 20) for your department, contact us and we will get you started!