LMR vendor EFJohnson Technologies unveiled its new ATLAS P25 system during this week’s Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) conference in Philadelphia. The system is an IP-based solution that leverages a distributed architecture and supports simulcast capability for both conventional and trunking systems.
ATLAS™ offers the most flexible LMR system solution in the industry.
The article mentions how Wisconsin Dept of Transportation Chose EFJohnson Technologies for it's Statewide 1st Responder Communications with a contract valued at $13.2 million.
Our award-winning P25 compliant radios passed another interoperability test.
Website mentions that the Police Department has finished installing a state of the art P25 digital radio system from EFJohnson Technologies.
The article mentions EFJohnson Technologies being awarded a contract to integrate secure radio communications and electronic sensors designed to detect weapons of mass destruction into a secure wireless network for U.S. Coast Guard boarding parties inspecting large ships.
The article mentions EFJohnson Technologies Inc. being awarded new contracts.
The article mentions the introduction of the new StarGate Dispatch Console designed for first responder use.
The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) completed interoperability tests on an existing P25 network. EFJohnson was one of the radios that passed the test!
This article prominently features the award-winning ES Portable Radio, Discover GPS Speaker Microphone location management solution, StarGate Dispatch Console, and our broadband innovations.
Article mentions our participation in the “Digital Radios for Firefighters” panel session at IWCE, as well as the efforts of EFJohnson Technologies and other vendors in reducing background noise.
News footage of the first security cams being installed in Ocean View
Article mentions EFJohnson Technologies subsidiary 3eTI engineers installing surveillance cameras in East Ocean View, VA.
Article mentions EFJohnson Technologies celebrating 85 years.
Article mentions that EFJohnson Technologies subsidiary 3eTI started an install of surveillance cameras in the Norfolk neighborhood of Ocean View.
Article mentions that EF Johnson radios with the Enhanced P25 Vocoder pass background noise tests with flying colors.
Article mentions that EFJohnson Radios have the Enhanced P25 Vocoder, and that EFJohnson is one of only three radio vendors permitted on the West Virginia state network.
3eTI distributor Net Iletisim was a highlighted sponsor in this article regarding the Cebit Turkey trade event in Istanbul. The 3eTI wireless access point was featured in this article showcasing 3eTI’s distributor and 3eTI product availability in the market. Net Iletisim is an international distributor offering point-to-point broadband Internet and Wi-Fi solutions services with the Turkish Telecommunication Authority’s Licenses.
Note: This article is written in Turkish.
Posted on MRTmag.com
Mobile Radio Technology magazine carried the story of our recent sale to Rensselaer County, NY on their website. Also, their print edition carried our press release about the Enhanced P25 Vocoder and mentioned this new feature in their Product Showcase.
3eTI distributor Global Secure Systems (GSS) in conjunction with the Honda British Formula Four Stroke Powerboat championship, have pushed powerboat racing one step further, by installing the latest rugged WiFi technology on board the AppGate Mermaid powerboat - enabling this extreme sport to be experienced and enjoyed by thousands of fans on land as the action happens. The team raced with a video camera on board, transmitting live video pictures to shore over a 3eTI 802.11 wireless network - the first time video has been streamed from a powerboat back to shore using this technology.
Rebanding Progress: A Vendor's Perspective in Mission Critical Communications, June 2007, Vol 22, issue 6. Written by Brenda Jackson, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for EFJohnson. Reprinted with permission of RadioResource Media Group.
EFJohnson receives $2.6 million order from Louisiana Statewide Interoperable Executive Committee.
Mike Jalbert, Chairman and CEO, was profiled in the October 2006 issue of Dallas CEO.
Excerpts from the Associate Press news story:
"While the hurricane debacle brought new immediacy, action has remained scarce beyond the creation of more joint panels and task forces that, like their predecessors, have been bogged down by disagreement over how to do it, by conflict over how to pay for it, and by the frictions that typically arise whenever multiple arms of government 'work together.'
At the very least, though, officials have seized upon the unfortunate momentum provided by hurricanes Katrina and Rita to implement interim solutions using relatively low-cost, low-tech equipment that has been available for years" ...
"Local and federal agencies also have purchased more bridging systems that can patch together many assorted makes and models of radios. Responders arriving at the scene of an incident can plug a handset from their system into the bridge and communicate with others over an assigned channel" ...
"Bridging equipment was already deployed in New Orleans before Katrina, but the facility where the equipment was housed was flooded. Now, state and federal agencies have been outfitting trucks with a combination of bridging, satellite and power-generation equipment so they can be moved around and transmit from areas where there are network or electrical outages. The National Guard, for example, recently awarded EFJ Inc. (EFJI) a $12 million order for 25 such systems, including one already delivered to the guard unit in Louisiana."
EFJ, Inc is ranked #26 in the DFW Tech Titans Fastest-Growing Metroplex High-Tech Companies by the Metroplex Technology Business Council (MTBC).
The Titan Fast 50 Awards were presented to the 50 fastest-growing technology companies based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, based on percentage revenue growth over five years (2001 - 2005).
EFJ, Inc. was also ranked #26 in 2005.
Securing wireless clients with Common Criteria validation is part of a new Department of Defense mandate. To address this, Cisco is announcing its SolutionsPlus partnership with 3eTI, a subsidiary of EFJ, Inc., the only WLAN client vendor currently listed in process for NIAP Common Criteria evaluation. 3eTI features the only WLAN client solution that supports FIPS 802.11i security for Intel Centrino devices as well as other major client platforms. Together with Cisco SolutionsPlus partner 3eTI, Cisco is the only vendor that can deliver a comprehensive end-to-end wireless solution that meets all federal policy requirements for WLAN security.
Excerpts from the Cisco press release:
"Cisco Systems® today extended its leadership position in wireless local area network (WLAN) security by announcing that the Cisco® Unified Wireless LAN Controllers and Access Points have received National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 level 2 validation of its IEEE 802.11i WLAN security architecture.
Cisco has been working closely with the Department of Defense (DoD) in defining requirements to enable higher levels of security and interoperability in wireless solutions. By meeting these cryptographic security standards with FIPS validation, the Cisco Unified Wireless Network meets another critical security requirement mandated by the DoD policy for commercial WLAN deployments" ...
"Currently, Cisco is the only centralized WLAN solution listed in process with the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) Common Criteria program for conformance to the U.S. government WLAN Access System Protection Profile for Basic Robustness - the final step in achieving total DoD Directive 8100.2 compliance. All new DoD acquisitions for commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) WLAN systems must be evaluated against this protection profile. Cisco expects to achieve final Common Criteria validation in the first quarter of 2007" ...
"Securing wireless clients with Common Criteria validation is also a mandate of the new DoD policy. To address this, Cisco is announcing its SolutionsPlus partnership with 3eTI, a subsidiary of EFJ, Inc., the only WLAN client vendor currently listed in process for NIAP Common Criteria evaluation. The 3eTI client is also the only WLAN client solution that supports FIPS 802.11i security for Intel Centrino devices as well as other major client platforms. Together with Cisco SolutionsPlus partner 3eTI, Cisco is the only vendor that can deliver a comprehensive end-to-end wireless solution that meets all of the federal policy requirements for WLAN security."
In a world where terrorism has become all too real, effective communications in a time of crisis is essential. This article by Megan Hein — which originally appeared in the August 2006 issue of Emergency, Fire / Rescue & Police — discusses the many communications issues you may be overlooking, as illustrated by a worst-case scenario.
Honeywell, Adaptive Instruments, Endress+ Hauser, Flowserve, OMNEX Control Systems, 3e Technologies International (3eTI) and Yokogawa announced they have joined the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA) SP100 working group to support the committee’s efforts to create an open industrial and multi-functional wireless standard. This industry group will work toward a joint solution that will enable industrial plants to use a single wireless network architecture to support a wide range of applications, from low-rate monitoring to process control and wireless worker functions.
Written by Glenn Bischoff
Learn all about scrambling in Scrambling Essentials by Doug Ehlers. This paper tells you all about the methods and technology used to scramble audio signals.
EFJ Benefitting from Emergency Comms Focus: Follow-on proceeds could finance acquisition in Investment Dealers Digest (www.idd.com), September 12, 2005. Written by Colleen Marie O'Connor. Reprinted with permission of IDD.
The biggest problem facing manufactures and users of wireless communication devices has been security. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth each have a set of industry standards for compatibility. The challenge for software developers has been to solve the security dilemma. 3eTI has provided security solutions for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that will aid in their acceptance within the manufacturing community.
The 3eTI / Blue Ridge partnership provides commercial and federal customers with secure mobile access via a proven, end-to-end, strongly authenticated, and highly encrypted wireless solution. The combined capability enables government and enterprise organizations to confidently move ahead with their wireless initiatives. The robustness of the combined AirGuard™ and BorderGuard security solution helps customers secure and protect their wireless infrastructure.
Written by Brenda Jackson, Senior VP for EFJohnson.
Written by Ellen O'Hara, President and COO for EFJohnson.
This article discusses 3eTI FIPS 140-2 Validated and Common Criteria certified wireless equipment interoperability with multiple vendors' IEEE 802.11-compliant equipment. 3eTI has blazed the trail in marrying the IEEE 802.11i commercial standard for enhanced wireless security with FIPS 140-2 validation requirements per the NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP).
Through the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the National Security Agency, the government is creating an architecture as resistant to hacking and other cybercrime as it is secure and efficient for approved users to navigate. A key part of this effort is an accreditation regime that tests and approves all new technologies set to enter civilian government and military programs. One example of the systems being approved is the 3eTI AirGuard™ series of products, consisting of rugged, secure, military-qualified and government-tested access points.
3eTi is teaming up with Omnex Control systems Inc. and Phoenix Contact to develop highly secure wireless products for industry. The solutions include 3eTI’s FIPS 140-2 Validated™ encryption technology, which is certified for use by the U.S. government and deployed by the military. These secure wireless solutions are appropriate for process control signals for application in utilities, auto manufacturing, petro-chemical and food processing.
Learn the basic philosophies and procedures surrounding voice privacy in emergency situations presented by Transcrypt's Jenny Christensen. This article was first published in EF&P Magazine.
RENSSELAER: The Jasper County Sheriff's Department has been using new 800-megahertz mobile radio systems for one week, and has already been able to tell a difference in their operating style.
The E. F. Johnson radios have 35 channels, hundreds of frequencies, a light-up key pad and a dial identification screen. The radios, which were purchased with a grant from Homeland Security, came with public safety microphones, which have antennas and clip on the officer's uniform.
The new radios allow law enforcement and emergency services all over the state to communicate with one another, resulting in an inner-operability.
"We cover a lot of area," said Jasper County Sheriff Orville Perry. "We have to rely on other officers to back us up, and we have to be able to communicate with them.
"The other radio, which we have been using, only has communication abilities in a six-mile radius," he said. "I couldn't be happier. The biggest benefit is getting coverage to where all the units will be able to talk. Not all of an officer's work is done in the car with the powerful radio, and we need more widespread communication for officer safety." Chief Deputy Terry Risner agreed with Perry about the need for wider communication.
"The clarity and distance over the area we can communicate is much greater," he said. "There were times when I would be on the outer edges of the county, and I would try to call base but was too far out. There isn't that problem with these new radios.
"Another benefit is being able to communicate with other agencies and assisting officers in order to achieve rapid provision of information," said Risner.
Northern Indiana is not set up with the new radios yet. The state police were the first to receive the radios, followed by the areas surrounding Indianapolis, then surrounding Lafayette. The goal is for emergency services across the entire state to be connected to one another. The cost of purchasing these radios for all the police, fire, ambulance and emergency services in the entire county is $600,000, but so far has not affected the local budget because of the Sheriff Department's commitment to obtaining federal grants.
"I consider us to be the communication center of the county," said Perry, who has been working to gain funds for radios in the entire county. "We are concerned with the local area," he said. "We want to be able to talk with Remington, DeMotte, Wheatfield and all the agencies in Jasper County, and we can do that once we get radios for all of those agencies.
"We are taking the lead for inner-operability by applying for a $337,000 grant from Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) that will cover almost the entire cost for the 800-megahertz radios for Wheatfield, DeMotte and Remington.
3eTI of Rockville, Maryland was rated among the top 50 fastest growing government contractors in 2004. The company works closely with the U.S. Navy and provides research and development services for automated maintenance, total ship monitoring and mobile communications emergency support. 3eTI’s lines of business include remote monitoring, highly secure wireless networking, integrated sensor networks and systems integration.
3e Technologies International (3eTI) of Rockville, Md., has announced plans to sell its 3e-527 mesh access point. The unit has already been in testing with the military — it was part of the Navy Wireless Networks Summit II in San Diego, sponsored by the Naval Network Warfare Command and PEO Ships Smartship Program Office. The 3e-527 is a dual-radio unit, which utilizes 5GHz 802.11a on one radio to create a self-configuring backhaul mesh.
3eTI helps make your data hack proof with AES security and dynamic key technology. FIPS 140-2 Validated™ wireless technologies from 3eTI have advanced encryption, such as AES, making it difficult to intercept and decode data. With dynamic keys, transmitted data are repeatedly re-scrambled making the correlation between the data and digits transmitted less obvious and more impervious to attacks by hackers.
Industry Performance
The security sector has been red-hot as of late, with the average firm delivering gains of +25.3% so far this year. By comparison, the S&P 500 has gained just +2.5% in 2004. The bottom line is that investors are once again taking a long, hard look at promising companies that stand to benefit from the recent boom in security spending.
To give you a better sense for just how hot this sector has been, let's take a look at a few recent individual winners. Taser International (TASR, $99.80), the poster-child for the security group, has risen from sub-$2.00 levels to around $100 in less than a year. More recently, an Israeli firm, Magal Security Systems (MAGS, $37.96), has quadrupled in less than a month. Meanwhile, security camera maker IPIX Corporation (IPIX, $15.50) has risen +800%! The entire sector is getting bid up as investors race to find more great companies. While it appears there may be a "bubble" forming in security stocks, there is still room to get in on a select handful of smaller, overlooked stocks that will surely benefit from this growing market.
The Big Trend
The future looks bright for security companies. Unless you forecast an end of terrorism and believe world peace is near, there is a strong, bullish case for this sector. For starters, government homeland defense spending is skyrocketing. The U.S. alone spent $56 billion in 2003 on homeland security, so there is a lot of money out there for firms that develop or enhance life-saving security systems. The forecasted trend sees annual growth of almost +4% compared to virtually no growth prior to the September 11th terrorist attacks. As the threat of terrorism appears more likely, the world is undoubtedly going to spend more on security products and services.
Strong future demand is also going to be fueled by much more than just government agencies. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey showed that 42% of businesses now see security spending as a strategic endeavor. Instead of merely reacting when attacked, companies want to be proactive in managing their security systems. Security management today includes computer networks, asset protection and, of course, personnel safety. Many companies no longer consider these optional expenses, but instead view them as a cost of doing business, much like buying insurance. Shareholders expect bosses to take every reasonable precaution to protect company assets. All of this is driving security spending higher each and every year.
Worldwide Opportunities
Since no nation is free of safety concerns, worldwide demand for security is exploding. Although the U.S. spent an enormous amount in 2003, our government accounted for only 10% of the $550 billion spent worldwide on homeland defense. Every airport, computer network, government office and other "high-value" target needs protection. And given that technology is changing at such a rapid clip, systems that were considered sufficient just a few years ago may now be deemed inadequate for new threats. Firms that can assist companies and governments in upgrading their outdated systems are tapping into a very lucrative market. New technology is constantly being developed that can improve the welfare of the people it protects. Governments have exhibited an almost insatiable appetite for better security, surveillance and defense systems. Though government spending accounts for the bulk of security spending, the most rapid growth is occurring in the private sector.
Expected Performance
Security stocks do not necessarily follow the market as a whole. Demand for security is not subject to the same budgetary constraints as many other goods. Since most demand comes from government agencies, it is much less sensitive to cyclical downturns. Because of this, security stocks should be seen as a way to hedge against a terrorism-related market downturn. If more attacks were to occur either overseas or in the U.S., then the stock market in general would surely be discounted to reflect the increased risk level. Security stocks, however, would most likely rise in such a scenario since there would be an upward shift in the demand for these products. Because of this characteristic, we believe that security stocks should represent at least a small percentage of most portfolios.
Security Companies
Top Near-Term Industry Pick: EFJ Inc. (EFJI, $5.16)
EFJ is a small, relatively unknown communications company. More importantly for investors, it is also a leader in a rapidly growing wireless communications segment that caters to government agencies. EFJ is a holding company with an interest in two firms -- EF Johnson (87% of sales) and Transcrypt (13% of sales). EF Johnson has been in business for 80 years as a supplier of radio communications devices to local authorities. The firm's products meet Project 25 (P25) standards that are used by most government agencies. In the past, fire, rescue, police, and other agencies have often had difficulty communicating with one another during times of crisis since they all operated on different frequencies. P25 addresses the problem of interoperability by more efficiently using the available spectrum. This unique system can transmit either clear or encrypted signals, as well as carry voice, data or both. This has become the industry standard for almost all government agencies, and EFJ has a growing presence in this market.
High-Growth Segment
Most government agencies have been mandated to upgrade their analog communication systems to digital. The Department of Homeland Security believes it critical that all first responders have excellent communications networks, since these may be the only means of communicating in an emergency. Network upgrades from analog to digital have led to a -6% annual decline in the analog market. The digital side, however, has been increasing at a blazing +50% annual rate. Although analog was its core business in the past, EFJ is seeing significant growth from the new digital transition. EFJ only faces two main competitors in this arena -- Motorola (MOT, $18.15) and Tyco/MA-Com (TYC, $28.69). EFJ has aimed to secure an advantage over these firms by supporting both analog and digital systems simultaneously. This leads to a reduction in the initial cost of the upgrade to customers.
Netelligent Product Line
In its 2004 annual budget, the U.S. government allocated $3.5 billion to upgrade and maintain its first responder systems. With that tremendous opportunity in mind, EFJ sees the backbone of its future growth in its new Netelligent line. This is a secure, encrypted wireless communications system that uses digital signals and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) technology. Thanks to the fact that it is "switchless," the system is extremely reliable. And because it uses VoIP to break data into packets of information, signals can efficiently be routed to the best department. The bottom line is that the firm's Netelligent system is widely regarded as the best on the market. And when it comes to security and mission-critical applications, we believe the superior system will eventually dominate the market. As governments around the world upgrade or introduce first response communications systems, EFJ will be a primary beneficiary.
Financial Condition
EFJ has weathered a tough turnaround from a near-bankrupt radio handset producer into a profitable communications firm. From nearly $30 per share during 1998, the stock fell to a mere $0.22 in late 2000. New management has reduced product lines and streamlined costs throughout the firm. After the September 11th attacks, EFJ found itself in a strong position to supply the government with much-needed equipment and the company is now in solid financial health.
EFJ's stock has risen 20-fold from the bottom, yet the firm still carries a market capitalization of just $90 million. As of the company's latest conference call (January 2004) the firm had access to $14.3 million in cash ($0.84/share). Revenues rose +38% last year to $56.2 million. The company holds virtually zero long-term debt, and with $45 million in short-term assets it should have no trouble managing its $20.8 million of short-term liabilities. Management is calling for +25% sales growth in 2004, which would put company revenues at around $70 million. What's more, top executives have noted that these numbers are fairly conservative. Here are three reasons why we feel EFJ might provide potential upside earnings surprises throughout 2004:
Non-Federal Government Purchases -- EFJ currently derives the bulk of its business from federal government agencies. However, smaller, local agencies are beginning to see the need to upgrade their communication systems as well. In 2005, the federal government will provide $500 million in funding to assist more than a dozen states in upgrading their systems. Additional opportunities also exist overseas. For example, EFJ recently announced a contract with the Iraqi army, and we expect to see further international expansion in the years ahead.
Larger Contracts -- EFJ is now able to offer government agencies a complete package of communications infrastructure. In the past, the company was only able to bid for pieces of larger contracts. EFJ is now in a position to make larger, more profitable proposals.
Netelligent Application -- EFJ has submitted its Netelligent system to the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) for consideration as an open industry standard. If this system is accepted as an industry standard, then we expect sales to soar.
EFJ Incorporated (EFJI, $5.16)
Market Capitalization: $90.7 million
Shares Outstanding: 16.9 million
30-Day Average Volume: 175,000 shares
2003 Revenue: $56.2 million
2001 EPS: $0.03
2002 EPS: $0.08
2003 EPS: $0.22
2004 EPS: $0.25 (estimate)
2005 EPS: $0.40 (estimate)
Five-year expected growth rate: +25%
Institutions own 4% of the firm's outstanding shares
52-week range: $1.06 to $7.31
Read an article about Voice Privacy and Security by Transcrypt's General Manager Michael Kelley, which appeared in the 2004 first quarter issue of Radio Resource International.