What is TDMA?
Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is a frequency use protocol in which each transmitter is assigned specific times to transmit so that two transmitters on the same frequency do not transmit at the same time, and eliminates data loss due to more than one transmitter on a frequency talking at the same time. ALERT2 supports both the ALOHA and TDMA transmission protocols, but preferably uses the TDMA protocol to reduce or eliminate data loss.

Building successful hydrologic monitoring and flood warning systems
Building successful hydrologic monitoring and flood warning systems needed for effective and timely decision making, rests on collecting real-time environmental data automatically, so users know where it’s raining and how fast the water is rising. For more than 40 years, ALERT early warning systems (EWS) have served those with responsibilities in flood warning, dam safety and reservoir operations, water resource management, and broader areas of environmental hazards monitoring and predicting. ALERT2 is the modern successor to the ALERT (Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time) protocol that was first developed in the 1970’s at the National Weather Service (NWS) California River Forecast Center. The next generation ALERT2 wireless communications protocol is optimized for the transport of real-time meteorologic and hydrologic data over radio telemetry networks.

OneRain’s team is highly experienced in designing and implementing meteorologic and hydrologic networks for ALERT2™. As more agencies are transitioning to ALERT2, we’ve developed the visualization tools that aid in those successful designs.
Now you can use Contrail ALERT2 TDMA Manager to manage, maintain and design one or more networks in a controlled workspace. With Capacity Planning and QA/QC Verification, you can ensure the optimization of transmission capacity across all parts of your network. And multiple agencies can access and share information and views of their TDMA* network designs with one another to help reduce the potential for conflicts or mistakes.

The design and management of an ALERT2 network is considerably more complex and challenging to deploy than for legacy ALERT systems. Contrail® ALERT2™ TDMA Manager provides a virtual environment in which you can design, manage, and maintain one or more networks in a controlled workspace. You can even explore different scenarios with “what if” network designs. With Capacity Planning and QA/QC Verification, you can ensure the optimization of transmission capacity across all parts of your network. And with multi-user shared access via the web, neighboring agencies can access and share information and views of their TDMA network designs with one another to help reduce the potential for conflicts or mistakes.

Contrail ALERT2 TDMA Manager highlights:

• Manage and design one or more networks in a controlled workspace
• Aids in the proactive planning of your network capacity and demands
• QA/QC verification optimizes transmission capacity
• Real-time tracking of live network and ability to create “what if” alternative network designs
• Visibility of other agency’s networks
• Reduce potential for conflicts or mistakes
• Import and export network designs
• ALERT2™ is a trademark of the National Hydrologic Warning Council (NHWC)