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Satnews Daily
January 20th, 2017

TacComms Configuration and Management Improves With PacStar's® IQ-Core® Software


PacStar® has revealed that an independent research study confirming that warfighters using the firm's IQ-Core® Software are able to configure and manage complex networking equipment up to 10 times faster, with 9 times fewer errors than comparable manual methods—the study in 2016 utilized active duty end users from a US Army signal brigade.

For the independent user study, conducted June/July 2016, untrained US Army end users were asked to perform the same two tasks, once using IQ-Core Software and once using a manual (typical command line and OEM GUI) method. The results showed that using IQ-Core Software to perform these tasks greatly improved participants’ ability to complete them successfully, and drastically reduced the time spent, errors committed, and support needed. With IQ-Core Software, users:

  • Performed a configuration backup task 2.5X faster and a VPN setup task 10X faster
  • Had 9X fewer overall errors
  • Were twice as successful in completing both tasks in the allotted time
  • Felt twice as confident about performing other tasks on the equipment

 

The complexity and manual-intensive nature of tactical communications systems have, to date, required the use of costly, highly trained IT specialists. IQ-Core Software simplifies the setup and operation of tactical communications systems with an intuitive user interface, powerful wizards and alerts with common user interfaces across all hardware and software components.

As a result, warfighters without specialized IT training can easily and rapidly setup and operate tactical comms systems in challenging environments where every second counts. The study further confirmed that even experienced operators benefit from using IQ-Core Software.

In October of last year, PacStar announced that the US Army had widely deployed the firm's IQ-Core Software across the WIN-T Increment 1 Network — a rollout that includes more than 6,000 license purchases of the software platform for WIN-T Increment 1 systems. PacStar also announced that the US Army selected IQ-Core Software with CSfC Plug-in to enhance its ability to securely transmit classified information over wireless networks that warfighters rely on for in-theater command post operations.

Peggy Miller, the Chief Executive Officer, PacStar, indicated that communications networking equipment that the DoD relies on in tactical environments have become increasingly complex to configure, manage and operate due to the need to integrate multiple vendor interfaces, extensive training requirements, error-prone configuration, and long setup times. As an intuitive communications management software platform, PacStar IQ-Core® Software is gaining traction for its ability to simplify the operation of tactical communications — and the results of the usability study reinforce these market-leading capabilities.”

pacstar.com/usability/