The Three Cs of Sigma

Conferencing, Channels, and Console

Home / Conferencing, Channels, Console

REDCOM Sigma is a complete software-based Command and Control solution with powerful voice, video, and chat communication features. Sigma offers three different mechanisms for bridging multiple voice users together:

The above communication methods are endpoint-agnostic and interoperable with multiple devices, including desk phones, softphones, and radios. While they share some similarities, each of these communication methods has unique characteristics and applications.

Conferencing Overview

Conferencing is session-based. Think of it as essentially a multi-party phone call.
More than one user can talk at the same time. The number of simultaneous talkers is configurable by the admin.
Endpoints can either call into a conference at a predetermined time (“meet-me”), or the system can “blast dial” a group of endpoints at once to bring everyone together.
Like a standard phone call, any user can “hang up” and leave the conversation whenever they want.
The Sigma Conference Manager app is an optional operator user interface for managing live conferences, with full operator control over all attendees and conferences.

Channels Overview

Think of channels as a more streamlined version of your prototypical radio nets.
A Sigma admin can easily create pre-configured channels for their users, with full control over the channel name and participants.
Channels are typically used in half-duplex environments and enforce a single talker at a time
The Channels capability in Sigma enables a soft client to be able to PTT to multiple channels. Users can listen to multiple channels simultaneously and use the Sigma Client PTT feature to communicate with each channel.
Channel users can create point to point ad-hoc channel connections on the fly.

C2 Console Patches Overview

The C2 Console consists of multiple connections, which are links to any Sigma-reachable endpoint. Multiple connections are bridged together by a Patch, which is dynamically created and managed by an operator using the Sigma C2 Console app.
Patches are persistent, meaning that if you hang up or the connection drops, Sigma will automatically try to re-establish the connection.
Patches are typically used in half-duplex environments, enforcing a single talker at a time, which aligns with what radio users expect and are used to.
An operator can create Patches between console connections on the fly by dragging and dropping the endpoints together.
Compared to channels, C2 Console patch management is typically more dynamic in nature.

Conferencing, Channels, and Console Patches in Action

Conferencing

Conferencing would most likely be used in a strategic setting, where telephones are the primary method of communication (though Sigma does support radios in conferences). Typical users of conferencing might include officers, senior enlisted personnel, high level government employees, or executives at Fortune 500 companies.

Conferencing Use Case in the Military

An Army colonel needs to regularly distill critical information to different groups of senior officers. The Sigma admin can preconfigure multiple blast-dial conference groups within Sigma so that all the colonel has to do is dial three digits on his desk phone to instantly ring the desk phones, softphones, or mobile devices of everyone in the conference.

Conferencing use case by emergency services

A government agency regularly conducts multi-party voice conferences with users who hold varying security clearances. One individual is tasked as the operator, using the Sigma Conference Manager app to create, manage, and monitor multiple voice conferences at once. The operator has full visual control of all aspects of the conference, including the ability to join or split active conferences, add attendees as needed, or move users to a new conference.

Channels

Channels are most often used in tactical and half-duplex environments, emulating traditional radio nets. The Sigma Client for ATAK or Windows app provides the added benefit of allowing channels users to listen to multiple channels at the same time. They can then use the PTT feature to talk to each channel like they would a radio net, except the channel can include any Sigma reachable endpoint.

Channels use case in the military

An Army squad is conducting an operation that involves communicating with other units. The comms operator has channels preconfigured for FIRES, CMD STAFF, MED EVAC, HF COMMCORD, VHF TAC NET, and SAT CMD. Traditionally, the operator is tasked with carrying multiple radios and batteries for this type of operation. Other times, they may have to use more radio nets than they have radios. With the Channels feature, however, all of the radio operator’s comms are converged into the Channels app on their ATAK device, making it easy to switch between each.

Channels use case by emergency services

The local police department has ensured all personnel who may not have a radio have the Sigma Client for ATAK app installed on their mobile devices. The Chief of Police uses the Sigma Client app on his cell phone from his office to communicate with the police officers responding to an incident. The Police Chief simply presses the PTT button to communicate with each of their preconfigured channels. The police officers who were added to each channel then hear the transmission through their radios.

C2 Console Patches

Patches are created and managed by a full-time operator using the C2 Console. It’s designed to be used in situations where an operator needs to monitor, organize, and control both their comms and the comms of others. The C2 Console operator can talk to, monitor, and patch connections together as needed. Typical users of conferencing might include Comms Officers, Military Radio Operators, or Incident Response Dispatchers.

C2 Console Patches use case in the military

An army squad is conducting a joint operation in unfamiliar terrain. After getting set up in a mobile combat operations center (COC), the radio operator needs to direct comms for the mission and ensure command and control with joint and adjacent forces during the operation. Using the Sigma C2 Console, the radio operator can crossband multiple devices to talk to groups of soldiers or one party individually. The radio operator is constantly listening to each group and patching connections together on the fly using the Sigma C2 Console on their laptop.

C2 Console Patches use case by emergency services

Multiple organizations are working together to assist in a hurricane disaster relief effort. To provide crucial comms support, a Radio Operator for the National Guard uses the Sigma C2 Console in their tactical operations center (TOC). There are preconfigured channels for the local police and fire departments, the FBI, EMTs, and the National Guard. The Radio Operator monitors connections to each channel and dynamically patches these connections together with senior decision makers who may be using a desk phone, cell phone, or any other Sigma reachable endpoint.

The Three Cs of Sigma