Buchanan County Communications Public Safety Radio System Overview

Frequencies vs. Channels n A frequency is a point in the radio spectrum q n n part of what describes a channel A channel is a set of parameters that can include one or more frequencies, CTCSS tones, name, etc. Example: VCALL 10 is a channel with transmit and receive frequency 155. 7525 MHz, CTCSS tone of 156. 7 Hz 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 2

Simplex n n Radio Channel Using 1 Frequency Each User Must be Line of Sight with Each Other Very Reliable Limited Range 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 3

Repeater n n n Radio Channel Using 2 Frequencies q Frequency 1 Used to Talk from Radio to Base q Frequency 2 Used to Talk from Base to Radio Each User Must be Line of Sight with Base Enhanced Range Frequency 1 Frequency 2 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 4

Base Station – Simplex Some units don’t hear transmission because of obstructions. Dispatcher relays message so it is heard by all units Unit 1 Unit 2 2/22/2013 Dispatch Center Radio System Overview Revision - Unit 3 5

Base Station – Repeater All units within range of repeater hear all transmissions through the repeater Unit 1 Unit 2 2/22/2013 Dispatch Center RX TX f 1 f 2 Repeater Radio System Overview Revision - Unit 4 Unit 3 6

Type of Systems n n Single Site q Everything Located at One Site Multiple Site q Remote Receive Sites q Simulcasting 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 7

Single Site Coverage limited to units within range. 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 8

Remote Receivers Voter (comparator) chooses best received signal and sends that signal to: ØSimplex - Dispatch ØRepeater - Transmitter Voter Central Transmitter Remote Site Link (microwave, phone line, etc. ) RX Only Site Users do not need to change channel depending on location. System (voter) automatically picks best receive tower site. 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 9

Simulcasting The same information is transmitted on the same channel at the same time from multiple locations. Central Transmitter Remote Site Link (microwave, phone line, etc. ) Remote Site 2/22/2013 Remote Site Radio System Overview Revision - 10

Radio System n Centrally Located Tower q n Remote Receiver Sites to “Hear” Users q n n Radio transmissions to/from mobile units take place from this site. Fills in holes in system reception Simulcast Paging Sites Additional Radio Channels 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 11

License Additional Channels n n n Emergency Management Repeater Law Enforcement Repeater Fire / EMS Repeater Paging Repeaters Two Scene Tactical Channels Jail Operations Channel 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 12

Base Sites n Six Main Tower Locations n n n 2/22/2013 Independence Tower Aurora Water Tower Rowley Water Tower Fairbank Tower Jesup Water Tower Court House Tower Radio System Overview Revision - 13

Tower Layout 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 14

Fire / EMS Operational Channels n n PAGING FIREOPS 1 q n FIREOPS 2 q n Simplex, Secondary Dispatch / Operations Channel VFIRE 21 (State Fire) q n Repeater, Main Dispatch / Operations Channel Simplex, Interoperability Channel FIRETAC 1 & FIRETAC 2 q Two On Scene Tactical Channels 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 15

Law Operational Channels n LAWOPS 1 q n LAWOPS 2 q n Interoperability Channel CF LEA q n Simplex, Dispatch Information Channel VLAW 31 (Law Mutual Aid) q n Simplex, Secondary Dispatch / Operations Channel LAW INFO q n Repeater, Main Dispatch / Operations Channel Interoperability Channel Law Tactical Channels q LAWTAC A (Analog) or LAWTAC D (Digital) 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 16

EMA / Roads Operational Channels n EM OPS q n ROADS q n Repeater, Main Dispatch / Operations Channel JAIL OPS q Simplex, Dispatch Information Channel 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 17

Interoperability Channels n n n Iowa Channel VHF “VTAC” Channels Surrounding Jurisdictions 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 18

Aurora Site Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q PAGING n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q q 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - LAWOPS 1 FIREOPS 2 EM OPS ROADS 19

Fairbank Site Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q PAGING n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q q 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - LAWOPS 1 FIREOPS 2 EM OPS ROADS 20

Jesup Site Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q PAGING n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - LAWOPS 1 FIREOPS 2 EM OPS 21

Rowley Site Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q PAGING n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q q 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - LAWOPS 1 FIREOPS 2 EM OPS ROADS 22

Independence Site Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q q q q 2/22/2013 PAGING LAWOPS 1 LAWOPS 2 FIREOPS 1 FIREOPS 2 EM OPS ROADS n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q q q Radio System Overview Revision - PAGING LAWOPS 1 LAWOPS 2 FIREOPS 1 FIREOPS 2 EM OPS ROADS 23

Court House Site Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q q q q q 2/22/2013 LAW INFO VLAW 31 VFIRE 21 JAIL OPS PT TO PT CF LEA VCALL 10 UCALL 40 8 CALL 90 UBUCLINK n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q q q q Radio System Overview Revision - LAW INFO VLAW 31 VFIRE 21 JAIL OPS PT TO PT CF LEA VCALL 10 UCALL 40 8 CALL 90 UBUCLINK 24

Mobile Only Channels n Transmit (Tx) “Talk” q q q q 2/22/2013 CAR 2 CAR LAWTAC A LAWTAC D FIRETAC 1 FIRETAC 2 REGMED VMED 28 n Receive (Rx) “Hear” q q q q Radio System Overview Revision - CAR 2 CAR LAWTAC A LAWTAC D FIRETAC 1 FIRETAC 2 REGMED VMED 28 25

Channels With Best Coverage n Repeaters q PAGING Hear from all tower locations. Talk from all tower locations. 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 26

Channels With Best Coverage n Repeaters q q n LAWOPS 1 FIREOPS 1 EM OPS ROADS Simplex q FIREOPS 2 Hear from all tower locations. Talk from just Independence. 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 27

Channels With Good Coverage n Repeaters q LAWOPS 2 Hear from just Independence. Talk from just Independence. 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 28

Channels With Lowest Coverage n Simplex q q q q q LAW INFO VLAW 31 VFIRE 21 JAIL OPS PT TO PT VCALL 10 UCALL 40 8 CALL 90 UBUCLINK Hear from just Court House. Talk from just Court House. 2/22/2013 Radio System Overview Revision - 29

Things to Remember n With a Repeater, can see each other and may not be able to talk to each other. q q 2/22/2013 The Repeater has to be able to Hear and Talk to both of you. When this happens, switch to a simplex channel, FIREOPS 2, FIRETAC, VFIRE. Radio System Overview Revision - 30

Things to Remember n n With a Repeater, what you say will be head throughout the county. With a Simplex channel you are heard only as far as the radio carries (Handheld shorter distance than a mobile). q 2/22/2013 Dispatch can hear the best with the towers and remote receive sites. Radio System Overview Revision - 31

Things to Remember n With a remote receivers, there will be cases that dispatch can hear you but can not talk to you. q 2/22/2013 Dispatch can hear better then talk due to remote receive sites. This was done to ensure handheld coverage. Radio System Overview Revision - 32