HF Radio and the RCMP A brief history

HF Radio and the RCMP

A brief history of HF radio inside the RCMP • - the RCMP utilized HF SSB radio as the primary dispatch method for its members in Canada’s north until the mid 1990’s • - the modulation technique was USB ‘voice’ only communications • - antennas were modest at best

A brief history of HF radio inside the RCMP • - frequency selection was determined by the operator • - ALE, SELCAL were not employed

Current HF involvement in the RCMP • - HF radio has traditionally been relegated to tier 2 BCP • - Assets are not RCMP owned or controlled • - Amateur (ham) radio operators are utilized

Current HF involvement in the RCMP • - recently we have developed a relationship with CFARS • - implementation stage of providing a HF data station in Ottawa and Charlottetown • - utilizing commercial products in an unattended mode of operation

Current HF involvement in the RCMP • - plan on utilizing ALE and SELCAL technology between the two RCMP stations • - utilizing CFARS and RCMP HF allocated frequencies • - develop an email client/server hardware/software solution

Future HF radio in the RCMP • - HF radio use in the RCMP will always be a ‘secondary’ service inside the organization • - this will be a ‘data’ primary service • - encryption will be a requirement (FIPS)

Future HF radio in the RCMP • - equipment must employ ALE and SELCAL technology • - must be easy to operate • - must be able to operate unattended

Future HF radio in the RCMP • - I look at this as a ‘whole of government’ approach where OGD’s can share in the development of a Canada wide solution • - OGD’s can work together to pool their assets (equipment, physical space, frequencies etc) • - develop a data solution that any OGD can utilize in their BCP