Spokane Regional Communication System Overview By Scott Grimmett of Industrial Communications.

Spokane Regional Spokane Regional Communication System Communication System

Overview Overview

By Scott Grimmett of By Scott Grimmett of

Industrial CommunicationsIndustrial Communications

Present Communication SystemPresent Communication System

Spokane's public safety radio system Spokane's public safety radio system consists largely of a conventional VHF consists largely of a conventional VHF systems. The systems are nearly all systems. The systems are nearly all operating as wideband systems, with operating as wideband systems, with some infrastructure recently purchased some infrastructure recently purchased and some as old as 30 years. Mobile and and some as old as 30 years. Mobile and portable radios are generally newer, with portable radios are generally newer, with some agencies operating equipment up to some agencies operating equipment up to 15 to 20 years old.15 to 20 years old.

City of Spokane, WA RFP #P6587City of Spokane, WA RFP #P6587

Need for Replacement SystemNeed for Replacement System

Present VHF systems are in relatively Present VHF systems are in relatively poor condition, as are the radio poor condition, as are the radio facilities. There is less area coverage facilities. There is less area coverage present in the systems than user present in the systems than user agencies need. Some equipment in agencies need. Some equipment in first line service is 15 to 20 years old first line service is 15 to 20 years old and in some cases, the equipment and in some cases, the equipment lacks modern radio system features lacks modern radio system features and capabilities.and capabilities.

City of Spokane, WA RFP #P6587City of Spokane, WA RFP #P6587

New Spokane Radio SystemNew Spokane Radio System

The Spokane region is embarking on The Spokane region is embarking on a multi-year process of design, a multi-year process of design, developing and bringing to developing and bringing to operational status a multi-agency, operational status a multi-agency, integrated wireless system that will integrated wireless system that will support effective voice and data support effective voice and data communications for first responder communications for first responder agencies. agencies.

City of Spokane, WA RFP #3474-08 City of Spokane, WA RFP #3474-08

Cost and FundingCost and Funding

The first phase of the system is The first phase of the system is expected to cost between $40 to $45 expected to cost between $40 to $45 million with a $1 million dollar annual million with a $1 million dollar annual maintenance cost.maintenance cost.

Funding will be through government Funding will be through government grants and a 1/10 of 1% county sales grants and a 1/10 of 1% county sales tax.tax.

Spokane Regional Spokane Regional Communication SystemCommunication System

Simulcast VHF System Simulcast VHF System DevelopmentDevelopment

First Stage Next Generation First Stage Next Generation System DevelopmentSystem Development

A new wide area simulcast repeater-A new wide area simulcast repeater-based VHF radio channel is currently based VHF radio channel is currently being constructed.being constructed.

This simulcast channel will operate This simulcast channel will operate initially as a 12.5 KHz narrowband initially as a 12.5 KHz narrowband analog channel, with future upgrade analog channel, with future upgrade to digital operation.to digital operation.

Simulcast System DevelopmentSimulcast System Development

This simulcast channel will make use This simulcast channel will make use of the Spokane County Sheriff's of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office "Phone" channel, presently Office "Phone" channel, presently licensed on 154.800 base TX and licensed on 154.800 base TX and 153.935 base RX.153.935 base RX.

The simulcast channel will consist of The simulcast channel will consist of seven transmit/receive sites with seven transmit/receive sites with three additional locations as three additional locations as receiver-only sites. receiver-only sites.

Simulcast System MapSimulcast System Map

What is Simulcast?What is Simulcast?

Simulcast is the simultaneous broadcast of Simulcast is the simultaneous broadcast of a transmission by multiple repeater sites a transmission by multiple repeater sites all using the same radio frequency. all using the same radio frequency. These simultaneous broadcasts from multiple transmitters can have overlapping areas.

Mobile users are able to hear every Mobile users are able to hear every message from the dispatcher regardless of message from the dispatcher regardless of their location and without changing their location and without changing channels.channels.

Spokane Simulcast System ExampleSpokane Simulcast System Example

Simulcast OverlapSimulcast Overlap The figure below shows a voice simulcast system The figure below shows a voice simulcast system

with three repeaters on the same RF frequency. with three repeaters on the same RF frequency. Overlap areasOverlap areas are those areas where signals from are those areas where signals from more than one transmitter site are strong enough more than one transmitter site are strong enough to provide reception. to provide reception.

Overlap AreasOverlap Areas

Critical area in a simulcast system. A slight degradation in audio quality

may occur in the overlap areas. Additional engineering and

equipment cost is needed to design the overlap areas.


700/800 MHz P25 Trunked 700/800 MHz P25 Trunked SystemSystem

System SelectionSystem Selection

Based on the very limited availability Based on the very limited availability of VHF and UHF radio spectrum in of VHF and UHF radio spectrum in eastern Washington and topography eastern Washington and topography that increases the likelihood of co-that increases the likelihood of co-channel and adjacent channel channel and adjacent channel interference to wide area VHF and interference to wide area VHF and UHF radio, the Spokane region plans UHF radio, the Spokane region plans to develop a regional to develop a regional 700/800 MHz 700/800 MHz Trunked P25 Digital Radio Trunked P25 Digital Radio SystemSystem. .

P25 Digital Radio StandardP25 Digital Radio Standard

Project 25Project 25 ( (P25P25) refers to a suite of ) refers to a suite of standards for digital radio standards for digital radio communications for use by federal, communications for use by federal, state/province and local public safety state/province and local public safety agencies in North America to enable agencies in North America to enable them to communicate with other them to communicate with other agencies and mutual aid response agencies and mutual aid response teams in emergencies. teams in emergencies.

Why 700 MHz?Why 700 MHz?

It’s all about spectrum.It’s all about spectrum. Low Band, VHF, UHF, 800 MHz BandLow Band, VHF, UHF, 800 MHz Band

• Approximately 23 MHz of spectrum in Approximately 23 MHz of spectrum in totaltotal

• 941 Channels941 Channels 700 MHz700 MHz

• 24 MHz of spectrum24 MHz of spectrum• 3,480 Channels3,480 Channels

Public Safety Radio SpectrumPublic Safety Radio Spectrum

What is trunking?What is trunking? Unlike a conventional system, frequencies Unlike a conventional system, frequencies

are not dedicated to any particular group are not dedicated to any particular group of users. Instead, a large pool of of users. Instead, a large pool of frequencies is shared among a larger frequencies is shared among a larger number of users. number of users.

A trunked radio system does this by taking A trunked radio system does this by taking advantage of the fact that not every user advantage of the fact that not every user will want to transmit at any given time. will want to transmit at any given time.

Trunking is accomplished by automatically sharing channels in a multiple repeater system.

Trunking SystemTrunking System

For example, a county trunked For example, a county trunked system could have 10 frequencies system could have 10 frequencies shared among 20 agencies such as shared among 20 agencies such as police and fire departments, road police and fire departments, road crews, buses, dog catchers, EMS, etc. crews, buses, dog catchers, EMS, etc.

Trunking ExampleTrunking Example

System UsersSystem Users

All Spokane County Fire/EMS, law All Spokane County Fire/EMS, law enforcement, and general government enforcement, and general government agencies will move to the 700/800 MHz agencies will move to the 700/800 MHz P25 trunked system.P25 trunked system.

Additional users from within regional local Additional users from within regional local government may use the system and government may use the system and have have responsibility for funding their responsibility for funding their participation on the systemparticipation on the system. Similarly, . Similarly, outside agencies in neighboring counties, outside agencies in neighboring counties, within Washington and Idaho as well as within Washington and Idaho as well as Federal and commercial organizations may Federal and commercial organizations may make limited use of the system.make limited use of the system.

Feature SetFeature Set Roaming across the entire area without Roaming across the entire area without

need for the user to switch channels. need for the user to switch channels. Hundreds of independent user groups Hundreds of independent user groups

available. available. Capability to disable a stolen radio from Capability to disable a stolen radio from

dispatch.dispatch. PTT caller identification.PTT caller identification. Over-the-air radio programming.Over-the-air radio programming. Voice encryption.Voice encryption. Private calls.Private calls. Emergency call alert.Emergency call alert.

CoverageCoverage

Will exceed that of the current VHF Will exceed that of the current VHF system. system.

For all county, 95% on-street portable For all county, 95% on-street portable coverage.coverage.

Suburban areas, 95% in-building portable Suburban areas, 95% in-building portable coverage assuming medium density coverage assuming medium density structure.structure.

Urban areas, 95% in-building portable Urban areas, 95% in-building portable coverage assuming high density structure. coverage assuming high density structure.

Subscriber EquipmentSubscriber Equipment

First responder subscriber equipment First responder subscriber equipment will be high or mid-tier.will be high or mid-tier.

Models willModels will• Support both 700 and 800 MHz Support both 700 and 800 MHz

operationoperation• Compliant with Mil. Spec 810Compliant with Mil. Spec 810• Support all encryption modesSupport all encryption modes• Support P25 digital feature setSupport P25 digital feature set

Subscriber UnitsSubscriber Units

P25 Digital Trunked Radio Portable: P25 Digital Trunked Radio Portable: $2000 to $7000 per radio.$2000 to $7000 per radio.

P25 Digital Trunked Radio Mobile: P25 Digital Trunked Radio Mobile: $2500 to $10,000 per radio.$2500 to $10,000 per radio.

Large, heavy, and complicated.Large, heavy, and complicated.


InteroperabilityInteroperability

Simulcast StrategySimulcast Strategy

The simulcast channel is designed to The simulcast channel is designed to patch-in agencies with VHF radios to patch-in agencies with VHF radios to all Spokane County Fire/EMS, law all Spokane County Fire/EMS, law enforcement, and general enforcement, and general government agencies moving to the government agencies moving to the 700/800 MHz P25 trunked system. 700/800 MHz P25 trunked system.

Spokane System Simulcast with Spokane System Simulcast with 700 MHz Trunking Example700 MHz Trunking Example

Simulcast System GrowthSimulcast System Growth

It is anticipated that the simulcast It is anticipated that the simulcast system will grow to include additional system will grow to include additional mutual aid channels, such as the mutual aid channels, such as the state/local VCALL/VTAC and state/local VCALL/VTAC and UCALL/UTAC channels or similar UCALL/UTAC channels or similar federal resources, as well as a few federal resources, as well as a few VHF and UHF channels. VHF and UHF channels.

Proposed VHF Mutual Aid Proposed VHF Mutual Aid ChannelsChannels

R Mutual Aid 1R Mutual Aid 1 VHF simulcast channel being constructedVHF simulcast channel being constructed

R Mutual Aid 2R Mutual Aid 2 VHF simulcast channelVHF simulcast channel

R Mutual Aid 3R Mutual Aid 3 VHF simulcast channelVHF simulcast channel

R Mutual Aid 4R Mutual Aid 4

(VCALL)(VCALL)1-3 transmit sites with receive voting1-3 transmit sites with receive voting

R Mutual Aid 5R Mutual Aid 5(VTAC)(VTAC)

1-3 transmit sites with receive voting1-3 transmit sites with receive voting

R Mutual Aid 6 R Mutual Aid 6 (LERN)(LERN)


R Mutual Aid 7R Mutual Aid 7(REDNET)(REDNET)


Other Proposed Mutual Aid Other Proposed Mutual Aid SystemsSystems

Two UHF narrowband simulcast Two UHF narrowband simulcast systems will be deployed on the systems will be deployed on the UCALL and UTAC channels. This will UCALL and UTAC channels. This will use 7 TX sites and 10 RX sites.use 7 TX sites and 10 RX sites.

The county will develop an enhanced The county will develop an enhanced the ICALL and ITAC analog system the ICALL and ITAC analog system using 800 MHz frequencies. using 800 MHz frequencies.

Desired capabilitiesDesired capabilities Support for legacy VHF and UHF systems.Support for legacy VHF and UHF systems. Connectivity with the airport, department of Connectivity with the airport, department of

corrections, tribal law enforcement, AMR, NW corrections, tribal law enforcement, AMR, NW Medstar, and Deer Park Ambulance. Medstar, and Deer Park Ambulance.

Connectivity with adjoining county P25 systems.Connectivity with adjoining county P25 systems. Connectivity with Spokane Transit.Connectivity with Spokane Transit. Connectivity with Kootenai 700 MHz P25 trunked Connectivity with Kootenai 700 MHz P25 trunked

system.system. Integration with Fairchild Air Force base. Integration with Fairchild Air Force base. Link with systems in neighboring counties.Link with systems in neighboring counties. Integration with future Washington statewide Integration with future Washington statewide

trunked and conventional systems.trunked and conventional systems.

Spokane Complete SystemSpokane Complete System

Using the interoperability part of the Using the interoperability part of the system, radios users inside and system, radios users inside and outside the county will be able to outside the county will be able to communicate with dispatch and communicate with dispatch and other users regardless of the radios other users regardless of the radios frequency, mode, or manufacturer.frequency, mode, or manufacturer.

Spokane Regional Communication System Overview By Scott Grimmett of Industrial Communications.

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Transcript of Spokane Regional Communication System Overview By Scott Grimmett of Industrial Communications.