Radio Operations

1. Radio Operations Guilford County/ Greensboro/High Point

2. Objective • To provide radio system familiarization to system users

3. Issues addressed • Define communication • History of PS Communications 1996-Present • Communications systems in use in Guilford County Public Safety • Communications systems in use in North Carolina Public Safety • Radio functions • Emergency operation

4. What is communication? Transferring an idea from the mind of one person to the mind of another with understanding In our profession this requires that you be able to paint a picture for someone who is not physically at your location

5. 1996-Present January 1,1996 - Public Safety agencies used various frequencies in different bands; this prevented interoperability (Ex. GFD used VHF High Band and County Fire used VHF Low Band) November,1996 - Guilford County moved to a new 800 MHz trunked public safety radio system (Joint Guilford County/Greensboro System)

6. 1996- Present The County used analog mode for radio transmissions January,1997 – Greensboro moved to the new trunked system and used mixed mode (digital and analog) GPD used digital, which forced patching of TGs for interoperability with GCSD

7. Interoperability Challenges Although Guilford/Greensboro and the City of High Point were on similar radio systems, each was operated as a stand- alone system. Units could not monitor activities in neighboring jurisdictions without switching to that system and leaving their primary affiliation. The use of digital and analog modes made for some unique situations.

8. Growth/Maturity of the System(s) Over the years the users became more involved in the system use. They demanded more interoperability. Agencies that had not shared TGs began to share with other users. This improved operations countywide across both systems. Governmental bodies acknowledged that sharing resources made good fiscal sense.

9. Where are we today? Guilford County and the City of Greensboro have entered into a Migration Assurance Plan with Motorola, Inc. to provide a P25 solution for future communications. P25 is simply a technological standard that dictates how systems are built and their capability (Ex. Integrated text and voice). The “P25 Platform” also allows more radio system user IDs and greater interoperability opportunities. Therefore, other systems can join the core infrastructure (Ex. High Point is now tied to the Guilford/ Greensboro P25 core)

10. How is the system built and how does it work? The original system was built as a 28 channel (frequency) system for use by Guilford County, Greensboro and allied users (NCSHP, DOT, DMV, PTIA and local universities) 14 channels were analog only mode and 14 were mixed-mode (analog and digital). The City of Burlington saw the advantages of replacing their radio system and joined the system several years ago. The system is built as a “Message Trunking System”. This means that when a user dekeys the microphone, they have .8 seconds before the frequency is put back into trunking for other users. This allows the message receiver to transmit a reply with assurance that they can quickly access a channel.

11. How is the system built and how does it work? Currently, the system is in transition to the “P25 Platform”. As of February, 2014, 4 channels have been moved to P25 and 24 channels remain on the old 4.1 platform. In the near future public safety agencies will need to decide on a migration plan to P25 because parts will not be available to repair the old 4.1 system infrastructure. Some things to consider in the migration: Failsoft assignments Simulcast of TGs on 4.1 and P25 (This requires a frequency on each system) A significant number of public safety units must transition within the next 2 years All future users must have a P25 capable subscriber product (Radio)

12. How is the system built and how does it work? What happens when I want to transmit on my radio? Older users may remember the days of instantaneous transmission when you keyed the microphone. (Actually, it took about 150 milliseconds before you could transmit.) Can you recall not hearing the first part of a radio transmission? With this system, your radio constantly monitors the control channel (frequency) and transmits data to the system controller. When you want to speak, your radio submits a channel grant request to the controller. It evaluates the radio data and issues a channel grant in 350 milliseconds (Talk Permit Tones are useful to ensure not front-end clipping)

13. How is the system built and how does it work? What is a radio ID? Each radio in the system, portable, mobile or console is assigned a unique ID. It usually begins with “7” and has five digits following the “7” (Ex: 742511). Radio IDs help ensure system security. The 4.1 system supported 64,000 IDs. The P25 system currently supports xxxxx IDs. Each mutual aid unit requires a system ID to be able to transmit. (P25 infrastructure has increased our mutual aid opportunities) What is rebanding? Rebanding is the movement of system radio frequencies away from cellular frequencies in an attempt to reduce interference. Most frequencies were reassigned 15 MHz below the initial FCC allocation, but some new ones were required. Our system has completed rebanding.

14. Radio Operations/ Radio Function • Failsoft The Failsoft system allows your radio to communicate continuously even during a trunking system failure. If the trunking system fails, the radio automatically switches to the appropriate Failsoft channel. Failsoft reverts the radio to conventional mode and you hear a medium- pitched tone every 10 seconds. Additionally, the radio displays “Failsoft”. Agencies have limited Failsoft channels, so communications must be brief to allow for dispatch, tactical operations and on-scene operations. When the trunking system returns to normal operation, the radio automatically leaves the Failsoft operation and returns to trunked operation.

15. Examine which TGs fail to this channel. Keep in mind everyone on any of these TGs will hear everyone else in Failsoft mode.

16. Emergency – • Orange button used to request help silently. Push PTT after activating the orange button. • The radio reverts to “PS HELP or “ 911 HELP” • An audible signal is transmitted at GM 9-1-1 • A visual signal is displayed on the radio console • GM 9-1-1 will say your unit # and signal 12 ( For ex: “154 Signal 12”) • If it was accidental, transmit “Signal 50 accidental” • If you do not respond to the Signal12 transmission, GM 9-1-1 will repeat the message one time. If you still do not respond, law enforcement will be dispatched to your last known location (Note: learn your agency policy). • To reset the radio, press the orange button until you hear a beep after informing GM 9-1-1 that you are resetting the radio

17. Radio Operations/ Radio Function • The antenna should be tight • The antenna should be the appropriate length (No stubby antennas are approved in the system) • The battery should be charged and properly attached – rotate battery every 12 hours or when the low battery alarm beeps

18. Radio Operations/ Radio Function • The on/off knob also adjusts the volume • The ABC toggle switch may be programmed for any number of options. • The channel selector knob allows you to switch talkgroups or channels

19. Radio Operations/ Radio Function • The concentric switch below the channel selector activates and turns on/off encryption for some agencies. • The display should be clear and legible, if it is not, take it to the radio shop.

20. Keep in mind…….. • Everything you say can be heard by millions of people • Our radio system is broadcast on the internet @ www.broadcastify.com • Radio scanners are used by the public and the media to monitor Emergency Services

21. Radio Operations/ Radio Function • Scanning The radio is capable of scanning up to xx TGs or frequencies, but they must be in one radio system. It can’t scan across multiple systems or types of systems. • The scan feature programmed into the radio is “Priority Scan” to allow you to monitor your agency at all times. • The radio will pre-empt other transmissions and revert to your primary priority channel/talkgroup when properly programmed.

22. Radio Operations/ Radio Function • Out-of-range If you are out of range of the radio system you are trying to associate with, your radio will emit a low-pitched tone and flash between “Out Of Range” and the zone/channel combination you are on.

23. The media listens to every word we say

24. Communications systems in use in Guilford County Public Safety • VHF Low Band 30-50 MHz (NCSHP & County Fire) Travels a long distance, but does not penetrate obstacles well • VHF High Band 150-174 MHz (GCEMS) used for unit alerting and patched to the 800 MHz trunked system Travels a shorter distance than VHF Low Band, but penetrates obstacles better • UHF 450-470 MHz (Guilford County Fire) used for station alerting and patched to the 800 MHz trunked system Travels a shorter distance than VHF High Band, but penetrates obstacles better • UHF 800 MHz ( Greensboro/Guilford and High Point Public Safety trunked radio systems)

25. Greensboro/Guilford County 800 MHz trunked public safety radio system 28 channels – used by the following agencies- • Guilford County EMS, Fire and Sheriff’s Department • Airport Police and Fire • Greensboro Police and Fire • Burlington Police and Fire • Elon College Police • UNC-G Police/GTCC Police/A&T Police • NC Highway Patrol (Primary Ops on VIPER) • Public works in Greensboro and other non-public safety users in Guilford County (Parks & Rec/ NCDOT/ GDOT) • Sanitation • Guilford County Health Department

26. Communications systems in use by NC Public Safety agencies • VHF Low Band - NCSHP/ Local Fire and EMS agencies • VHF High Band - NCSHP/ Local law enforcement/ Fire and EMS agencies • UHF - Local law enforcement/ Fire and EMS agencies/ Medical Helicopter Services • 800 MHz - NCSHP/ Local Fire and EMS agencies

27. 800 MHz / Radio terminology/ Radio functions • Trunking = sharing (Multiple users share radio frequencies) • Channel = frequency • Talkgroup = a specific value programmed into a controller used by specific agencies • Fleetmap /Codeplug = radio programming • Failsoft – radio system reverts to conventional use with limited channel availability for users • Private call - a call from a radio console to a portable or mobile radio that only that radio can hear (In theory) • Emergency – discreet alert from the radio to the dispatcher • Scan - allows you to monitor talkgroups in the system by listening for activity on talkgroups you want to monitor • Interoperability – different agencies’ ability to communicate with one another