Radio 101 for ESF #2

Radio 101 for ESF #2 Webinar Presentation for ESF #2 2pm EST, Monday, February 28, 2011 Ross Merlin DHS Office of Emergency Communications • The author is a senior telecommunications specialist with the DHS Office of Emergency Communications. His Federal emergency communications experience includes disaster response with the National Disaster Medical System, FEMA wireless management, DHS spectrum management, and now the OEC Technical Assistance branch. He is the author of the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG). You may contact him via email: ross.merlin@dhs.gov .

PublicSafetyRadioBands • VHF-Low Band: 30 MHz to 50 MHz • VHF-High: 138 MHz to 174 MHz • UHF: 406 MHz to 512 MHz • 700 MHz (new) • 800 MHz • 4.9 GHz (new)

Canwetalk? • Most radios only operate in one band! • Multi-band radios are rare and expensive • If Agency A uses VHF and Agency B uses UHF, they can’t talk to each other unless they: • Use runners • Have face-to-face interoperability – co-locate at Command Post • Swap radios • Relay through dispatchers • Connect through a gateway

Propagation & Band Characteristics • VHF Low Band (30-50 MHz) • Best propagation in undeveloped and hilly terrain • Poor building penetration • VHF High Band (150.8-174 MHz) • Very good propagation in undeveloped and hilly terrain • Moderate building penetration • UHF (450-470; some areas 421-430 or 470-512 MHz; Federal Government 406.1-420 MHz) • Good propagation in undeveloped and hilly terrain • Good building penetration • 700/800 MHz • Poor propagation in undeveloped and hilly terrain • Very good building penetration • 4.9 GHz • Microwave propagation used for short range (WiFi type) or point-to-point links

Frequencies vs. Channels • A frequency is a point in the radio spectrum • Part of what describes a channel • A channel is a set of parameters that can include one or more frequencies, Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) tones, bandwidth, modulation, name, etc. • Example: VCALL10 is a channel with transmit and receive frequency 155.7525 MHz, transmit CTCSS tone of 156.7 Hz, no receive CTCSS tone, bandwidth 11.25 kHz

Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System (CTCSS) Tones • PL stands for Private Line, a Motorola trademark • Other names include Code Guard, Tone Squelch, Call Guard, Channel Guard, Quiet Channel, Privacy Code, Sub-audible Tone, etc. • Generic (vendor-neutral) term is CTCSS – Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System

What Are CTCSS Tones Used For? • CTCSS tones are used to MASK interference • They DO NOT remove interference • Useful for masking interference caused by computers, electronics, etc. • Useful for masking interference from “skip” • Should NOT be used to block out traffic from neighboring (nearby) departments • This is OK for taxis, etc., but not for public safety • Creates “Hidden Interference” problem – missed calls possible

Radio Programming • Programming a radio is not like programming a microwave oven • Oven: Universal programming tool (fingertip) works with all brands. Graphic User Interface (touchpad) similar • Radio: Every brand has their own tools: cables, adapters, software. No standard for frequency (MHz or kHz), CTCSS (frequency or code), Network Access Code (NAC) (hex or decimal), etc.

Results of Improper CTCSS Programming • If Radio 1 is set for transmit (TX) tone only and Radio 2 is set for transmit/receive (TX/RX), both radios will hear each other. Radio 1 will hear any interference on the channel • If Radio 1 is set for TX tone only and Radio 2 is set for no tone, both radios will hear each other. Both radios will hear any interference on the channel • If Radio 1 is set for TX/RX tone and Radio 2 is set for TX/RX tone, both radios will hear each other. • If Radio 1 is set for TX/RX tone and Radio 2 is set for no tone, Radio 1 will not hear Radio 2. Radio 2 will hear Radio 1 • ANY radio programmed with an incorrect TX tone will not be heard by radios using a RX tone, even though it can hear traffic from other radios

Results of Improper Frequency Programming • You can hear other stations but can’t be heard • You can’t hear other stations but they can hear you • You can’t hear other stations or be heard • You can hear other stations when they are close to you, but can’t hear them when they are far away (via a repeater) • You are transmitting on an unauthorized frequency, causing interference to a different radio system • You are listening to a different radio system but think it is yours – you are very confused

Simplex • Very Reliable • Limited Range • Radio Channel uses 1 frequency

Duplex • Radio Channel using 2 frequencies: Frequency 1 to talk from radio A to radio B, and Frequency 2 to talk from radio B to radio A • Each user must be line of sight with each other • Examples: Cordless Telephone systems, which both parties can talk at the same time and listen at the same time. f1 f2

Base Station – Height Improves Range Dispatch Center Some units don’t hear transmission because of obstructions Unit 1 Unit 4 Unit 2 Unit 3

Base Station – Height Improves Range Dispatch Center Dispatcher relays message – heard by all units Unit 1 Unit 4 Unit 2 Unit 3

Remote Base Operation Dispatch Center Remote Link Microwave, Phone Line, etc. Unit 1 Unit 4 Unit 2 Unit 3

Conventional Repeater • Receives a signal on one frequency and retransmits (repeats) it on another frequency • Placed at a high location • Increases range of portable and mobile radio communications • Allows communication around obstructions (hills, valleys, etc.) • User radios receive on the repeaters transmit frequency and transmit on the repeater’s receive frequency

Conventional Repeater RX TX f2 f1 Dispatch Center All units within range of repeater hear all transmissions through the repeater f2 f2 f2 f2 f1 Unit 1 Unit 4 Unit 2 Unit 3 Repeater

Conventional Systems When one user is talking, other users on that channel cannot talk, even though other repeaters in the area may be idle. Communicating PD 1 Idle PD 4 PD 3 cannot talk to PD 4 because PD 1 is using the repeater PD 2 PD 3 Idle Public works repeater may be idle 90% of the time, which means that frequency is largely wasted FD 3 FD 1 PW 1 FD 2 PW 3 PW 2

Trunking • Trunking is a method of combining repeaters at the same site (often multiple sites) to “share” frequencies among users • Spectrally efficient • Allows many more “virtual” channels (called talkgroups) than there actually are frequencies authorized to the system • Computer controlled

PD 3 PD 1 PD 2 FD 2 FD 1 RX RX RX TX TX TX f1 f3 f5 f2 f4 f6 Trunked System f3 f1 f4 f2 f2 • Frequencies are dynamically assigned by system controller • User radio may be on a different frequency every time it transmits • Talkgroups are “virtual” channels • Possible to have many more talkgroups than actual frequencies • Statistically, not all talkgroups will be active at the same time System Controller Shared Repeater Bank

Trunked System Operation • User radios continuously monitor a dedicated “control channel” • When a user wants to transmit, the user’s radio makes a request to the system controller • If a repeater is available, the system controller temporarily assigns that repeater channel to the talkgroup making the request • Transmitting user’s radio will give a “talk beep”, indicating that a repeater has successfully been assigned…then the user can talk • All user radios monitoring that talkgroup automatically switch to the frequency of the assigned repeater and hear the transmission • When the transmission is complete, all radios return to monitoring the control channel

Multi-Site Systems • Conventional • Repeaters on same output, different input • Linked repeaters on different frequencies • Remote Receive Sites • Voting • Simulcasting • Trunking • Roaming • Simulcasting

Repeaters on same output frequency, different input frequency (or CTCSS tone) Only one repeater active at a time Users must manually change channel to different repeater depending on their physical location

Linked repeaters on different frequencies Both repeaters active at the same time with same traffic, but on different frequencies Link (microwave, phone line, etc.) Users must manually change channel to different repeater depending on their physical location

Voting Receivers Voter (comparator) chooses best received signal and sends that signal to the transmitter Voter Central Transmitter 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.

Simulcasting Both repeaters transmit on the same frequency at the same time Link (microwave, phone line, etc.) Transmitters must be carefully synchronized to prevent interference in overlap areas

Caller: “The radio system is down.”You: “What kind of system?” * Single site? Voted receive sites? Linked repeaters? Simulcast?

Possible Points of Failure • User Radio • Untrained user • Trying to use beyond coverage area, or shielded by terrain • Loss of power (base station) or dead battery (hand-held) • Repeater • Loss of commercial power, backup battery or generator fuel exhausted • Antenna failure (wind or ice damage) • Catastrophic site loss (tornado, fire, explosion) • Link (T1 line, microwave link, etc.) • Loss of power • Antenna failure • Telco circuit outage (phone line, internet)

Network Status • In a telco or cellular telephone network there is a Network Operations Center (NOC) that knows the status of the network • In Land Mobile Radio (LMR) there is no “the network” • Each radio system is independent • A statewide system or a trunked system may monitor the status of some components of just that system • No one place to go to learn status of all LMR systems • Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) networks may have a NOC; most public safety radio systems not CMRS customers, they are government-owned LMR

Limitations of the Technology • Radios, without infrastructure, have a short effective range – line-of-sight • Repeaters extend range, but require power • Repeater systems and networks extend the coverage area, but increase complexity • Trunked radio systems increase capacity, but are much more complicated and are not easily transportable

Regulatory & Operational Limitations • Users can not program radios – must be done by a technician (FCC Part 90; not so for NTIA). Some agencies’ radios are password protected - if their technician is not a first responder (and won’t share the password) field programming not possible • Rules are ambiguous and arcane; written for day-to-day operability and interoperability, not catastrophic disaster response • All radio frequencies used by responders should be coordinated with Disaster Emergency Communications (DEC) Group Frequency Manager before use

Programming Limitations • Programming in the field, while under stress , is more likely to lead to errors • Front-panel programming takes a lot of time • Programming by computer takes time to setup the first time, then fast to program multiple radios with the same channels; model-specific hardware and software • Cloning to program multiple radios is fast, but requires model-specific cloning cable and radio passwords • Trunked radio system key needed to program radios, but seldom shared – system tech too busy to program key and freqs into visiting responders’ radios

Problems You May Handle (1 of 3) • Call from state/local (other than simple question) didn’t come through state ESF #2 • Refer caller to state ESF #2 • Call about radio/telephone/Internet in Joint Field Office (JFO) • Transfer call to JFO Logistics Section, Comm. Unit • Question about radio frequencies/channels • Transfer to your Spectrum Manager (continued)

Problems You May Handle (2 of 3) • You didn’t deploy your Spectrum Manager? • Shame on you! • Spectrum Manager needs to be among the first boots on the ground – once behind, can never catch up • Fed/state/local or Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO)/Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) needs radios, needs help programming radios, needs help repairing/installing/acquiring antenna, needs temporary tower, needs WiFi, needs internet backhaul, satellite communications, repeaters, remote base stations, trunked radio system… • Get specifics, then task to DEC Group of ESF #2

Problems You May Handle (3 of 3) • Before you start taking calls, work out with DEC Group whether they want to handle generator issues at communications sites, or whether those calls go to ESF #12 (Energy) • Offer to donate radios or comm-specific supplies, services, technicians • Track or transfer in accordance with JFO donations policy • Broadcast station needs help (including generator) • Refer call to your FCC liaison

MakingFriends • If FEMA installs equipment or an entire radio system for the locals, can the locals keep it? No. Non-consumable items purchased with Stafford Act funds will be recovered, refurbished, and re-used on a future disaster; or disposed of through normal US Government excess property procedures

Summary • This radio stuff is complicated • Get the right information on the first call • FEMA can get it, whatever it is (if justifiable) • Spectrum Managers – don’t leave home without one Some of the material in this presentation was adapted from http://www.nmems.org/Communications/RadioTrainingSlidesGeneric.ppt

Radio 101 for ESF #2