Agenda

2. Agenda • Radio Basics • Conventional Versus Trunked Radio • Frequency Spectrum - Project 25 Phase I Versus Phase II • Trunked System Components (What makes up a system?) • Wide-Area Trunking Systems • Vendor Proposals Overview • Vendor Demonstrations Overview • Evaluation Form Overview

3. 1 2 . . . . . . 19 16 1 1 2 2 Houston Police Houston Fire/EMS Example of Conventional vs. Trunked Radio System • Currently Police and Fire each have their own, separate bank of conventional channels. • Now lets look at these channels on Sunday at 2:00 AM. • Police channels get overloaded in this peak activity time. • Meanwhile there are Fire Channels “available” that are not used by those Police who are waiting.

4. Conventional Radio System(Like HPD and HFD have today) • No inherent redundancy for channel failure • System has Individual frequencies or channels dedicated to specific agencies for their use • Channel congestion and crowding 1 2 3 4 5 Police East Police West Fire Disp. Fire Tac EMS

5. Trunked Radio System • Trunked radio systems were originally developed to provide more efficient use of available radio frequencies and to support a greater number of radio users than conventional systems equipped with the same number of frequencies. • Trunked systems are computer driven radio networks that can provide a more complete set of operational features & functions than conventional systems

6. 2 3 8 4 7 6 8 2 4 . . . N 5 1 7 3 1 Policeand Fire Share channels! 5 6 Example of Conventional vs. Trunked Radio System • Now lets examine that same Sunday at 2:00 AM scenario, this time in a trunked system . . . • Police and Fire share a “pool” of channels • A “Control Channel” manages trunked calls • The Fire Channels that were available but not used during the Police peak activity time may now be used.

7. EMS TG PD East TG Dispatch Point Dispatch Point Fire TG PD West TG Dispatch Point Trunked Controller Dispatch Point How Trunked Systems Work • Interconnects repeaters with a computer • Computer regulates channel usage • User agencies are assigned to “talkgroups” • Common pool of channels shared by all • Channel redundancy is inherent 1 2 3 4 5 Trunked Controller

8. Example of Talkgroups in a Trunking System Talkgroup A Talkgroup B Dispatch Point Dispatch Point 1 2 3 4 5 Trunked Controller

9. OSW OSW 1 Trunking System in Idle Mode Idle Radios Monitor the Control Channel Talkgroup A Talkgroup B Dispatch Point Dispatch Point 2 3 4 5 Trunked Controller Assigns a “Control Channel” to Coordinate Radio Traffic Trunked Controller

10. 1 A Talkgroup Call Request Talkgroup A Talkgroup B Dispatch Point Dispatch Point ISW (Call Request) 2 3 4 5 Trunked Controller

11. 1 Repeater Designated as Voice Channel Talkgroup A Talkgroup B Dispatch Point Dispatch Point OSW (“go to channel 5”) 2 3 4 5 Trunking Controller

12. 1 Communication Through Assigned Voice Channel Talkgroup A Talkgroup B Dispatch Point Dispatch Point Voice Communication 2 3 4 5 Trunking Controller

13. 1 Request for Access When All Channels Are Busy Talkgroup A Dispatch Point ISW (Call Request) 2 3 4 5 Trunking Controller

14. BUSY QUEUE 1 User Placed in New User Queue Talkgroup A Dispatch Point OSW (System Busy) 2 3 4 5 1. Talkgroup A Trunking Controller

15. 3 5 3 BUSY QUEUE 1 Voice Channel Assignment Talkgroup A Dispatch Point Voice Communication OSW (“go to Channel 3”) 2 3 4 5 1. Talkgroup A TrunkingController

16. . . data . . data . . data . . The continuous “Control Channel” enables many advanced features! 1 Trunked System Features • User validation before system access • Push-To-Talk Identification for all users • Subscriber Access Control (limits who can get on the system) • Priority Access (Most important calls given priority) • Emergency Signaling (Emergency button on radios) • Talkgroup Scan • Busy Queuing • Larger systems can handle very heavy traffic loads

17. Low Band VHF “800” UHF “New 700” 800 MHz 39 150 450 - 512 700 MHz Houston Police & Fire Today Houston PW & HAS Today City’s New 700/800 MHz Trunked Radio System Frequency Spectrum For 700, FCC says . . . * Digital Only * Squeeze in more “Talkpaths”

18. Low Band VHF “New 700” “800” UHF 700 MHz 800 MHz 39 150 450 - 512 Houston Police & Fire Today Houston PW & HAS Today Frequencies Frequency Spectrum For 700, FCC says . . . * Digital Only * Squeeze in more “Talkpaths” 450 550 650 750 950 850

19. All of City’s Existing UHF and 800 MHz systems utilize 25 KHz Frequency 1 Frequency 2 25 KHz Freq 2 Freq 1 Standards are published, Systems in operation today ! Project 25 Phase I FCC says: “2–to-1” 12.5 KHz Standards adopted, but not published ! Project 25 Phase II FCC says: “4–to-1” Project 25 Phase II “Requires TDMA Technology" Proposed by Vendors, not in operation today ! Talkpath 1 Talkpath 2 FCC “Squeeze In More Talkpaths”

20. 25 Feet 25 KHz Channels from the Past

21. 12.5 Feet 12.5 KHz Channels from Project 25 Phase I

22. 25 Feet 12.5 Feet 12.5 KHz Channels from Project 25 Phase II In Phase II, TDMA allows 4 talkpaths per 25 slot

23. Trunked System Components • Now lets look at the key components that make up a modern trunked radio system • Repeater Sites (these provide radio coverage) • Wide-Area System (more than one repeater site) • Master Control Point (controls & manages the network) • Site Connectivity (links between the sites, control point, & dispatch) • User Radios (hand held radios & mobile (vehicle) radios)

24. Antenna System EquipmentShelter Tower 1 2 3 N AC Generator Battery System Repeaters (channels) Trunking Controller Basic Trunked Repeater Site

25. 4 – 6 miles Basic Trunked Repeater Site • One repeater site provides in-building coverage for approximately 4 – 6 miles. • For the City of Houston’s service area, that translates to 40+ sites ! !

26. Wide-Area Systems • When do you need a Wide-Area System? • When more than one repeater site is needed to provide the required radio coverage!

27. . . . and a Backup Master Site adds reliability HEC Master Site In a Wide-Area system, a “Master Site” is required to control all repeater sites. . . . a Microwave System or Fiber Network connects all of the repeater sites to the Master Site Wide-Area Systems The City needs a Wide-Area system

28. HEC Dispatch Wide-Area Systems Now add the Users to the system . . HEC Master Site

29. HECMaster Site Simulcast Prime Site Wide-Area Systems: Simulcast • In the proposed Simulcast systems, all repeater sites are connected with microwave • One of the sites is a “Simulcast Prime Site” and is connected to HEC Master Site

30. F1 F1 F1 F1 F1 Wide-Area Systems - Simulcast • In Simulcast, all repeater sites use the same set of frequencies • This improves coverage since the radio can actually receive and transmit to multiple sites at once • A group of Simulcast Sites makes a “Simulcast Subsystem” (there are limits to the number of simulcast sites) South Simulcast Subsystem

31. Central Simulcast Subsystem F1 F1 WestSimulcast Subsystem F1 Simulcast Subsystems • Multiple Simulcast Subsystems are required to accommodate the number of repeater sites needed for the City of Houston South Simulcast Subsystem

32. F1 F1 F1 Simulcast Subsystems • Each Simulcast Subsystem uses a different set of frequencies • Thus special “Roaming” software is required in all subscriber radios to allow the radios to seamlessly move throughout the City. F3 F2 F1

33. F4 PublicWorks F3 F1 F1 F2 F1 F1 Simulcast Subsystems • Public Works has different radio coverage requirements, thus they have their own Simulcast Subsystem. Public Safety

34. HEC Dispatch Simulcast Prime Site Simulcast Prime Site HEC Master Site Simulcast Prime Site Simulcast Prime Site Lets Look at Whole System PublicWorks F4 Public Safety F3 F2 F1

35. How About Radio Coverage? • What are the key drivers? • Service area and types of coverage – were defined by the City’s project team including Police, Fire, PW&E and HAS • Mobile coverage (vehicle radios) • Portable radios on-street • Portable radios in 10 dB buildings (light buildings, typically residential) • Portable radios in 20 dB buildings (typically medium to heavy buildings) • Portable radios in 30 dB buildings (typically heavier buildings, but not all heavy buildings) • “Required Buildings” – a list of 147 buildings developed by the City, in which the Vendor must provide coverage • Downtown tunnel system • Medical Center tunnel system

36. How About Radio Coverage? • What are the key drivers? • Coverage reliability – Selected 95% Area Reliability • Delivered audio quality (sound quality) – Selected TIA DAQ 3.4 as the baseline minimum • Location of portable radio on the user – radio at belt level with antenna on the radio • Belt clip carrying device for the portable radio • Coverage with the radios stationary and moving • Coverage acceptance testing

37. How About Radio Coverage? • The RFP requires 95% coverage of the City’s service area with a Delivered Audio Quality (DAQ) of 3.4, based on the following scale.

38. Level 5 Interoperability • The City expects to have Level 5 Interoperability, standards based shared systems with all of the adjacent 700 / 800 MHz radio systems in the area, as defined by the SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum on the next slide.

39. SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum

40. How About Interoperability? • There are currently two separate Harris County Regional Radio Systems in place today: 1. A newer ASTRO 25 system – platform for the future 2. An older SmartZone 4.1 system - has most system users • Successful proposers will need to provide solutions to interoperate with both of these systems

41. Vendor Demos • Three days set aside for “Demonstrations and Discussions” • Locations to be identified by Vendors • Tyco: week of March 10-14 • Motorola: week of March 17-21

42. Vendor Demos • Two areas to be set up • Area for or evaluation committee, technical workgroup, strategic purchasing, and RCC to interact with Vendor • Area for hands-on evaluation of dispatch consoles and subscriber equipment • City will stream a cross-section of City users and staff through the hands-on area over the three days

43. Vendor Demos Outline • City Team introductions and guidance for the session • Introduction of Vendor’s presentation team • Vendor presentation of session agenda • Brief overview of Proposer’s company (15 minutes) • Overview and discussion of Proposed Primary System Infrastructure Offering (incorporate demonstration of equipment as appropriate!) • Type of system and system configuration • Rationale for the selection of proposed repeater sites • Rationale for proposed system capacity • Ability of Public Safety and Public Works to provide mutual backup capability • System expansion capability for future growth • Guaranteed radio coverage performance in all categories - including but not limited to the following: • Audio Quality Demonstrations for P25 Phase I and Phase II

44. Vendor Demos Outline • Failure mode analysis (follow Appendix A to this outline) • Trunked System Features (follow Appendix B to this outline) • Voice Encryption Discussion • Microwave System Configuration and Connectivity • Network management system • Interoperability with external entities in the Houston area • Proposed Dispatch Console Systems • Infrastructure implementation and optimization • Site Development • Infrastructure Maintenance (discuss the team that will be involved in this aspect of the project) • Corrective Maintenance Alerting and Response Plan (before and after warranty)

45. Vendor Demos Outline • Presentation and Demonstration of Proposed Primary System Subscriber Equipment (incorporate demonstration of equipment as indicated below) • Proposed Mobile Radios • Proposed Portable Radios and Accessories • Status of Proposed Radios • Proposed battery technology • Proposed System Pricing for Primary Offering • Discussion of Alternate Offerings • Vendor Specific Topics and Questions to be added at a later date. • System, Console, and Subscriber Equipment demos for City Staff • Close-Out of Vendor Demonstrations