Brevard 800 MHz User Group

Public Safety Radio System

Annual Hurricane Season has started!

June 1 is a well known date here in Brevard County.  It signals the start of hurricane season for 2010 which lasts till Nov. 30.  

If you haven't done so already, your agency should be making all the necessary preparatory plans for the storm season.  These can include:

• Reviewing your current radio equipment inventory for any additional batteries, antennas, chargers or charging stations you may need in the event of a storm activation;
• Checking the status of any spare radio equipment and see if its preprogrammed with a usable LID (such as for a 'hot off the shelf spare') or if it needs programming (and database addition) prior to use;
• Make any additional CSD database requests for spare equipment.  FYI:  Some agencies have regular annual CSD inputs for storm season and this is the time to make those requests; not when a storm is pending; 
• Check all your agency mobiles for basic PM or wear and tear and don't forget your dispatch equipment.  If you need replacement batteries for that UPS unit, this is the time to purchase them and have the system serviced in order to keep the units fully operational;  
• Check the status of any generators that support your office buildings and always have the supplier contact information written down in a readily available notebook or file in case your agency loses power (and your computers) during a storm and also loses access to important address information; 
• Try to anticipate what you should do in the event of potential problems that could occur.  For example, what should your agency do if your dispatch office loses power temporarily or your cell phones lose service?  Do you have a backup operational emergency plan and does everyone understand how it works?  Have you trained all your personnel on the proper procedures to follow?  Have you made the necessary preparations (food, water, etc.) in the event your working staff has to 'shelter in place' during a storm?  What about the recovery period, do you have staff plans already in place?

As part of a regular network maintenance, Communications International, Inc. checks the site equipment monthly and makes 800 MHz Admin aware of any issues with the infrastructure equipment.  800 Mhz has access to various spare parts when needed for example, additional antennas for the sites are always purchased in advance and are in storage in Rockledge if needed in an emergency.  These are just a few examples of general preplanning for the season, if you can think of any additional suggestions, let us know so we can share with all our Users. 

"PM" Reminder for All BREVARD User Agencies!

 

Don't forget to schedule all your radio equipment for its annual periodic maintenance!  This feature is part of the general user contract for most agencies and its necessary to keep your equipment at its peak operating condition.  This is particularly important during the Hurricane Season (June - Nov).  Also, the manufacturer's warranty period on some of the Rebanding replacements has been expiring this year so its doubly important that your radio equipment be reviewed at least once a year by the CII techs at the radio shop.  Be proactive!  Don't wait till you need it to find out there is something wrong with your radio equipment! 

   CII INTRODUCES A

  NEW REGIONAL MANAGER

TO OUR BREVARD NETWORK

During the ESF#2 annual meeting at the EOC on July 1, the group was introduced to the new Regional Manager for our area (& also for the Rockledge Shop), Todd Reed.  Todd has been working as the Manager for the Volusia/Flagler Service Center for CII since 2008.  He also retired at the rank of Captain with the Daytona Beach Police Department after 21 years of service - so he appreciates the radio User's perspective for quality radio service.  He plans to spend some time in the field to introduce himself to our Brevard User agencies and get acquainted with us. 

Meanwhile, we would like to extend our congratulations to him and welcome to the Brevard 800 MHz Public Safety Radio Network.  If you need to contact Todd regarding any shop or service related issues, you can always reach him thru the Rockledge Service Center at 636-9885 or his cell 386-871-5445 or his email address treed@ask4cii.com

RADIO NARROW BANDING -

WHAT IT IS & WHAT IT MAY MEAN TO YOUR AGENCY

At the August 21, 2009 meeting of the Brevard Users, Bruce Tewell from Communications International, Inc. (CII) mentioned the subject of "narrow banding" other radio spectrum.  Basically, some agencies may have radio equipment in other spectrum besides 800 MHz and they may wish some additional information regarding the subject.  Attached please find a Power point program from Kimball & Associates,

a leading consultant in radio technology, discussing the process, the FCC rules and how it may effect your agency's budget over the next 2 fiscal cycles.  

KIMBALL & ASSOCIATES POWERPOINT

SPECIAL NOTE: 800 MHz Admin is aware of several agencies such as the Brevard Public School System or even some local utilities units that may have radio equipment in these spectrum ranges.  If you have not considered the impact of narrow banding to your agency and you think you may have equipment that qualifies, you should contact Ken Mottice, Brevard Shop Manager or Bruce Tewell, Brevard Sales at Communications International, Inc. for assistance.  Their office number is 636-9885. 

FYI:  CSD Database Records &

the User Agencies' Responsibilities

User Agencies are required to keep their active radio inventory records current according to User Agreements with BCEM.  Agencies are reminded that only radios listed in the Brevard CSD database are considered authorized radios.  If your agency has out of date data records that need to be updated or changes that you plan to make with the CII radio shop, please do so immediately by completing and emailing to the Brevard 800 MHz Staff all your changes on the CSD Change Forms. 

(Also, if your agency or unit is a division of County Government or affiliated with the Sheriff's Office, don't forget to complete the BCC 176 Forms for Asset Management). 

CSD Database Change Form Available Here!

The CSD Change Form for database entries is required for all changes to the CSD database entries. You MUST submit these changes on the forms to be certain they are properly processed.  We have included a brief overview of the form as well as a WORD. DOC version for you to download & use. 

Click on the info here: BASIC INFO ABOUT THE NEW CSD FORM

Here is the WORD.DOC Form: 800MHZ CSD CHANGE FORM 2009

Special note:  The 800 Admin staff prefers that your agency email all changes rather than fax

or hand deliver them so we can email you back a file copy once the revisions are completed. 

BREVARD 800 MHZ PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO NETWORK

COMPLAINT/COMMENT FORM

To report any problems OR issues with either your radios, vendor service or any general 800 MHz network issues, please use this

link to the On-Line Radio Complaint Form.  RADIO COMPLAINT FORM

FYI:  If your agency is seeing a continuing problem with coverage or

transmission/reception issues related to certain locale or your field users

have noticed a network problem, this is the Form to use to document these issues. 

Administrator and Vendor Radio Complaint Request (RCR) application to record resolutions.    Click Here Login Required

The Brevard County 800 MHz News archive is available as a file download!

The 4th Quarter edition (covering from October to December 2008) is available along with the original July 2008 edition.  Click the appropriate link to choose the edition you wish to see or save:

Brevard County 800 MHz News JULY 2008; Brevard Co 800MHz News 4th QTR 2008

Transition Administration Rebanding News Link press_releases

Did you know? 

 

A lot of our Users refer to their groups as 'channels' as a sort of homage to the way two way radios traditionally operated.  But they are not really channels in the traditional sense of radio operation........do you know what they are and why? 

What Users often call 'channels' are really "talk groups" because of the way trunked radios operate in an 800 MHz trunking system.  Trunked radio means the transmission/receive sites control what assigned frequencies are used and when and they send out the signals received based on a computer operated selection process thru the site controller for better efficiency. 

So, rather than have the User tune in to a specific channel or frequency to hear and talk from on their radios, Users are requested to select a "talk group" by the alphanumeric display name.  A 'talk group' name corresponds to a decimal conversion formula that is the Group ID number assigned to a specific series of Users.  Just as every radio has an ID number (we call it an LID), every talk group has a group ID number (or GID).  When selected, all radios that have that GID in their radio profile and are selected to monitor that group at the time of the transmission can hear and take part in all the radio traffic that occurs on that group as transmitted by the closest assigned tower site.  Remember:  All talk groups are NOT automatically available on all the tower sites because not all groups are needed to operate on all the sites.  Some groups are site specific and some are wide area groups. When in doubt, see either the radios techs at CII or your 800 MHz POC for more information. 

 

800 MHZ User Meeting Recap

Notes from the Brevard 800 MHz User Meeting notes are being made available here to keep our Users current with the latest information. 

If additional information or handouts are provided at the meetings, we will attempt to also offer them for your retrieval and review.  Simply click on the link and download the PDF, Power point or WORD documents provided. 

• 800 USER JUN 30 MEETING       

AUGUST 21, 2009 - A Special User Meeting

The August 21 User Meeting was unique because it included a visit by a Harris representative

who supplied the refreshments (thank you, Harris!).  There were also several several handouts and a Harris radio brochure made available to the Users.  PDF/Word copies are shown below

for downloading along with the meeting notes.

• 800 MHz User Meeting Notes Aug. 21 2009   

Don't forget these additional handouts provided at the meeting: 

• CII SYS RETUNE Statement of work  
• Local narrow band status review  
• DOJ narrow banding PDF     
• HARRIS CORP UNITY Radio brochure

FYI:  There is also the Power Point program discussing the issue of FCC 'narrow banding' from Kimble & Associates that Bruce Tewell, the CII Area Sales Manager mentioned.  It is provided

for your inspection and review at a separate location shown above in a section entitled "Radio Narrow Banding - What it is and What it May Mean to Your Agency" on this web page.

FYI:  If you believe we forgot a PDF file or some information mentioned at these meetings and you would like it provided, drop us a line and let us know.  

 

"Innovation & Improvements for the Future of Brevard 800 MHz Network Users"

800 MHz User Group Background & Purpose

The Brevard 800 MHz User Group Public Safety Radio System (aka the Network) is comprised of all the users of the system.  This web page will post information that is useful and sometimes critical for user action and information. 

Brevard County is currently going through the FCC Rebanding project and various scheduling notes and changes will be posted here for your convenience.  Additionally, we will provide information on the status of the network and future improvements as they are known and funding becomes available.

User Agency Services

If you are having maintenance and or service issues with the network, we have designed a "Radio User/Agency Complaint/ comment" form for your use (see the appropriate link above).  Our intent is to create a more proactive approach to network operations.  When you report an issue to our vendor (CII), we also want to be sure the Brevard 800 MHz Admin Staff is aware of your problems and together, we are taking a coordinated approach toward resolving these issues.

Questions about the System (Network) can be addressed to your designated agency Point of Contact.  For more information, contact either Lisa Morgan 637-3811 or email Lisa OR Eric

Conklin 637-3810 or email Eric at Brevard County Emergency Management 637-6670.

SPECIAL NOTE TO OUR READERS:

FYI:  800 MHZ Radio Network Admin is continuously trying to update and improve this web page for the use and benefit of the Users.  So, if you have any suggestions or comments, please drop us an email and let us know. 

Also, if your agency will be holding a special event locally that you want to share with the other agencies, this web page would be a great way to promote your agency's activities among the Brevard 800 MHz User group! Please forward your submissions for consideration to us via email attachments.  We reserve the right to edit either photos or written work as needed due to space considerations.

Last updated July 19, 2010