Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications

Communications Projects

Active Projects 2009 - Scope of Work and Status

PROJECT 1: This project provides for reception of talk-around traffic in the northern and southern Accomack tactical zones.

· F3 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING: Added voting receiver at Mappsville for talkaround frequency for F3. 911 Center will receive voted audio from either Accomac control station receiver or Mappsville voted receiver (repeater output and talkaround voted). NOW ACTIVE.

· F7 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING: Added voting receiver at Craddockville for talkaround frequency for F7. 911 Center will receive voted audio from either Accomac control station receiver or Craddockville voted receiver (repeater output and talkaround voted). NOW ACTIVE.

PROJECT 3: This project expands the mobile and portable talkback range for the subject repeaters and enhances reception through voting of multiple receive sites.

· F7 RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR FIRE/EMS (MOBILE INPUT TO REPEATER): Install comparator at F7 repeater in Belle Haven, install SQM's, connect receiver, connect remote receiver circuit, calibrate, test, activate. Replaced site antenna 2/11/09. IN PROGRESS. Pending cavity retuning.

· F3 RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR FIRE/EMS (MOBILE INPUT TO REPEATER): Install comparator at F3 repeater in Mappsville, install SQM's, connect receiver, connect remote receiver circuit, calibrate, test, activate. NOW ACTIVE.

· INSTALL REMOTE VOTING RECEIVERS FOR F3 AND F7: Install voting receivers at the VSP STARS tower site in Accomac. Connect to provided antenna ports and to telephone circuits for routing to repeaters at Belle Haven and Mappsville. F3 NOW ACTIVE. F7 IN PROGRESS.

PROJECT 4: This project expands the mobile and portable talkback range for F1 and F11 (dispatch reception only) and F3 (repeater input), and enhances reception through voting of multiple receive sites.

· IMPROVE 911 CENTER RECEPTION OF F1 RESCUE DISPATCH AND F11 TACTICAL FROM NORTHERNMOST ACCOMACK COUNTY: Install voting receiver for F1 AND F11 at site to be determined in northern Accomack County. Antenna installation may be required. Negotiating use of NAVY tower at Wallops Flight Facility. IN PROGRESS.

· F3 RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR FIRE/EMS (MOBILE INPUT TO REPEATER) FROM NORTHERNMOST ACCOMACK COUNTY: Install voting receiver for F3 at site to be determined in northern Accomack County. Antenna installation may be required. Negotiating use of NAVY tower at Wallops Flight Facility. IN PROGRESS.

PROJECT 5: Resolved reception of foreign traffic on F5 repeater output frequency. For long-term resolution, CIW will need to consider reprogramming/licensing options resulting from shared channel usage.

· F5 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING: Resolved reception of foreign traffic on repeater output frequency/PL. Rewired repeater for direct control rather than by control station. NOW ACTIVE.

PROJECT 7: Use of F11 for Accomack’s EMS Voice Channel was implemented 2/1/2009 (AND LATER REVERTED). A paging transmitter was installed at Mappsville in May for interim use and systems testing. Required approval by Infrastructure Work Group and other entities. Approved with modification using F11 and then reverted.

· Convert F11 to an EMS Voice Channel. NOW REVERTED.

· Improve Paging Output in Northernmost Accomack County: Add F1 Base Station or Repeater in northern Accomack County to support paging coverage in northernmost part of County. NOW ACTIVE.

PROJECT 10: Establish back-up console system.

· PROCURE AND INSTALL BACKUP REMOTE TO ALLOW PAGING AND BASIC COMMUNICATIONS IN EVENT OF MCC5500 FAILURE. Primary channel controls for F1 and F2, perhaps additional channels. IN PROGRESS.

PROJECT 12: This project expands the receive footprint and adds additional reception range for portable reception by the 911 Center for F12.

· F12 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING – MAPPSVILLE RECEIVE SITE: Reprogram new voting receiver to receive frequency for F12 and for SpectraTac operation. Install in existing cabinet at Mappsville, connect antenna port to VHF multicoupler, connect to Verizon telephone circuit at site, connect circuit in 911 Center to comparator/SQM for F12 on wall at ESVA911. Center will receive voted audio from either Accomac, Cheriton, Mappsville, or Craddockville voted receivers. Changes from voting two sites to voting four sites. NOW ACTIVE, BUT RECEIVING FOREIGN TRAFFIC ON DEDICATED CTCSS SYSTEM.

· F12 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING - CRADDOCKVILLE RECEIVE SITE: Reprogram new voting receiver to receive frequency for F12 and for SpectraTac operation. Install in existing cabinet at Mappsville, connect antenna port to VHF multicoupler, connect to Verizon telephone circuit at site, connect circuit in 911 Center to comparator/SQM for F12 on wall at ESVA911. Center will receive voted audio from either Accomac, Cheriton, Mappsville, or Craddockville voted receivers. Changes from voting two sites to voting four sites. NOW ACTIVE, BUT RECEIVING FOREIGN TRAFFIC ON DEDICATED CTCSS SYSTEM.

P3210111 Projects Completed 2006-2008

§ Upgraded 9-1-1 Telephone System (Plant VESTA®)

§ Installed Monitoring System for Northampton Fire/EMS Repeater System (Zetron)

§ Installed New HVAC System for Dispatch Center and Equipment Room

§ Installed New Communications Console Furniture (Xybix Dispatch Furniture)

§ Created Systems Equipment Room; Relocated Various 9-1-1 Systems Equipment

§ Installed and Implemented New Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System (Sungard HTE/OSSI)

§ Developed and Installed ESVA911 InfoBoard for Dispatch Bulletins

§ Installed New Radio Communications Consoles (Motorola MCC5500)

§ Installed Synchronized Time Management (SpectraCom NetClock)

§ Placed 3 New Repeaters in Service (Accomack Tactical Operations)

2007 Fire & EMS Communications System Upgrade and Frequency Plan

Accomack County Repeaters

• Three (3) Repeaters Acquired and Licensed; Capable of Adding Voting Receivers

• Repeaters Receive on One Freq (Input) and Transmit on Another Freq (Output); thus Mobile and Portable Traffic is Rebroadcast by the Repeater (High Power & Antenna Height); Duplex

• “Talk-around” Mode Bypasses the Repeater But Uses the Output Frequency; Simplex

Frequency Uses

• Channels used as Fire Response and Primary Fire/EMS Tactical Channel By Zone (Pre-assigned)

• If Second Incident Requiring Tactical Channel Occurs in Same Zone, Use Alternate Simplex or Repeater Tact Channel

• Tactical Channels Used for MVA’s (Repeater Channels)

Channel Assignment Plan

• F1 - RESCUE DISPATCH – ACCOMACK

• Also Serves as Northampton Rescue Talkaround

• F2 - RESCUE DISPATCH - NORTHAMPTON RPTR

• F3 - NORTH ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - REPEATER

• F4 - NORTH ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - TALKAROUND

• F5 - CENTRAL ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - REPEATER

• F6 - CENTRAL ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - TALKAROUND

• F7 - SOUTH ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - REPEATER

• F8 - SOUTH ACCOMACK FIRE OPS – TALKAROUND

• F9 - NORTHAMPTON FIRE OPERATIONS - RPTR

• F10- NORTHAMPTON FIRE OPS – TALKAROUND

• F11 - TACTICAL OPERATIONS 1- All Zones

• Serves as Secondary Fire/EMS Ops

• Serves as voice EMS Operations Channel for Accomack (moves voice traffic from F1) (REVERTED)

• F12 - TACTICAL OPERATIONS 2 - All Zones

• Serves as Secondary Fire/EMS Ops

• F13 - MOBILE/PORTABLE FIELD OPERATIONS

• Mobile to Mobile Tactical Ops, i.e., Water Shuttles

• Station Special Event Communications (Portables)

• F13 - TIDEWATER H.E.A.R. (AMBULANCES ONLY)

• F14 - STATEWIDE EMS MUTUAL

• F15 - CHINCOTEAGUE FIRE/EMS RPTR

• F16 - CHINCOTEAGUE FIRE/EMS TALKAROUND

• Channel May Alternatively Be Used for Private FD Frequencies

Monitoring

If you wish to monitor the repeater output frequencies, the frequencies are as follows:

F3 - NORTH ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - REPEATER 154.340 MHz

F5 - CENTRAL ACCOMACK FIRE OPS - REPEATER 154.055 MHz

F7 - SOUTH ACCOMACK FIRE OPS – REPEATER 153.875 MHz

Recommended and Supported Mobiles and Portables

• Mobiles 45W, 16 Frequency Minimum

– GM300, CDM1250 (MDC1200 Signaling)

• Portables 5W, 16 Frequency Minimum

– HT1000, HT750, HT1250, CP200, Some Kenwood Models (MDC1200 or Equivalent Signaling required; Quik-Call II for Paging optional)

– Be Sure Batteries Are In Good Condition

• 3-Digit Date Code on Motorola Batteries – “YWW” where Y equals year and WW equals week… i.e., 425 equals 25th week of 2004… batteries 3-5 years old are candidates for replacement if not functioning well

– 9-1-1 Commission Can Order HT1000 Batteries at Discounted Price

• All New Radios Need to Be Narrowband Capable

• New Interim Radio Standards Published February 10, 2009 (See Communications Manual Appendix O)

Other Projects In Progress

• Acquired 800 MHz control station to support interoperability with Worcester and Somerset Counties, and to allow link with Maryland’s MESIN network

• Acquired and installed 800MHz NPSPAC Repeaters to support interoperability with Worcester County and other 800 MHz system users… to become operational Fall 2007

• Engineering relocation of various radios and antennas from current tower at Sheriff’s Office to the new STARS tower; upgrading existing sites as necessary

Planning for the Future

• Currently studying the potential to establish and operate one or more dedicated EMS Response channel(s) to allow EMS units to communicate on a channel other than the channel used for paging and alerting. Activated F11 for this purpose in Accomack County on February 1, 2009, but later reverted.

• By January 2013, all operational public safety frequencies will be converted to Narrowband

• Over the next 5 years, plan to replace aging mobile and portable radios to meet standards and achieve latest technology

– Opportunities for grants and other funding

– Perhaps best implemented in conjunction with system spectrum frequency reprogramming

Questions or Comments:

Contact the Communications Manager

This Page Last Updated July 13, 2009