Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications

Communications Projects

Active Projects 2010 - Scope of Work and Status

PROJECT 10: Establish back-up systems for radios and telephones (9-1-1 Center).

· 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.

· INSTALL BACKUP TELEPHONES AND/OR RADIOS AT OFFSITE BACKUP LOCATIONS. IN PROGRESS, INSTALLED AT STATION 9 AND NCSO, PENDING TRAINING AND ACTIVATION.

PROJECT 11:

· REPLACE SELECTED WIDEBAND EMS VHF (T55R) AND UHF MED RADIOS AT ACCOMAC (RSAF GRANT). New radios to be installed at STARS Accomac. IN PROGRESS; RADIO PROCUREMENT IN PROGRESS.

· RELOCATE SELECTED RADIOS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TOWER AT ACCOMACK SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO STARS TOWER ACCOMAC. Scope of work to be determined following meeting with VSP Communications Engineer. IN PLANNING; NOW LICENSED.

PROJECT 13:

· PROCURE AND INSTALL EMS MED RADIO FOR NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. IN PLANNING; NOW LICENSED.

PROJECT 14:

· RELOCATE VHF LEGACY RADIO AT CHERITON FROM OLD VSP TOWER TO STARS TOWER (EASTVILLE/CHERITON). CONVERTED LINK TO ALL MICROWAVE FOR CIRCUITS FROM CHERITON TO ACCOMAC. COMPLETED.

Projects Completed 2009 - 2010

PROJECT 1: This project provided 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 expanded the mobile and portable talkback range for the subject repeaters and enhanced reception through voting of multiple receive sites.

· F7 RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR FIRE/EMS (MOBILE INPUT TO REPEATER): Installed comparator at F7 repeater in Belle Haven, installed SQM's, connected receiver, connected remote receiver circuit, calibrated, tested, activated. Replaced site antenna 2/11/09. NOW ACTIVE.

· F3 RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADE FOR FIRE/EMS (MOBILE INPUT TO REPEATER): Installed comparator at F3 repeater in Mappsville, installed SQM's, connected receiver, connected remote receiver circuits, calibrated, tested, activated. NOW ACTIVE.

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

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

· IMPROVED 911 CENTER RECEPTION OF F1 RESCUE DISPATCH AND F11 TACTICAL FROM NORTHERNMOST ACCOMACK COUNTY: Installed voting receiver for F1 AND F11 at NAVY tower, Wallops Flight Facility, in northern Accomack County. Antenna installed. NOW ACTIVE.

· F3 RADIO SYSTEM UPGRADED FOR FIRE/EMS (MOBILE INPUT TO REPEATER) FROM NORTHERNMOST ACCOMACK COUNTY: Installed voting receiver for F3 at NAVY tower, Wallops Flight Facility, in northern Accomack County. Antenna installed. NOW ACTIVE.

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: A paging transmitter was installed at Mappsville in May for interim use and systems testing, and is now active for use. Required approval by Infrastructure Work Group and other entities.

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

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

· F12 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING – MAPPSVILLE RECEIVE SITE: Reprogrammed new voting receiver to receive frequency for F12 and for SpectraTac operation. Installed in existing cabinet at Mappsville, connected antenna port to VHF multicoupler, connected to Verizon telephone circuit at site, connected 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 SOME FOREIGN TRAFFIC ON DEDICATED CTCSS SYSTEM.

· F12 RECEIVE ENHANCEMENT FOR FIRE/EMS DISPATCH AND RECORDING - CRADDOCKVILLE RECEIVE SITE: Reprogrammed new voting receiver to receive frequency for F12 and for SpectraTac operation. Installed in existing cabinet at Mappsville, connected antenna port to VHF multicoupler, connected to Verizon telephone circuit at site, connected 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 SOME 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 March 16, 2010