Emergency services slowly receiving the message

Radio communications between emergency services has reached a point where it is essential that political games and technical wrangling must be put aside for the common good.

Across the country, police must be able to talk to fire brigades and both need communications with the ambulance service. To deal with national disasters such as a major bushfire requires fire units from many states having a radio system that is both universal and reliable.

America, possibly spurred on by the Trade Centre tragedy, is further ahead with at least an agreed system called P25, which is gradually being adopted by states and emergency services alike.

In Australia it is admitted that "radio interoperability is a primary concern across the country" by deputy commissioner, support of NSW police, Andrew Scipione. He admits that radios "are sitting on a shelf, ready to go but there is no guarantee that they will work if communication is needed across other radio networks."

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He points a finger at the radio makers as not helping the situation when they install encryption systems that inhibit inter-service operation.

"We rely very heavily on encrypted communications. Even if they were working to an industry standard such as APCO 25, if we do not have the algorithms in each radio we cannot talk."

Scipione believes that real thought and understanding will need to be applied to the problem - money or a commitment of allocated frequencies will not be enough.

Meanwhile in the US, the Dept of Homeland Security has produced Safecom, a plan that is driving the development of interface standards and defines the need for crucial voice and data communications.

The buzz word interoperability, at its most simple, means allowing two or more parties to directly exchange information. Homeland has made some suggestion from the simple to the complex:

• Swap radios between emergency services. However, it is impractical for every service to have sufficient radios.
• Talkaround or directed net - multiple users talk radio-to-radio on the same transmit and receive frequency. The transmissions are digital to digital or analog to analog but not analog to digital.
• Mutual aid - channels would establish RF coverage areas to be used exclusively by first responders. Success depends on all radios being programmed to the mutual aid frequencies and being within range. The radio user must know when to switch channels. Mutual aid channels provide interoperability only between radios with the same frequency band eg, VHF users can only talk to other VHF users.
• Cross band repeaters - process signals and transmit them on a different frequency. The repeaters range from simple devices supporting transfers across two bands, eg, UHF and VHF, to more complex devices bridging multiple bands, eg, UHF, VHF low band, VHF high band and 800 MHz.
• Fixed or mobile deployable network to network gateways - provide interoperability between diverse organisations using different radios and frequencies and provide a bridge to the public phone network.
• Fixed gateways - an internet protocol packet switched gateway links legacy radio sites, system and despatch consoles over IP. Such a gateway could use commercial backbone equipment and be scaleable. High availability and redundancy are further benefits.

In North America, there are two sets of open air interface standards for public safety radio communications, analog voice (TIA-603) and Project 25 digital radio standards defined as ANSI/ITA/EIA-102. The standards set the capabilities that are expected to be interoperable.

A standardised inter-sub-systems interface (ISSI) ensures that the set of air interface capabilities as well as wireline capabilities interoperate between systems regardless of the manufacturer or frequency band. However, these standards have not yet been determined.

For the Americans there are three general solutions to achieve a high level of interoperability:

• Acquire the same P25 compliant radio system for each first responder agency;
• Provide all first responders with additional radio systems used within the region; or
• Link existing radio systems together.

The first solution is ideal only if everyone in each service in every state has a new P25 ready radio system - which is not feasible. Also, until standards are established there is no guarantee that P25 systems from different manufacturers will communicate with each other.

The second solution would be to provide first responders with multiple radios to facilitate communications. This approach has been used in different areas for years but is probably not a viable solution to interoperability. It is currently being used on a limited basis to provide interoperability between local police and other first responders.

The only practical solution is to link radio systems together but the manner in which radio systems are linked will depend on the unique variables within the regions such as existing communication infrastructures, population density and topography.

In the US, one method of linking systems together is through using cross-band repeaters that can connect an 800 MHz site with a VHF or another UHF one. This would enable a radio on an 800 MHz system to be heard on the VHF or UHF repeater or a radio on a UHF system to be heard on the 800 MHz or UHF repeater.

According to William Jenkins, director of Homeland Security and justice issues at GAO, Safecom is working but has some challenges:

"The single biggest obstacle to achieving effective interoperable communications has been, and remains, the lack of effective, collaborative, interdisciplinary and intergovernmental planning. The cultural and turf barriers for achieving this are deeply rooted and long standing."

Michael Neuhard, chief of the Fairfax County Virginia Fire and Rescue Department, has another slant on the issue when he says:

"Interoperability is not just about technology but is really 80% communication and coordination in various forms and only 20% technical."

He stresses that current US Dept of Homeland Security grants are specifically designed to buy equipment but do not allow for planning and training.

Back in Australia, Motorola is supplying an ASTRO 25 digital communications network for emergency services in Victoria, which is due to be switched on about now. This may be a key development for the whole country since Motorola claims a high degree of interoperability for this system.

According to the company, the network is part of a portfolio of first responder digital solutions for integrated communications, information management, regional coordination and incident command.

The system will meet the Project 25 standard for public safety and digital communications. The network promises to:

• Enhance security through digital encryption;
• Improve portable radio coverage in difficult locations, such as tunnels and basement car parks;
• Improve indoor radio coverage;
• Improve voice quality;
• Provide enough channel capacity and flexibility for major events;
• Provide interoperability or direct communications among agencies;

The system is expected to be used in some 2300 police cars, 165 fire engines and 197 ambulances. Also, portable units are expected to be provided for about 3300 police, 351 fire officers and senior staff and 468 paramedics and senior staff.