Implementing a P25 Radio

System - Lessons LearnedCurtis Johnson and Jane Reeve

Introduction

Jane Reeve

• Spotsylvania County IT - Chief Information Officer

• M.B.A. in Management Technology, University of Mary

Washington

• 25+ Years Public Safety IT Experience

Introduction

Curtis Johnson, EIT

• B.S. Computer Engineering – Virginia Tech

• CTA Consultants, LLC – Senior Consultant

• 5+ years of experience in communications system

evaluations, specifications, system procurement,

implementation oversight, and testing

• Volunteer EMT for Appomattox County Rescue Squad

Agenda

• Overview of the Spotsylvania County P25 Radio System

• Radio System Planning

• Procuring a P25 Radio System

• Implementation

• Lessons Learned

• Keys to a successful radio system implementation

Spotsylvania County P25 Radio

System Overview

• Procured and Implemented a P25 Radio System

• Turnkey P25 Radio System

− Eleven P25 Phase 2 TDMA Channels

− Ten RF Sites

− Dispatch Center

o Ten Consoles and Backup Control Stations

• MPLS Connectivity Network

(Microwave/Fiber)

• Logging Recorder

P25 System Planning

• Radio System Needs

Assessment

− Identify Existing Problems

− Understand User Needs

− Determine Maintenance Plan

− Plan For The Future

P25 System Procurement –

Competitive Procurement

• Create a Request For Proposals

• P25 Standards encourage use

of 3rd Party subscribers

• Lower Total Cost of Ownership

• Multiple System Design

Approaches

P25 System Procurement –

RFP Development

• Specify your needs

• Important RFP Requirements

− Coverage Requirement

− System Traffic Capacity

− Connectivity Network

− Backup Power Systems

− System Maintenance

• Evaluation Criteria

P25 System Procurement –

Proposal Evaluation/Contract Negotiations

• Assemble an Evaluation

Committee

• Use the Evaluation Criteria

• Ask Questions

• Negotiate a Contract

Implementing a P25 Radio System –

System Design

• Kickoff Meeting

• Site Civils

• Detailed Design Review

(DDR)

• Project Schedule

Implementing a P25 Radio System –

Construction Phase

• System Staging

• Site Construction

• Site Inspections

• Acceptance Testing

• Coverage Testing

Implementing a P25 Radio System –

System Cutover

• Cutover Plan

• System Cutover

• Cutover Testing

• 30 Day Evaluation Period

Implementing a P25 Radio System

– System Acceptance

• Final System

Documentation

• Action Item Punch-list

• Warranty/Maintenance

• Final System Acceptance

Lessons Learned – Site Civils

• Start Site Planning Early

• Complete Site Civils Before

Construction

• Finalize Sites ASAP

Lessons Learned - Documentation

• Detailed Design Review

• System As-Builts

• Testing Reports

• Final System Documentation

Lessons Learned – System Maintenance

• More Complex Than Legacy

Systems

• Maintenance Training

• System Administrator Training

• Dedicated Service Technician

• NOC Monitoring

Lessons Learned – System Testing

• Review Test Plans At DDR

• Finalize Test Plans In Advance

• Plan Adequate Time For

Testing

Lessons Learned – System Cutover

• Ensure System Is Ready

• Execute the Cutover Plan

• Have a Problem Hotline

Lessons Learned - Teamwork

• Have weekly Project Team

Meetings

• Resolve Issues ASAP

• Communicate

Keys to a successful radio system

implementation

• Planning

• Design Reviews

• Communication

• Teamwork

Questions?

Thank you!

If you have any additional question feel free to email me at Cjohnson@cta-c.com

CTA Consultants, LLC

Cta@cta-c.com

www.cta-c.com

Photo References

http://becomeablogger.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/KeyToSuccess.jpeg

http://savvymarketingsolution.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/planning-graphic.jpg

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https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Map_of_Virginia_highlighting_Spotsylvania_County.svg/1280px-Map_of_Virginia_highlighting_Spotsylvania_County.svg.png

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http://www.schneiderelectricrepair.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Maintenance.jpg