Maintaining Public Safety Communications Interoperability

In the face of deteriorating infrastructure and resources

Incident Commander

Tactical Radio Interoperability for

Emergency Response Personnel

ICRI Operation and Application Training

®

Objectives Identify general information and description of the

ICRI

Understand how the ICRI can support and enhance our varied emergency response activities

Describe the principles of operation of the ICRI

Describe the preventive maintenance procedures for the ICRI

ICRI in the field

The Equipment Small (11” x 3” x 7”)

Durable, rugged package/circuitry

Highly portable (4.5 lbs)

Rapidly deployable (under 5 minutes)

Multiple radio interconnect without technical complexity Low band, VHF, UHF, 7-900MHz, legacy and P25 portable/mobile

compatible Cell, VoIP, Iridium and land-line telephone compatible Commercial and military satellite phone compatible

Intuitive setup and operation to minimize “operator” training

Wide range of power sources (including “AA” batteries)** No mechanical cooling requirement

A solution to multitude of tactical communications

problems… Mutual Aid Radio Interoperability

In-building/below grade/ship-boarding repeater

Range Extension (Beyond Line-Of-Sight)

Mutual Aid Radio Interoperability

FEMAUS&R

CSTCERFP

XXx

Xx

Mutual Aid Radio Interoperability

FEMAUS&R

CSTCERFP

XXx

Xx

ICRI Radio Interoperability KitGeneral Information and Description

Theory of Operation

ICRI Functional Diagram

2-way radio transmitting

frequency “B” or trunking assigned

channel

2-way radio transmitting

frequency “A” or trunking assigned

channel

2-way radio receivingfrequency “A” or trunking assigned

channel

2-way radio receivingfrequency “B” or

trunking assigned channel

Automatic gain control

Audio buffer/delay

VOX with tail

timer

Muting

BLUE: RFGREEN: AUDIO LEVEL and BUFFER*

ORANGE: ‘KEYING’ LOGIC/CONTROL*VIOLET: SQUELCH TAIL BLOCKING*

* adjustable

Description-Pt. 1A small, lightweight interconnect assembly for

“bridging” dissimilar radios

The ICRI performs two primary functions: Receive incoming audioDistribute audio

Quick Setup

VOX Keying

Talk group/nets selection

Description-Pt. 2

(Not To Scale)

notes on bottom of ICRI3 Interconnect cable technical

User instructions on top cover2

(mobiles or portables)

1

1 Ports are not radio specific

ICRI 2TG with Attachments

UP TO 5,000'

OR

OR

INTERFACE CABLE

1111

2

3

BLACK

RED

ALLIGATOR CLIPS

CIGARETTE LIGHTER

8 "AA" BATTERY PACK

0.2A MAX7 - 20V

DC INPUT

TELEPHONE

CAGE CODE: 0EEY2 www.c-at.com U.S. PATENT #6,826,647

HANDSET54321LAND MOBILE RADIO INTERFACE

OKLOW

INPUT VOLTAGE

1 2

TALK 1

ACTIVE

TM

TMINCIDENT COMMANDERS' RADIO INTERFACE ( I C R I )COMMUNICATIONS-APPLIED TECHNOLOGY (C-AT )

VOX

OFF

ON

MADE IN USA

TALK 2

RADIO INTEROPERABILITY

STTACTICAL / 1 RESPONSE

Description-Pt. 3Mobile / Portable radio cables

LED Indicators

Power

Bridge ID

Speaker Ports

Preoperational ActivitiesPower

Radio interconnect cables

Agency radios

Radio frequency (in-band/cross-band)

Interoperability Do’s and Don’ts

Maintain COMSEC

Verify only one bridge connected on frequencies

Maintain RF Separation Power sources Other radios In-line audio amplifiers

Don’t use “SCAN” mode on connected radios.

ComponentsControls

Indicators

Power Sources

Pelican Cases

Options

ICRI Controls

TALK GROUP SWITCHES

VOLUME ADJUSTMENT (HANDSET/HEADSET)

HANDSET/HEADSET

JACK

TELEPHONEOn the side

POWER (DC INPUT)

JACKRADIO JACK (1 through 5)

POWER AND BRIDGE ID

ON/OFF

ICRI Indicators

ACTIVE VOX LED INDICATOR

OK/LOW INPUT VOLTAGE LEDs

Side Jacks

TELEPHONE JACK

SPEAKER PORTS

PowerAA Battery Power

AC Power

DC Power

“AA” Battery Pack

Accepts 8 “AA” batteries

24+ hours of continuous operation

LEDs indicate input voltage.

Use fresh alkaline batteriesThe battery housing is comprised of two parts; the cover and an internal tray. NO TOOLS ARE NEEDED TO REMOVE THE cover AND REPLACE THE BATTERIES.

Accepts 115 VAC– 220VAC

Two pin locking connector

AC PowerNote: Align the plug’s “key” with the jack’s “keyway” before attempting to insert the plug.

DC PowerAccepts 7-20V

Two pin locking connector

Cigarette lighter

Alligator clips

ICRI handsetCompatible with the C-AT handset

Connection and controls on the front of the ICRI

Maybe replaced with a headset for hands-free operation

Use as an: Incident Commander interface Troubleshooting tool Setup tool

Land Mobile Radio Interface – Pt. 1

Verify Radio Operation Batteries TX/RX

Radio Settings Channel Volume

Connect Interface cable

Radio speaker is disabled

NOTE: Radio interconnect cables are generally specific to a commercial radio brand and model, although some manufacturers use the same connector for several radio models. Interconnect cables provided by C-AT have a seven digit part number label on the cable.

Land Mobile Radio Interface – Pt. 2

Attach interface cable

Select Talk Group

Verify LED lights

Mobile radios

NOTE: Connect each radio separately to the ICRI, use the provided handset to verify the radio is functioning before connecting the next radio.

Telephone Interfacecellular*

land-line*

commercial satellite phones**

*Secure or Non-secure** Iridium, MSV, Enmarsat, GlobalStar

Telephone Interface – Cellular*

Insert the 2.5mm or 3.5mm plug into the cell phone headset jack.

Connect to ICRI

Adjust volume to ICRI

Set phone for auto answer

Place call

*secure or non-secure

Telephone InterfaceLand-line* or VoIP Phone

Use the telephone’s handset cable by unplugging the coil cord from the bottom of the handset and connecting to ICRI.

* Secure (STE) or non-secure (analog or digital)

Inter-Agency Communications Status

Status Board

Bridge Unit ID® (option)

In response to the critical disruption of radio communications that can occur when more than one "bridge" device links radios with identical frequencies, causing heterodyning, C-AT has developed the Bridge Unit ID for the ICRIs.

The “announcement” radically simplify the task of locating the owner of the interfering bridge and in shutting the device down.

The Bridge Unit ID is a digitized speech message selected by the user organization / agency. The “ID” is transmitted when the ICRI is first powered up on all talk groups, and then at preset intervals of 0, 5, 10, or 15 minutes.

The announcement automatically “skips” a broadcast if there is any radio activity at the interval mark.

ICRI use with 250’/500’ cable-reels to extend radio coverable in building, tunnels, and

shipboard (option)

REFER TO ICRI MANUAL FOR FULL PAGE COPIES OF THESE DRAWINGS

Adapter cables to reverse the ICRI cable-reel operation

To permit a radio to be lowered into a confined space or stairwell (option

A

B

TroubleshootingAdvanced Setup

Desensing – Pt. 1

Strong Signal

Desensing – Pt. 2

Recon Entry Personnel

Transmitting on UHF Radio Talk Around CH “A”

Weak Signal caused by…•Poor Propagation (signal blocked by structure•Physical distance•Weak batteries

Recon TeamCommander

Receiving on UHF Radio Talk Around

CH “A”

Problem: Ability of radio used by Recon Commander to receive signals from assigned radio frequency used by his Entry Team is substantially reduced when another in-band radio is “keyed” by LE Commander transmitting to his Entry Team personnel.

Cause: The closer LE Commander is to Recon Commander, the more severe the “desensing” of the Recon Cmdr’s radio. The less the frequency separation between radios “A” and “B”, the more severe the desensing will be.

Strong Signal

Federal LE Entry Personnel

Receiving on UHF Radio Talk Around

CH “B”

Federal LE Commander

Transmitting on UHF Radio Talk Around CH

“B”

IN-BAND DESENSING IMPACTS RELIABLE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS

Recon Entry Personnel Transmitting on UHF Radio Talk Around CH “A”

Weak Signal caused by…•Poor Propagation (signal blocked by structure•Physical distance•Weak batteries

Recon Team Commander Receiving on UHF Radio Talk Around

CH “A”

Made worse by “entry personnel” also being in close proximity.

Strong Signal

Federal LE Entry Personnel

Receiving on UHF Radio Talk Around

CH “B”

Federal LE Commander

Transmitting on UHF Radio Talk Around CH “B”

Strong Signal

Preventive Maintenance

Equipment Inspection Inspect and replace batteries

Inspect “AA” battery housing

Inspect interconnect cables

Inspect switches and knobs visually and for function.

Check on Learning1. The ICRI can link the following items?

a. UHF, VHF, 800 MHz, 700 MHz radios

b. Digital and Analog radios

c. Encrypted radios

d. Cell phone, land lines, satellite phones

e. All of the above

2. Name at least two methods of powering the ICRI.

3. Describe a method for using the ICRI to extend communications into buildings, tunnels, ships and caves.

SummaryMaterial covered:

Characteristics and features of the ICRI Radio Interoperability Gateway

Principles of operation of the ICRI Radio Interoperability Gateway

Maintenance procedures for the ICRI Radio Interoperability Gateway

For Support…Tech Support

Voice: 703-481-0068 x 23 24/7/365

or 800-229-3925 x 23 24/7/365

Communications-Applied Technology

11250-14 Roger Bacon Drive Reston, VA 20190

e-mail: techsupport@c-at.com

Website: www.c-at.com

CAGE Code: 0EEY2, TIN: 54-1215868

DOL Veteran-owned, Small Business SIC 3669