Improvements in communications technology have the potential to greatly enhance operational capability and to reduce the long-term cost of communications systems. Two examples of such improvements are the ability to integrate wireless phones with land mobile radio (LMR) systems and to integrate paging/text-messaging capability with various computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems.

Connecting your department's wireless phones with the LMR system through your dispatch console reduces the need to provide administrative staff with expensive portable and mobile-radio equipment that may be better used on frontline apparatus. And how many department personnel are still carrying cell phones and pagers on their belt because the CAD system is unable to page to a cell phone? Eliminating the pager and using a phone for both wireless communications and paging reduces initial equipment costs and monthly service fees.

Until recently, it was costly to connect wireless phones to LMR communications systems. New technology available from several different commercial providers now allows you to integrate any trunked or conventional LMR system, including 800 MHz, VHF or UHF. This capability opens up tremendous possibilities for first responders. Commercial off-the-shelf equipment available from several cellular service providers, as well as other technology companies, provides the ability to interconnect cellular and LMR systems.

Administrative staff no longer needs to carry a cell phone, pager and radio. Radio equipment currently in use by such personnel could be reassigned to frontline apparatus to improve the communications capability among units or within crews. One example of this type of system is the Nextel Direct Connect service. When administrative staff needs to talk with units on LMR systems, they can simply connect through the dispatch console using Nextel's Direct Connect or Group Connect functions to talk with those units using their cell phones. These handsets are not only much less expensive than a standard 800 MHz radio, they may be more reliable than conventional trunked radio systems. The Direct Connect system was the only radio network that continued to function during the crisis of Sept. 11, 2001. Other conventional radio and cellular systems shut down due to overload.

In addition, field units would be able to communicate with units from other departments that may be responding to automatic or mutual aid. If other jurisdictions also employ the same cellular service, users could communicate directly using their wireless phones and not have to change over to another frequency or use their primary LMR system. Even if only one jurisdiction has cellular capability and the other has LMR, they can be connected through the dispatch console and communicate on a secondary system. The ability to use a secondary communications system reduces the amount of communications on the primary system and can greatly reduce — or eliminate — potential busy problems and overload.

Some of the cellular service providers have established push-to-talk (P2T) capabilities as part of their cellular service. These systems are similar to a trunked 800 MHz system. The combination of LMR and P2T provides for tremendous operational and administrative flexibility. The P2T systems may be able to serve as a dependable and affordable complementary or secondary network to existing conventional and trunked LMR networks.

Together, an integrated and interoperable network can be created that magnifies the benefits of a combined LMR/P2T network while still offering each network's unique strengths. Systems that integrate LMR and P2T systems have the potential to improve overall interoperability and reliability of administrative and emergency communications systems. Some of the capabilities currently available from cellular services that are integrated with LMR systems include the following:

• Integrated LMR/P2T system with nationwide interoperability — Administrative officers can keep in touch with field operations from anywhere in the nation

• Offloading of primary radio systems — LMR equipment can be transferred from staff officers to line apparatus and personnel. Use of LMR frequencies is reduced, limiting the possibility of busy signals and congestion

• Enhanced reliability and dependability — During a large-scale event, certain P2T systems will continue to operate and function when cell phone and LMR systems become overloaded and shut down. And first responders are provided priority access so their communications go through first.

Some cellular service providers offer solutions based on PC-based dispatch consoles capable of interconnecting private radio networks with P2T networks. Once integrated, the console operator controls communications between the P2T system and disparate two-way radio, public telephone and paging systems. This consolidation of multiple telecommunication connections simplifies a complex combination of services into a single, integrated system. The console solutions are compatible with several radio communications systems including ASTRO, SmartNet, SmartZone, EDACS and many other proprietary communications systems and networks. Consoles supported include Motorola Centracom Gold Elite, Zetron and Orbacom. An integrated LMR/P2T system provides interoperable communications on either a LMR or a cellular phone.

Key capabilities of existing and future consoles include a graphical user interface (GUI) to assist dispatching, local area network (LAN) connectivity, voice recording, console electronics incorporating advanced speaker and reception capabilities, and a database manager capable of storing thousands of aliases for radio IDs and telephone numbers. Other key features include the ability to transmit to multiple talk groups, generate critical alert tones, monitor multiple calls, log activity, and have selective facility control.

Cellular service providers that offer P2T and console integration typically offer customized training solutions and services to develop, enhance, and maintain the skill levels of console personnel. Customized courses offer hands-on activities and documentation walk-through for the console operators. Every department has one or two members who can turn these options — and the flexibility of this type of system — into a powerful, integrated and interoperable communications system.

When you look at typical console features, you would see the following capabilities extended to include P2T services:

• Simul-Select — Simultaneously transmit on multiple talk paths

• Voice Patch — Bridges two or more talk paths together

• Activity Logging — Allows dispatcher to review the most recent calls

• Activity Recording — Audio recording using standard voice logging recorders

• Telephone Interconnect — Telephone calls can be made, received, patched and recorded.

Wireless notification is an integral part of our emergency services and administrative operations. Making the best of the communications resources you have may also include looking at the capability and functionality of the commercially available emergency notification systems. These systems are now designed to work with any digital wireless phones. In an age when we can send signals to a little rover on the surface of Mars, it makes sense that we can send paging signals to cell phones, no matter what CAD system or cell phone we are using.

What if you could get rid of the pager, yet have the ability to incorporate two-way messaging and mobile e-mail into one wireless unit? Commercially available systems now have the ability to provide two-way messaging. These emergency notification systems can be integrated into any CAD system. Notification speed is incredibly fast, with the ability to send messages to hundreds of units within minutes. The system has built-in redundancy (which increases reliability) and includes the ability to time-stamp messages so you can send a timely response back to the dispatch center acknowledging a page.

The combination of P2T and two-way messaging is a powerful tool for improving the capability of any communications system. Networks that use the simple network paging protocol (SNPP) gateway for message handling enable faster delivery times (five to 10 seconds) vs. the average time of multiple minutes on other types of networks. What's more, software applications included with these systems provide accountability, with rapid delivery acknowledgement via two-way messaging from the device back to the emergency notification software, providing delivery confirmation and escalation triggers.

These software applications are able to receive alerts via e-mail and other simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP) and can convert this into Nextel's advanced SNPP for real-time alerting. When comparing service providers, it is important to look for the network that delivers messages with speed and reliability. In cases of emergency, disaster preparedness and public safety, speed and reliability is a key differentiator.

Aside from speed, another advantage of the two-way emergency notification systems is that they can work with any CAD system. Most CAD vendors look at paging capability as a secondary system. Commercial providers have recognized the needs of public safety and have found a way to integrate paging capability with CAD systems so first responders will no longer have to carry both a cell phone and a pager. In addition, these systems allow for two-way messaging and mobile e-mail. Consequently, if you send a message to your off-duty members to check availability for call back, they can respond back to the communications center (using the two-way messaging capability) to let you know whether they are available.

Notification speed and reliability are both important features for emergency-notification systems used by public-safety organizations. If the system operates on SNPP, notification occurs in real time, without delay. Some of these systems have the capacity to notify up to 1000 devices simultaneously. With other paging systems transmissions can take several minutes, if not hours, to be received by devices in the field. Certain providers also offer the ability to alert or notify multiple devices, such as pagers, landline telephones, pocket PCs, cell phones and PDAs.

Redundancy is another critical feature offered by commercial emergency notification systems. These systems have multiple built-in redundancies so critical messages will get through to users, regardless of potential system or carrier failures. In addition, software applications have the ability to centralize tracking and monitor messages sent, delivered and acknowledged. This built-in accountability means your communications center will be able to record the time each message was sent and received by each person.

Communications systems are really about the ability to obtain and use information and physical resources most effectively and efficiently. Combining radios and cell phones offers the potential to create an integrated, interoperable communications system. Using a paging system that provides two-way messaging while integrating CAD systems and cell phones can improve and simplify emergency notifications and alerting. An integrated LMR/P2T system, combined with a two-way emergency-notification system, will let you obtain and use resources more effectively and efficiently, making it a powerful improvement in communications system capability.

Bill Pessemier recently joined the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) as Executive Communications Systems Advisor. He recently retired as chief of the Littleton (Colo.) Fire Department. He is currently pursing a doctorate in public administration from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Benefits of P2T-LMR Integration

• P2T becomes a true extension of LMR systems
• P2T can be used as a secondary or back-up dispatch system
• Conserves/offloads limited resources
• Cost-effective integration of non-critical operations into a dispatch center
• Extend and help fill coverage gaps of private radio systems
• Increased efficiencies through centralized management of disparate system users