Bridging Communication Gaps
In spite of federal funds poured into local systems after 9/11 to upgrade communications systems and improve interoperability (which, incidentally, have improved) there are still holes, which public safety agencies are only too aware of when they cross jurisdictions are their radios don’t work.
Raytheon Company, a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world, has of late been working to overcome those coverage gaps and provide comprehensive interoperable communications in Rock County, WI. The Raytheon P25net land mobile radio (LMR) system is designed to provide seamless communications across the county, which spans more than 700 miles in the south central region of the state. It will connect the cities of Janesville and Beloit with the entire county on a single, interoperable network. It's a model which would apply virtually anywhere.
The system being installed in Rock County is part of Raytheon's Rapid Alliance solution. Rapid Alliance is a modern, integrated, wireless voice and data communications system superior to any stand-alone network that a municipality could develop independently. The open standards approach is also cost-effective, allowing users to keep existing hardware and enabling agencies to choose their own timeline for upgrading equipment.
One of the advantages of operating on a common frequency is efficiency. Historically, Rock County's firefighters have been required to manually change radio channels as they move from north to south because of two different frequencies in the region. Once the new simulcast network is in place and firefighters are operating on one frequency, there won't be a need to change channels by hand.
"Raytheon designs and manufactures an integrated solution that optimizes existing architecture as an independent, yet interoperable LMR system at a highly affordable cost," says Mike Prout, vice president of Security and Transportation Systems for Raytheon’s Network Centric Systems business. "By providing a solution for multiple end-users leveraging existing legacy systems, Raytheon can meet our customers' needs today while enabling them to grow into the future."
Project 25 (P25) is a platform for interoperable public safety voice and data systems. Raytheon's P25net system is an advanced Internet protocol networked radio system that is fully compatible with all P25 radios and the industry standard Inter RF Subsystem Interface for interoperability with other manufacturers' P25 radios. P25net is fully compliant with the only currently recognized North American land mobile radio system standard, the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials P25 standard.
