1. Tusa Consulting Services Ben Hill County, Georgia Board of Commissioners Conceptual Report Presentation

2. Presentation Roadmap 1.0 Introduction
2.0 Existing Network Configuration
3.0 Technology Options
4.0 Spectrum Issues
5.0 Interoperability
6.0 Conceptual Solutions
7.0 Conclusion and Recommendation

3. 1.0 Introduction
TCS was retained to provide support to Ben Hill County in determining the best approach to improve radio communications, both short term and long term
County radio users experienced a loss of coverage after FCC’s January 1, 2013 Narrowbanding mandate
Performed needs assessment, user interviews and site visits
Followed with review of current FCC licensing, technological options available to the County, an analysis of existing and potential VHF (analog and digital) propagation and 700/800 MHz propagation
Conceptual solutions, short term and long term, to improve Countywide radio coverage
Cost estimates for P25 700/800 MHz trunked simulcast radio system

4. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Active Agencies
Emergency Management (EMA)
Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Road Department
Sheriff’s Office
Volunteer Fire Department
Fitzgerald Fire Department
Fitzgerald Police Department

5. 2.0 Existing Configuration

6. 2.0 Existing Configuration

7. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Existing Ben Hill County Towers

8. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Sheriff’s Office – Expected Mobile Talk Back

9. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Sheriff’s Office – Actual Mobile Talk Back

10. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Sheriff’s Office – Expected Portable Talk Back

11. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Sheriff’s Office – Actual Portable Talk Back

12. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Road Dept – Expected Mobile Talk Back

13. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Road Dept – Actual Mobile Talk Back

14. 2.0 Existing Configuration
EMS – Expected Mobile Talk Back

15. 2.0 Existing Configuration
EMS – Actual Mobile Talk Back

16. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Volunteer Fire: Mobile Talk Back (Actual = Expected)

17. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Volunteer Fire – Expected Portable Talk Back

18. 2.0 Existing Configuration
Volunteer Fire – Actual Portable Talk Back

19. 3.0 Technology Options Analog vs. Digital Systems
Proprietary (Nexedge) vs. Open Standards (P25)
APCO P25 vs. Kenwood Nexedge
Extended RF Coverage
Bi-Directional Amplifiers (BDA)
Digital Vehicular Repeater System (DVRS)

20. 4.0 Spectrum Issues VHF Frequencies λ = c/f λ = 6.56 ft.
Poor FCC band plan
Poor licensing coordination
Poor in-building penetration due to large wavelength
Susceptible to interference from outside County
Co-channel
Susceptible to atmospheric conditions
Susceptible to noise floor interference
Locally generated (computers, transformers, fluor. lights)
λ = c/f
λ = 6.56 ft.

21. 4.0 Spectrum Issues 700/800 MHz Frequencies
Highly organized/ coordinated band
Interference of any kind is rare
Less propagation distance then VHF
Superb in-building penetration
Smaller wavelength
Simulcast technology

22. 5.0 Interoperability Surrounding counties - mainly VHF
GEMA Region 8 – mainly VHF
GA Forestry - VHF
GSP – VHF/UHF/700
SEGARRN 700/800
SmartZone/Smart-X/P25

23. 5.0 Interoperability

24. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS
1) Confirm radio programming
2) Confirm ERP matches FCC license
3) Confirm VHF amplifier configuration
4) Perform Intermod Study
5) Measure effective sensitivity (“noise floor”)
6) Perform line sweeps

25. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions SHORT TERM RECOMMENDATIONS
7) Consider pooling frequencies
8) Amend licenses for changes
9) Retest coverage if issues are found in 1-6.

26. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
10) Consider better or even new towers/sites - #1
Mediacom Tower

27. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
10) Consider better or even new towers/sites - #2
319/182 Tower

28. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
10) Consider better or even new towers/sites - #3
Western
“Greenfield”
Site

29. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
10) Combined coverage

30. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions 11) Switch to Nexedge (Sheriff’s Office)
- Critical for daily interoperability with PD
- Improved coverage (3dB)
- Reduced interference
- Easier licensing
- P25 capable

31. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions 12) Consider leveraging Nexedge trunking
Triangle Pool and Western Towers

32. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions 12) Consider leveraging Nexedge trunking
Western, Mediacom and 319/182 Towers

33. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS (3-5 Years)
Begin planning for 700/800 MHz Region P25
Proactively take the lead
Organize regional communications group
Involve the users, gain buy-in
Coordinate with immediate counties/cities
Coordinate with GEMA Region 8
Use SEGARRN and others as examples
* Nexedge radios would function on P25 system

34. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
800 MHz coverage with ideally located sites

35. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
800 MHz coverage with ideally located sites

36. 6.0 Conceptual Solutions
800 MHz System Features

37. 800 MHz System Cost Estimate
6.0 Conceptual Solutions
800 MHz System Cost Estimate

38. 800 MHz System Yearly Maintenance Costs
6.0 Conceptual Solutions
800 MHz System Yearly Maintenance Costs

39. 7.0 Conclusion – Short Term
1) Immediately demolish Road Department tower
Extreme risk of falling
Visibly distorted and crooked
Substantially corroded guy wires
No OLS lighting, not ASR registered
Consider replacement as part of future planning
Built in the late 1960’s

40. 7.0 Conclusion – Short Term
2) Update site grounding to current industry standards
- Critical for reliability of public safety radio system
- Deficient grounding places basestations/repeaters at risk for damage from lightning induced electrical surge

41. 7.0 Conclusion – Short Term
3) Immediately perform SHORT TERM options #1-6, and #9 if necessary
#1 – Confirm radio programming
#2 – Confirm licensing/ site ERP
#3 – Confirm amplifier configuration
#4 – Perform IM study
#5 – Perform noise floor measurements
#6 – Perform line sweeps
#9 – Retest radio coverage

42. 7.0 Conclusion – Short Term
4) Consider benefits of options #7 and #10
#7 – Pool FCC licensing to maximize higher ERPs
#10 – Relocate to more beneficial towers
5) Complete option # 11 and retest coverage
#11 – Convert to Nexedge digital radios (Sheriff’s Office)

43. 7.0 Conclusion – Short Term
6) Complete option #8
#8 – Amend and update licenses
7) Consider option # 12
#12 – Configure Nexedge system for “D” trunking capability

44. 7.0 Conclusion – Long Term
Future) Plan for a Regional 700/800MHz P25 system
#1 – Plan for a Regional 700/800MHz P25 Radio System
GEMA Region 8
Turner County (I-75)
#2 – Consider and Plan a Regional Dispatch Center
Pooled resources
Improved quality of life for citizens
Ideal location in region due to existing fiber

45. Project Conclusion Conceptual Solutions Report

46. Questions?