1. Duplex Communication Road Rail Vehicle Safety Improvement Programme Best Practice briefing – November 2014

2. 2 Format Best Practice briefing on Duplex Communication –Why duplex communication? Jez Darkin film clip –Headline best practice for DECT set up – CGI film for DECT set up, and frequently asked questions

3. 3 Why Duplex Communications? Jez Darkin - Exclusion Zones and Duplex Comms

4. 4 Why Duplex Communications? ORR see Duplex Comms as PPE. It’s use is not a choice. Network Rail’s Plant Manual Issue 5 published 2 3 2013 NR/Plant/0200/Infrastructure Plant Manual Mandates use of Duplex Communications System for all RRV operations. This states: “ Where personnel are required to undertake activities involving on-track machines or on-track plant on or about Network Rail managed infrastructure, mobile voice communication systems shall be provided for the Machine Controller and Machine Operator. Any such system shall be a full digital duplex communication system and as a minimum provide instant simultaneous communications, voice clarity, durability, and enhanced weatherproofing of the equipment. The communication system shall meet applicable EMC and other environmental requirements of Network Rail standards and other applicable mandatory or statutory requirements as appropriate.”

5. 5 Why Duplex Communications? Approved equipment which meets these requirements is the 3M manufactured Peltor DECT Com and Peltor Dect-Com II. In addition dBD Communications has approved Bluetooth products. These do not offer the flexibility of DECT-com II, and have much shorter battery life.

6. 6 Best Results – DECT system set up Experience has shown that best results are received when: Units go to site already paired and with pairing locked with base selection disabled. Units go to site with parameters pre-set (microphone type, VOX and Volume). Auto talk enabled, eliminating the need to double click PTT1 when unit returns to being in range having been out of range. Auto power off is increased to 10 hours (out of the box setting is 4 hours). Microphone type selection enabled (enables switching between throat mic and headset), UNLESS ELETRET HEADS OR THROAT MICS are being used.

7. 7 Best Results – DECT system set up Experience has shown that best results are received when: Base unit cradle is fitted above the metal chassis of the RRV cab, improving range. –This can be done with Velcro pads to stick the cradle to glass –Extension cables are readily available to make sure there are no pull issues for the MO’s headset Units go to site fully charged. Portables have approximately 40 hours life between changes. NOTE : the BASE STATION cradle is NOT a charger, & must NOT be used for HANDSETs.

8. 8 Best results – DECT Headset choices Throat microphones Ultra Lightweight Non Attenuating Headset Medium Attenuating Headset High Attenuating Headset Level Dependent Headset Helmet Mounted

9. 9 Best results - throat microphone Throat mics ( model J-TTMO3/NP2/NB ) provide hygiene, noise reduction and the wearing of protective glasses advantages. As the microphones are tight against the user’s neck, only their voice is heard and outside noise is virtually eliminated. As there is no boom mic’, the hygiene issue with the boom mic’ is eliminated. The invisi tube earpieces should be personal issue. For Network Rail, these are available through i-procurement.

10. 10 Using DECT – Q&A Details are also on Safety Central CGI film on How to set up and use Duplex Communications: You Tube : How to set up and use Duplex Communications Track Safety Alliance: http://www.tracksafetyalliance.co.uk/page.htm?cpi_id=73 http://www.tracksafetyalliance.co.uk/page.htm?cpi_id=73

11. 11 Using DECT – Q&A Details are also on Safety Central Effective Range Question: Reception is sometimes poor – can I resolve this? Answer: The range on DECT II is up to 150metres. To get best reception, the base unit cradle must be fitted above the metal chassis of the cab to improve range. This can be done using Velcro pads or other suction mechanisms to stick the cradle to the glass of the cab. Extension cables are readily available making sure the cradle can be located as high as possible in the cab with no pull issues for the Machine Operator’s headset.

12. 12 Using DECT - Q&A Coloured bands positioned below the antenna Question: Is there any significance of the different coloured bands used? Answer: YES. Black=Base/Portable with external connections (DC2815); Red=Base/Portable (DC2812); Green=Portable (DC2811). Only black or red should be used in the RRV cradle

13. 13 Using DECT - Q&A Battery Life Question: What’s battery life in operation? Answer: The portable units have approximately 40 hours life between charges. The base unit should be put in the base unit power supply pod (DC2068) which is plugged in to the 12/24v auxiliary socket in the OTP or directly wired in to the OTP. Question: Can I charge the HANDSET green band in the base station cradle? Answer: No! It is a common misconception that handsets can be used in the base station cradle, particularly to increase battery life. This will not preserve battery life and MUST NOT be done. The vehicle power supply pod (DC2068) is NOT a charger.

14. 14 Using DECT - Q&A Question: Can I use the handset charging pod (DC2064) in OTP. Answer: NO. If this is tried the unit will no longer function. Question: If I charge the base station and handset for an hour or so, will this be sufficient to see me through my shift. Answer: NO! Units should be charged for 12 hours before use. The biggest problem with battery life is that the 12/24v auxiliary socket is faulty, the 12/24v auxiliary socket is not used to plug the cradle into, or the equipment is not fully charged before use. The bases will only last 5 hours maximum. In the event of jobs being 52 hours or longer,exchanging handsets every 24 hours eliminates battery issues on the long shift. This means ordering additional handsets,with the kit labelled e.g. KIT 1(1A,1B,1C) where handset A/B are used for the first 24 hours and then handset C/B are used for the remainder of the shift.

15. 15 Using DECT - Q&A Headset fitting Question: My headset doesn’t sit comfortably – what can I do? Answer: There is a clip on RRV TV on Network Rail’s Safety Central web site that shows how to fit these. The headsets fit many people, but not everyone, which can result in the microphone not sitting in front of the mouth leading to machine operators and machine controllers having to lower the VOX setting down significantly. This increases ambient noise captured. Throat mics’ offer a solution to this, eradicating ambient noise intrusion, and are suitable for most people. When a throat mic is used, there are hygiene, noise reduction and the wearing of protective glasses advantages. As the microphones are tight against the user’s neck, only their voice is heard. Outside noise is virtually eliminated. As there is no boom mic’, the hygiene issue with the boom mic’ is eliminated.

16. 16 Using DECT - Q&A Locking out system functions Question: Can VOX control be locked out in system set up? Answer: If an Electret sidewinder headset or throat mic set is used, there is no requirement to adjust the VOX levels, as these are preset, and anyone talking on either device will activate the VOX. This simplifies system use, and substantially reduces risk of operator error. If a noise cancelling headset is used VOX control MUST NOT be locked out. These use microphones that allow the VOX level to be set at a low level to eliminate ambient noise. The microphone has to receive audio both sides of the microphone to activate it, and this can only be done when the microphone is set very close to the operator’s mouth.

17. 17 Using DECT - Q&A Software and Firmware upgrades Question: Is firmware and software up to date? Answer: Latest firmware was released on 20 June 2013, and latest software upgrade was on 22 August 2012. Companies who have the capability to programme DECT II get an email from 3M advising the upgrade is available on 3M Peltor Extranet. PPT buttons Question: Do the PTT buttons service any purpose? Answer: With auto talk enabled this isn’t needed. If not enabled, on the hand set for conference, press PTT1 twice to couple with the base Unit. PTT2 is not programmed so has no functionality. PTT3 is only used for back-to-back radio capability when Motorola GP340 is connected. The need for this is very rare.

18. http://www.safety.networkrail.co.uk http://www.tracksafetyalliance.co.uk/ http://www.safety.networkrail.co.uk http://www.tracksafetyalliance.co.uk/ Section number to go here