1. © 2013 Tait Limited 1 How to Successfully Project Engineer a Radio System www.taitradio.com Tait Communications APCO Western Regional - May 2014 Susan Ronning, P.E. Senior Systems Engineer susan.ronning@taitradio.com Voice/ Text: 832-557-0236 www.linkedin.com/in/susanronning

2. © 2013 Tait Limited 2 About the Presenter 16+ years experience as agency mid-level manager, consultant, and vendor in the Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure communications industry Professional Engineer (Electrical) holds BSEE and MBA; member of APCO, IEEE, and Civil Air Patrol Desire to share wealth of knowledge accumulated in this industry to further Public Safety and Critical Infrastructure equipment, systems, and capabilities

3. © 2013 Tait Limited 3 Purpose Today more than ever, Public Safety agencies are stretched to do more work with less staff. “How to Successfully Project Engineer a Radio System” provides the guidance needed to understand the process involved in undertaking a new or replacement radio system project. Applies to “almost” any project; with a unique spin.

4. © 2013 Tait Limited 4 What’s Unique? 3 rd Party Systems Integration Radio system projects aren’t usually limited to two-way radio system. Other components include… -Radio technology -RF subsystem: spectrum, site locations, and RF coverage -Backhaul microwave and/ or fiber -Baseband IP or TDM layer -Dispatch consoles -Subscriber mobiles, portables, control stations -Logging recorder -Monitoring and alarms -Site shelter & tower space, primary and backup power -Spectrum availability

5. © 2013 Tait Limited 5 Agenda 1.Project phases 2.Project scope 3.Resources and skills 4.Key transition points

6. © 2013 Tait Limited 6 Project Phases

7. © 2013 Tait Limited 7 Project Phases 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain

8. © 2013 Tait Limited 8 Project Phases 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain a)Needs analysis b)Technical assessment c)Preliminary (conceptual) design a)Needs analysis b)Technical assessment c)Preliminary (conceptual) design

9. © 2013 Tait Limited 9 Project Phases 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain a)Technical and functional specifications b)Request for Proposal c)Bid review and award a)Technical and functional specifications b)Request for Proposal c)Bid review and award

10. © 2013 Tait Limited 10 Project Phases 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain a)Detailed Design b)Plan c)Equipment Order & Inventory d)Install & Test e)Install & Test f)Install & Test a)Detailed Design b)Plan c)Equipment Order & Inventory d)Install & Test e)Install & Test f)Install & Test

11. © 2013 Tait Limited 11 Project Phases 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain Vendor support agreement Maintenance agreements Remote access Vendor support agreement Maintenance agreements Remote access

12. © 2013 Tait Limited 12 Project Scope

13. © 2013 Tait Limited 13 Project Scope Driver by Phase 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain

14. © 2013 Tait Limited 14 Project Scope Driver - DESIGN 1.Define the problem statement 2.Identify systems to integrate 3.Understand the potential migration strategy

15. © 2013 Tait Limited 15 Project Scope Driver – DESIGN (cont.) 1.Problem Statement -Identified through needs assessment stage -Who are the users? Where do they talk? Who do they talk to? How are their workgroups organized? What are their issues? -Identify your stakeholders & keep them informed throughout the ENTIRE process… User perception always outweighs technology capability -Is equipment and/or technology obsolete? -Identify whether they need or want changes to… Coverage, Capacity, Operability, Interoperability

16. © 2013 Tait Limited 16 Project Scope Driver – DESIGN (cont.) 2.Identify Systems to Integrate Radio technology RF subsystem: spectrum, site locations, and RF coverage End user devices: dispatch consoles, mobiles and portables Backhaul subsystem: microwave, fiber, leased lines Baseband subsystem: TDM or IP Monitoring and recording: Logging recorder Site shelter & tower space, primary and backup power Spectrum availability

17. © 2013 Tait Limited 17 Project Scope Driver – DESIGN (cont.) 3.Understand the potential Migration Strategy -Identified through technical assessment stage -Ideal Migration: Low Risk; Non- or Minimal affect to service; Seamless user transition -In other words: replacement radio system to be installed, configured, and tested in whole prior to cutover from existing radio system; requires duplicate: Site: tower space, rack space, backhaul, power; Subscribers: backward compatible or potential duplicate installations Spectrum

18. © 2013 Tait Limited 18 Project Scope - PROCURE Sole source contract or bid response? Equipment only or equipment with services? Single system procurement or turn-key multi- system integration?

19. © 2013 Tait Limited 19 Project Scope - IMPLEMENT In-house, contracted, or consultant -Project management -Technical advisor Technicians or others available to… -Escort vendor engineers/ technicians/ installers -Provide operational use information -Provide legacy system knowledge transfer -Oversee site and system equipment configuration and tests, site installs/ removes

20. © 2013 Tait Limited 20 Project Scope - MAINTAIN Internal maintenance personnel Contracted maintenance personnel Vendor support and maintenance agreements -Hardware -Software On site preventative and emergency services Managed Services contract

21. © 2013 Tait Limited 21 Resources and Skills

22. © 2013 Tait Limited 22 Resources and Skills by Phase 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain

23. © 2013 Tait Limited 23 Resources and Skills - DESIGN Technical skills & past experience required…. a)Needs analysis: problem statement & requirements specification i.Operational  Stakeholders, user groups, service areas, interoperability  Coverage types  Wide area, regional, campus based, in-building, etc. ii.Functional – current and future feature sets  User groups vs. service areas  Operability vs. interoperability

24. © 2013 Tait Limited 24 Resources and Skills – DESIGN (cont.) Technical skills & past experience required…. b)Technical assessment i.Spectrum – availability, usability  Frequency analysis: intermodulation studies, interference analysis, site suitability ii.Sites – availability, usability  Site survey analysis for shelter and tower space, network, and power connectivity  Identify site “make ready” requirements

25. © 2013 Tait Limited 25 Resources and Skills – DESIGN (cont.) Technical skills & past experience required…. b)Technical assessment (cont.) iii.Technology – vs. requirements, sites, spectrum  Features, functions, constraints iv.RF Coverage – vs. spectrum, sites, and technology  Conventional or trunked, or mix  Multicast or simulcast, or mix  Frequency band by region, area, or group usage

26. © 2013 Tait Limited 26 Resources and Skills – DESIGN (cont.) Technical skills & past experience required…. c)Preliminary (conceptual) design d)Budgetary estimate

27. © 2013 Tait Limited 27 Resources and Skills - PROCURE Technical skills & past experience required…. a)Technical Specifications Internal Procurement Department….+ outside help? b)Request for Proposal Technical skills & past experience + Internal Procurement Department …. c)Bid review and award

28. © 2013 Tait Limited 28 Resources and Skills - IMPLEMENT Past experience not necessary, but it really helps! a)Project manager i.Scope, schedule, and budget Experience on existing (or similar) system(s) in a technical role –required b)Technical advisor i.Review and sign off on…  Requirements, Preliminary / Final Design Review  Migration & Cutover Plans, Test Plans  Involved in verification tests

29. © 2013 Tait Limited 29 Resources and Skills – IMPLEMENT (cont.) Various agency personnel needed as… c)Site escorts d)Fleet manager for mobile installations e)End users – operational and technical training f)Technical staff to assist technical advisor in review and sign off of… i.Equipment configuration ii.Verification tests

30. © 2013 Tait Limited 30 Resources and Skills - MAINTAIN Technical staff based on scope requirements… a)Vendor support agreement i.Vendor equipment ii.3rd party equipment b)Maintenance agreements i.Software ii.Hardware iii.Managed services c)On-site maintenance and repair d)Remote access

31. © 2013 Tait Limited 31 Key Transition Points

32. © 2013 Tait Limited 32 Key Transition Points 1.Design 2.Procure 3.Implement 4.Maintain Be sure to keep stakeholders informed throughout the ENTIRE process! Be sure to keep stakeholders informed throughout the ENTIRE process!

33. © 2013 Tait Limited 33 Thank you!

34. © 2013 Tait Limited 34 devoted to your cause TM