1. Training Session Notes
P5150 Portable Radio User’s Guide for York County, PA Emergency Services
Training Session Notes

2. *SAFETY ITEMS*
DO NOT...operate the portable radio near or in an area where blasting is taking place. Anyone using radio controlled explosives must post signs. If you see a caution sign about blasting in the area, you must turn your radio off. This applies to any radio equipment capable of transmitting: phones, CB’s, etc.
DO NOT...operate the portable radio in an explosive atmosphere. The radio is an electrical device with switches that can cause an explosion in an explosive atmosphere. If you can operate your vehicle or any power tools, it is safe to use the radio.

3. *SAFETY ITEMS*
To ensure that user exposure to RF electromagnetic energy is within the FCC allowable limits for occupational use, always adhere to the following guidelines:
DO NOT operate the radio without a proper antenna.
DO NOT transmit for more than 50% of the total radio use.
Always use only Tyco Electronics authorized accessories.
Always keep the antenna at least 5cm (2 inches) away from the body while transmitting.

4. Operating Rules and Regulations
The Federal Communications Commission sets all rules for two-way radio use. The user of two-way radio equipment should be familiar with these basic rule requirements.
It is a violation of FCC rules to interrupt any distress or emergency message.
Any use of profane or obscene language is prohibited.
It is against the law to send false call letters or a false distress or emergency message.
All messages must be brief and limited to the business need.
It is a violation of FCC rules to send personal messages, unless in an emergency.
The FCC requires that radio systems be identified by use of the assigned Call Letters. The radio system does this automatically.
The federal government communications is administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), but operation is still compliant to FCC rules.

5. Project 25 (P25)
Project 25 is a public safety communications standard dedicated to ensuring interoperability in communications. It is designed to ensure fast and secure communications between local, state and federal agencies when protecting the public's welfare.
The Project 25 standard organization is comprised of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors (NASTD) and the U.S. Federal Government.
The Federal Government through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has dictated that all new and existing federal communications systems will be P25 compliant.
P25 is an all digital voice system that can be trunking or conventional non-trunking.

6. Conventional vs. Trunked
Conventional Approach
Trunked Approach
Channel 1
Channel 2
Group C
Group C
Group A
Group A
Group B
Group D
Group B
Group D
Users Select which Repeater to Use
System Selects which Repeater to Use

7. Why Trunking? Trunking: Improves spectral efficiency
Relieves the user from managing the channel
Encourages cross agency / shared communications
Establishes communications privacy
Encourages private communications
Discourages eavesdropping by scanners
Establishes “queuing” rather than “waiting”
Enables priority use during busy times

8. P25 Trunking System Features
Digital Control Channel
Multiple Working Channels
< 0.5 Second Access
Group & Individual Voice Calls
Unit ID for each radio
Late / Delayed Entry
Emergency Calls
Queuing with Priority
Unit Enable / Disable
Wide Area Coverage

9. How Far Does it Cover ? Many factors affect range: Site Location
???
Many factors affect range:
Site Location
Urban Clutter
Reflections / Multipath
Ducting over Water
Heavy vegetation
Weather
Frequency

10. Simulcast – Extending the Coverage
SIMULtaneous broadCAST
All RF sites have:
Same number of channels
Same radio frequencies
Same channel designated as control channel
When someone makes a call, that call is rebroadcast to every site regardless of whether or not someone is there to listen.
The users have no indication that simulcasting is occurring other than better coverage.

11. Multisite – Extending Coverage
RF Site 2
RF Site 1
Units inform the network of their location:
Each time the Radio is powered up.
Each time a System selection is made.
Each time a Group selection is made.
When Radio detects a high bit error rate on the Control Channel
Radio will look for another site using an algorithm.
Automatically switches to new site when criteria is met.

12. Radio Nomenclature
Before actually operating the radio, one should know some of the terms and descriptions associated with operation. Such as:
Buttons
Knobs
Antenna
Microphone
Speaker
Display
Battery
Let’s take a look at these before actually operating the radio.

13. Default Designations Of Controls
P5150 (Scan) Views
Default Designations Of Controls
System/Group/
Channel Knob
Antenna
Universal Device
Connector “UDC”
(On Side)
Display
Microphone
Speaker

14. LCD Display The display has 3 lines.
Lines 1 & 2 contain eight alphanumeric characters.
Line 3 uses 10 groups of pixels to show radio status icons.
All three lines are used in menu mode.

15. Display Messages LINE 1: LINE 2:
Listing of messages that appear on line 1 and 2.
Talkgroup or Channel Name (EMS MAIN)
Call Queued (QUEUED)
System Busy (SYS BUSY)
Call Denied (DENIED)
Individual Call (*INDV*)
Control Channel Scan (CC SCAN)
Wide Area Scan (WA SCAN)
Receive Emergency (*RXEMER*)
Transmit Emergency (*TXEMER*)
System Name (example: CENTRAL)
Volume Level (VOL = 10)
Caller Identification (GR 1234)
Low Battery (LOW BATT)
‘Who Has Called’ (* WHC *)
LINE 1:
LINE 2:

16. Special call select/entry mode (Individual or Telephone)
Line 3 Icons
An icon will be displayed to show radio status.
Special call select/entry mode (Individual or Telephone)
Low battery
SCAN enabled
(rotates clockwise)
Selected group
is priority-one scan
is priority-two scan
in scan list
Encrypted
Digital Speech
Conventional
Channel Guard
Failsoft
Transmit ON
transmitting or receiving
FLASHING
call queued
ON - low TX power
OFF - high TX power
Digital
P25
Analog

17. Antenna Firmly screw in the provided antenna with your hand.
The antenna is designed and possibly trimmed for your frequency of operation.
Do not use any other antennas without approval.
Use of unapproved antennas will affect system performance and possibly cause failure of the radio.
If the antenna becomes cracked, broken or bent, replace it.

18. Install or Change the Battery
Before changing the battery, turn the radio off.
Press up on the battery release button on the bottom of the battery.
Lift the bottom of the battery pack up and away until it separates from the radio.
Insert the top of the new battery pack onto the radio then push down the bottom of the battery pack until it clicks. 2 3 1
When the belt clip is installed, one will need to press the belt clip to relieve pressure from the battery to remove it.

19. Basic Operation Items to Discuss Power on the radio. Read the display.
Change systems.
Change groups.
Originate a group call.
Receive a group call.
Declaring an Emergency.
Keypad Lock
Scanning
Menu Operation
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN

20. Power On and Log In
Rotate Volume On/Off Control Clockwise about ¼ turn.
All segments of the LCD display should briefly display and the display should show Power Up Self Test, followed by an audible beep and the system/group display.
The radio will transmit into the network and log in automatically, telling the network the ID of the radio and the group that is selected.
Power On/Off
& Volume
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN

21. Displaying the Systems and Groups
The radio’s display is showing the system and group that you are part of.
The top line will be the system name representing a location and a set of groups. Examples are:
NORTH
WEST
CENTRAL
SOUTH
FULTON
UTAC
The second line will show the selected group control by the small buttons on the side of the radio. Examples are:
MAIN
CF ADMIN
CAR CAR1
EMS MAIN
UCALL 40
etc

22. Originate a Group Call 1 5 2 3 4 6 Turn on the radio.
Select the group you want to talk to.
Group names appear on Line 2 of the display.
Push-to-Talk (PTT).
Indicator will light red while transmitting
Speak into the microphone.
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN 1 5 2 3 4 6

23. Changing Groups 2 1 3 There are lots of groups to ramp through!
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN
The Group name will appear on Line 2 of the display.
Press the upper side button to ramp up to the desired group.
Press the middle side button to ramp down to the desired group. 2 3 1
There are lots of groups to ramp through!

24. Changing the System
The System represents a location and a set of groups. 1
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN
Use the top knob to select the system.
System names appear on Line 1 of the display.
The groups are the same in all of your systems. 2
In normal operation, the system name may change as the radio acquires the best RF site for operation. The radio will not select the FULTON or UTAC system automatically.

25. Receiving A Group Call
GR 12345
EMS MAIN
The caller’s Radio ID or alias appears on Line 1 (ex ).
The group that is being received appears on Line 2.
The Indicator will light green while receiving.
Adjust Power On/Off & Volume control for pleasing level of audio, but not to overdrive the speaker.
PTT to respond. 4 3 1 2 5

26. Declaring an Emergency
CENTRAL
*TXEMER*
Press and hold the red EMERGENCY button for approximately 2.2 seconds.
*TXEMER* appears in display and will continue to flash, alternating with the selected group, until the emergency is cleared.
PTT
Top View 1 1 3 2
The console dispatcher clears emergencies.
If you declare an emergency, your radio will remain on the group until the emergency is cleared.

27. Locking/Unlocking the Keypad
LOCKED
EMS MAIN
Press M on the front.
Within 2 seconds, press the top side button to unlock or lock the keypad.
The display will show the status of the keypad for about 2 seconds.
All keys except PTT, Emergency, and M are locked. Knobs function normally.
If the keypad is locked, the top line of the display will show LOCKED, when any key is pressed. 2 3 1

28. Menu and Backlight Control
Press M to enter the Menu mode.
Use the  or  keys to find and select BCK LGHT, and press M a second time.
BCK LGHT= ON or OFF will appear in the display with the current setting.
Use the  or  keys to toggle the backlight on and off.
Press M a third time to store the change.
>BCK LGHT
BCK LGHT
1,2,5
BCK LGHT is the only menu item and it is not available in the UTAC system.
2,4

29. Group Scanning
A list of groups to scan must exist before scanning can occur.
The P5150 Scan model radio is configured for user programmable scanning – the user creates and modifies the list.
There are three levels of priority. Priority 1 is the highest and priority 3 (III) is the lowest.
Scanning must be off to create, add or delete groups from the scan list.

30. Turning SCAN On/Off 2, 3 1, 3 Press SCN to turn on group Scanning.
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN
Press SCN to turn on group Scanning.
The scan icon rotates clockwise to indicate the radio is scanning.
Press SCN again to turn off the Scan function and scan icon will disappear.
2, 3
1, 3

31. Establishing or Modifying a Scan List
Scan must be off to create or modify a scan list.
Position the rotary selector to the group or channel that you wish to add to your Scan List.
Press the A/D key once to add the group to the Scan List.
An icon will appear in the display indicating the addition of the group to the Scan List.
Press A/D again to advance the group to second priority.
Press A/D again to advance the group to first priority .
Pressing the A/D button again will remove the group from the scan list.
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN 1 3
2, 4, 5, 6

32. Nuisance Deleting from a Scan List
User entered or limited scan list only:
When a call is being heard while in scan mode and the call is not the selected or priority 1 group and you wish to remove the group from the scan list.
Press the A/D button or the DEL button once to delete the group from the Scan List.
The group or channel will return to the scan list when the radio is powered off and back on.
CENTRAL
EMS MAIN

33. P5100 Alert Tones Call Originate short mid-pitched beep (“beep”)
Autokey
short mid-pitched beep sounding after queued and an open channel is gained (“beep”)
Call Queued
high-pitched tone (“beep”) sounded when the system places the call request in a queue
System Busy
three low-pitched tones (“dut-dut-dut”), only with I-Calls
Call Denied
low-pitched tone (“bomp”) sounded when the radio is not authorized on the selected system
Timing Out
five short high-pitched warning tones (“beep..”) followed by a low-pitched tone (“bomp”)
Key Press Alert
short tone “beep”= access; low-pitched “bomp”= denial
Low Battery
short quiet mid-pitched tone (“beep”)
Missed I-Call
telephone ring sounded when an incoming individual call is not answered

34. Accessories Speaker Microphones - General External Antenna
Radio Antenna
Holders
Belt Clip
Belt Loops
Leather Case
Fabric Case
This slide is for talking about the different accessories and installing them on the radio.
If an external microphone is attached and there is a place for the antenna, then the antenna has to be attached.

35. Battery Information P5100 Series Radios Rated Battery Life
(at 5% Tx, 5% Rx, and 90% standby):
NiCd: 8 hours (1600 mAH)
NiMH: 11 hours (2400 mAH)
Battery Charging Indications (Typical charger)
Slow Red Flash – PreCharge (10 minutes max)
Extremely Discharged
Cold battery
Solid Red – Charging
~ 1 Hour NiCd
~ 2 Hours NiMH
Solid Green – Ready / Trickle Charge
Red / Green Flash – Battery temp too hot
Remove and let cool before attempting to charge
Fast Red Flash – Error
Remove and Reinsert

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