1. Franklin Township Fire District #1
Trunk Radio System
Fire Department User Training
Motorola XTL2500 (Mobiles)
and XTS2500 (Portables)
Joel Lipman
Chief
Station 26
Stephen Stashek
Deputy Chief
Station 28

2. Class Objectives Upon completion of this training, attendees should have attained
An understanding of trunking radio systems.
A working knowledge of the Motorola XTL2500 Mobile and the XTS2500 Portables radios.
The ability to separate Command, and Operational communications.

3. Design objectives of the radio system:
Enhance personnel safety.
Decrease overcrowding of frequencies.
Increase ability to effectively communicate.
Establish Interoperability between Fire, EMS, PD, and other agencies.

4. Factors Prompting Development:
Currently, the same frequency is often used for:
Dispatch
Responding & on-scene communications
Requests for additional resources
Ground operations
In effect…….a party line…

5. Dispatch:
Implementation of the new radio system will not change the dispatch system as we know it today.
Paging – Unchanged

6. System Design Objectives:
95% mobile coverage 95% of the time.
As with any radio system, there will be areas with signal coverage problems, = the 5%
NOTE: Portables are not expected to have comparable coverage to the mobiles.

7. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Trunk= A bank of frequencies designed to provide efficient communications with minimal radio congestion.
Operates in a manner similar to popular “point to point” wireless devices. (EG: Nextel)
Requires more user attention than comparable “push to talk” radios.

8. PORTABLES DO NOT DISPLAY THE BANK NAME.
Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System Channel Banks for Fire Department Portables
Bank A: Trunk and Conventional, Primary
Bank B: Trunk, County
Bank C: Franklin Administrative Channels
Bank D: Trunk, Mutual Aid
Bank E: Trunk and Conventional, County
Bank F: Interoperability Channels
NOTE: SYSTEM MOBILES ARE CONFIGURED WITH THE BANK NAME PRECEEDING THE CHANNEL NAME.
PORTABLES DO NOT DISPLAY THE BANK NAME.

9. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System Response
Once dispatched (unchanged) Agencies will communicate on their primary trunk channel.
(Fire District 1 for command, Fire Ops 1 for fire ground)
During periods of heavy radio traffic, an alternate channel(s) can be requested or may be assigned.

10. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Bank A (Primary)
Channel 1 -
FIRE MAIN
Channel 2 -
DISTRICT 1
Channel 3 -
FIRE OPS 1
Channel 4 -
FIRE REGION 5
Channel 5 -
FIRE OPS 5
Channel 6 -
DISTRICT 2
Channel 7 -
DISTRICT 3
Channel 8 -
FIRE OPS 2
Channel 9 -
INSPECTORS
Channel 10 -
EMS MAIN
Channel 11 -
EMRG SERV
Channel 12 -
EMRG SERV TA
Channel 13 -
TWP-911
Channel 14 -
FRNK INTR OP
Channel 15 -
CNTY PAGE
Channel 16 -
Channels Listed in Green are County Trunked System Channels
Channels Listed in Red are Backup Conventional Channels operating on the Franklin Sites

11. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Bank B (County)
Channel 1 -
FIRE REG 1
Channel 2 -
FIRE OPS 1
Channel 3 -
FIRE REG 2
Channel 4 -
FIRE OPS 2
Channel 5 -
FIRE REG 3
Channel 6 -
FIRE OPS 3
Channel 7 -
FIRE REG 4
Channel 8 -
FIRE OPS 4
Channel 9 -
FIRE REG 5
Channel 10 -
FIRE OPS 5
Channel 11 -
FIRE REG 6
Channel 12 -
FIRE OPS 6
Channel 13 -
FIRE OPS 7
Channel 14 -
FIRE OPS 8
Channel 15 -
FIRE OPS 9
Channel 16 -
FIRE OPS 10

12. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Bank C (Franklin)
Channel 1 -
OEM-MAIN
Channel 2 -
OEM TAC 1D
Channel 3 -
OEM TAC 2A
Channel 4 -
EVENTS 1D
Channel 5 -
EVENTS 2A
Channel 6 -
DPW
Channel 7 -
HEALTH
Channel 8 -
ENGINEERING
Channel 9 -
TWSP MAIN
Channel 10 -
EMS TAC-1
Channel 11 -
EMS TAC-2
Channel 12 -
HIGHLAND PK
Channel 13 -
C-OEM DISP
Channel 14 -
NOR BR FIRE
Channel 15 -
NOR BR F/G
Channel 16 -
FIRE MAIN
Channel listed in Green are County
Channels listed in Red are Franklin
Channels listed in Yellow are Mutual Aid

13. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Bank D (Mutual Aid)
Channel 1 -
PLAINSBORO
Channel 2 -
NOR BRUNS FD
Channel 3 -
NO BRUN F/G
Channel 4 -
HIGHLD PARK
Channel 5 -
BRDGWTR D3
Channel 6 -
BRDGWTR FAST
Channel 7 -
BRDGWTR D2
Channel 8 -
NO PLFD-WTCH
Channel 9 -
WATCHUNG CH2
Channel 10 -
WARREN FIRE
Channel 11 -
MARTINSVILLE
Channel 12 -
BRADLEY GRDN
Channel 13 -
GREEN KNOLL
Channel 14 -
COUNTRY HILL
Channel 15 -
NORTH BRANCH
Channel 16 -
FINDERNE

14. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Bank E (County)
Channel 1 -
CTY PUB SFTY
Channel 2 -
C-EMS REG #1
Channel 3 -
C-EMS REG #2
Channel 4 -
CTY WIDE OPS
Channel 5 -
COUNTY TAC-1
Channel 6 -
COUNTY TAC-2
Channel 7 -
COUNTY TAC-3
Channel 8 -
COUNTY TAC-4
Channel 9 -
COUNTY TAC-5
Channel 10 -
COUNTY TAC-6
Channel 11 -
CNTY PAGE
Channel 12 -
C-UHF RPTR
Channel 13 -
UNPROGRAMMED
Channel 14 -
Channel 15 -
Channel 16 -

15. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System
Bank F (INTROP)
Channel 1 -
UCALL RP
Channel 2 -
UCALL TA
Channel 3 -
UTAC 1 RP
Channel 4 -
UTAC 1 TA
Channel 5 -
UTAC 2 RP
Channel 6 -
UTAC 2 TA
Channel 7 -
UTAC 3 RP
Channel 8 -
UTAC 3 TA
Channel 9 -
UTAC 4 RP
Channel 10 -
UTAC 4 TA
Channel 11 -
MIDD CO HOT
Channel 12 -
MIDD CO MAC
Channel 13 -
EDISON FD
Channel 14 -
SO PLFD FD
Channel 15 -
HUNTERDON F1
Channel 16 -
HUNTERDON F2

16. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System Conventional vs Trunk
Conventional is excellent for on-scene multi-agency communications.
Safe for “line of sight” communications.
Trunk system is not to be used for on-scene operations. (EG: MCI, FAST, Etc.)

17. Power Button Franklin Fire District 1 To Turn Radio On:
Press the Power button on the control unit.
When the ASTRO XTL 2500 Digital Mobile Radio is turned on, it will display XTL 2500.
The radio performs a self check.
To Turn Radio Off:
Press the power button on the control unit.
Notes:
If FAIL ##/## appears in the display, the radio will not function until the condition has been corrected.
If any problem occurs, the display shows an error code ERROR ##/##.

18. To set the volume: Franklin Fire District 1 Volume Knob
Rotate the Volume knob clockwise to increase the volume and counterclockwise to decrease the volume.

19. To adjust display brightness:
Franklin
Fire District 1
Press the Dimmer Button to change the display brightness to one of four levels:
Off to high
High to medium
Medium to low
Low to off
If OFF is selected, both the display light and the backlight will be turned off (used for surveillance operations), but the display will remain active.
Dimmer Button

20. PTT (PUSH TO TALK) BUTTON
To Transmit on a Trunked Mode:
1. Lift the microphone off the hook. Press and hold the microphone PTT button.
- If you hear three quick tones (callback tones) and the red XMIT (transmit) indicator lights steadily, proceed with your message.
- If you hear a busy tone and the yellow Busy indicator flashes, all trunked channels are in use.
2. Release the PTT button and wait for the three quick tones. Within three seconds of hearing these tones, press and hold the PTT button to transmit your message.
- If you hear a continuous low-pitched tone, you are out of the system's range. The red XMIT indicator may flash several times as the radio tries to access the system.
Release the PTT button and try again when the vehicle is within range of the system.
Release the PTT button to receive.
Note: Time out timer enabled
(60 Seconds)

21. Franklin
Fire District 1
RED
YELLOW
GREEN
XMIT LED:
Solid
PTT is pressed, radio is transmitting
Flashing
Radio is trying to access the system
BUSY LED:
Solid
Self-test being performed
Flashing
Incoming Private Call
BUSY LED:
Flashing
Conventional channel busy (Private Line)

22. Zone Select or Change A bank / zone is a grouping of channels.
Franklin
Fire District 1
ZONE
The display shows the current bank and channel.
Press below ZONE.
Press either or until the desired zone is displayed
Press or the PTT button to save the displayed zone as the new home (default) zone.
The zone name stops flashing once it is saved.
Press the PTT button to begin transmitting on the displayed zone and mode.
Home Button
A bank / zone is a grouping of channels.
To Select a bank / zone:

23. Selecting a Channel: Channel Knob To select a Channel: Home Button
Franklin
Fire District 1
PTT (Push To Talk)
Turn the channel Knob until the display shows the desired channel name.
2.Press the PTT button to begin transmitting on the displayed channel or talk group

24. Emergency Button: Emergency Button EMERGENCY
Press the PTT button and announce your emergency.
To exit from the emergency state altogether, press and hold the emergency button until a tone sounds.
The alternating EMERGENCY display disappears, and the radio returns to normal operation.
Note: Turning the radio off also cancels the emergency state.
Press the Emergency button to activate the emergency call/alarm feature.
The display begins alternating EMERGENCY with the current zone/channel.
This will send you back to your home channel
For trunking modes: a high-pitched tone sounds, indicating that the alarm has been received by Somerset County.

25. Model II Digital Portable Radio
ASTRO® XTSTM 2500
Model II Digital Portable Radio
Interactive Agency-User Training
DISTRICT 1
clck
MUTE
CHAN
Learning Event Description:
This learning event provides subscriber unit users an introduction to their unit, its basic operation, and the job aides available for assistance in operation. This is accomplished through the use of video clips, Instructor facilitation and hands-on activities whereby users are able to perform common tasks associated with unit operation.
Learning Event Objective:
Upon completion, the participant should be able to employ the toolkit resource needed to accomplish an operational task.

26. Installation and Removal Procedures
1.Antenna
3.Battery
2.Universal Connector
4.Belt Clip

27. Antenna: back To install the antenna: Turn the radio off.
Screw the antenna (clockwise) into the antenna receptacle on top of the radio.
Tighten the antenna firmly with your fingers.
To remove the antenna:
Unscrew the antenna (counter clockwise) and remove it from the antenna receptacle on top of the radio.
back

28. Battery:
To install the battery:
Turn the radio off.
Align the three tabs at the bottom of the battery with the three slots at the bottom of the back of the radio.
Angle the battery forward toward the radio until the battery clicks into place.
To remove the battery:
Holding the radio in one hand, push down on the battery release slides on both sides of the battery with the other hand.
Angle the battery away from the radio and remove.
The green writing on battery and radio means the unit is intrinsically safe
Batteries are shipped uncharged, so the user must charge the battery before attempting to use the radio.
Make sure the radio is turned off before removing the battery.
For installing, slide the lip of the battery into the slot between the three clips and the outside casing at the top of the radio to ensure a proper connection.
back

29. Universal Connector Cover:
The universal connector cover protects the side
connector near the antenna.
To remove the cover:
Turn the radio off.
Carefully insert a flat-bladed screwdriver between the bottom of the cover and the connector.
Holding the top of the cover with your thumb, push the screwdriver gently downward and lever the cover away from the radio.
To install the cover:
Insert the hooked end of the cover into the slot above the connector.
Rub the ball of your thumb from the top to the bottom of the cover, applying pressure towards the radio. This will flex the cover and snap it into place.
Remember to turn off the radio.
The cover should be on the radio any time the operator is not using the radio with an accessory. When the cover is removed, this is where technicians connect their programming cable to the radio and computer and flash in the programming of the radio. Having the cover removed could degrade the programming connections and impair the radio’s ability to be programmed in the future.
back

30. Belt Clip: back To install the belt clip:
Remove battery before installing or removing the belt clip.
Hold the battery with the back of the battery facing you.
Hold the belt clip with the top facing upward, and align the clip with the slots on the battery back.
Slide the belt clip downward into the slots until it clicks into place.
To remove the belt clip:
Pull away the metal tab at the top of the battery clip from the battery.
Slide the clip upward until it comes away from the radio. 1 2
Remind students to remove the battery from the radio before installing or removing the belt clip.
Indicate where and how to align with the slots for easy assembly.
Do not use too much force to pull metal tab to remove clip.
back

31. Motorola XTS 2500: DISTRICT 1 CLCK MUTE CHAN Control Top Side Buttons
Power On/Off
Volume Control
Channel Select
Bank selector
DISTRICT 1
CLCK
MUTE
CHAN
Emergency
Control Top
Side Buttons
Light
Programming Buttons
Push-To-Talk
(PTT) Button
Zone Bank Change
HOME BUTTON
Hold for 2 sec to return to District 1
Scan (If equipped)
Navigation Key

32. Radio On/Off/Volume On/Off/Volume Knob To turn the radio on:
Turn the On/Off/Volume Control knob clockwise.
If the power-up test is successful, you briefly see SELF
TEST, then the home display
If the power-up test is unsuccessful, you see ERROR
XX/YY. (XX/YY is an alphanumeric code.)
To turn the radio off:
Turn the On/Off/Volume Control knob counter-clockwise until it clicks.
On/Off/Volume
Knob
SELF TEST
The LED lights green when you turn the radio on.
The radio will display an error message if it fails the self test.
Adjust the Volume to a comfortable level.

33. Signal
Strength
Call
Receive
Direct/
TalkAround
Monitor
View
Program
Battery
Status
Scan

34. Channel Select To select a channel/mode:
The first 16 Channels on any bank can be reached by turning the channel knob.
Channel
Knob
Talk group
Name
DISTRICT 1
CLCK
CHAN
BATT
Push-to-Talk
(PTT)
The display will indicate your selection as you rotate the Rotary Select knob on top of the radio.

35. Bank / Zone Select (3-Position Concentric Switch)
To select a Bank / Zone:
Select Zone A, B, or C using the 3-Position Zone Select switch.
Press side button w/dot to change radio to second set of Channel Banks.
Select Zone A, B, or C using the 3-Position Zone Select switch.
Bank / Zone Select
Switch
Channel Name
DISTRICT 1
CLCK
CHAN
BATT
BANK / ZONE
Explain that the Zone switch is limited to 3 zones, if more zones are programmed, they will be accessed through the menu.
Zone Bank Change

36. - PTT is pressed; radio is transmitting Flashing - Channel Busy
RED
Solid
- PTT is pressed; radio is transmitting
Flashing
- Channel Busy
- Low Battery (lights while transmitting)
GREEN
Solid
- Self-test being performed
Flashing
- Incoming Private Call
RED LED
GREEN LED

37. Scan On To turn Scan on or off: Press the button directly below SCAN.
Press the button directly below ON or OFF.
Note:
To respond to a transmission heard on a scanned channel, you must change your radio to be selected on the channel you heard transmitting, and press your PTT.
DISTRICT 1
SCAN OFF
SCAN ON
OFF
CHAN
PROG
Scanning allows you to monitor different channels automatically without directly switching channels.
If there is activity on a channel, you will hear the activity but your selected talkgroup will not change. If you wish to respond to what you heard, you must change your channel.

38. Emergency Alarm
To send an emergency call:
With the radio turned on, press the Emergency button.
The current zone/channel is displayed alternately with
EMERGENCY, the LED lights red, and you hear a group
of short, medium-pitched tones.
This will bring you back to FIRE MAIN
Your id # will display on the Somerset County and Franklin PD & will beep until acknowledged
EMERGENCY
LED
Enabling an Emergency state assigns you priority access to a channel to ensure the greatest ease of communication. It also alerts the necessary people of your status, keeping them appraised of your situation.
The radio remains in the emergency state until the alarm is canceled from the radio. Even if the dispatcher or controller acknowledges and cancels the alarm, it must be canceled from the radio as well.
Emergency

39. Home Mode Select Home Button To select the Home mode:
Press the button briefly to exit out of the menu functions.
Press and hold the button at any time to quickly return to FIRE MAIN.
DISTRICT 1
CLCK
CHAN
BATT
Home Button
The home button is useful for field users to quickly move back to the beginning of their fleetmap. They can select the home button to return to the first zone, first channel. The home button is not user programmable and will always return to the first zone, first channel in the fleetmap. Please reference your fleetmap for further zone/channel details.

40. Time-out Timer LED Push-to-Talk (PTT)
The time-out timer turns off your radio’s transmitter.
The timer is set for 60 seconds.
Hold down the PTT button longer than the programmed time.
You will hear a low-pitched warning tone, the
transmission will cut off, and the LED will go out until you
release the PTT.
Release the PTT button.
The LED will re-light and the timer will reset.
Press the PTT button to re-transmit. The time-out timer restarts.
The timer will restart and the LED lights red.
LED
Push-to-Talk
(PTT)
Time-out timer eliminates long open mic occurrences since the system will drop the call after the PTT is held down for more than 60 seconds.
If your call is timed out you can release your PTT and key up again. This features does not “lock” you out of the system.
The time-out timer is programmable by a technician and has been set for 60 seconds.

41. Clock (Time and Date) 1 of 2
To edit the Time and Date:
Press the button directly below CLCK.
The current setting is displayed.
Press the button directly below EDIT.
The first item flashes.
Press the up or down arrow of the 4-way Navigation button to change the selected item. OR
Press the right side of the 4-way Navigation button to move to an item you wish to change.
Note: Press the Home button at any time to return to the
home display without saving your changes.
10 : 46AM
DISTRICT 1
24HR 12:25
MDY 12/06/06
CLCK
CHAN
BATT
EDIT
The default time setting is a 12-hour clock. If a 24-hour clock is selected, AM/PM selection is not available. The default setting for the domestic date shows MDY.

42. Clock (Time and Date) 2 of 2
Note: Press the Home button at any time to return to the
home display without saving your changes.
Press the up or down arrow of the 4-way Navigation button to change the selected item.
Press the right side of the 4-way Navigation button one or more times to move to an item in the date field.
When you have made all of your changes, press the button directly below SAVE to save your changes and return to the home display.
Note: If a call arrives while the radio is in the clock-setting
menu, the radio exits clock setting, your changes are lost,
and the call information is displayed.
12HR 03:54AM
MDY 10/31/01
SAVE
The default time setting is a 12-hour clock. If a 24-hour clock is selected, AM/PM selection is not available. The default setting for the domestic date shows MDY.

43. Display Light Light Button
If poor light conditions make the display difficult to
read:
Turn on the radio’s backlights by pressing the Light button.
These lights will remain on for a pre-programmed time
before they turn off automatically. OR
You can turn them off immediately by pressing the Light
button again.
Light
Button
Use the light only when needed as the light will drain battery power more quickly.

44. Franklin Twp Trunked UHF System Communications
To optimize efficieincy and minimize busy signals
Use Plain English-avoid 10 codes
Transmit short concise messages
Avoid lengthy / unnecessary communications
Avoid slang, acronyms or codes

45. Special Situations: Interoperable Console Patching
Should an agency need to be “patched” to another agency’s frequency, a console patch can be established by Somerset County (ECC).
Field Communications Unit
Can be deployed for large, multi agency responses and long term operations.
Numerous capabilities

46. Questions?