2. AWIN SYSTEM familiarization training for Arkansas Department of Health Users and Hospital Preparedness Program Users. Prepared by John Nordlund Tactical Communication Specialist Arkansas Department of Health September 2011

3. Course Objectives Understand how to operate the type of radio commonly used by ADH on the AWIN System Understand the terminology used on the AWIN System Understand the basic theory behind the operation of the AWIN System Understand the AWIN System guidelines and procedures

4. Introduction Arkansas Wireless Information Network (AWIN) is a multi-phased program to leverage new and existing wireless resources to create a statewide interoperable wireless communication system for emergency responders and Arkansas public service entities.

5. Interoperability Defined - Allows members of different agencies and different jurisdictions to communicate while working on the same incident Provides for common equipment, support, and protocols regardless of job function Shared talkgroups are the key to interoperability Why a Statewide Network?

6. ADH version of the Command & Control Talkgroup Template Talkgroups The users of a trunked radio system are organized into “talkgroups” instead of channels. Each talkgroup represents either an agency or a designated function on the system. The actual radio channel the talkgroup will use at any time will change according to system load requirements. Command & Control Template (Hospital version) ZONE & Selector Matrix 12345678910111213141516 ZONE 1 COUNTY OEMADEM 1ADEM 2CENTRAL 1CENTRAL 2CENTRAL 3CENTRAL 4CENTRAL 5NW 1NW 2NW 3NW 4NW 5WEATHERFIRE ACAD ZONE 2 SW 1SW 2SW 3SW 4SW 5SE 1SE 2SE 3SE 4SE 5NE 1NE 2NE 3NE 4NE 5 ZONE 3 MAC CALL MAC 1MAC 2MAC 3MAC 4MAC 5MAC 6MAC 7MAC 8MAC 9MAC 10MAC 11MAC 12MAC 13MAC 14MAC 15 ZONE 4 A-LAW COMB-LAW COMC-LAW COMD-LAW COME-LAW COMF-LAW COMG-LAW COMH-LAW COMI-LAW COMJ-LAW COMK-LAW COML-LAW COMPRISONERSO NET1SO NET2 ZONE 5 A-EMSB-EMSC-EMSD-EMSE-EMSF-EMSG-EMSH-EMSI-EMSJ-EMSK-EMSL-EMS ZONE 6 ACICAHPALETACRIME LAB HEALTH HUMAN SVCADPTADPT ADMADPT TACADPT TAC2NAT GRDADEQCAPAG&FDISDIS TECH ZONE 7 ASUASU TAC1UALRABCABC-ATCBATCB8CALL90D8TAC91D8TAC92D8TAC93D8TAC94D8CALL908TAC918TAC928TAC938TAC94 ZONE 8 AFCAFC LAWAFC TAC1DOCPRISONERDOC TAC1JC DISPSYS NETJC OESJC VFDCLEVLANDEMER NETINTEROPDIRECT HO SP SWESTSP SEASTSP METROSP NWESTSP ARVALSP NEASTSP NCENT

7. Battery Care The batteries used with the AWIN radio are a critical part of a working communications asset. If your battery is depleted you can’t talk to anyone. To maximize their useful life batteries must be maintained correctly. The IMPRES™IMPRES™ battery charger makes this battery maintenance easy, as it automatically reconditions the battery when required to assure maximum life and capacity.

8. Battery Care To assure proper charging, be sure the slots on the bottom of the battery engage the rails in the charger. A battery can be charged with or without the radio attached.

9. Battery Care When the battery is correctly seated in the charger, the indicator lamp will light. The charger will then evaluate the condition of the battery and select to recharge or recondition the battery as required. A flashing RED lamp means the battery is no longer useable and must be replaced. Flashing YELLOW means the battery may be too hot or cold or too depleted to enter a rapid charge cycle without a delay. Flashing RED/GREEN means the battery is approaching the end of its useful life and will need to be replaced soon. Steady YELLOW means the battery is being reconditioned. This could take several hours to complete.

10. Battery Care If the Motorola radio is left on while charging, the battery will become depleted after the smart charge cycle has completed. The charger does not replace energy in the battery as fast as the radio uses it when in the idle (steady GREEN) condition. If you wish to leave the radio on, lift it out of the charger daily to restart the charge cycle and maintain the battery in a ready state.

11. Battery Care It is best practice to charge one battery while using the other one. This way you always have at least one battery near a full charge if an event requires use of the AWIN radio. Swap the batteries when recharging, to balance the use time for each battery and extend battery life.

12. System Overview In the early days of public safety radio, communications went direct from a dispatch station to mobile units in the field. This arrangement worked much better than the days before radio dispatch, but there were a lot of locations where radio communication was not functional due to distance and terrain.

13. Conventional Repeater System The conventional repeater system usually supports the communications of only one agency for each radio channel in use. The repeater system simultaneously receives and rebroadcasts the incoming radio signal.

14. Repeater stations allow the extension of communication range by rebroadcasting the signal into areas that were not reachable directly. Unfortunately most single agency repeaters stand idle up to 98% of the time. Repeater hardware is expensive, and radio frequencies are a limited resource. A better system was needed.

15. The central controller of the trunked radio system allows efficient sharing of the channels by multiple agencies. As each user group transmits, all of the radio units of that group are automatically switched to a free radio channel. The users are generally not aware of the switching. This trunking method allows many agencies to share a small number of channels. The controller can be networked to other sites to provide extensive area coverage. Trunked Radio System

16. The system towers are connected by a series of dedicated microwave links. A Statewide System To provide communications on a statewide basis, the AWIN system uses transmission towers located in all parts of the state. The towers are interconnected by a dedicated microwave system. When your radio was turned on it registered its location with the master zone controller. Radio messages you should hear will be automatically routed to your location anywhere in the state.

17. Basic Facts About AWIN There are many different user types. Some depend on AWIN for continuous dispatch operations involving the safety of life and/or property. Others will only use AWIN occasionally or during emergencies. The common theme is that any of these agencies may need at some time to talk to another agency on the system. InteroperabilityFull-Time Command and Control TemplateASUG Template Smaller EntitiesLarger Agencies Used OccasionallyUsed Daily

18. Portable Mobile Console There are also many types of radio in use on the AWIN system. They all can be divided into three basic types. Most of the radios in use by ADH are portable units. Types of Radios

19. How does the AWIN System work? An amazing chain of events begins when you press and hold the Push to Talk button located on the side of the radio. You need to pause before speaking, to let the system do its work. We won’t actually press the Push to Talk button at this time, but just imagine we are doing so as we look at the next few slides. !

20. How does the AWIN System work? While you are pausing, your radio sends a request to talk to the tower site controller on the dedicated control data channel.

21. How does the AWIN System work? The local site controller then talks over the microwave link with the master zone controller to announce your request to talk.

22. How does the AWIN System work? The master zone controller then sends out instructions to the towers where members of your talk group are located, to direct all the radios associated with your talkgroup to open channels where they will wait for your message.

23. How does the AWIN System work? The same thing happens to your radio. It is directed to an open voice channel on the tower you are associated with. You will now hear a “permission to talk” tone from your radio. This entire sequence of events normally happens in about 1/10 of a second! You have been waiting a long time right?

24. How does the AWIN System work? Once you have received a ‘permission to talk’ tone, a voice channel exists between you and all of the members of your talkgroup system wide. You may now talk to your group members.

25. How does the AWIN System work? When transmitting, hold the radio 4 to 6 inches from your mouth. Speak clearly, and don’t shout. Notice that the antenna of the radio is held close to vertical. This improves the operating range of the radio. Remember to release the Push to Talk button when you finish speaking so you can hear the other person reply.

26. How does the AWIN System work? At most tower sites there are only 4 voice channels for all the users to share. Sometimes when you wish to talk, all the available voice channels at your local tower are busy.

27. How does the AWIN System work? The master zone controller responds to your request with a busy tone. When you get a busy tone, you cannot talk until a channel becomes free at the tower. The master zone controller remembers that you want to talk, and places you in the waiting line for the next available channel.

28. How does the AWIN System work? As soon as a channel is available, you will hear a ‘permission to talk’ tone. You have 1.5 seconds to press the push to talk button and speak. If you do not use the channel within 1.5 seconds it is given to the next person in line and you will need to pause until you hear the ‘permission’ tone again before talking.

29. How does the AWIN System work? Just as before, you now have a voice path to all the members of your talkgroup throughout the system and you may proceed with your message.

30. How does the AWIN System work? Sometimes you might be in a location that is not served well by the AWIN towers. To correct this problem, move to a different location, or find a higher place to stand such as the back of a pickup truck. A few extra feet of elevation can dramatically extend your radio range.

31. AWIN System Rules The use and operation of the AWIN system is regulated by the FCC, the Arkansas State Police, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, and the Arkansas Department of Information Services. You are being granted access to a Federally licensed radio system, and failure to follow the rules can result in administrative action against you or your agency.

32. When can you use the AWIN System? The AWIN System exists to be used, however you should remember it is “For Official Use Only” -Regularly scheduled system tests -Inter- or Intra-agency exercises -Actual events or emergencies

33. Equipment Use and Security The AWIN radios in use by ADH can listen and talk to the State Police Dispatch operations. A radio in the wrong hands can disrupt police communications statewide. If your radio is lost or stolen, you should report it immediately so it can be disabled. Care should always be taken to keep the radio in a safe location to prevent loss or theft. NEVER transmit on a talkgroup belonging to another agency unless specifically directed to do so. UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS

34. Using the AWIN radio to listen to the radio messages of another agency does use the system resources of the network. You should not use the AWIN radio as a ‘police scanner’ since this extra network loading might interfere with essential radio communications, and result in loss of life. This is especially true if the talkgroup you are listening to is not from the local area you are currently in. In most locations there are only 4 voice channels and using one of them to satisfy curious interest is not a wise use of AWIN resources. If you have an official reason to listen to a talkgroup, feel free to do so. If you are just curious, find another way to listen. Equipment Use and Security

35. AWIN System Procedures Every user of the AWIN System is expected to keep these principles in mind. There is no place for bad language or rudeness on the radio. We all have a job to do, and when you respect the job other people are doing they will respect the job you are doing. -Professionalism -Respect -Courtesy -Official use only Fundamental concepts for AWIN System use.

36. Limit use to minimum necessary to accomplish your mission. You are one of over 29,000 users on the AWIN system. To avoid system overload, you should keep your conversation short and to the point. Excessive talk could cause a busy channel overload and cause an unsafe condition for other system users.

37. AWIN System Procedures Identify yourself and your target before each new call and when acknowledging a call. ADH-ECC: “State Health calling Van Buren County.” Field user: “Good Morning, this is Van Buren County we copy you loud and clear.” ADH-ECC: “Copy you loud and clear as well. State Health calling Yell County Dardanelle.” Field user: “Yell County Dardanelle.” ADH-ECC: “State Health copies you loud and clear.” Remember to use PLAIN LANGUAGE only. We do not use 10-codes or other radio ‘jargon’ on the AWIN System.

38. MAC Talkgroups Assigned and directed by the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the MAC and EMS talkgroups are for use by multiple agencies working on a common incident or event. Using the MAC groups prevents system overloading that would occur if each agency were trying to use their own talkgroups in a disaster area. MAC groups facilitate communication between disciplines and across jurisdictional boundaries. MAC-8 Atkins Tornado MAC-4 Benton Co. Wildland Fire

39. Severe Weather Updates On MAC Call -Broadcast directly from the NWS Forecast Office in North Little Rock, AR -Up to date and current weather information 24/7 -Immediate notification of watches/warnings throughout the entire State -Users are able to provide feedback to NOAA/NWS on MAC Call

40. Contact Information DIS Call Center: 501-682-4357 1-800-435-7989 24 Hours a Day AWIN Operations: 501-683-1798 awin.operations@arkansas.gov Monday-Friday 7:00-4:00 ADH Tactical Comm: Office – 501-661-2747 Cell – 501-626-6413 John.Nordlund@arkansas.gov