Understanding National Law Enforcement and Wireless Corrections Technology Center Communications in Public Safety A Guidebook to Technology, Issues, Planning, and Management National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Understanding Wireless Communications in Public Safety A Guidebook to Technology, Issues, Planning, and Management Written by: Kathy J. Imel and James W. Hart, P.E. For: The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (Rocky Mountain Region) A Program of the National Institute of Justice March 2000 Revised: August 2000 National Institute of Justice Julie E. Samuels Acting Director NCJ 180211 The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement #96–MU–MU–K011 awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, National Institute of Justice. Analyses of test results do not represent product approval or endorsement by the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice; the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce; or Aspen Systems Corporation. Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Institute of Justice is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and Office for Victims of Crime. Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center–Rocky Mountain ......... ix Acknowledgments ............................................................... ix Introduction ..................................................................... 1 Part 1. Planning and Managing a Communications Project ................................ 3 Chapter 1. What It Takes to Succeed .............................................. 5 A Plan .................................................................... 5 Time, Money, and Resources ................................................... 5 Getting Started ............................................................. 6 What Do You Have Now? .................................................. 6 What Do You Need? ...................................................... 7 What Are Your Options? ................................................... 7 How Much Will It Cost? ................................................... 8 How Do You Implement the Project? .......................................... 9 Getting Help ............................................................... 9 Other Agencies .......................................................... 9 Consultants ............................................................. 9 Vendors .............................................................. 10 Chapter 2. Planning the Project .................................................. 11 Realistic Schedule .......................................................... 11 Project Team(s) ............................................................ 11 Project Manager ........................................................ 12 Responsibility ....................................................... 12 Authority .......................................................... 12 Time .............................................................. 12 Management Support ................................................. 12 Physical Resources ................................................... 12 Other Team Members .................................................... 12 Budget .................................................................. 13 Chapter 3. Obtaining Funds .................................................... 15 Types of Funds ............................................................ 15 Sources of Funds ........................................................... 15 Federal Sources ......................................................... 15 -iii- Block Grants ....................................................... 17 Discretionary Grants .................................................. 17 Federal Asset Forfeiture Funds .......................................... 17 State Sources .......................................................... 18 Local Sources .......................................................... 18 Single Agency Versus Multiple Agencies ................................... 19 “Selling” Your Need ........................................................ 19 Getting Help .............................................................. 20 Chapter 4. Buying What You Need ............................................... 23 How to Buy ............................................................... 23 Competitive Procurement ................................................. 23 Noncompetitive Procurement ............................................... 23 Sole Source Procurement .............................................. 24 Contract for Operational Services ........................................ 24 Cooperative Purchasing ................................................... 24 Leasing ............................................................... 25 Outsourcing ........................................................... 25 Request for Information (RFI) .............................................. 25 Competitive Procurement (RFP) ............................................... 26 Request for Proposal (RFP) ................................................ 26 RFP Process ........................................................... 26 Develop the RFP ..................................................... 26 Issue the RFP ....................................................... 27 Evaluate Responses .................................................. 28 Select Vendor ....................................................... 28 Negotiate Contract ................................................... 29 Manage the Project ................................................... 30 Acceptance Testing ................................................... 30 Part 2. Wireless Communications Technology ......................................... 31 Chapter 5. Voice Versus Data ................................................... 33 Voice Versus Data ......................................................... 33 Analog Versus Digital ....................................................... 34 Analog Radio Systems ................................................... 35 Digital Radio Systems .................................................... 35 Transmission Differences ................................................. 36 Chapter 6. Characteristics of Radio Systems ....................................... 39 Understanding Radio Terms .................................................. 39 Wave ................................................................ 39 Wavelength ............................................................ 40 Cycle ................................................................ 40 Frequency ............................................................. 40 -iv- Table of Contents Spectrum and Bands ..................................................... 41 Public Safety Bands .................................................. 42 Channels .............................................................. 42 Mobile Radio System Frequencies .............................................. 44 Frequency Selection Considerations .......................................... 44 Coverage .......................................................... 44 Building Penetration .................................................. 44 Skip .............................................................. 44 Noise ............................................................. 44 Antenna Size ........................................................ 44 Transmitters and Receivers ................................................... 45 Transmitters ........................................................... 45 Receivers ............................................................. 46 Antennas ................................................................. 47 Gain ................................................................. 47 Types of Antennas ...................................................... 49 Base Station Antennas ................................................ 49 Directional Antennas .................................................. 49 Mobile Antennas ..................................................... 50 Portable Antennas .................................................... 50 Smart Antennas ..................................................... 50 Interference ............................................................ 50 Radiation ............................................................. 51 Local Regulations Controlling Antennas ...................................... 51 Radio Coverage ............................................................ 51 Duplexers, Combiners, Multicouplers ........................................... 53 Duplexers ............................................................. 53 Combiners ............................................................ 54 Multicouplers .......................................................... 55 Multiple Access Systems ..................................................... 56 Frequency Division Multiple Access