Fire Station Radio System with Federal “Informer” Alert Receiver
TK 5710
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
MAY 2010
Version: 10B
Kenwood Model 5710
Fire Station Radio System with Federal Informer Alert Receiver
Operational Overview
May 2010
THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR THE TK-5710 KENWOOD
Background
This radio system represents a major change to the way Cal Fire station radio systems have been configured in the past. The major change is in the use of a separate, dedicated tone out receiver totally independent of the Kenwood radio. The only purpose of the receiver is to tone out the station. This allows the two –way radio to be a standard configuration radio, capable of transmitting on different (licensed) radio nets and scanning. Because a dedicated tone-out receiver is being used, it is no longer critical that the base station radio be on the dispatch net. In fact, it isn’t even necessary that the radio be there at all. This document will give a brief description of the operation and function of the different components of the new Cal Fire station radio package.
Another feature of these new radio packages is the fact that the radio, amplifier and receiver do not need to be placed in the traditional location, such as the barracks or office. Because the remotes do all the work the package can now be placed in a closet or some other out of the way place if need be.
Note: These instructions are for the Kenwood TK-5710 mobile radio. Earlier versions of this radio utilize the Kenwood TK-790 mobile radio which is found in almost all Cal Fire vehicles. The way to tell the difference from the radio models is to look at the on/off switch on the left hand side of the control head. 5710 models have a white power symbol located on the rubber button while the 790 does not. In addition small labels marked “TK-5710” will be located at the top of the control head.
ALERT RECIEVER
The first and most important piece of the radio system is the Federal “Informer” Alert receiver. This receiver is turned to the dispatch frequency for this station and is programmed with the proper paging tones, both station call, and if used group call or all call. When the radio receives the proper paging tones, the receiver will set off a loud tone from its own internal speaker as will as being sent into the Bogen PA speaker system and will be heard throughout the station.
For those stations that have the new volume override system (some older stations and most new stations) during the same time as the alert tone is being generated, a relay in the receiver will close and send a signal to all of the PA speaker volume controls, overriding their settings causing the speakers to go to full volume to make sure that a tone-out is not missed. At the end of the alert tone period, the relay will reset and the speakers will go back to their previous settings. Note that if the volume controls are turned all the way off, all that will be heard is the alert tone. The voice dispatch after tone out will not be heard. For this reason it is important not to turn the PA speakers all the way off unless absolutely necessary. After tone out the receiver will remain active for about 5 minutes (or whatever it is programmed for). This time should be sufficient to receive the voice dispatch and any follow-up information, including early cancellations while still in the station. At the end of the programmed time the receiver will reset and go back to the mute condition. This feature allows the station to be toned out and not have to remember to reset the alert receiver. There is no need to ever touch the receiver. (The flashing red light is normal on the receiver).
KENWOOD RADIO PACKAGE
The second piece of the radio system is the Kenwood base radio package. This radio has a similar version to the radio in the engines except that it is a 500 channel radio and of course has a different set of channels programmed into it. The only transmit frequencies programmed into this radio are those that are licensed for this site by the FCC. In addition to the transmit(s), other receive only frequencies can be programmed and scanned. This radio has NO tone out capability.
In addition to the reduced set of channels, many of the buttons on the front of the radio are disabled because of the special function of this radio. Disabled buttons include T/A for direct, (in most cases, stations are not licensed to transmit on the 151 MHz frequencies); group select UP/Down, and Command group modify AUX C (only one group is programmed).
The Kenwood radio package includes the ability of selecting various repeaters based on the programming of the radio. The first seven channels in the radio can be selected from the remotes. These seven channels can be programmed for various combinations of nets and repeater tones. That is, it may be possible to select Local Net tone 1,tone 3 or tone 8 from the remotes if those local net repeaters are for this site and the radio is programmed with these licensed channels and tones. In addition, some stations are licensed for command Nets and other Local government channels. If not, these channels can be put in the radio in a “receive only basis”.
REMOTES
The third piece of the system is the remotes. The remotes being provided with the radio package are 16 frequency remotes, F1 thru F16. The remotes can select radio channels 1 thru 7, turn scan on, turn scan off and select the operation of the control head for adding and deleting channels in scan.
Typical programming is as follows:
F-1 Main dispatch channel (Normally local net or County Net and closet repeater
F-2 Main dispatch channel (secondary repeater)
F-3 CDF Command 1 (receive only unless licensed for Transmit)
F-4 CDF Command 2 (receive only unless licensed for Transmit)
F-4 Any frequency
F-5 Any frequency
F-6 Any frequency
F-7 Any frequency
F-8 thru F14- Not used (Defaults to F-1)
F-15- Turns scan on
F-16-Turns scan off (and gives you control of the radio)
Each remote should be labeled for each button. Any unused or “unassigned” buttons will be programmed for the same function as the F1 button. In most cases F1 will be the dispatch channel for this station.
F-15 will turn the scan on and F-16 will turn scan off. In addition, F-16 is reserved for control of the radio at the radio control head. While set to F1 thru F15 the remotes have control of the radio and the front panel of the radio is disabled and will not work including the ability to transmit from the local handheld microphone. Setting the radio to F-16 from any of the remotes returns control of the radio faceplate. This allows the user to do the following:
*Adjust the squelch (To adjust the squelch, press SQ and then use the group up/down buttons for adjusting, when finished press SQ again)
*Add or delete channels in scan
*Select user selectable tone (OST) just like a mobile radio
One use of this feature would be if there is a need to use a local net tone that isn’t preprogrammed to one of the F1-F7 buttons. The radio will always have (Channel 8) programmed for local net without a pre-programmed repeater tone, to allow the user selection of a local net repeater tone. As an example, let say the local net tone 5 repeater gets switched to a new tone such as tone 14. Until the radio tech can get to the station to program the new tone, you can select F16 on a remote, go to the radio, select channel “LOCAL OST”, and then select tone 14 just like you would on a mobile radio. You can now select any one of 16 tones for local net.
Another feature of the remotes is to mute and un-mute receive audio from the Kenwood that is heard in the remotes and the PA system. The remotes do not have mute control of the alert receiver. The alert receiver is always muted except during the programmed time duration immediately after tone out. (Note: Alert tone audio DOES NOT come thru the remotes!) Only alert tone audio comes thru all the speakers. To mute the audio from the Kenwood radio press the button on any remote marked “Mute”. The monitor light (LED) will light on all the remotes, as well as the monitor light on the radio package itself. This indicated that the radio package is muted. No audio fro the Kenwood will be heard in the remotes or speakers. To un-mute, press the transmit button on any remote from the handset or the red button located on the remote itself. (Note: It is not necessary to pick up the handset on the remotes to talk. You can just press the red button on the remotes and talk into the remote). In addition there is an “Intercom “feature on the remotes to allow you to talk from remote to remote. Note: Normally “Monitor” would indicate that receive audio will be heard. In our use “Monitor is actually “Mute” and our remotes have been modified at the factory.
Add or Delete a channel in Scan: To add or delete a channel in scan first do the following:
1. Press F16 on any remote
2. Go to the radio control head
3. Rotate the channel selector knob and add or delete (Press D/A) any channel in scan
4. Return back to any remote and press F-15 (Scan On)
5. When finished with scanning press F1 to return to your main dispatch channel.
At any time that you want to listen to a selected channel (F1 thru F7) you can press that button and just listen to that channel. An example would be an allied agency that has an incident going and you want to just hear that and nothing else. You would then press any F1 thru F7 button to listen to just that channel and not worry about your dispatch channel as you have that on the separate receiver. However, use caution as you will not hear any pre-alerts on local net as the alert receiver is always muted.
1. PRIORITY CHANNEL OPERATION: While in scan mode, whatever channel is shown on the display, that channel will become the priority channel. It is fixed to the displayed channel and follows the displayed channel.
When finished with scanning do the following:
1. From any remote, press F16 then F1. This turns the scan off and returns you to your main dispatch channel (Or you could press any F2 thru F8 button)
NOTE: While in scanning and you left the displayed channel (Priority) on any channel other than your dispatch channel, your dispatch channel will not be the priority channel. However, you will always have the Alert Receiver working on the dispatch channel so you will not miss a call.
PA SPEAKER SYSTEM
The last piece of the system is the PA system. The PA system has several audio inputs. The two main inputs are the Alert Receiver and the Kenwood radio package audio. The audio from the Alert Receiver has priority over all other audio inputs. Any audio from the Alert Receiver will mute audio from the other inputs. Those inputs will remain muted for approximately 3 seconds after the audio from the Alert Receiver stops. This assures that the alert tones are heard when the station is toned out regardless of any other signals or muting conditions.
There is only one exception, and that is when the Kenwood radio is transmitting. The radio package includes a connection to the PA amplifier so that when the radio is transmitting, the PA speaker system is completely muted. This prevents Alert Receiver audio in the PA speakers from feeding back into the radio transmit audio. The muting of the Alert Receiver audio in the PA system should not be a problem as in most cases, the radio will likely be transmitting on the same net as the Alert Receiver is receiving. In that circumstance, it is not possible to tone out the station as the dispatch channel will already be busy due to the radio transmitting.
In addition to the audio from the Alert Receiver and the Kenwood, the PA system will also have the capability of a paging microphone and/or the optional telephone paging thru the telephone system. There can also be doorbell and telephone ringer inputs if needed.
The outside speakers are tied to an electronic timer that can be programmed for the speakers to come on and off during the day. This timer is programmable by the user and you must change the one AA battery at least once a year to keep the memory in program. If your speakers do not come on or off after a while, it could be that the battery has gone dead. (Some stations have a photo electric cell for turning speakers on and off) Also on the front of the radio package is an Outside Speaker Override Switch that will turn the speakers off regardless of what the timer is set to.
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