SIEC Operational Subcommittee Meeting minutes

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Page 2

SIEC-OPERATIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Department of Transportation, Brick Store Landing Road

MEMBERS PRESENT
William Carrow-DivComm
James Clacher, DelDOT
Richard Pounsberry, DOC
Tom Kadunce, DivComm
Mark Grubb, DivComm
Timothy Sexton, DHSS
Deidre Gleason, DelDOT
Jennifer Dittman, DEMA
Perry Allfather, DOC/P&P
Tim Dobrowolski, RCC
Richard Short, Sussex County, 911
Elizabeth Duncan, DivComm
William Street, NCC911
Warren Jones, D.V.F.A.
Michael Witkowski, City of Wilmington

Introductions:

James Clacher, DelDOT opened the meeting at 1:34 with introductions.

Approval of Meeting Minutes from Previous Meeting:

A motion was made by Bill Carrow to accept the minutes from the April 25, 2013 meeting as written. The motion was seconded by Michael Witkowski which passed unanimously.

Project Updates:

o  Overview of SIEC (Executive) Meeting

o  700MHz / 800MHz Systems

o  Rebanding

o  BDA

o  LMR Strategic Plan

Mark Grubb, DivComm briefed the committee on the SIEC Executive Meeting. The committee went over the LMR review of the Motorola proposal, including zone controller and subscriber radio equipment. DEMA is working on possible reallocation of funding for FY11 and FY12 to use toward this project. Mark also advised that the July SIEC meeting will be cancelled.
Tom Kadunce, DivComm briefed the committee that both the 700 and 800 MHz systems were fully operational with normal maintenance.

Bill Carrow, DivComm briefed the committee on rebanding. The problems have been addressed found by Motorola and addressed. Second Touch infrastructure in Kent County will take place the week of June 3 and Sussex County the week of June 24. Subscriber units 2nd touch programming will begin with DRBA on July 8, followed by DelDOT on July 15, 2013.

Beth Duncan, DivComm Briefed on the BDA project. Going out to the various buildings doing rechecks in the areas affected by rebanding and scheduling revisits to other buildings with police and fire representatives.

Mark Grubb had briefed the committee on the LMR strategic plan under the overview of the SIEC meeting.
Community Reports – None reported.

New Business

Standard antennas verse the shorter version antennas on portable radios. DivComm has conducted several tests of radio signal strength using both long and short antennas. The tests were performed using the Motorola APX 6000 portable radios. On an average there was a 6 point difference in the Received Signal Strength Index (RSSI) readings. Motorola radios are designed to use the 7 and 8 inch antennas which are ½ wave. The shorter antenna is an 800MHz ¼ wave antenna however it is designed for use with shoulder microphones. While both antennas will work in most instances and end users will likely not be able to notice a difference in audio quality, this is because we operate a digital system. The area of concern is coverage range. Unlike an analog system where users will notice a degradation in audio quality as they move into low coverage areas, in a digital system you will not hear the degradation. When the user reaches poor coverage areas the audio will simply end. This could result in a significant difference in coverage areas between the two antennas styles. This committee’s decision was to accept the test results, and send an e-mail as an advisory to the full SIEC and ask the representatives to notify their respective groups. Bill Carrow to send out as a separate e-mail notification. The topic will be discussed at the next SIEC meeting.

Meeting Adjourned @ 2:45pm.

The June meeting is cancelled and our next scheduled meeting is July 25, 2013 @ 1:30pm at DelDOT/TMC, Rehoboth Conference Room.