F50V Pivotal in Storm Dispatch

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1 ia March 2008 ianews, your connection to Icom America s Land Mobile Division! Keep up with the latest products, news and technical information in this newsletter that s just for Icom America dealers. IN THIS ISSUE: FR5000 Test Drive and Review F50V Pivotal in Storm Dispatch FR5000/FR6000 High Performance 2U Rack Mount Digital/Analog Repeater Meet Your Icom Team: Mike Hilton Icom Monthly Haiku Introducing the A14 Air Band Radio Not Just Outstanding, Exceptional! Icom America s GSA Report Card Scalable, Expandable, Flexible! Tech Corner - Setting Tones in the FR6000 Repeater Which 4 Channel System Fits YOUR Needs? How do you cut your rack space rental fees in half? See illustration at end of this newsletter to see how Icom America Inc. The Icom logo is a registered trademark of Icom Inc. All other trademarks remain the property of their respective owners. All information and specifications subject to change without notice or obligation FR5000 Series Test Drive and Review from Rick Burke, Federal Radio Several dealer stores in a number of states and regions received the new FR5000 series repeater following its anticipated release in February. The scalable, expandable repeater completes the Icom 6.25 khz product line of ultra-narrowband capable two-way radios, aka IDAS. F50V Pivotal in Storm Dispatch Pacific Public Safety & Communications Provides Critical Assistance During Coastal Disaster A massive storm that pummeled the Washington and Oregon coast last December will be remembered by public safety officials for years to come. Wind gusts topping 130 mph took down power and phone lines, disabling service for up to a week in Clatsop County, Ore. Public safety communications took a direct hit when a generator went down, complicating dispatch capabilities. The state of Oregon was issued a declaration of major disaster. With near-freezing temperatures, hurricane force winds, rising flood waters, and extensive structural damage, local public safety agencies faced a serious crisis. Citizens needed a way to call for help, and agencies needed a reliable way to make sure that help arrived quickly. Ready for the challenge, Steve and Emalee Newby of Pacific Public Safety & Communications in Warrenton, Ore., stepped in to ensure local public safety agencies maintained communications capabilities throughout the storm. The strong opening orders are being pointed out largely as a result of the FR laying down a flexible migration path from analog to digital. A big draw for this repeater is the fact that it can be used as a transition tool, says Icom Mid Central Area Sales Manager, Mark Maynard. The FR5000 will operate as conventional analog in 12.5/25 khz while setting up a comprehensive strategy toward 6.25 khz digital, Continued on page 2 Courtesy of The Daily Astorian of Astoria, Oregon. Pacific Public Safety is the sole two-way radio service provider in Clatsop County, and the Newbys take the responsibility very seriously. When the December storm hit, the Newby s worked round the clock for several days, transferring systems to Continued on page 3

2 Continued from page 1 FR5000 Series FR5000/FR6000 High-Performance 2RU Rack Mount Digital/Analog Repeater MHz (VHF), , MHz (UHF) The FR5000/FR6000 seems to have a thing for doubling up the ante for one repeater: Analog + digital, two channels*, dual mode operation and doubling of channel capacity. Here s more: Digital/Analog dual mode operation *Two RF channels in one unit (second RF module optional) 50W output at 50% duty cycle 25W output at 100% duty cycle ±0.5ppm frequency stability 5-tone, DTMF Multiple table (16 pairs of CTCSS, DTCS and RAN codes per channel) 19 rack mountable at 2RU height Clear audio w/ambe+2 vocoder Analog audio compander 12-digit dot-matrix display 32 memory channels Base station operation w/ 5 programmable buttons and internal speaker D-SUB 25-pin RS-232 interface for external controllers Integrated digital features with IDAS digital portables and mobiles Software PC programmable And much more, please ask for a brochure! explains Maynard. This makes the most sense to companies and agencies that notice future growth in technology and are also looking to replace their legacy repeaters. Icom has hit a home run with the 6.25 khz FDMA technology! Rick Burke, Federal Radio While a number of dealers contacted were still in process of configuring and test driving the FR5000, Icom America received feedback on the repeater s performance from a store in Maryland. Rick Burke, general manager of Federal Radio, a Specialized Mobile Radio provider located in Aberdeen, Md., returned his comments on the FR6000 after two weeks of testing the repeater in trunking and 6.25 khz digital operations. I am very impressed with its performance and ease of set-up, says Burke. Burke configured the FR6000 with a home channel using Xtreme controllers operating the PassPort protocol developed by Tident Micro Systems. The trunked alignment process was simple and required no changes to the factory alignment setting. Audio quality is very good, says Burke. The 50 watt FR6000 repeater (25 watt full duty cycle) was then operated in 6.25 khz digital mode alongside LTR 100 watt repeaters on a 25 khz system tower as described by Burke. Range tests were made with portables comparing the LTR with 6.25 khz digital, says Burke. The most remarkable improvement of digital over analog is the total lack of noise when the portable is transmitting/receiving from a moving vehicle. Burke s testing between analog and digital revealed the clarity and integrity of the digital technology used in the FR. The audio quality does not suffer under the varying conditions of motion, trees or buildings. The digital mode is able to transmit and receive in places where the LTR system can t. Burke provided a solid number as reference for digital quality: Our testing shows a nearly 20% improvement in usable portable range when operated in a vehicle or in buildings. In agreement with Icom s Mark Maynard, Burke commented on the opportunity that the FR5000 provides analog customers looking to replace existing radios: now is a perfect opportunity to upgrade to digital with no increased burden to their budget. Our testing shows a nearly 20% improvement in usable portable range... Burke Burke says further that SMR operators are in need of a radio that provides some financial options along with the audio quality of the 6.25 digital system. He believes that the FR5000 repeater and digital radios will look very attractive to local customers dissatisfied with national carriers. According to Burke, Icom has hit a home run with the 6.25 khz FDMA technology! ianews / March 2008 / Page 2

3 Meet Your Icom Team Continued from page 1 F50V Pivotal in Storm Dispatch Mike Hilton Technical Service Representative The strikingly handsome model sporting the new A14 (see ad next page) is Icom America s own Mike Hilton. Hilton is a Technical Service Representative (TSR) for Icom America now 7 years, answering radio questions for Icom aviation, marine and amateur. Hilton is a Vietnam veteran, having served as a helicopter, UH-1H ( Huey ), crew chief/door gunner in the U.S. Army, assigned to the 1st Aviation Brigade. My unit was the 176th Assault Helicopter Company called the Minutemen, says Mike. I got about 70 hours of stick time where I actually flew the helicopter. Years after Vietnam, Hilton took flying lessons from an aviation company located at Boeing Field just five miles south of Seattle. While Hilton is not a fixed wing licensed pilot he aims to complete his flight training. Hilton was grabbed by Maureen Blomgren, Icom America graphic designer and the creator of the A14 ad. He was perfect for the photo I wanted, says Maureen. He is so gracious and knows a lot about avionics. The photo shoot was held at Glasair Aviation, a leading kitplane manufacturer in Arlington, Wash. Hilton spoke enthusiastically about the kitplanes being created at Glasair, and that he hopes to be flying in one of his own very soon. When asked about the whole creative experience, Hilton affably says It was a great time. backup power and lending demo radios to local public safety agencies and dispatch centers. One of the demo radios, an F50V, was given to the Astoria fire department before the storm hit. The transceiver was used to dispatch local fire departments and volunteers on a mountain top until the repeater located there was operational again. Steve Newby had already pre-programmed the F50V with the county s fire paging codes. Steve Newby, with Emalee Newby, demonstrates DTMF on the F70T inside Pacific Public Safety and Communications. The Newbys hooked up the county sheriffs department to an old community repeater with telephone interconnect in order for sheriffs deputies to reach Astoria dispatch. Photo by Alex Pajunas. Reprinted with permission from The Daily Astorian of Astoria, Oregon. The Newbys also had their own problems while attending to a number of radio sites located around the county three trees landed on the Newby s home and heavy rains washed out their driveway. The Newby s SUV had seen storms before but the December storm had put water depths over the hood. We have since had it [SUV] washed but you should have seen it before, chuckles Emalee. We started preparations as soon as we knew the storm was coming, says Steve Newby, who says the F50V worked flawlessly throughout the storm and subsequent recovery efforts. The F50V s highly durable, waterproof construction was a good feature to have when confronting the storm s most extreme weather. Pacific Public Safety also provided Icom mobiles and portables to two dispatch centers for communications during the storm. Clatsop County s North County Dispatch Center, based in Astoria, relied on an Icom F1721 mobile to dispatch fire and police departments and the county sheriff s department. At the South County Dispatch Center in Seaside, dispatchers used an Icom F50 to dispatch police and fire departments. Recognizing Steve and Emalee Newby s extraordinary efforts during the storm, the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners presented Pacific Public Safety Communications with a plaque of recognition in thanks for their cooperation and good nature during challenging conditions and for service above and beyond the call of duty. Clatsop County also recognized the emergency communications assistance received by ham radio operators during downed electrical, landline and cellular services, amateur radio operators provided our only communications link to the outside world. [The storm] was a real opener, one that we have constantly tried to bring to the attention of emergency services in the area, says Emalee Newby. The one thing this county found out was how much they relied on hard landline and cellular phones for communication. Local agencies were impressed with the performance of the F50V and many are now purchasing the radio as an alternative to the Minitor V TM, Steve Newby says. They like the small size and ability to tone out [receive and decode paging tones], he says. The extraordinary efforts of Steve and Emalee Newby were covered in the December 14th issue of The Daily Astorian. ianews / March 2008 / Page 3

4 Introducing a New Air Band Radio A14/A14S Icom Monthly Haiku FR5000: A new Icom repeater. Scalability! Pay by the RU? Check the FR5000: Cut your rental fees! Let s go digital! F3161 Yeah, that s the ticket! Grow with digital! But -- abandon analog? Not what Icom says. New IDAS: Just another acronym? No. It is the future! Introducing the A14/A14S series Li-ion powered air band transceivers. The A14 radios offer all of the Icom ruggedness and reliability that all other Icom handheld radios are well known for. Air band radios are typically operated in high noise environments. The A14, with 700 mw audio output combined with a BTL amplifier, offers outstanding volume and clarity for the tarmac and maintenance shop. And Icom V Speed Audio cuts through the cabin noise. The durable A14 is lightweight, making for an easy carryon in a pilot s bag. Use the A14 as a standalone onboard air band or emergency backup to the panel mount. For ground crews, the A14 can be comfortably worn on a belt throughout the day. The A14 is the perfect air band companion for pilots of kit planes or light sport aircraft, explains avionics expert, Mike Hilton, Icom America Technical Service Representative and spokes model for the A14 ad. Pilots of these lightweight aircraft typically do not want to install panel mounts. Look for more on the A14/A14S at icomamerica.com/avionics Written by anonymous A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. Submit your own haiku to icom@icomamerica.com. If we use it we ll send you a nice piece of swag. Not Just Outstanding, Exceptional! Icom America Receives GSA Report Card Congratulations to the Icom America government sales team, particularly Government Customer Service Supervisor, Etsi Tamura for her outstanding management of the numerous compliance rules and details that make up Icom America s GSA contract. Icom America Inc. has received the prominent Exceptional rating by the U.S. Government s General Services Administration (GSA) for exemplary management of its GSA contract GS-35F-0109L. Icom America Inc. sells directly to Federal and State and Local government agencies by authority of its GSA contract. It is important to be rated well in the annual compliance review so that we can be listed as a contractor in good standing with GSA, says Tamura. This recent award will show Icom America s ongoing commitment to its customers and GSA pricing policies. Ratings are delivered via an Administrative Compliance Report Card after a GSA audit. In addition to the recent award in March, Icom America s government division received Outstanding ratings the prior three years due to Tamura s consistent efforts. Excellent job, Etsi! Icom America s GSA contract is valid until 12/13/2010. ianews / March 2008 / Page 4

5 TECH CORNER Setting Tones in the FR6000 Repeater FR5000/FR6000 Scalable, Expandable, Flexible! Customize your FR5000/FR6000 with these available system accessories from Icom America Systems: Because the FR6000 receives and transmits signals in any combination of analog and digital, programming tones/ran codes is an important part of setting up your repeater for the performance you want. When programming tones, the first step is programming tones in the Multiple Table. Here you can enter all tones/codes: CTCSS, DTCS, and digital RAN codes. There are a total of 16 tables that can be programmed; enter the number of the table in the Table No. field to call up the one you want. RF modules External trunking controllers External pass/notch duplexers Expandable/redundant power supply Power amplifiers The FR5000 series offers greater flexibility when customizing a solution for your unique applications. Contact your Icom America Systems manager for more detailed information. Next, reference the tone sets in the appropriate channel by entering the number of the Multiple Table in the Multi Table No. field. Turnkey system solutions are available to you for plug and play. Icom America Systems provides highly trained and qualified system designers and engineers ready to help you with your customized system. Call Icom America Systems (425) If tones are not entered in the Multiple Table, or if the table is not referenced in the Multi Table No. field (in the Memory CH), the repeater will respond differently. When in analog mode, the repeater will be open squelch and will accept any signal and tone as long as the frequency matches. It will then transmit with the tone entered in the TX C. Tone field. This tone is used by the repeater when being used as a base station. With digital channels, if the frequency matches, the repeater will simply ignore the RAN codes and pass the signal through with the original RAN codes from the radio intact. Icom America Inc th Ave NE Bellevue, WA Phone: (425) Fax: (425) Customer Service: (425) Icom America Systems Phone: (425) Fax: (425) ias@icomamerica.com If you would like more complete programming instructions for repeater use, refer to knowledge base article: FR6000 Repeater Programming (#83PG632517). ianews / March 2008 / Page 5

6 Digital is the Future of Two-Way Radio. Grow your System into it with Icom. Icom s IDAS digital radios offer analog AND digital, programmable by channel. So grow into digital. With 512 channel capacity, there s lots of room to grow! F3161 series FR5000 series F5061D series 4 Channel, 16 RU 12.5 or 25 khz Conventional Save 62.5% in rack space rental fees. Power Supply 4 Channel, 6 RU 12.5 or 25 khz Conventional 6.25 khz Digital Icom s IDAS digital repeater, the FR5000 series, occupies less physical space AND less spectrum space (preserving your FCC allocation). Discover the power of data. Clearer voice. Impressive scalability and easy, powerful PC programming. Grow into digital the smart way. With Icom. Contact us today. 800-USA-ICOM *Action by the Commission, by Third Report and Order (FCC 07-39) March Icom America Inc. The Icom logo is a registered trademark of Icom Inc