INTRODUCTION Communications Support 131 (CS131) is an important asset of the District and plays a significant role in the county and region. The unit has many communications assets, including radios on most radio bands, satellite communications, and interoperability equipment. Operation of the unit to its full capabilities requires significant training, both initially and ongoing. Communications Reserves are assigned to this unit to provide technical expertise and assist with duties associated with this unit. It is pivotal that the Communications Reserves are notified as early as possible during any deployment. They have the technical expertise to assist with setup and to create a smooth and efficient operation. There are two basic levels this unit can be called upon to perform. The first and most common is the role of Mobile Command Post. In this role, the vehicle is field deployed and can provide the incident with communications assets and a location to support the Incident Commander and staff. The other major function is that of a backup Communications Center. In this role, the vehicle is typically deployed at a fixed facility; can plug into phone lines; and, depending upon the level of damage to the primary Communication Center, can use much of the Communication Center s equipment. INFORMATION Driving: If the Communications Support Unit is operating as a Mobile Command Post, it requires a Class B licensed driver to move it to the desired location. It is critical that the generator be started as soon as it is moved out of its normal parking space. CS131 is on shore power (3 connections, Red, Blue (rear driver s side) and Black (front driver s side)) at all times; all plugs auto eject as soon as the engine is started. Unless the vehicle is plugged in or the generator is running, much of the equipment inside will require restarting prior to use, which is a time consuming process. Power: If the plugs are ejected, the Red and Blue connections require pressing the black rubber button on the top of the plug; the outlet will move out from the wall; put the shoreline plug over the now exposed plug and press the button again. The first press allows a mechanical connection; the second actually transfers the electrical contacts. The front Black plug is a normal Kussmal Auto Eject plug, as seen on many of the District Units. AUTHOR: Chris Suter, Deputy Chief Page 1 of 5
If the generator cannot be used, there is a capability to plug the vehicle into appropriate outlets on buildings or another generator. There are two 100-ft, heavy duty cables located on the driver s side, exterior front compartment. The vehicle requires a 30 amp outlet for each of the Red and Blue circuits, to achieve full capacity. They can be plugged into a normal 20 amp outlet, but it will require the operators to limit use of equipment. Do not plug the Red and Blue circuits into the same outlet or on the same building circuit; it will trip the breaker. The Red circuit operates all the 110 volt AC equipment on the vehicle, the Blue circuit operates the Air Conditioners in the main body of the vehicle, and the Black circuit charges the 12 Volt DC batteries. If only one is available, the Red circuit is the priority. The second priority is the Black circuit, and the final priority is the Blue circuit. Slide out: The unit is equipped with a slide out section in the Dispatch area, which greatly enhances the available workspace. It is operated by a switch located on the front wall of the Dispatch Area, on the passenger side of the vehicle. Operate the switch in the out direction until the slide out is fully deployed or it has reached the desired location. It can be safely used at any point on the way out. Do not allow people to ride in the seats or stand on the slide out when the vehicle is moving. Leveling: This vehicle is equipped with leveling jacks. Any personnel, who have been trained, can operate these leveling jacks. A significant amount of damage can result from improper deployment of this feature. Telephone: The vehicle is equipped with 3 Cell phones and a Satellite phone attached permanently to the phone system on board. There are six phones inside: one in the technical support area of the Cab, four in the Dispatch area, and one in the command/planning area. In the large exterior compartment on the driver s side next to the rear wheel, there are additional phones for external deployment, if necessary. There is a 100-ft cable with a connector, into which additional phones can be plugged. It is possible to attach landline phone lines into this unit. In the same compartment as the phones mentioned above, is a 100-ft cable with a RJ21X block on the end. This is the piece of equipment that the Telephone Company is expecting to find in a building. They can start at position 1 on this block and work down. As they do this, the phone lines automatically appear on the phones inside and outside. Up to 16 lines can be added, in this manner. If the unit is being deployed as a Backup Communications Center, the RJ21X block should be removed from the end of the cable; the connector can be removed without tools. Station 31 has a matching plug on the wall of Station 31, next to door four (4). If the cable from the CS131 Unit AUTHOR: Chris Suter, Deputy Chief Page 2 of 5
is plugged in there, the business and emergency lines will appear on the phones, both inside and out. This is true regardless of the power situation within Station 31. If the unit is deployed at the Administration building (Admin), there is a box located on the east wall, in the south east corner of the building, on the exterior wall of the Chief s office. The box requires a wrench to open, (tools are located in the second compartment, back on the passenger side of CS131). Once open, the same connector is there for attaching the cable. The business and emergency lines will then work, as above. Computer: There are six desktop computers on CS131 with Intergraph CAD installed on them. They are nodes (computer name) BAGO1, BAGO2, BAGO3, BAGO4, BAGO5 and BAGO6. The login to each of these is Administrator; the password is on a label on each screen. Remember, the passwords are case sensitive. If the servers and network at Station 31 are powered, then CAD can be accessed from CS131, by way of a desktop icon, identical to those in the Communications Center. There is a secure wireless network at Admin and Station 31. At Station 31, it will work in the south parking lot, anywhere within approximately 100 feet of the apparatus room doors. At Admin, it will work anywhere within the length of the cable used to attach the phones. Radio: There are many radios on CS131. There are two 33-42 MHz Low Band Radios, two 42-50MHz Low Band Radios, eight 150-175MHz High Band Radios, eight 460-500MHz Radios, two Motorola 800MHz Trunked Radios, two Ma/COMM 800 MHz Trunked Radios, Aircraft, Marine and three Amateur Radios. Most of these can be accessed from a Telex-Vega Radio Console, installed on BAGO 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Console: The Telex-Vega Radio Console is an IP-based network with IP223 network interface boxes, each attached to two radios. These IP223 s must be turned on to allow the consoles to access the various radios. There are three switch locations; all should be activated to permit console operations. On the passenger side of the dispatch area, just left of radio #3, below the overhead sliding cabinets is a silver switch; this switch operates the IP223 s on that side of the truck. On the Driver s side of the dispatch area, there is a white switch located under the counter, to the right of the file cabinet. In the technical support area, there is a switch under a red plastic cover, on the left side of the interoperability cabinet. On the console, the buttons are labeled Radio 1, 2, 3, etc. Each radio in the truck has a corresponding number on a label. The channel selected on each physical radio is the one available to the Dispatcher. The console can be used either with or without a headset. Headset use is strongly recommended, due to the relatively high background noise in the unit. AUTHOR: Chris Suter, Deputy Chief Page 3 of 5
Satellite Internet: If the unit is not within range of a wireless access point at a SRVFPD station, Internet access and subsequently CAD can be accessed via Satellite Internet. This is not an option if wireless 802.11 is available, since the router always selects the 802.11 access point first. To set it up, a visual check must be conducted outside the unit to make sure the dish will clear any overhead obstructions. A clear line-of-sight to the southern sky is also required. The camera mast and light tower must also be out of the way of the line-of-sight to the dish. Deploying the dish requires the operator to go to the kitchen and locate a box above the microwave known as D4. Turn on the power using the power switch on the front. Located on the D4 box is a Search and a Stow button. Press the Search button and the dish should immediately deploy and search for the satellite. The satellite search and lock-on usually take 2-4 minutes. If the Satellite is deployed and operational (no wireless from a building) a Voice-over-Internet phone line is also available. It appears on the bottom right button of the phones. Satellite Television: It is often useful to see local and national news feeds. These can be accessed on CS131 via Direct TV. To access this function, open the interior compartment on the passenger side of the Command/Planning area. In this cabinet is a smaller version of the D4 box above. In this case, the box is always powered off. Turn on the power, using the power switch on the front, and then press the Find button. The dish will self-deploy and locate the satellite. Deployment time should be under 2 minutes. Again, a clear view of the southern sky is required. Cache Radios: CS131 has 32 DPH model Bendix King Radios. These are 500-channel, VHF, High Band, portable radios. They operate on 9 (ea) AA batteries in a Clamshell battery pack, and each box contains two Clamshells and 9 loose batteries for each radio. One Clamshell battery should last at least 8 hours and possibly as long 24 hours, depending upon use. The Clamshells have tape over the connector to show the date the batteries were changed and the fact that they have not been used. There are also 16 UHF portable radios. These are Motorola HT750, 16-channel radios. They are programmed identically to the SRVFPD radios. There are 2 rechargeable batteries for each radio and 8 quick chargers. All the radios on CS131, mobile or portable (with the exception of the trunked radios), can be programmed on the vehicle. Portable Repeater: In the event of a significant event or the destruction of infrastructure, there is a battery-powered portable repeater on CS131. The repeater is located on the passenger side exterior, second compartment back. The antenna masts are located in the compartment in front. The battery is located in the second exterior compartment on the driver s side. It is fully charged at all times, and the connector to charge it is the same as the one to attach it to the repeater. The AUTHOR: Chris Suter, Deputy Chief Page 4 of 5
Repeater can rebroadcast either VHF or UHF in Digital or Analog modes, but only one at a time. The battery will last several days under normal usage, less under heavy use. GIS: Geographical Information Systems are becoming increasingly important to the delivery of emergency services. This is particularly true in major events, CS131 has capabilities to produce GIS maps and print them on a plotter in the vehicle. This function requires trained personnel. The Communication Reserves can fulfill this requirement. In addition, the District has a GIS Analyst, who is able to use the equipment. CDF, the City of San Ramon, and the Town of Danville also use the same software and can use the equipment. DEFINITIONS AC Alternating Current same as provided by PG&E CAD Computer Aided Dispatch DC Direct Current same as is found in cars and trucks DPH Digital or Analog VHF portable radio GIS Geographical Information System Trunked Trunked radios use different technology and cannot communicate with conventional radios Repeater Radio, used to receive and simultaneously retransmit radio traffic, to greatly extend range. Usually placed on hilltops or high buildings RJ21X A telephone block used to separate the Phone Company responsibility from the customer responsibility VHF Very High Frequency Radio (150-172 MHz) UHF Ultra High Frequency Radio (450-500 MHz) 802.11 Wireless Computer Access, short range available at SRVFPD Stations AUTHOR: Chris Suter, Deputy Chief Page 5 of 5