San Diego County REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM RCS Overview

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San Diego County REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEMRCS Overview
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San Diego County TOPOGRAPHY
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RCS Site Development Central Electronics Bank
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Regional Communications SystemVision

• To provide seamless wireless communications for
  public safety/service agencies serving 3,000,000
  people in San Diego County and Imperial County.
• To provide RCS users with wireless
  interoperability with other local systems.
• INTEROPERABILITY means law, fire, EMS and public
  service can talk readily with each other to
  coordinate life saving responses.
• No one should lose their life or property because
  public safety personnel cannot communicate with
  each other.

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Regional Communications SystemWireless Design
Goals

• The RCS design goals
• Improve compatibility with existing 800 MHz
  systems.
• Provide highly reliable wireless voice and data
  networks.
• Provide minimum 95 wireless coverage of the
  roadway network.
• Provide wireless data access for computer
  applications, including
• Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
• Law enforcement databases
• Computerized dispatch operations

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Regional Communications SystemProven Benefits of
RCS Approach

• The RCS provides key benefits to users
• Interoperability.
• Improved user safety
• Increased efficiency of diminishing resources.
• Enhanced wireless coverage.
• Enhanced disaster communications capability.
• Economies of scale and scope.

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Regional Communications SystemShared Governance

• Partners approved a Participating Agency
  Agreement.
• San Diego County Board of Supervisors authorized
  RCS Board of Directors to administer system.
• Member agency representatives select the RCS
  Board of Directors.
• 13 members Chief/Department Head level fire,
  law, public service, representing their peer
  agencies.
• No politicians on Board of Directors.
• San Diego Sheriffs Department Wireless Services
  Unit manages day-to-day RCS operations.
• Board of Directors provides RCS administrative
  direction and oversight.

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Regional Communications System Parties - Cost

• Local, county, state and federal participants
• Agencies may join as equity partners or as
  customers
• Currently over 200 government agencies and 13
  dispatch centers receiving RCS service
• SD County and Imperial County network cost
  /-125 M
• Participants share ongoing network operating
  costs
• Current Network Operating Charge (NOC) - 26.50
  per radio/month
• Estimated system life is more than 15 years

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Regional Communications System Implementation -
Operation

• Agencies began using the RCS in May 1998.
• Over 18,000 radios are currently on the voice
  system.
• Voice and data coverage acceptance tests - 97.
• Management Assessment Study (Deloitte Touche)
  of the RCS validated the system design, goals and
  project management.

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Regional Communications System Coverage - Terrain

• Coverage area
• Two of Californias largest counties
• Over 9,000 square miles
• Over 185 miles of U. S. - Mexico Border
• Terrain
• Sea level at San Diego
• Over 6,500 feet at highest point
• 100 feet below sea level at lowest point

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Regional Communications SystemTechnical Summary
Voice

• Motorola SmartZone 800 MHz
• Trunked, Simulcast
• Mixed Mode Analog/Digital
• Not APCO 25
• Embassy Switch
• IMBE Voice Coder
• Digital Encryption capable

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Regional Communications SystemTechnical Summary
- Voice

• Extensive geographical coverage
• 68 microwave repeater sites
• Three simulcast cells (28 repeaters)
• 25 stand alone, non-simulcast repeaters
  (mountainous areas)
• Over 150 frequency pairs (POWER OF SHARING!)
• 12.5 KHz, 821 MHz (NPSPAC)
• 25 KHz, 806 MHz
• 95 Coverage performance requirement.
  Performance exceeds 97.

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Regional Communications SystemTechnical Summary
- Data

• Voice and data systems are separate networks
• 29 Data System Repeater sites
• Motorola 800 MHz
• 19.2 KBPS
• RD-LAP Protocol
• Supports other frequency spectrum
• Wireless Network Gateway
• Supports TCP/IP
• Permits various data applications, including AVL
• Data network provides significant growth
  capability
• 95 Coverage requirement exceeds 97.

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Regional Communications SystemMilestones -
Timeline

• December 1992
• March 1995
• March 1996
• December 1996
• May 1998
• December 1999

• Board of Supervisors approved the RCS Business
  Plan.
• Governing bodies signed the Participating Agency
  Agreement.
• Board authorized contract with Motorola
  financing of remaining RCS components.
• Construction of 43 radio system transmission
  sites began.
• Participating agencies began using the RCS.
• Project Completion - San Diego County

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User/Revenue Growth
Actual Users Revenue from Network Operating Charges
1998 5,177 225,000
1999 8,685 1,956,115
2000 2001 9,796 14,225 2,250,752 3,425,323
2002 16,861 4,619,374
Forecast1
2003 18,250 5,171,925
20072 32,000 8,403,854
2012 34,000 9,057,867
Exceeds expected capacity
1Assumes 1.5 user growth annually 2Assumes City
of San Diego joins RCS. Total Users includes
non-paying mutual aid users
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Regional Communications SystemContact Information
For further information, call Chris Hinshaw,
Manager Wireless Services Unit Communications
Division San Diego Sheriffs Department Voice
[phone] Email chris.hinshaw_at_sdsheriff.org