Codan Radio Transportable Radio Systems User Guide - Manual (Page 9)

www.codanradio.com © Copyright 2015 © Copyright 2015 www.codanradio.com PAGE 17 PAGE 16
3. Section 3 – Real world problems and their solutions
This section outlines some of the different scenarios in which a Transportable Radio is required and provides example
deployments.
3.1 No coverage area
Transportable Radios are an obvious choice when communications are required in an area that is not served by the
existing infrastructure. This could be:
a) A remote area where fi re fi ghters are dealing with a forest fi re
b) A search and rescue operation in a remote area beyond the coverage of the fi xed infrastructure or in an urban area
where the infrastructure has failed
c) Oil/mineral exploration or scientifi c research in a remote area with local communications for the exploration/
scientifi c team and a satellite link back to head offi ce
d) Emergency response to a vehicle accident on a remote highway or valley with poor coverage from the existing
radio network
e) Expanded coverage and capacity during an emergency when many fi rst responder agencies are participating on-site
f) In building/tunnel dead zones during a fi re, emergency or routine maintenance
As shown in the diagram below on the left, the upper handheld is obstructed from communicating with the offi ce
due to the hills. If that handheld is a fi rst responder dealing with any of the above scenarios then there is no commu-
nication back to the support center. A Transportable Radio strategically located at a high elevation can enable com-
munications between the remote area and the support center as illustrated in the second diagram below on the right.
3.1.1 Temporary Communications during a Forest Fire
The British Columbia Ministry of Forestry and the US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) have developed Fire Re-
peaters that can be quickly deployed to temporarily enhance radio communications for fi re fi ghters, where coverage
in the area is poor. They can be linked into the existing networks, or work as stand alone units.
The Fire Repeater (shown to the left below) consists of a radio repeater (receiver, transmitter, duplexer and magnetic
mount antenna) in a high visibility all weather aluminum orange case, a 35 AH battery (in the silver box) and a solar
panel (to charge the battery during the day). Combined with an antenna and mast an entire radio site can be quickly
deployed by vehicle or helicopter to a hilltop to provide communications coverage during the response to a forest fi re
(as shown below right).
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/his/radio/Overview/overview.htm
3.1.2 Forest Fire Fighting – Ground-to-Air Communications
To facilitate the establishment of rapid communication links between ground base fi re crews and supporting water
bomber crews, a transportable Ground-to-Air crossband repeater is the ideal solution. A Ground-to-Air Crossband Re-
peater allows FM ground radios (VHF or UHF) to communicate with AM VHF airband radios. This is ideal for providing
ground based fi re fi ghters or search and rescue crews with direct communication to supporting aircraft and heli-
copters. A Transportable Crossband Repeater system enables system interoperability by changing frequency bands
between the two radio systems.
Limited communication due
to obstructions
Repeater installed to enable
communications