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Interconnect Guidelines for Primary System Users


Purpose:  To maintain the availability and functionally of the Palmetto 800 System for the primary system users.

Objectives:
a)  Ensure the integrity of the Palmetto 800 System.
b)  Provide interoperability options.
c)  Manage system loading.
d)  Establish guidelines for the use of interconnects.

Benefits:
a)  Improve safety.
b)  Reduce interference and interconnect technical problems.
c)  Provides alternate 800MHz service for special events and emergencies.
     

Definitions:

System Interconnect Device - Any device utilized to connect the Palmetto 800 System to another radio system.

Primary Palmetto 800 User - An agency that depends on the Palmetto 800 system for its primary radio services and more than 75% of the agency's radios are 800 MHz radios.

Non-Primary Palmetto 800 User - An agency that may or may not have 800 MHz radios but depends on a radio system other than the Palmetto 800 system as its primary radio system and less than 75% of the agencies radios are not on the Palmetto 800 System.

These guidelines are established to protect the integrity and control of the Palmetto 800 Public Safety Radio System. The Palmetto 800 system is available to all state, local government, fire, EMS, law enforcement, utilities and federal agencies. The system is the primary radio communications service to numerous public safety responders and utilities.

The system users of the Palmetto 800 System recognize the need for interoperability and the need for agencies to have the ability to transition to the Palmetto 800 System over a reasonable period of time. However, with the numerous public safety agencies and utilities that depend on the Palmetto 800 System for their primary communications needs the interconnection of non-Palmetto 800 Systems can not degrade the system for its primary users.
     

The interconnecting of radio systems during emergency situations raises several critical concerns:

  1. Loss of system control.
  2. Overloading of system capacities.
  3. Over crowing of voice capacities (too many radios on a channel).
  4. Radio interference.
  5. Technical problems (ping-pong effect, loss of system features).
  6. Who needs to talk versus who wants to talk?

   
System Interconnect Requirements:

Users of the Palmetto 800 System who plan to interconnect to a non-Palmetto 800 radio system must receive advance written approval from the Advisory Committee and Motorola. The Palmetto 800 MHz System must submit a plan for approval to the Advisory Committee for the use of the system interconnect device including:

" Name of the agency and contact person.
" Type of device to be used.
" The purpose for the use of the device (transition, temporary use, etc.)
" Length of time the device will be needed/utilized.
" How many non-Palmetto 800 radios will have access through the interconnect.
" Is the system interconnect device a one way or two way device. (One way devices carrying outbound traffic only are not required to submit a plan.)
" The ID and talkgroup of the Palmetto 800 radio utilized for the system interconnect or interconnects.
" The priority of the talkgroups connected.
" The function of the talkgroups and non-Palmetto 800 channel connected. (ex: fire dispatch, EMS hospital channel, etc)
" Coverage of the non-Palmetto 800 channel. Coverage of the talkgroup proposed for the system interconnect.
   

System Interconnect Review Guidelines:

  1. Motorola and the Advisory Committee may approve, disapprove or request modifications to the system interconnect plan.
  2. Motorola will be asked to provide periodic radio traffic and loading reports.
  3. The system interconnect shall be made as low priority talkgroup as possible.
  4. The talkgroup shall be configured to provide coverage equal to that of the non-Palmetto 800 radio channel. (statewide talkgroups shall not be used).
  5. Motorola will be authorized to inhibit the radio or disconnect the interconnect radio if the integrity or the loading of the Palmetto 800 System is adversely effected.
  6. All interconnected systems shall be advised to utilize clear text transmissions when connecting different agencies together.
  7. Failure to follow these guidelines will be considered a theft of service and may violate FCC rules and regulations.