APD/AST going APCO P-25??
Does anyone know if the ALMR system Is going to be used by other law enforcement soon? Such as the Alaska state troopers and anchorage police? I'm hearing rumors that the transformation will that place in may for the both. Is it because AST, APD, has had more than enough problems with their aging radio systems? Also the School District will benefit form this technology. Check this out!
ALMR Radios
Enhancing Communication during times of disaster
Information Sheet
The total amount needed to cover the Anchorage School District’s part of the ALMR
radio conversion is estimated at $1,357,000.
ALMR stands for Alaska Land Mobile Radio. The project is about ten years old, and
seeks to create true radio interoperability for federal, state, and local government agencies
in Alaska. The Department of Defense and the State of Alaska have already funded a
great deal of the supporting statewide infrastructure (towers, repeaters, etc.).
Government agencies must purchase ALMR compatible mobile and portable radios if
they are to operate on this system (radio sets must meet the APCO Project 25 standard).
The state envisions a VHF solution. VHF radio performs well over long distances and in
open country.
The Municipality of Anchorage owns a twenty-year-old wide band 800 MHz analog
trunked radio system. This system is being replaced for several reasons, including
ALMR compatibility (the current muni sets are not “P-25” compliant). The Municipality
envisions a higher frequency solution than does the State. The city will use frequencies
between 764-805 MHz, near the upper end of UHF, because such signals are better at
penetrating large buildings. Interoperability with the state and federal government will
be achieved through a computerized “zone controller.” The fact that different frequency
spectra are used by different agencies no longer presents a problem; computer technology
and the APCO P-25 standard allow disparate systems to communicate with each other.
P-25 sets, regardless of frequency spectrum used, are narrow band digital trunked radios.
The municipality is funding its own infrastructure improvements (towers, repeaters, zone
controllers, etc.). It is still up to each municipal agency to purchase its own mobile and
portable radio sets in order to operate on the city’s new 700 MHz system, just as agencies
outside the MOA must do in order to access the state VHF system. ASD currently
operates about 475 portable radios on the city’s old 800 MHz system (these are all “hand
sets;” ASD does not operate any mobile units or base stations on this system). Primarily
due to the addition of South Anchorage and Eagle River High Schools, and the soon-tobe-
completed Muldoon Area Middle School, ASD’s radio need is projected to increase to
541 portable sets.
P-25 hand sets with appropriate features cost about $2,500 each (the price is unaffected
by the choice of frequency spectrum). 541 x $2,500 = $1,352,500. ASD believes it
would be prudent to have 180 spare batteries on hand (at $30.00 each). 180 x $30.00 =
$5,400. Thus, the total amount needed to cover ASD’s part of the ALMR radio
conversion is estimated as follows: $1,352,500 + $5,400 = $1,357,000.
ASD has selected a mid-range hand set. There is one model cheaper, and one more
expensive. The model chosen has four features important to the ASD: an alpha-numeric
display (so the user sees a description of the talk group), a rudimentary telephone
interconnect, the option for low grade encryption if/as needed, and forward/backward
compatibility (supporting smooth transition/implementation over time).
These radios would permit schools to communicate with district administration,
emergency responders, and each other during a disaster if phone service is
interrupted.
For further information, contact Larry Wiget, Director, Government Relations, at (907)-742-
4322 or email (wiget_larry@asdk12.org).
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