REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 2, 2017
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the purchase of 25 emergency mobile radios and the purchase of Vote Scan firmware technology to upgrade 370 existing mobile radios. The added radios and Vote Scan technology will improve emergency scene communication and firefighter safety.
1. ***RESOLUTION-49TH Amendment to the Annual Appropriations Resolution (AAR) No. 2016-118 Appropriating $129,500 for the purchase of vote scan firmware technology to upgrade 370 existing mobile radios (Requires 5 affirmative votes)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended Council approve a resolution to purchase 25 emergency radios and upgrade 370 existing mobile radios with Vote Scan firmware technology. This purchase will allow for improved emergency scene communication, broader functionality to work with the infrastructure components of the City of Fresno radio system.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Vote Scan is an add-on firmware modification that the Fire Department radio supplier can install for approximately $85.00 per unit. The Vote scan function allows a hand held radio to scan for multiple frequencies at one time and select the strongest signal. Communications on scene use two separate frequencies to communicate with the infrastructure of receivers and transmitters. The vote scan feature allows the radios to scan frequencies directed to the inputs of the receivers and also frequencies coming in from the transmitters. This ability is a radical departure from the previous technology which only allowed us to use one of the two aforementioned frequencies. In summary, the vote scan feature allows the hand held radios to select between the best signal coming from the infrastructure or hand held radios on scene without compromising the involvement of the dispatch center, incoming equipment and our ability to record the communications at scene
BACKGROUND
After conducting tests at three (3) areas known for communication problems, Fair-Winds at Friant & Ft. Washington, the Old Gottschalk’s building basement on Fulton mall, and an apartment complex at Kings Canyon and Peach existing communications infrastructure had difficulty receiving signals from portable radios as well transmitting to portable radios. Test with vote scan feature installed, allowed the hand held radios to select between the best signal coming from the infrastructure or hand held radios on scene without compromising the involvement of the dispatch center, incoming equipment and our ability to record the communications at scene. For obvious reasons, it is crucial during emergency scene situations, that communication is clear and precise. A scrambled or misunderstood signal could be costly if not deadly in certain situations. Tests were conducted jointly between the Fresno Fire Department and technicians from the City’s Information Services Department. Current inventories indicate 370 existing radios need Vote Scan Technology installed at $85 per unit and another 95 radios are needed at a cost of $98,000, for a total cost of $129,500.
The vote scan upgrade also fits into the broader system upgrades recommended in multiple options by CDX. Any upgrade to the existing VHF system will involve a vote scan function. Installing the upgrade now, will shorten install time and reduce training time for fire personnel. Should the City move towards a 700 mHz upgrade, the vote scan function on the VHF system will still serve the fire department well in the future as a secondary communications system, as well as maintain continuity with our regional agencies that choose to remain with the VHF systems
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
There are no environmental impacts resulting from this purchase or upgrade to our mobile radio devices.
FISCAL IMPACT
Upon approval of a resolution, funding in the amount of $129,500 would be appropriated from the Communications Reserve Account.
Attachment:
Resolution