The LMR 100 series provides a primer for anyone needing to design a land mobile radio system. The series, which is targeted to systems engineers, field engineers and radio technicians, covers the following topics:
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Understanding LMR user needs;
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The LMR user RFP process and technology assessment;
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RF planning;
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Connectivity and backhaul;
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Dispatch, command and control;
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Interoperability;
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Radio site surveys, site selection, and field engineering;
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Radio frequency interference;
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Installation processes and standards;
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Program and project management; and
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Post-system project acceptance.
We welcome your feedback on these articles and also your suggestions on future topics.
Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E., is a consulting engineer who has been involved in the radio communications business since 1966. He is a senior member of the IEEE and has been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1963. He can be reached at iwiesenfel@aol.com.
Robert C. Shapiro, P.E, is the senior manager-systems engineering for Cassidian Communications, an EADS Company. He serves on the TIA TR8 committee as TR8.18 vice chair and is a senior member of the IEEE. He can be reached at bob.shapiro@eads.com.
Next: In the LMR 200 series, we apply a real-world perspective to LMR system design and engineering.
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Part 1: Basic LMR and FCC definitions
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There are many factors that go into the early stages of planning for a radio system. This multi-part series — and subsequent book — on LMR systems and field engineering is intended to provide LMR system designers with a reference source and set of guidelines....
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Part 2: Understanding LMR user needs
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Understanding user needs is the crucial first step to effective system design and engineering....
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Part 3: Conducting a user-needs survey
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And there are plenty of them at the design-and-engineering stage of an LMR system deployment....
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Part 4: Understanding the LRM procurement process
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The system engineer faces myriad choices before a radio technology can be selected....
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Part 5: System engineering begins with RF planning
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Once user needs and resources are understood, system engineering begins with RF planning....
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Part 6: Receiver planning and noise interference
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A land-mobile radio system's ability to function effectively depends on the ability of its receivers to detect signals regardless of noise and interference....
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Part 7: How to connect LMR sites
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Once the LMR system is designed, the next big step is to link the sites, with myriad technologies available for doing so, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages....
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Part 8: Understanding dispatch communications
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Once the land mobile radio system is in place, the next big step is understanding how dispatch communications work....
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Part 9: How to select a suitable LMR site
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Once system planning is complete, the next big task — and arguably the most arduous — is finding a suitable site....
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Part 10: How to deal with RF interference
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Radio-frequency interference is something that every radio-system engineer will encounter, sooner or later. In this installment, we begin to explain how it occurs and what to do about it....
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Part 11: More causes of RF interference
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Last month, we began to explore radio-frequency interference, every technician's bane. Now we look at additional causes of RFI and — more importantly — what can be done about them....
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Part 12: Installing the LMR system
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The engineering has been completed, the equipment has arrived and the authorizations are in hand — it's time to install the system...
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Part 13: Choosing the LMR project, program managers
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System installation quickly can go south without program and project managers who stay on top of all the myriad details....
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Part 14: Maintaining the LMR system
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Well, not really — once your LMR system is deployed and operating, steps must be taken to protect and maintain it....
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