july-august

							Radio Roundup
Frequently Asked Questions Q: Will the new radio come with a belt clip and a shoulder mounted antenna? A: Yes. Most new radios will come with these accessories. Q: Will the new system be interoperable with surrounding radio systems? A: Yes. The new digital system enhances connection with the Integrated Public Safety Commission’s statewide communications system, Project Hoosier Safe-T, and Hamilton County’s digital system.
July-August 2007 Volume 1, Issue 4

A n t e n n a re p l a c e m e n t s t o h e l p c u r re n t s y s t e m
In July, MECA began installing new antenna systems at existing tower sites that are not only part of MECA’s radio upgrade project, but also improve radio coverage on the current radio system. These antenna systems include new 800 MHz transmit and receive antennas, antenna lines, connectors and tower top amplifiers. “MECA’s old antennas are less than 100 percent optimal because of their age,” said MECA Deputy Director of Technology David Schwartz. “The new antennas will perform better and possibly improve radio coverage. We moved up the antenna installation to get the benefit of the new antennas now as well as with the new radio system.” Motorola subcontracts are busy installing the new antennas. Subcontractors completed installation at MECA’s Willard Park radio tower on May 4, at the Southeast Quad Tower on July 2, and at the Southwest Quad Tower on July 12. The Northeast Quad and Northwest Quad Tower sites are scheduled to be completed in the next few weeks.

Jason Hayes with Emergency Radio Systems works on NEQ Tower

M e e t M E C A D i re c t o r R ay R a n ey
MECA Director Ray Raney is no stranger to public safety. Raney served as an Indiana State Trooper for almost 27 years, with eighteen and a half of those years as a Security Detail Commander under four different Indiana Governors’ Administrations prior to bringing his knowledge and expertise to MECA. Raney brings a fresh and new perspective as a user to an agency that is changing its customer service methodology.

In this issue:
Antenna replacements to help current system

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Meet MECA Director Ray 1 Raney New Radios Arrive; Training to be Scheduled
Construction at Butler

“Having been in public safety throughout my entire career, I understand and have experienced firsthand the need for reliable, effective, and consistent communications,” Raney said. “My goal is to ensure that our public safety and public works customers have a robust, safe and efficient means of communications.” Raney has been at MECA since June of 2005. Upon his arrival, one of his first actions was to create a customer service manager position that could address any communication concerns. Since that time, Raney has created additional positions to enhance his already well-rounded staff so that projects such as the voice and radio upgrade, police merger, Four Corners and other large initiatives are executed as seamlessly as possible. “With an experienced, talented and committed staff, MECA has seen many great successes over the last two years, and I expect the radio upgrade will be a success as well,” Raney said. “We include our customers in every decision we make, and the
Ray Raney

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Radio Roundup

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New radios arrive; Training to be scheduled
Last year, the U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Indianapolis Police Department an $8 million Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant to purchase 2,229 XTS 5000 portable radios that can be used on the current analog system and the new digital radio system. By the end of June, IMPD had received all the new radios. These radios will be used to replace radios for which there are no longer parts (STX 820) and other radios that will not work on the new digital system. Radios for fire department personnel and other MECA customers are being ordered. Once the programming templates have been finalized by customers, MECA and Motorola, the radios will be programmed and distributed. Training In order to address changes in Radio Roundup is a bi-monthly publication of the Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency. Radio Roundup will keep MECA’s users informed about the $37 million upgrade to the public safety and public service radio system. If you have a question about Radio Roundup or a story idea, please contact the Radio Roundup editor, Jo Lynn Garing, at 317-327-4532 or jgaring@indygov.org. features and functions of the new XTS 5000 radios operating on the new digital radio system, MECA and its customers will be creating a “train the trainer” training session customized for the new digital system. Once representatives from MECA’s customers complete the train the trainer session, agencies will begin coordinating training for all of their individual users. Radio training may occur before or during the distribution of the new radios. When the radios are distributed, MECA will still be operating on the existing analog system. However, the radios will be dually programmed with both existing analog talkgroups and the new digital talkgroups. When the new digital system goes live sometime in early 2008, users will discontinue use of the analog talkgroups and switch to the new digital talkgroups.

Raney
Continued from page 1

collaboration between our customers and MECA personnel is one of the reasons we have been successful. We want to hear what the customer wants, not what we think they want. Success can only be defined by the end-user.” Raney lives with his wife and has two children. Raney’s son recently graduated from Olivet Nazarene College and his daughter is a junior at Indiana State University. Raney’s hobbies are riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle with his wife and playing golf. Raney has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Olivet Nazarene College, and a Management Certificate from Northwestern University.

NEQ getting upgraded

Construction work at new Butler Site completed
The civil construction involving installation of the equipment shelter, generator and LP tank and grounding work is complete at MECA’s new Butler University tower site. “Last year, when we reviewed Motorola’s original proposal for a 10 tower system, we knew we could improve the system more by adding an eleventh tower,” said MECA Director Ray Raney. MECA had received radio coverage complaints from public safety personnel in the Broad Ripple area, south to 30th Street. After reviewing coverage maps for the new digital voice system, MECA decided to add another tower site located at Butler University. With the permission from the university, MECA is using the existing radio tower on campus. The site not only improves coverage in the area described above, but also in west central and east central Marion County.
Butler University Tower Worker on the Butler Tower

immediately thereafter. “I’d like to thank Butler University and the Butler Police Department for their cooperation on this important project,” Raney said. “We could not have completed this project quickly without their strong support.”

The structural modifications to the tower will soon be completed, and the new antennas will be installed