ECP3125A

P5150 Portable Radio User’s Guide forYork County, PA Emergency ServicesTraining Session Notes

ECP3125A page 2

*SAFETY ITEMS*DO NOT...operate the portable radio near or in an area where

blasting is taking place. Anyone using radio controlled explosives must post signs. If you see a caution sign about blasting in the area, you must turn your radio off. This applies to any radio equipment capable of transmitting: phones, CB’s, etc.

DO NOT...operate the portable radio in an explosive atmosphere. The radio is an electrical device with switches that can cause an explosion in an explosive atmosphere. If you can operate your vehicle or any power tools, it is safe to use the radio.

ECP3125A page 3

*SAFETY ITEMS*To ensure that user exposure to RF electromagnetic energy is

within the FCC allowable limits for occupational use, always adhere to the following guidelines:

DO NOT operate the radio without a proper antenna.

DO NOT transmit for more than 50% of the total radio use.

Always use only Tyco Electronics authorized accessories.

Always keep the antenna at least 5cm (2 inches) away from the body while transmitting.

ECP3125A page 4

Operating Rules and RegulationsThe Federal Communications Commission sets all rules for two-

way radio use. The user of two-way radio equipment should be familiar with these basic rule requirements.

• It is a violation of FCC rules to interrupt any distress or emergency message.

• Any use of profane or obscene language is prohibited.

• It is against the law to send false call letters or a false distress or emergency message.

• All messages must be brief and limited to the business need.

• It is a violation of FCC rules to send personal messages, unless in an emergency.

• The FCC requires that radio systems be identified by use of the assigned Call Letters. The radio system does this automatically.

ECP3125A page 5

Project 25 (P25)

Project 25 is a public safety communications standard dedicated to ensuring interoperability in communications. It is designed to ensure fast and secure communications between local, state and federal agencies when protecting the public's welfare.

The Project 25 standard organization is comprised of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors (NASTD) and the U.S. Federal Government.

The Federal Government through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has dictated that all new and existing federal communications systems will be P25 compliant.

P25 is an all digital voice system that can be trunking or conventional non-trunking.

ECP3125A page 6

Conventional vs. Trunked

System Selects which Repeater to Use

Trunked Approach

Channel 1 Channel 2

GroupA

GroupB

GroupC

GroupD

Conventional Approach

Users Select which Repeater to Use

GroupA

GroupB

GroupC

GroupD

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Why Trunking?Trunking:

–Improves spectral efficiency

–Relieves the user from managing the channel

–Encourages cross agency / shared communications

–Establishes communications privacy

–Encourages private communications

–Discourages eavesdropping by scanners

–Establishes “queuing” rather than “waiting”

–Enables priority use during busy times

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P25 Trunking System Features

• Digital Control Channel

• Multiple Working Channels

• < 0.5 Second Access

• Group & Individual Voice Calls

• Unit ID for each radio

• Late / Delayed Entry

• Emergency Calls

• Queuing with Priority

• Unit Enable / Disable

• Wide Area Coverage

ECP3125A page 9

???

How Far Does it Cover ?

Many factors affect range:

– Site Location

– Urban Clutter

– Reflections / Multipath

– Ducting over Water

– Heavy vegetation

– Weather

– Frequency

ECP3125A page 10

Simulcast – Extending the CoverageSIMULtaneous broadCAST

All RF sites have:

– Same number of channels

– Same radio frequencies

– Same channel designated as control channel

When someone makes a call, that call is rebroadcast to every site regardless of whether or not someone is there to listen.

The users have no indication that simulcasting is occurring other than better coverage.

ECP3125A page 11

Multisite – Extending Coverage

Units inform the network of their location:

– Each time the Radio is powered up.

– Each time a System selection is made.

– Each time a Group selection is made.

When Radio detects a high bit error rate on the Control Channel

– Radio will look for another site using an algorithm.

– Automatically switches to new site when criteria is met.

RF Site 1

RF Site 2

ECP3125A page 12

Radio NomenclatureBefore actually operating the radio, one should know some of the

terms and descriptions associated with operation. Such as:

– Buttons

– Knobs

– Antenna

– Microphone

– Speaker

– Display

– Battery

Let’s take a look at these before actually operating the radio.

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P5150 (Scan) Views

Antenna

System/Group/Channel Knob

Display

Universal DeviceConnector “UDC”

(On Side)

Speaker

Microphone

Default Designations Of Controls

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LCD DisplayThe display has 3 lines.

– Lines 1 & 2 contain eight alphanumeric characters.

– Line 3 uses 10 groups of pixels to show radio status icons.

– All three lines are used in menu mode.

ECP3125A page 15

Display MessagesListing of messages that appear on line 1 and 2.

Talkgroup or Channel Name

(EMS MAIN)Call Queued

(QUEUED)System Busy

(SYS BUSY)Call Denied

(DENIED)Individual Call

(*INDV*)Control Channel Scan

(CC SCAN)Wide Area Scan

(WA SCAN)Receive Emergency

(*RXEMER*)Transmit Emergency

(*TXEMER*)

System Name (example: CENTRAL)Volume Level

(VOL = 10)Caller Identification

(GR 1234)Low Battery

(LOW BATT)‘Who Has Called’

(* WHC *)

LINE 1:

LINE 2:

ECP3125A page 16

Line 3 IconsAn icon will be displayed to show radio status.

Special call select/entry mode (Individual or Telephone)

Low battery

SCAN enabled (rotates clockwise)

Selected group is priority-one scan

Selected group is priority-two scan

Selected group in scan list

EncryptedDigital Speech

ConventionalChannel Guard

FailsoftTransmit

ONtransmitting or receiving

FLASHINGcall queued

ON - low TX powerOFF - high TX power

DigitalP25Analog

ECP3125A page 17

AntennaFirmly screw in the provided antenna with your hand.

The antenna is designed and possibly trimmed for your frequency of operation.

Do not use any other antennas without approval.

Use of unapproved antennas will affect system performance and possibly cause failure of the radio.

If the antenna becomes cracked, broken or bent, replace it.

ECP3125A page 18

2

3

1

Install or Change the Battery1. Before changing the battery, turn the radio off.

2. Press up on the battery release button on the bottom of the battery.

3. Lift the bottom of the battery pack up and away until it separates from the radio.

4. Insert the top of the new battery pack onto the radio then push down the bottom of the battery pack until it clicks.

When the belt clip is installed, one will need to press the belt clip to relieve pressure from the battery to remove it.

ECP3125A page 19

Basic OperationItems to Discuss

– Power on the radio.– Read the display.– Change systems.– Change groups.– Originate a group call.– Receive a group call.– Declaring an Emergency.– Keypad Lock– Scanning– Menu Operation

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

ECP3125A page 20

Power On and Log InRotate Volume On/Off Control Clockwise about ¼ turn.

All segments of the LCD display should briefly display and the display should show Power Up Self Test, followed by an audible beep and the system/group display.

The radio will transmit into the network and log in automatically, telling the network the ID of the radio and the group that is selected.

Power On/Off& Volume

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

ECP3125A page 21

Displaying the Systems and GroupsThe radio’s display is showing the system and group that you are

part of.The top line will be the system name representing a location and a

set of groups. Examples are:– NORTH– WEST– CENTRAL– SOUTH– FULTON– UTAC

The second line will show the selected group control by the small buttons on the side of the radio. Examples are:

– MAIN– CF ADMIN– CAR CAR1– EMS MAIN– UCALL 40– etc

ECP3125A page 22

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

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2233

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Originate a Group Call1. Turn on the radio.

2. Select the group you want to talk to.

3. Group names appear on Line 2 of the display.

4. Push-to-Talk (PTT).

5. Indicator will light red while transmitting

6. Speak into the microphone.

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ECP3125A page 23

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

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Changing Groups1. The Group name will appear on

Line 2 of the display.

2. Press the upper side button to ramp up to the desired group.

3. Press the middle side button to ramp down to the desired group.

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There are lots of groups to ramp through!

ECP3125A page 24

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

Changing the System

1. Use the top knob to select the system.

2. System names appear on Line 1 of the display.

• The groups are the same in all of your systems.

The System represents a location and a set of groups.

In normal operation, the system name may change as the radio acquires the best RF site for operation. The radio will not select the FULTON or UTAC system automatically.

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ECP3125A page 25

GR 12345 EMS MAIN

2255

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33

Receiving A Group Call1. The caller’s Radio ID or alias

appears on Line 1 (ex. 12345).

2. The group that is being received appears on Line 2.

3. The Indicator will light green while receiving.

4. Adjust Power On/Off & Volume control for pleasing level of audio, but not to overdrive the speaker.

5. PTT to respond.

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ECP3125A page 26

CENTRAL *TXEMER*

1

Top ViewTop View

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Declaring an Emergency1. Press and hold the red

EMERGENCY button for approximately 2.2 seconds.

2. *TXEMER* appears in display and will continue to flash, alternating with the selected group, until the emergency is cleared.

3. PTT

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• The console dispatcher clears emergencies.

• If you declare an emergency, your radio will remain on the group until the emergency is cleared.

ECP3125A page 27

LOCKED EMS MAIN

Locking/Unlocking the Keypad1. Press M on the front.

2. Within 2 seconds, press the top side button to unlock or lock the keypad.

3. The display will show the status of the keypad for about 2 seconds.

4. All keys except PTT, Emergency, and M are locked. Knobs function normally.

5. If the keypad is locked, the top line of the display will show LOCKED, when any key is pressed.

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ECP3125A page 28

1,2,51,2,5

2,42,4

Menu and Backlight Control1. Press M to enter the Menu

mode.

2. Use the or keys to find and select BCK LGHT, and press M a second time.

3. BCK LGHT= ON or OFF will appear in the display with the current setting.

4. Use the or keys to toggle the backlight on and off.

5. Press M a third time to store the change.

>BCK LGHT BCK LGHT BCK LGHT

ECP3125A page 29

Group Scanning• A list of groups to scan must

exist before scanning can occur.

• The P5150 Scan model radio is configured for user programmable scanning – the user creates and modifies the list.

• There are three levels of priority. Priority 1 is the highest and priority 3 (III) is the lowest.

• Scanning must be off to create, add or delete groups from the scan list.

ECP3125A page 30

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

Turning SCAN On/Off1. Press SCN to turn on group

Scanning.

2. The scan icon rotates clockwise to indicate the radio is scanning.

3. Press SCN again to turn off the Scan function and scan icon will disappear.

1, 31, 3

2, 32, 3

ECP3125A page 31

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

Establishing or Modifying a Scan List

2, 4, 5, 62, 4, 5, 6

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Scan must be off to create or modify a scan list.1. Position the rotary selector to the

group or channel that you wish to add to your Scan List.

2. Press the A/D key once to add the group to the Scan List.

3. An icon will appear in the display indicating the addition of the group to the Scan List.

4. Press A/D again to advance the group to second priority.

5. Press A/D again to advance the group to first priority .

6. Pressing the A/D button again will remove the group from the scan list.

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ECP3125A page 32

CENTRAL EMS MAIN

Nuisance Deleting from a Scan ListUser entered or limited scan list only:

– When a call is being heard while in scan mode and the call is not the selected or priority 1 group and you wish to remove the group from the scan list.

– Press the A/D button or the DEL button once to delete the group from the Scan List.

– The group or channel will return to the scan list when the radio is powered off and back on.

ECP3125A page 33

P5100 Alert TonesCall Originate short mid-pitched beep (“beep”)

Autokey short mid-pitched beep sounding after queued and an open channel is gained (“beep”)

Call Queued high-pitched tone (“beep”) sounded when the system places the call request in a queue

System Busy three low-pitched tones (“dut-dut-dut”), only with I-Calls

Call Denied low-pitched tone (“bomp”) sounded when the radio is not authorized on the selected system

Timing Out five short high-pitched warning tones (“beep..”) followed by a low-pitched tone (“bomp”)

Key Press Alert short tone “beep”= access; low-pitched “bomp”= denial

Low Battery short quiet mid-pitched tone (“beep”)

Missed I-Call telephone ring sounded when an incoming individual call is not answered

ECP3125A page 34

AccessoriesSpeaker Microphones - General

– External Antenna

– Radio Antenna

Holders

– Belt Clip

– Belt Loops

– Leather Case

– Fabric Case

ECP3125A page 35

Battery InformationP5100 Series Radios Rated Battery Life

(at 5% Tx, 5% Rx, and 90% standby):

NiCd: 8 hours (1600 mAH)

NiMH: 11 hours (2400 mAH)

Battery Charging Indications (Typical charger)

Slow Red Flash – PreCharge (10 minutes max)

Extremely Discharged

Cold battery

Solid Red – Charging

~ 1 Hour NiCd

~ 2 Hours NiMH

Solid Green – Ready / Trickle Charge

Red / Green Flash – Battery temp too hot

Remove and let cool before attempting to charge

Fast Red Flash – Error

Remove and Reinsert

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