M-803 Gemini Series Mobile Radio OTP 5.07 OCF 3.
Revision History Date 08/14/01 Updated by Dennis Giddings Description of change New Notice of Copyright This manual and the hardware and software it describes are copyright © 2001 M/A-COM, Inc. All rights reserved under the copyright laws of the United States and Canada and other laws.
Preface Notices to the User and Safety Training Information IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SAFE AND OPTIMAL OPERATION. READ THIS BEFORE USING YOUR M-803 MOBILE RADIO WARNING Your M-803 radio generates RF electromagnetic energy during transmit mode. This radio is designed for and classified as “Occupational Use Only” meaning it must be used only during the course of employment by individuals aware of the hazards and the ways to minimize such hazards.
Before operating this radio, be sure you: • Do not operate this radio if any of the RF connectors are not secure or if open connections are not properly terminated. • Do not operate this radio near electrical blasting caps or in an explosive atmosphere. This radio has been tested and complies with the FCC RF exposure limits for Uncontrolled Exposure and Occupational exposure. The difference is in the minimum safe distance that people must be away from the antenna when transmitting RF energy.
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. Government law prohibits the operation of unlicensed transmitters within the territories under government control. Illegal operation is punishable by fine or imprisonment or both. Refer service to qualified technicians only.
3. The radio should only be used by authorized and trained personnel and should not be operated by children. 4. Do not operate your radio in explosive atmospheres (gases, dust, fumes, etc.) or near explosive blasting caps. 5. Do not attempt any unauthorized modification to the radio. Changes or modifications to the radio may cause harmful interference. Any servicing of the radio should only be performed by qualified personnel. 6.
Table Of Contents Welcome to the OpenSky Network 1 OpenSky Overview 2 Internet Protocol (IP) Network 2 TCP / IP Backbone 2 Addressable Headers 3 System-Wide Voice Encryptability 3 Integrated Voice and Data 3 Digitized Voice, Text and Graphics 4 Multi-Agency Coverage 5 Promotes Interagency Cooperation 5 Connectivity with Legacy Equipment 6 Improved Coverage and Signal Strength 6 Better Peak-Time Performance 7 Software-Configured Device 8 Multi-Mode Functionality 8 Software Upgradeable 9 Network Organization
Hardware Connections 23 Display Screen Overview 25 Dwell Displays 27 Dwell Display User-Selectable 27 Sample Dwell Displays 28 Dwell Display–Profile 28 Dwell Display-Caller 29 Dwell Display–Received Talkgroup 29 Dwell Display–Channel 30 Dwell Display–No Access 30 Display Screen Functions 33 Menu and Selector Keypad 34 User-Selectable Menu Operations 34 Keypad Navigation 34 Select Dwell Display 35 Select Operational Mode 36 Universal Connectivity 37 Duration of Mode Change 38 Select Profile 39 Check or Chang
Power Down 59 Set Volume 60 Voice Calls 61 Talkback Calls 63 Emergency Communications 64 Advanced Radio Operations 65 Fine-Tuning Your Personality 66 Dynamic Regrouping 66 Talkaround Mode 67 Troubleshooting 68 CH-103 Control Head 71 Features and Components 72 Equipment Configurations 73 Dash-Mount Mobile Configuration 73 Dash-Mount Mobile with CH-103 74 Trunk-Mount Mobile Configuration 76 VTac Vehicular Tactical Network 77 Full or Shared Radio Controls 78 Single Control Head 79 Multiple Control Heads 79 Ind
Connectivity Interface 87 Indexes and Tables i Index i Table of Figures iii x M-803 Operator Manual Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 1 Welcome to the OpenSky Network OpenSky Overview 2 Internet Protocol (IP) Network 2 TCP / IP Backbone 2 Addressable Headers 3 System-Wide Voice Encryptability 3 Integrated Voice and Data 3 Digitized Voice, Text and Graphics 4 Multi-Agency Coverage 5 Promotes Interagency Cooperation 5 Connectivity with Legacy Equipment 6 Improved Coverage and Signal Strength 6 Better Peak-Time Performance 7 Software-Configured Device 8 Multi-Mode Functionality 8 Software Upgradeable 9 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 1—Welcome to the OpenSky Network OpenSky Overview M/A-COM’s OpenSky is a suite of radio communications products implementing an integrated digital voice and data system based on the Internet Protocol. The OpenSky network is digital, but provides interoperability with analog radios, making it possible to integrate existing (legacy) equipment alongside the most sophisticated digital equipment available today.
Welcome to the OpenSky Network—CHAPTER 1 defined talk group consisting of the set of users you need to talk with most. • Unlike your conventional FM radio, your M-803 mobile radio is a node on an Internet-Protocol (IP) network with its own unique IP address. Addressable Headers Messages intended for you (whether voice or data) are broken into packets with identifying headers, just like World Wide Web internet communications, and targeted to your specific IP address.
CHAPTER 1—Welcome to the OpenSky Network Digitized Voice, Text and Graphics By converting analog voice waves to digital code before transmitting them over the network, OpenSky technology makes it possible for mobile radio users to send and receive voice transmissions at the same time they receive and view data (via the radio’s serial port) on an optional equipment Mobile Data Terminal. For graphics, interface a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) through your radio’s RS-232 peripheral port.
Welcome to the OpenSky Network—CHAPTER 1 Multi-Agency Coverage OpenSky is scalable and designed to accommodate a virtually unlimited number of mobile and portable devices from a single fleet, or even a complex network made up of several cooperating agencies. Examples of how OpenSky improves cooperation: • Every truck in the FedEx fleet can share one large national network. • Every cruiser in a state-wide police agency can communicate with any other cruiser, from one end of the state to the other.
CHAPTER 1—Welcome to the OpenSky Network • User talk groups connect you at all times with precisely the users you need to reach, no matter who they work for, or where they’re located within the network. Connectivity with Legacy Equipment The all-digital, end-to-end TCP/IP OpenSky Intranet even provides support for legacy equipment and protocols both digital and analog.
Welcome to the OpenSky Network—CHAPTER 1 With a VTac device in your vehicle, you’ll enjoy extended signal reach into buildings or behind barriers, as well as repeater capability for off-network unit-tounit communications. Background Roaming and Switching Automated switching takes place in the background with OpenSky, so you’ll no longer be required to scan for an open channel, or wait for an available channel, when you move through your coverage area.
CHAPTER 1—Welcome to the OpenSky Network Optional GPS Tracking GPS tracking uses a small fraction of system resources, but eliminates verbal location reporting for huge overall capability gains. GPS tracking devices embedded in optionally-equipped M-803 radios quickly and accurately locate users on a visual display screen for dispatchers, virtually eliminating the need for users to report their position.
Welcome to the OpenSky Network—CHAPTER 1 Analog-to-Digital Rollover The M-803 can work with existing analog infrastructure to enable an essentially seamless transition to fully digital communications If your user group or another user group with whom you communicate is making the transition from analog to digital service over time, you’ll be able to use your M-803 throughout the rollover by selecting the correct mode.
CHAPTER 1—Welcome to the OpenSky Network Voice grouping (into talk groups, user groups, and profiles) is probably the most obvious advantage to individual users, but the interconnectivity of the OpenSky network also enables a variety of essential enhancements including: • Priority scanning • Multiple priority levels • Pre-emptive emergency calls • Selective calls directly to User ID • Late-entry calls • Autonomous roaming for wide area applications.
CHAPTER 2 Network Organization Your Voice Feature Personality 12 User Groups 13 Profiles 14 Talk Groups 15 Listen Groups 15 Talkback Scanning 16 Radio Personality 16 Terminology 18 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 2—Network Organization Your Voice Feature Personality When you activate your radio at the beginning of a shift and sign on with your unique identity code, your radio is assigned its IP address and “provisioned” with a radio personality that identifies the other users on the network with whom you are most likely to need to communicate.
Network Organization—CHAPTER 2 User Groups A user group is a set of users who regularly need to communicate (all the officers in a state police barracks, for instance, or all the drivers who work a particular shift). • In conventional FM radio broadcast systems, these users work together by tuning to the same channel. • In the IP-backbone OpenSky digital network, subscribers in a user group are connected by a bit of data in the header of every voice or data packet addressed to the members of the group.
CHAPTER 2—Network Organization Profiles A profile is a set of up to 16 user groups. All sorts of configurations are possible within this simple architecture. Police officers on the same shift might make up a profile, for instance. Within this profile, each police station on the network might be assigned a user group. So the profile would connect all the cruisers from 16 stations for an entire shift.
Network Organization—CHAPTER 2 Figure 2 User Profile Sample Configuration User Group 1 User Group 2 User Group 3 User Group 16 ... Talk Group Up to 15 Listen Groups Talk Groups While your active profile can contain up to 16 user groups, only the primary group in any profile is your Talk Group. All the other user groups in your profile are listen-only groups. You’ll hear the calls from these groups but they will not hear your voice unless your user group is part of their profile.
CHAPTER 2—Network Organization You may only have one talk group, but that doesn’t keep you from tuning in different profiles to monitor a different “bank of channels.” Talkback Scanning While you cannot initiate contact with users in your “listen groups,” you can reply to their incoming calls using Talkback Scan mode. With your radio in Talkback Mode, your display screen will show the identity of your most recent incoming caller. Press the Push-to-Talk button on your handset and send your voice reply.
Network Organization—CHAPTER 2 Figure 3 Radio Personality Sample Configuration Profile 1 (1 Talk Group and up to 15 Listen Groups) ... Profile 2 (1 Talk Group and up to 15 Listen Groups) ... ...Profile 16 (1 Talk Group and up to 15 Listen Groups) ... Radio personality architecture gives you tremendous flexibility to organize your communications needs, even as conditions change.
CHAPTER 2—Network Organization Terminology Most of the terms and concepts you’ll need to communicate with your dispatcher, network administrator and other users have parallels in legacy analog networks. Digital Compare to Analog User Group ......... FM radio channel Profile .................. Bank of FM radio channels Talk Group ......... “Push-to-talk” connection with users tuned to the same channel Listen Group....... “Listen-only” connection to a bank of radio channels Profile ..................
CHAPTER 3 Getting Started Before Your First Shift 20 Radio Controls 20 Front Panel Components 21 Peripheral Interface 23 RS-232 Port 23 I/O Connector 23 CAN 2.0 Bus 23 Hardware Connections 23 Display Screen Overview 25 Dwell Displays 27 Dwell Display User-Selectable 27 Sample Dwell Displays 28 Dwell Display–Profile 28 Dwell Display-Caller 29 Dwell Display–Received Talkgroup 29 Dwell Display–Channel 30 Dwell Display–No Access 30 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators Before Your First Shift Don’t read this manual cover-to-cover. Most information in this manual is repeated in several places. You’ll probably learn most of what you need to know by browsing sections that interest you most. If you’re already familiar with mobile radio functions and the “profile and personality” architecture of an alldigital network, you’ll find the features and controls of your new M-803 to be logically arranged and easy to understand.
Controls and Indicators—CHAPTER 3 Front Panel Components The front panel of your M-803 (or CH-103) includes the Power Button/Speaker Volume Dial, the Microphone/Speaker I/O Port, a 5-key “soft-button” keypad for making menu selections, a 19-character vacuum fluorescent Display Panel, 3 Mode Selector buttons, an Emergency Button and an Ambient Light sensor. Up to five Control Head Units (CHU) can be supported by a single Mobile Radio Unit (MRU).
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators 22 Component Function Power Button/ .......... Volume Dial Push to Power Up. Push again to Power Down. Twist clockwise to increase speaker volume. Twist counter-clockwise to decrease speaker volume. Mic/Speaker ............. Connector Attach hand-held microphone, hands-free speaker, or keypad/microphone here. Emergency ...............
Controls and Indicators—CHAPTER 3 Peripheral Interface The M-803 supports a variety of interfaces with its flexible interconnect. The rear panel provides power supply connectors and interfaces for both analog and digital peripherals. RS-232 Port The serial RS-232 port operates in asynchronous ASCII mode for configuration and control and switches to Serial Line Internet Protocol (SLIP) mode for data communication between the fixed network and a mobile computer or terminal device.
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators Figure 5 Rear Panel Components Connectors and Interfaces GPS Connector CAN Connector I/O Connector SER Connector PWR Connector Component Antenna Connectors Function SER Connector................ Plug in your optional Mobil Data Terminal (MDT) to this serial RS-232 port. I/O Connector.................. Plug in your optional 10 Watt Speaker to this port. CAN Connector...............
Controls and Indicators—CHAPTER 3 Display Screen Overview The display screen shows the current status of your radio setup. Signal strength and volume indicators reside in the right-hand sector.
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators After any Menu/Select procedure, your display screen will revert to whatever display you have chosen as your dwell display. Once the dwell display is active, it will change dynamically to reflect the current profile, caller, channel or received talkgroup. Figure 6 Display Panel Elements Sample Display Signal Strength Indicator Volume Indicator Sample Display Screen showing a Talk Group Menu session Component Function Signal Strength .......
Controls and Indicators—CHAPTER 3 Dwell Displays The M-803 Display Screen is highly interactive and responds with a changing display in the upper and lower text lines as the user presses the Menu Selection buttons to scroll through the menu loop and the entries under each menu. When the button-pressing stops, though, the screen will revert to the Dwell Screen and show the current status of whichever category of information the user has selected from the Dwell Display menu.
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators Figure 7 Dwell Display Hierarchy Sample Setup Profile Caller Received Talkgroup Channel TACTICAL SOUTH HIGHWAY METRO 978240001 ...40002 DISPATCH No Caller POLICE 01 DISPATCH EMS 09 No Calls OT450 OT460 0T550 OT999 Changing your Dwell Display choice is as simple as any other menu selection operation. Your choice, once made, persists until you change it again, even surviving Power Down and re-provisioning procedures for your User ID.
Controls and Indicators—CHAPTER 3 Figure 8 Dwell Display—Profile Sample Screen Current Transmit Talkgroup Current Profile Dwell Display-Caller With Caller as your Dwell Display, the identity of your current caller updates dynamically, but the top line always shows your current Transmit Talkgroup. If you select Caller as your Dwell Display, the upper line of text will show the Transmit Talkgroup for the active profile. The lower line of text will show the User ID of the current caller.
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators Figure 10 Dwell Display—Received Talkgroup Sample Screen Current Transmit Talkgroup Talkgroup of Incoming Caller Dwell Display–Channel If you select Channel as your Dwell Display, the upper line of text will show the Transmit Talkgroup for the active profile. The lower line of text will show your currently tuned channel. Once selected, these displays will update dynamically, but the only way to alter the display would be to tune in a new channel.
Controls and Indicators—CHAPTER 3 Figure 12 Display Screen—No Access From the No Access screen there’s no indication of which choice you’ve made for Dwell Display. Sample Screen Radio unable to make Network connection You can wait for the condition to clear, or, if an offnetwork mode of operation will temporarily suit your needs, navigate to the Mode Menu and select a conventional radio mode. Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 3—Controls and Indicators 32 M-803 Operator Manual Software Version OTP 5.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4 Display Screen Functions Menu and Selector Keypad 34 User-Selectable Menu Operations 34 Keypad Navigation 34 Select Dwell Display 35 Select Operational Mode 36 Universal Connectivity 37 Duration of Mode Change 38 Select Profile 39 Check or Change Active Profile Status 40 Select Talkgroup 41 Check or Change Active Talkgroup 41 Prioritizing a Talkgroup 43 Duration of Priority Assignments 44 Lock Out Talkgroup 44 Groups You Can Lock Out 45 Caution Regarding Profil
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions Menu and Selector Keypad Display Screen functions are launched from the Menu and Selector Keypad. Most user-selectable radio operations are conducted by using the keypad to make selections from the operations menus. User-Selectable Menu Operations You’ll use the keypad for mundane chores like adjusting your display screen brightness, and for critical operations like establishing your operational mode and setting your active profile. Below is a list of menu options.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 1.) Repeatedly Press the Up or Down key to cycle through the list of available Menu headings. When the Menu you want appears in the Top line of the Display Screen . . . 2.) Repeatedly Press the Left or Right key to cycle through the list of available options for the Menu. When the option you want appears in the Bottom line of the Display Screen . . . 3.) Press the Select button to lock in your choice.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions Ø How to set your Dwell Display Selection 1.) If the top line of your display screen shows the Transmit Talkgroup for your selected profile, you’re ready to begin. 2.) Use the Left and Right buttons to cycle through the Dwell Menu options in the lower line of the display screen: Profile, Caller, Channel, Received Talkgroup. 3.) Press the Select button to lock in your choice. Your selected Dwell Display will appear as soon as the M-803 accepts your choice.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 operate your radio as a fully-networked component of the OpenSky digital network and carry on rich-featured communications with similarly networked agencies or subscribers. At startup, your M-803 automatically selects the OpenSky Trunked Protocol (OTP) to provide the full range of features available on your digital voice and data network. Your only indication that you have logged on to the network is the name of your Talkgroup in the Dwell Display.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions • If you stray outside the network’s strong coverage area and require an off-network conventional radio connection, select Coverage mode to temporarily improve your capabilities. To protect against inadvertent or too-hasty mode changes, the M-803 software will force a confirmation sequence before accepting your new selection. Ø How to set your Operational Mode 1.) Use the Up and Down buttons to cycle through the menu choices until Mode Menu appears. 2.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 the radio itself will undertake when you press the Select button to confirm a mode change. At Power Up, your radio automatically adopts the operating mode of its previous use. Any changes you make to the mode during your shift will remain in effect until you make another selection and Reboot. Figure 14 Operational Mode Menu Sample Display Menu Option: OpenSky Trunked Protocol Active Menu: Operational Mode Component Explanation Mode Menu .........
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions Each of your other profiles, if any, is another group of as many as 16 more user groups, one of which is always the default Talkgroup. See the Getting Started chapter for a full discussion of user groups, profiles, listen groups, talkgroups and radio personality. It’s a good idea to know the default Talkgroup for each Profile in your Personality so you can access it easily from the Profile Menu.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 Figure 15 Profile Selection Menu Sample Display Menu Option: Sample Profile from your Personality Dwell Display Active Menu: Profile Selection Component Explanation Profile Menu........ Determines which group of up to 16 user groups will be your active Profile. Menu Option ....... When you access the Menu, the currently selected Active Profile appears in the option line. To change, scroll to a new Profile and press the Select button.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions selection, use the Menu Selector keypad to access the Profile Menu. To assign Talkgroup status to a new user group during your work shift, access the Talkgroup Menu from the Menu Selector keypad and make a new selection from the options. Ø How to set your Active Talkgroup 1.) Use the Up and Down buttons to cycle through the Menu choices until TalkGrpMenu appears. 2.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 Prioritizing a Talkgroup Priority Scan is different from Talkgroup status. Even if you give a user group Priority Scan status, your Talkgroup is still your Talkgroup. At different times during your shift you may want to improve your radio’s sensitivity to incoming calls from a particular user group.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions Figure 17 Priority Talkgroup Menu Sample Screen Menu Option: Sample User Group from your Active Profile Active Menu: Priority Talkgroup Menu Component Explanation Priority ...................... When this menu is active, the Left and Right buttons will scroll you Talkgroup Menu through the user groups in your selected profile. Menu Option............. Scroll through groups and use the Select button to confirm the group you wish to make your temporary Talkgroup.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 concentrating your attention entirely on your Default, Selected or Priority Talkgroup. • Lock Out. By locking out selected Talkgroups, you can eliminate just the background “noise” you select, focusing your scanning resources on just the groups whose calls you wish to track.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions 3.) If the word NONE appears in the top line, you haven’t received any voice calls from user groups in this profile, so Lock Out is not an option. 4.) Use the Left and Right buttons to cycle through the list of candidates, if any, until the user group you want to Lock Out appears onscreen. 5.) Press the Select button to activate the fail-safe Confirmation process. 6.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 4.) Use the Left and Right buttons to cycle through the list of candidates, if any, until the user group you want to Unlock appears onscreen. 5.) Press the Select button to activate the fail-safe Confirmation process. 6.) Use the Left or Right button to cycle through the confirmation options: Confirm?Y to lock out the group; Confirm?N to remove a lock. 7.) Press the Select button to confirm your choice.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions have received a voice call from them since Powering Up. Lock Out ............. Both Locked-Out and Not-Locked groups appear in the Menu. You Talkgroup can’t confirm the status of any group except by pressing the Select button to enter the Confirmation cycle. Caution Regarding Profile Changes Talkgroup Lockout status does not survive a change of Profile.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 No calls from listen groups. Normal .............. This is the default setting. Network administrator has Scanning established this as the most effective configuration for everyday use. Full communications (listen and talk) with your talk group. Receive calls from the listen groups. Talkback ............ Place talkback voice calls to the most recent listen group by pressing Scanning the Push-to-talk button before the Talkback timer expires.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions Ø How to set your Scan Mode 1.) Use the Up and Down buttons to cycle through the Menu choices until ScnModeMenu appears. 2.) Use the Left and Right buttons to cycle through the list modes until your choice appears: Normal, Talkback or No Scan. 3.) Press the Select button to lock in your choice. Your selected Dwell Display will appear as soon as the M-803 accepts your choice.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 Select Channel If your reception is poor or you are repeatedly denied channel access, you can manually change the radio to a different channel. When you use the menu buttons to choose Channel, the M-803 adjusts to show you the first of the available channels from which you may choose. Ø How to Change the Channel 1.) Use the Up and Down buttons to cycle through the Menu choices until ChannelMenu appears. 2.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions Menu Option............. When you access the Menu, the first available channel appears in the option line. To change, scroll through the pre-sets and confirm your choice with the Select button. Enable/Disable Side Tones Your radio sounds confirming tones when you press the Menu or Selector buttons. Most users find this audible confirmation helpful in navigating the menus in the Display Panel.
Display Panel Functions—CHAPTER 4 Your selected Dwell Display will appear as soon as the M-803 accepts your choice. Figure 21 Side Tones Menu Sample Screen Menu Option: Side Tones On or Off Active Menu: SideTones On/Off Component Explanation Side Tones Menu...... Used to tune in any available preset channel from the menu. Menu Option ............ When you access the Menu, the screen will indicate whether your sidetones are On or Off.
CHAPTER 4—Display Panel Functions 2.) Use the Left button to change the display from Nominal to Dimmer, or the Right button to change the display to Brighter. 3.) Press the Select button to lock in your choice. Your selected Dwell Display will appear as soon as the M-803 accepts your choice. Your display screen should be immediately brighter or dimmer as you requested.
CHAPTER 5 Basic Radio Operations Power Up 56 Log-On 57 Self-Test 58 Power Down 59 Set Volume 60 Voice Calls 61 Talkback Calls 63 Emergency Communications 64 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 5—Basic Radio Operations Power Up Power Up, Power Down, and Volume functions are all handled from the Power Button/Volume Dial, a front panel component. Ø How to Turn Your Radio On 1.) Push the Power Button/Volume Dial. Your radio’s vacuum fluorescent display panel will glow to indicate Power Up. 2.) If required by the radio network, use the Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) Keyboard to enter your User ID. If your system doesn’t require a Log-On, the radio proceeds through the Startup Sequence.
Basic Radio Operations—CHAPTER 5 Log-On If the radio network requires a Log-On, pushing the Power Button/Volume Dial will supply power to your radio, but will not connect it to the OpenSky network. Your radio will not boot and provision itself until you use the MDT keyboard to log on with your User ID. Even if you want to use your radio for non-network traditional RF communications, you’ll still need to log on to the network first, then select Talkaround Mode to work off-network.
CHAPTER 5—Basic Radio Operations 4.) When provisioning is complete, the M-803 will display your last-saved Dwell Display in the front panel Display Screen. User-Selected Dwell Display Current Volume Setting Self-Test After Power Up and your M-803 radio undergoes a multi-function automatic Boot procedure. • Your radio is “provisioned” with your radio personality: as many as 16 radio profiles are downloaded to your equipment from the network in response to your User ID.
Basic Radio Operations—CHAPTER 5 Built-In Self Test: Passed all tests 3.) The PASS message remains onscreen briefly, then yields to the last-saved Dwell Display for the logged-on radio subscriber. 4.) . . . BIST FAIL. If a radio component, element, interface or functionality fails the diagnostic test, the M-803 will deliver a FAIL message to the front panel Display Screen. Self Test Failure Message Self-Test Error Code 5.) . . .
CHAPTER 5—Basic Radio Operations Ø How to Turn Your Radio Off 1.) Push the Power Button/Volume Dial. Your radio’s vacuum fluorescent display panel will fade to darkness to indicate Power Down. Power Button / Volume Dial 2.) Several user-selected radio settings, including your current Dwell Display, will survive the Power Down procedure. 3.) At your next Power Up, these saved settings will automatically default, along with your network personality settings.
Basic Radio Operations—CHAPTER 5 Power Button / Volume Dial 2.) Whether you are receiving a voice call or not, your volume setting change will immediately reflect in the front panel display screen Speaker Volume indicator. Speaker Volume Indicator Voice Calls As soon as your radio completes the Startup/Log On/Provision/Self-Test sequence and goes live on the OpenSky network, you’ll begin to hear voice calls from the talk and listen groups in your active profile.
CHAPTER 5—Basic Radio Operations 4.) Regardless of your active Dwell Display, the display screen’s Signal Strength Indicator glows brightly for a strong signal from the incoming caller, dimly for a weak signal. The steps for making a voice call are similar to those for a conventional portable radio. Ø How to Make a Voice Call 1.) First, if you haven’t already, Power Up your radio by pressing the Power Button/Volume Dial to Power Up, and Log On with your User ID. (See How to Turn Your Radio On.) 2.
Basic Radio Operations—CHAPTER 5 2.) If you hear a 3-beep sequence (Medium tone / Medium tone / High tone), the network has acknowledged your request for clearance and placed your call in the queue. When the network becomes available, the radio will automatically transmit for 10 seconds and the radio will alert you that the network is clear for your call. Depress and hold the Push-to-Talk button to place your call.
CHAPTER 5—Basic Radio Operations Emergency Communications Your radio can send out an Alert or place Voice Calls over the entire network in an emergency. OpenSky handles Emergency Calls and Alerts with the very highest priority, giving you and the people you serve access to the help you need no matter how much traffic the network is handling. Ø How to Place an Emergency Call 1.) Press the orange Emergency Button on your radio to send an emergency alert.
CHAPTER 6 Advanced Radio Operations Fine-Tuning Your Personality 66 Dynamic Regrouping 66 Talkaround Mode 67 Troubleshooting 68 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 6—Advanced Radio Operations Fine-Tuning Your Personality Access to as many as 16 profiles within your predetermined radio personality gives you tremendous responsiveness to the changing needs of your workday.
Advanced Radio Operations—CHAPTER 6 Ø How to Re-Provision for an Emergency 1.) “Punch In” your User ID when directed by the Network Administrator. 2.) Re-registration will default to DynamicallyRegrouped Emergency Profile. Talkaround Mode In the absence of a nearby Base Station, in deep woods or valleys, or in other weak coverage areas, it is possible to work “off-network” by selecting Talkaround Mode and placing radio-to-radio calls in conventional FM or Project 25 Digital Common Air Interface modes.
CHAPTER 6—Advanced Radio Operations Troubleshooting If your radio does not operate properly, check the chart below for likely causes. For additional assistance, contact a qualified service technician. Symptom Likely Cause Solution Radio will not turn on Dislodged power connector. Press in the power connector on the rear of the radio. In-line fuse is blown. Replace the in-line fuse. Your radio may be too hot. Allow the radio to cool or operate the radio in a cooler environment.
Advanced Radio Operations—CHAPTER 6 Symptom Likely Cause Solution Poor display visibility Ambient light sensor is obstructed. Clear obstruction and give sensor a clear path to ambient light. Screen displays: No Access Your radio is out-of-range or cannot connect with the OpenSky network. Move to a better coverage area using the signal quality indicator on the display as a guide, or use Mode Menu to enable conventional FM radio operation. Radio will not transmit Your radio may be too hot.
Control Head Unit—CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 7 CH-103 Control Head Features and Components 72 Equipment Configurations 73 Dash-Mount Mobile Configuration 73 Dash-Mount Mobile with CH-103 74 Trunk-Mount Mobile Configuration 76 Vtac Vehicular Tactical Network 77 Full or Shared Radio Controls 78 Single Control Head 79 Multiple Control Heads 79 Independent Functions 79 Shared and Arbitrated Functions 80 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 7—Control Head Unit Features and Components The OpenSky CH-103 provides remote access for voice and data, as well as remote user interfaces to control M-803 mobile radios and VTac Vehicular Tactical Networks. On a large vehicle with several Control Heads, each will share access to a single M-803 mobile radio. See Multiple Control Head for more details.
Control Head Unit—CHAPTER 7 Equipment Configurations The M-803 mobile radio supports multiple control heads for vehicles that require more than one display screen and user interface. Dash Mount Mobile The CH-103 Control Head unit brings the convenience of the user interface and optional peripherals to several locations in a vehicle without the expense of mounting several radios.
CHAPTER 7—Control Head Unit Component Explanation Duplexer .................... M-803 supports optional duplexer for Full Duplex operation. MDT .......................... M-803 supports optional Mobile Data Terminal for full-feature graphics. Dash-Mount Mobile with CH-103 The control heads provide shared voice access to the M-803, not additional radio personalities or channels.
Control Head Unit—CHAPTER 7 • Complete common User Interface including display screen, preset buttons, and menu/selector keypad, • Individual Audio controls, • I/O port for wired Microphone/Speaker, • Alternate interface site for Mobile Data Terminal (limit one MDT per installation). Figure 24 Dash-Mount with Control Heads Sample Installation Component Explanation Duplexer ................... M-803 supports optional duplexer for Full Duplex operation. MDT..........................
CHAPTER 7—Control Head Unit Trunk-Mount Mobile Configuration The control heads provide shared voice access to the M-803, not additional radio personalities or frequencies. For trunk-mount installation, the M-803 is installed without a front panel user interface. Instead, one or as many as five Control Head units throughout the vehicle provide remote control for radio functions. The M-803 supports an optional duplexer for full duplex operation.
Control Head Unit—CHAPTER 7 In addition, each Control Head provides the following components and capabilities: • Remote Shared Voice access to the M-803, • Remote Control for the M-803, • Complete common User Interface including display screen, preset buttons, and menu/selector keypad, • Individual Audio controls, • I/O port for wired Microphone/Speaker, • Alternate interface site for Mobile Data Terminal (limit one MDT per installation).
CHAPTER 7—Control Head Unit Figure 26 VTac Vehicular Tactical Network Sample Installation Component Explanation VTac .......................... Three hardware components mounted together make up the VTac array. MDT .......................... Each CH-103 provides interface for optional Mobile Data Terminal (MDT). CH-103 ...................... Each Control Head supports a microphone and speaker.
Control Head Unit—CHAPTER 7 In an installation with Multiple Control Heads, communications functions are generally shared among all control heads, while local interface functions like volume and brightness are independently controlled for each CH-103. Single Control Head In Single Control Head mode, the CH-103 is the sole user interface for the trunk-mounted mobile and the full features of the front panel and local speaker.
CHAPTER 7—Control Head Unit Shared and Arbitrated Functions Examples of shared functions which will affect the operational status of all connected control heads: The general rule for shared functions is: any control head can change shared functions for all control heads. • Power Up and Log-On • Mode selection • Voice group selection • Emergency mode For shared functions, the action of one user affects the operation of shared mobile radio unit functions.
CHAPTER 8 VTac Vehicular Tactical Network Vehicular Tactical Network 82 Backward and Forward Compatibility 82 Operational Modes 83 “A Base Station in a Trunk” 83 Hardware Components 84 VTac Mobile Unit 84 VTac Base Unit 85 RF Combiner 85 Extended Coverage 85 User Interaction 85 Scene of Incident 86 User Interaction 86 Public Safety Hardened 86 GPS Option 87 Connectivity Interface 87 Software Version OTP 5.
CHAPTER 8—VTac Vehicular Tactical Network Vehicular Tactical Network The Vehicular Tactical Network (VTac-803) is an 800 MHz software-based digital mobile network repeater for extending network coverage to portable radios, providing scene-of-incident capability and the full feature set of an M-803 mobile radio.
VTac Vehicular Tactical Network —CHAPTER 8 Operational Modes By combining the functions of several components, the VTac-803 operates in a variety of modes: • Mobile Radio. This is the default mode of operation activated at Power-Up. Under ordinary conditions, the VTac-803 is a fully-functioning subscriber device performing all the functions of an M-803 radio on the OpenSky network; • Extended Coverage.
CHAPTER 8—VTac Vehicular Tactical Network Hardware Components The VTac-803 is a 4-piece array of hardware components consisting of: • An M-803 Full Duplex Trunk Mounted Mobile Radio Unit (MRU), also known in this configuration as the VTac Mobile; • A VTac Base Unit.
VTac Vehicular Tactical Network —CHAPTER 8 VTac Base Unit The VTac Base Unit has the same transceiver and digital controller components as the OpenSky Base Station DCX, but in a VTac installation these components only operate as needed, when enabled by the subscriber. When Extended Coverage is required, the VTac Base Unit provides the extended connection between the network and portable radios in the vicinity.
CHAPTER 8—VTac Vehicular Tactical Network Scene of Incident The VTac-803 can also be a vital link at the scene of an incident, providing a repeater among OpenSky subscriber radios, or alternatively, among radios in a Mutual Aid network that connects different radio types, whether they subscribe to OpenSky or not. In Scene-of-Incident (SOI) Mode, OpenSky Network communications are sacrificed to enable full emergency connectivity between cooperating agencies at the scene.
VTac Vehicular Tactical Network —CHAPTER 8 GPS Option The OpenSky VTac-803 can be supplied with an optional embedded GPS receiver. GPS data can be reported either over-the-air to remote dispatch positions or to a local terminal connected directly to the mobile radio. Additionally the I/O connector provides a serial GPS port which outputs GPS NEMA messages. Reporting characteristics can be configured remotely and can be event driven.
CHAPTER 8—VTac Vehicular Tactical Network Figure 27 VTac Connectors Rear Panel Schematic I/O Connector The I/O connector provides interfaces for an external 10 Watt speaker and duplexer support. Additionally, the I/O connector provides access to a GPS serial port which outputs NEMA messages. Power Supply The power supply interface is designed to power the VR-803 from the vehicle car battery.
VTac Vehicular Tactical Network —CHAPTER 8 The CAN bus enables modularity and upgradeable for new applications. The maximum length of the CAN bus is 40 meters. Software Version OTP 5.
Indexes and Tables Index (OTP) OpenSky Trunked Protocol, 9, 22, 37 25kHz RF channel, 7 active profile, 34, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45 Active Profile, 34, 39, 41, 42, 45 active scan mode check or change, 49 ad hoc work group, 17 addressability, 2 ambient light sensor, 21, 22 analog equipment, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 18, 20, 23, 37, 39, 66 analog radios, 2, 8 analog voice waves, 4 analog, compare to digital, 18 APCO Project 25 Common Air Interface, 8, 9, 22, 37 Software Version OTP 5.
Index and Tables call in queue, 62 Caller, current, 27, 35 CAN peripheral, 23 CAN port, 23 CH-103 Control Head Unit, 23, 24 channel change, 51 select, 51 Channel Menu, 34, 51, 75, 76, 77, 79 communication protocols, 6, 9, 25, 37 connectivity, universal, 37 Control Area Network, 23, 24 Control Area Network (CAN) 2.
Index and Tables IP backbone, 37 IP protocol, 3, 4 IP-backbone digital network, 13, 14 key-entry device, 4 keypad navigation, 34 laptop PC, 4 legacy equipment, 2, 6, 18 light sensor, 21, 22 Listen Group, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 39, 40, 41, 44, 48, 49, 50, 61, 63 listen-only, 14, 15 lock out duration of lockouts, 48 limitations, 45 locked-out groups, 48 unlock, 46 lock out talkgroup, 44 Lock Out Talkgroup, 17, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 Lockout Menu received calls, 45 Log-on, 9 Log-On, 57, 58, 66 Menu and Selector Keyp
Index and Tables dynamically regrouped, 67 fine-tuning your radio, 66 personality upgrade, 37 Power Button/Speaker Volume Dial, 21 Power Button/Volume Dial, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 Power Down, 22, 28, 38, 50, 56, 59, 60, 69 Power Off, 44 Power Up, 22, 39, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 62 Pre-emptive emergency calls, 10 preset channel menu, 34 priorities multi-level, 7 prioritizing a talkgroup, 43 priority assignments duration of, 44 priority scan group, 17, 43 Priority Scan group, 17 priority scanning, 10 Priorit
Index and Tables set volume, 60 Side Tone Menu, 52 side tones, 34, 52, 53 enable/disable, 52 signal reach, 7 signal repeater, 6, 7 signal strength, 7 Signal Strength icon, 25 signal strength indicator, 62 sign-on, 9 SLIP, 23 software applications, 8 software upgradeable, 9 software-configured, 8 speaker hands-free, 21, 22 speaker box, 21 speaker volume, 21, 25, 57, 58, 60, 61 Speaker Volume Dial/Power Button, 21 Speaker Volume icon, 25 startup sequence, 56, 57 SWAT team, 14 switching station, 7 Talk Group,
Index and Tables voice-to-voice communications, 7, 15 volume, 21, 25, 57, 58, 60, 61 set volume, 60 Volume Dial/Power Button, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 viii M-803 Operator Manual volume icon, 25, 26 volume indicator, 25 VTac Vehicular Tactical Network, 5, 6, 67, 83 World Wide Web, 3 Software Version OTP 5.
Index and Tables Table of Figures Figure 1 User Group ................................................................................... 13 Figure 2 User Profile................................................................................... 15 Figure 3 Radio Personality.......................................................................... 17 Figure 4 Front Panel Components............................................................... 21 Figure 5 Rear Panel Components..............................
