Ensuring Emergency Responder Communication Systems are Working

"Endigit’s radio tower monitoring system provides us all of the information we need, when we need it. That peace of mind allows us to focus on saving lives instead of wondering if our radio communications are working properly."

Challenge

Monitoring remote radio dispatch towers for faults to ensure emergency personnel communication.

Solution

Embedded monitoring hardware with immediate alarms and remote status viewing.

Introduction

The mission of Southern Idaho Regional Communications (SIRCOMM) is to provide support and assistance to the public safety agencies operating in Southern Idaho. One of SIRCOMM’s responsibilities is emergency dispatch including maintaining six remote radio towers. These radio towers had an expensive, outdated and ineffective monitoring system. SIRCOMM needed a monitoring system that detects errors and quickly alerts maintenance personnel.

Process

Endigit used National Instruments LabVIEW software and CompactRIO 9147 ethernet expansion chassis to develop a solution for SIRCOMM. The software runs on any PC and communicates with the remote data acquisition hardware. The software displays a map showing status at each remote location. A fault triggers an email sent to configurable parties on a per channel basis.

Results

With Endigit’s Radio Tower Monitoring System, the groups responsible for a subsystem of the tower are alerted immediately when there is a problem with key emergency response radio equipment. This increases the radio tower up time and reduces cost of maintenance.