iXP Upgrades Syracuse University Radio Infrastructure

Sector: Higher Education

Focus: Communications Infrastructure

Started: 2004

Situation

Syracuse University commissioned iXP to conduct a study of their existing radio infrastructure and its utilization, to develop a plan for upgrading or replacing the system, and to present a business case to support its conclusions. iXP determined that the University could realize significant savings by upgrading the existing system and improving its utilization rather than purchasing a new trunked radio system. iXP presented a long range plan for the eventual migration to the newer technology, which could be phased in gradually if the existing system was modified to provide reliable, efficient service for the term of the migration. Part of the recommended solution included a re-allocation of existing radio frequencies to load-balance the system without the need for expensive hardware upgrades. Syracuse University contracted with iXP to perform the re-allocation services.

Solution

iXP was tasked with examining the use of each frequency by University Departments, including the number of users, volume of simultaneous use, and interoperability requirements. The results allowed the University to utilize the current infrastructure and frequencies to best meet the existing user requirements. iXP developed a Requirements Analysis, Equipment and Frequency Matrix, and a Functional Operational Design. Once this design was accepted, iXP developed new operating procedures and a training outline and coordinated the purchase of hardware upgrades.

iXP utilized manual monitoring and computer-based radio traffic analysis to determine usage patterns and traffic volume. This information was combined with information obtained from detailed surveys of users to formulate a plan for effective reallocation of frequencies. This plan met the needs of prioritizing and securing Public Safety traffic while maintaining campus-wide interoperability. The final design provided for traffic to be allocated into five separate channels; allowing for a dedicated Public Safety channel, a secure investigations channel, and a universal Campus-wide Emergency Channel.

Results

By implementing the solutions recommended by iXP, Syracuse was able to obtain:

1. Increased Interoperability between the University radio users and outside agencies (HillNet);
2. Higher degree of availability of Communications Centers to end users in the case of the University losing a building housing one of the Communications Centers;
3. Less background noises to impact radio and telephone communications;
4. Increased efficiencies of managing telephone and radio systems by personnel: do not have to rest handsets on shoulders, do not have to get up from position to answer devices, all lines brought into a single integrated device for easier use and access;
5. Increased ability to monitor more radio communications channels by a single Communications Center through the use of selected and unselected audio features on the console; and
6. Increased employee safety through the ability to monitor more channels at the Communications Center so calls for help can be heard.

Value Delivered. Problem Solved.