Mission Critical Partners guides radio system upgrade for university police department

Enhanced Communication and Safety: MCP Upgrades Carnegie Mellon's Police Radio System

MCP conducted a comprehensive assessment of Carnegie-Mellon University's outdated analog conventional land mobile radio (LMR) system. Subject-matter experts evaluated the system's coverage, analyzed the consoles in the university's 911 center, and assessed the distributed antenna systems (DAS) and bidirectional amplifiers (BDA) across campus buildings. Using their proprietary Model for Advancing Public Safety® (MAPS®) assessment methodology, MCP recommended upgrading to a P25-compliant digital simulcast system with encryption. This included designing a system with three transmit/receive sites and two receive-only sites to ensure extensive coverage and reliable communication. MCP also addressed serious design flaws in the existing DAS/BDA infrastructure by ensuring police frequencies were programmed into all devices and recommended implementing a future DAS/BDA system core for enhanced in-building coverage.

Results:

The upgraded radio system provided Carnegie-Mellon's police department with stronger and clearer voice communications, extending to the edge of the coverage footprint. The new system ensured native interoperability with Pittsburgh and Allegheny County emergency-response agencies, facilitating seamless communication during joint-response incidents. The upgrade also addressed the existing in-building coverage issues, particularly in densely populated campus facilities with subterranean levels.

Benefits:

The primary benefit of the project was significantly improved officer safety due to enhanced communication clarity and reliability. The encrypted P25 system ensures secure communications, while the improved interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions optimizes the effectiveness of joint-emergency responses. Additionally, the tailored system design provides better coverage across the entire footprint, regardless of whether officers are in vehicles, in buildings, or on foot. Overall, MCP's expertise and hands-on approach resulted in a modernized radio system that bolstered the university's law-enforcement operations.