antenna sites in Prince George's County.  Region 5 EMRC will initially start by providing medical consults for medic units in Prince George's County, then expand to all EMS units in the county.  This was to have started in January, but progress has been hampered due to problems with several Bell Atlantic circuits.  By the end of the year, the plan is to have Region 5 EMRC serve all of Region 5, which includes Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George's and Saint Mary's counties.

Like Region 3 EMRC, the Region 5 EMRC will be a "medical consultation clearinghouse" for ambulance-to-hospital communication.  Region 5 EMRC will be able to handle three simultaneous radio consults over the med channels, phone patches, and two simultaneous consultations on each planned or existing 800 MHz system in the region.

EMS units with multiple victims can be patched through to several receiving hospitals simultaneously by EMRC.  For trauma center consultations, EMRC operators will route the call to SysCom.  EMRC, by the way, is also the state's reference source for anti-venom.

Only medical consultations will go through EMRC.  The county-operated emergency operations centers in Region 5 will continue to dispatch, communicate and maintain status of their EMS units, clear calls, perform routine hospital notifications, work in conjunction with SysCom for helicopter dispatch, monitor hospital diversion status for EMS units and will remain the central communications link for each ambulance and medic unit.  The existing centers will also serve as a backup for Region 5 EMRC.

Towers covering Prince George's County will expand from three to seven, with upgraded equipment.  The existing sites are at Dysons (off Route 301, near Charles County), District Heights and Greenbelt.  An automatic voting system with additional sites at Mount Hope (Calvert), Woodside (Georgia Avenue), Burtonsville, Crownsville and LaPlata will enhance coverage.  Presently a dispatcher at Prince George's County's Central Communications Facility

I am amazed how each state and county agency has such different operating procedures.  Being a criminal justice major in college and wanting to pursue a career in emergency communications, I went online and found people who worked in the New Castle County, Delaware, Emergency Communications Center.  Lo and behold, I found myself touring the spacious room, dubbed "ReCom," which is partitioned in thirds by walls.

On one side is "Fireboard," which handles all fire & EMS calls.  In the middle are the call-takers, who handle all incoming enhanced 9-1-1 calls, and on the other side sit the police dispatchers for New Castle County and Delaware State Police Troops 1, 6 and 9 (NCC branch).

All 9-1-1 calls within New Castle County are answered in this building just south of Wilmington.  The caller does not choose to have the county or state police respond, rather, the call is directed to the proper police agency depending upon the location of the incident.  Unlike the Washington, DC area, where state police primarily patrol the highways, in Delaware, state police patrol state and county roadways in addition to the larger highways like I-95, I-495 and I-295.  A single call to 9-1-1 routes the call to the proper dispatcher.

All call-takers are county employees as are the dispatchers for "Fireboard."  The police dispatchers, however, are either with the county or state.  Unlike the police division, fireboard dispatchers are cross-trained as call-takers (from the original "police" call-takers) as well as dispatchers.  On the police division, dispatchers tend to make more money and were usually call-takers at one time.  County employees work two 12-hour days, two 12-hour nights, and then are off four days.  State employees (dispatchers) have set shifts, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., for example.

At the time of an incoming call, the call-taker determines if the incident is police, fire, or EMS related.  If it is a police matter, the call-taker and caller stay on the line.  If the incident is a fire or EMS matter, the call is transferred to "Fireboard" at the press of a button with the original call-

wants that!).  You don't even need an HT or transceiver - a scanner will work just fine.  Really, all you're trying to do is null the signal so you can find where it ISN'T to find out where it IS.  There are a couple of ways to do that.  Let's talk about an HT first (this also applies to a scanner).

There are a few ways to null or block a signal that's coming into an HT with a rubber ducky.  A loop just has better reception qualities on two "sides" than the other "sides".  So, to simulate this same thing, block the signal's arrival to the antenna in all but one area.  You can do this a few ways.

The least expensive method is to use the body block technique.  It's pretty self explanatory - hold the receiver close into your body and turn with the receiver.  Your body blocks the signal, and you can localize the strongest signal.  In this method it's best to use  headphones or an earpiece, as the receiver's speaker is either against your body or pointing away from you.  Headphones or an earpiece work best with all of these methods by blocking external noises so you can hear the signal better.

A cheap technique is to cover the HT with heavy-duty aluminum foil (including the antenna), except for the front of the radio.  The aluminum blocks the signal rather well.  I tried this method before I wrote this piece, using an AR1000XLT scanner.  I set it to receive 94.7 FM, since it was a strong radio signal.  Using heavy-duty aluminum foil only, I was able to block most of the signal to a noticeable extent.

I found that the metal belt clip, in contact with the foil, wiped out the reception completely.  So I just unscrewed the belt clip and removed it.  That brings up a quick point - especially if you use a scanner or HT, you have to shield the whole scanner - body and antenna.  The body of the scanner or HT will receive signals also, not just the antenna.

Ever had the urge to buy a can of Pringles (my favorite is the barbecue)?  Here's a good excuse - the can is lined with aluminum foil.  Get the can, eat the chips (that's one of the good parts of this project), and clean out the remaining little grease and chip bits (alcohol works ok - just put it on a

rag).  Cut a long slit in one side, and cover the plastic top cap with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and put the cap back on.  Now, put your HT in the can, (you may have to slightly deform the can into an oval so that it fits) and you've limited the signal to one part of the antenna.  At this point you can just turn the can around to find the strongest signal.  You can even cover the outside of the can with foil to further block signal.

To get a bit more elaborate (costs about $12 for the connectors), I built a simple DF loop for my scanner out of some RG59 coax cable, two twist-on BNC connectors, and a BNC "T" connector (like you use for doing LAN work on computers).  You simply put on a twist-on BNC connector on each end of the coax, and loop each end around to join with each end of the BNC "T" connector.  Plug it into your portable and you're set!

This provides a pretty decent shielded-loop antenna.  The twisted braid in the coax acts as a good shield.  Since loops work in the magnetic component of the electromagnetic wave this shields the antenna from voltage signals and electrostatic interference.  This shielding is very useful since the pattern of a normal free space loop, a "perfect figure eight", distorts when it interacts with the environment.

In some cases (aluminum siding, etc.) the interaction can be so bad that it completely distorts the pattern to the point that it's useless.  In order to prevent harming the loop's ability to pick up the magnetic portion of the electromagnetic signal, you leave a gap in the shield at some point.  I just used a razor to cut away the external cover of the coax, and a small pair of scissors to cut the braid away, and left about an inch gap in the shielded at the top of the loop.

Mine is about a six-inch loop, and, after trying mine to DF 94.7 FM, I was pretty pleased with the performance - deep nulls were produced.   It's self supporting, portable, and easy to use.  A few notes of caution, though.  When you attach it to your portable you can spin the loop freely on the BNC connector of the receiver, however, there is some static and bad connection problems generated when you do that, due to the actual connection to the antenna circuit being turned.  I found it works best if you simply turn the radio.

A strong reading for 467.98 +/- but I could not key it into my radio fast enough and it never came up again.

The ski instructors use 462.610 [probably 462.6125] to communicate and coordinate lessons.

I found 154.540 (Channel 1) and 155.280 (Channel 2) were the two frequencies actually used at Blue Knob.  155.220 is an EMS dispatch frequency used in Bedford County (where Blue Knob is located) and 155.340 is a MEDSTAR flight-for-life air-to-ground frequency used to communicate with hospitals.   Evidently, for emergency uses the ski patrol is licensed to use these two frequencies.

Until approximately 10:00 a.m. all services use channel 1 but then the ski patrol goes to Channel 2 until approximately 8:00 p.m. when they go back to Channel 1.  Other operations, such as the snow-making crew, continue to use Channel 1 throughout the day.  At about 4:00 p.m. the ski patrol calls for a meeting of all patrol members to be held at 4:30 p.m.  The patrol does not use a repeater and identifies as "Patrol."  Patrol members are called by name or are asked if any patrol member is in the area of such-and-such run for assistance.

Most information is passed over the air with the exception that I will mention below.  I expected a closing out of the net at 10:00 p.m. when the lifts close but I did not catch a call at that time.  I may have missed the close-out call or it was blanked out when another call was coming into my scanner.

In the middle and late afternoon there were two accidents that required the use of the MEDSTAR helicopter.  Around 3 p.m. a woman was injured and by 4:30 she was lifted out of the parking lot by helicopter to the Johnstown hospital.  Later, about 5:30 p.m., as I was leaving, I heard another call for the helicopter.  During both emergencies I monitored the use of 155.34 for air-to-ground communications involving the passage of landing coordinates, information about the injuries and the stabilizing treatments the flight nurses were using.   

During the second emergency I heard the patrol dispatcher tell one of the patrol members the information the patrol member requested could not be given over the air.  Instead, the patrol dispatcher instructed the member to call the dispatcher.

technology to speak information for reports.  Stellar Technical Systems Inc. developed a voice recognition application specifically for public safety agencies using Dragon Systems' DragonDictate. 

Before the mobile data system was implemented, dispatchers ran about 30,000 wanted checks a month.  Dispatchers now make only about 14,000 checks, while officers in patrol cars run 37,000 checks a month.  The department plans to add mobile data and voice recognition capability to 70 more patrol cars allowing all 100 county officers access to the technology.

FAA PLANS MOVE TO VINT HILL.  The Federal Aviation Administration has chosen Vint Hill Farms Station, a former military intelligence base in Fauquier County, as the site for a $93 million air-traffic control facility that will consolidate operations now at three Washington area airports and Andrews Air Force Base, reports the Jan. 7 Washington Post. 

FAA officials said the move will improve air safety and streamline costs by putting all the controllers who handle the approaches of aircraft headed to Andrews AFB, Dulles International, Reagan National and Baltimore-Washington International airports in one location.  Under the agreement, the FAA will pay $1.66 million for a 30-acre parcel that once was an antenna field at the 700-acre base, which was closed in 1997.  The FAA hopes to have the facility operating by May 2002, and 300 FAA employees eventually will be assigned there.  Consolidating air-traffic control facilities that share the same airspace is a growing trend an FAA official said.

MCI AWARDED COMMUNICATIONS CONTRACT WITH ST. MARY'S COUNTY.  On Dec 1 MCI Systemhouse announced an agreement reach with Saint Mary's County, Maryland to provide a comprehensive plan to modernize the public safety communications system.  The plan represents a unique joint effort between an area local government and MCI Systemhouse, which claims to operate the only fully outsourced public safety communications system in North America.  Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, which has a contract with MCI Systemhouse, has the first and only privatized 9-1-1 system in the United States (http://www.northampton-e911.com).

"Under the terms of the $10.4 million agreement," states an MCI press release, "MCI Systemhouse will design, build and deliver all components of the emergency communications system [for Saint Mary's County].  Upon full implementation, MCI Systemhouse will provide transition assistance to county employees in daily systems operations until they can operate, manage, and maintain the operations independently."  MCI Systemhouse says it will provide the following:

FACILITIES:  MCI Systemhouse will design, fund, manage and construct a new 7,100-square-foot communications center in Leonardtown.  The new facility will consolidate two former communications centers, and will implement streamlined processes for responding to emergency calls.

EQUIPMENT:  MCI Systemhouse will coordinate, install and implement all of the technology in the newly constructed center.  Included are consoles, a new radio infrastructure, enhanced 9-1-1 telephone service and other related public safety communication center technologies.

RADIO COMMUNICATIONS:  MCI Systemhouse will install a new trunked 800 MHz radio infrastructure and radio field equipment that will provide public safety-grade coverage within the county.  County public safety agencies will be able to operate on an integrated radio system.

CONSULTING:  MCI Systemhouse will provide continual project delivery assistance in the completion of a master street address guide and geographic database, as well as the integration of public safety communications policies and procedures.

Saint Mary's County and MCI agreed to the contract outlined above in November, stated the Dec. 17 Washington Post.  But when the county sent the signed contract to MCI, it was returned by MCI with a number of proposed changes.  The county declined to accept any of MCI's requests.

Amidst all this, the county administrator accepted a position in South Carolina.  He came under criticism by some residents for his role in the county's deal with MCI.  His critics questioned his friendship with a Pennsylvania consultant who has done work for MCI Systemhouse Inc.  Initially, the Dec. 13 Washington Post noted, MCI Systemhouse pro

posed a $35 million privatized 9-1-1 system, an idea rejected by county commissioners.  After months of debate, the commissioners chose a system to be built by MCI but operated by the county.

One commissioner expressed concern that the contract may force the county to buy expensive, brand-name radio equipment.  But the county administrator said the agreement involved purchasing brands of radio equipment that happen to be industry standards.  As a reseller of both Ericsson and Motorola equipment, an MCI Systemhouse spokeswoman says MCI gives an equal opportunity to both companies to submit competitive proposals.  Ericsson, she says, was chosen by MCI as the best solution for the county's particular requirements.

The county commissioners voted 3 to 2 to direct the county's chief procurement officer to sign the contract.  The MCI Systemhouse contract with the county was finalized on December 22 and is moving forward as planned.

U.S. MILITARY RADIO EQUIPMENT CAUSING INTERFERENCE OVERSEAS.  U.S. military technology deployed overseas is disrupting telephone service in some countries and causing telecommunications glitches, annoying allies and incapacitating some weapons.  "At least 89 telecommunications systems... were deployed within the European, Pacific and Southwest Asian theaters without the proper frequency certification and host-nation approval," says Defense Week quoting from a Defense Department's inspector general's report.  Billions of dollars worth of equipment "cannot be utilized to its full capability...  In some cases, fully functional equipment sits idle while its useful life expires," the report stated. 

The Patriot missile system's radios, radars and data-link terminals have interfered with Korean cellular phones.  In Germany, the report noted, infant crib monitors used on U.S. bases have clashed with German telephone service.  And in Bahrain, SPS-40 and SPS-49 radars "are unusable because the equipment operates on a frequency that interferes with the Bahrain telecommunications services."  Host nations are angry about the disruptions, the report added, noting that Germany has passed a law allowing it to confiscate U.S. equipment using unauthorized frequencies and to arrest its user.

Please address all correspondence to Alan.  We encourage readers to submit material and write articles that relate to the hobby.  All submissions are subject to editing for style and content.  When submitting material please make certain we can contact you should we have any questions.  We welcome frequency and visitor requests, but please include a reply envelope.

Contact: Alan Henney
6912 Prince George's Avenue
Takoma Park, MD  20912-5414
301-270-2531 (voice) / 301-270-5774 (fax)

Newsletter Staff:
Dr. Willard Hardman, Executive Editor (hardman1@ix.netcom.com)
Mike Peyton, Technical Advisor (Michael.Peyton@mci.com)
Ken Fowler, Northern Virginia Correspondent (kfowler1@osf1.gmu.edu)
Alan Henney, Editor & Treasurer (henney@doubled.com)