Building a Mobile Communications Center
from
Ryan Kelzenberg
Website:
http://www.twinslan.org/~rces/amateurradio.htm
on
November 20, 2006
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RCEMHS recently acquired a Mobile Incident Command Post for use during Emergencies, Drills and Events. The base vehicle was built by Moex Expandables and used as a mobile clinic and was converted into the MICP by a local Fire Department. In the summer of 2006 RCEMHS acquired this vehicle with the assistance of grant money and began the process of doing the necessary repairs and instillation of equipment to make this vehicle fit our needs.
Mobile Incident Command Post Rear Meeting RoomRCEMHS Mobile Command Post LogoMobile Incident Command Post Communications Room
We started with the routine maintenance such as oil, suspension, heating and cooling along with having the vehicle painted and lettering planned for. We are looking at having the decals applied in the next few months. Many of our volunteer staff met to plan out the layout and equipment needed for the inside of the vehicle. This is the 4th Mobile Command Post that RCES has developed so we had many lessons that were learned even from completing our previous MICP 2380. One difficulty in designing a multi purpose vehicle is to plan for all the possible uses and then design a vehicle around those needs. Our organization is involved with Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES), supporting our local Emergency Management agency and also assisting many local community groups during events.
As technology has changed over the last 10 years, we were looking at what we could put into the vehicle on our budget and what could be added later as the budget would allow. Unlike 2380, which was a Chevy Step Van and the rear compartment was just a shell when we acquired it, this vehicle had all the heating, cooling, pluming, electrical, and phone completed and we would only need to do some small changed and repairs to the vehicle to put it into service. Planning for this vehicle's purchase has been on the table for over a year and our volunteers had seen this vehicle previously and once we had received word that we had received the grant money to purchase the vehicle and funds to equip 2383 we started to make our dream list. The vehicle is equipped with an expansion that when deployed adds the second meeting area and is equipped with its own TV feed along with voice and data jacks. When the room is expanded it ads an 6 x 8 foot meeting room.
One of our main goals was to equip this vehicle with three work stations for radio operators and maintain two meeting areas along with being able to use the cab as a work area also. With our goals in mind we looked around at current MICP's and saw what they included and how we could include as much of that as possible on our budget. An awning ads a covered work area outside the vehicle and we have left the option of adding a flat monitor to display a status board to those outside of the MICP. This are could be used to check in volunteers during events and many other uses.
The first area that we tackled was the radio equipment. The vehicle had enough VHF and UHF radios installed that we did not need to plan for any further purchase of that type of equipment and just needed to plan for back up power for the radios. The original setup depended on the engine to power the vehicles' 12 volt equipment and the generator for the 12-volt power supplies for the radios. It was decided that we wanted to have battery back up and be able to use the vehicle without the engine running. That involved purchasing two large 12-volt power supplies and combination battery chargers and two optima batteries. The optima batteries and one charger would be used for battery back up in the radio room and the second supply would be used to keep the vehicles main battery charged and run the vehicles 12 volt equipment from the generator or shoreline. The second modification required creating a custom shoreline plug so that we could operate the vehicle from shoreline or an external generator.
Mobile Incident Command Post Front Work AreaMobile Incident Command Post Rear Meeting RoomMobile Incident Command Post Front Work Area
The next area involved equipment that would allow us to have phone and data capability inside the vehicle. Satellite based units are expensive to operate and maintain, we found a Kyocera KR1 Mobile Router that would accept a Nextel Air card and provide data capability to our computer network and a wireless access point inside the vehicle. Telephone equipment has also advanced in 10 years as we purchased two Telular units that are small cell phones that will work with our onboard PBX for data and fax calls. Combining the Telular units and a hybrid Panasonic PBX would meet our needs for on board telephone service. We have tried many types of printers in our previous vehicles and have found that inkjet printers dry out and the heads and carriers need to be replaced regularly. We purchased a multifunction color laser printer with fax capability for this vehicle. This will allow us to send and receive faxes over the Telular units and also operate as a network printer for the computers inside the vehicle.
The original vehicle was wired for voice only and our volunteers stripped out that wiring and wired the vehicle with Cat-5 wiring for voice and data and home run all the wiring to a central closet for our switch, router, PBX and Telular units. Jacks were also wiring into the shoreline compartment to allow for CO-lines and data to be connected to the vehicle and a phone and computer could be setup outside the vehicle. Several 800 Mhz radios will also be added into the vehicle so that we will be able to communicate with the other organizations and agencies that use the ARMOR system. These should be installed in the last quarter of 2006. The vehicle will also be equipped with several portables VHF and 800 Mhz radios along with rack chargers to support on scene personnel and the need to recharge the portable batteries when they run low.
The vehicle us currently wired for off the air broadcast TV and can accept a CATV feed for the televisions that are mounted inside the vehicle. We are currently looking at adding a received for satellite Television. One item we've found is that the roof mounted antennas are expensive if the vehicle is parked in a location where the view of the satellite is blocked, the picture can be degraded. One of the options we have seen is that many RV's have used is to mount a dish antenna on a tripod and set it up to view the satellite. The vehicle is also equipped with a portable satellite phone and mobile car kit that can be set up on shore notice and use the satellite network if there is a problem with cellular service. This phone has the capability of using the Verizion Wireless Network or the Global Star network and will find the best signal automatically.
In the future we would like to add several LCD monitors that can be used to display a status board or feeds from TV Tuner. In many of the newer MICP's they have a switcher that can display any feed from a Computer, or video feed to any monitor inside the vehicle. It would be great to have that type of feature but we may have to add switchboxes and have a limited selection of feeds. We also have several other pieces of equipment we would like to add to 2383 as funds become available that will increase the functions of this vehicle and be able to serve those agencies that request our services better. As for the items that we could not do in house, we found great vendors in the area who did a great job on our vehicle.
Mobile Incident Command Post Front ViewMobile Incident Command Posts Right SideRCEMHS Mobile Incident Command Post
The Logo's for the vehicle were done by the Grafix Shop and they have done great for us in the past and I look forward to seeing how 2383 will look with the new logo. The painting and bodywork was done at Dusty's Body Shop in Blaine and our staff was very pleased with the results. Overall we have learned that once a vehicle is built out it is only the start as new ideas and suggestions come out on how to improve the design and operations of the MICP.
If you are interested in seeing the entire article or images of our MCC, it is at
http://www.twinslan.org/~rces/amateurradio.htm
Ryan Kelzenberg
RCEMHS
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by W5GNB on November 20, 2006
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The photos looked great here, it is nice to see that your area has such great financial support for your projects.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by W6TH on November 20, 2006
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.
The photos are great. very costly, but will pay of coming the future: be prepared is the motto.
.:
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by RADIOGUYR2 on November 20, 2006
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Way to big...
The best one I have seen is a dual section truck trailer combo. clearly most have never been used for the intention that they were needed for and so actually become big motorhomes for the operators.
You can not have the radio operators and the commmand center in the same vehicle. It just doesn't work. To much noize and commotion going on.
Instead one needs to think about the command section having the info area where commanders can discuss, plan and meet the requirements of the problem. The second section is the radio room, per se, that has the comm associated with it. Their a wide range of radios are needed. Everything from DC to daylight so as to cover the full spectrum of who this com center is supposed to support. A Com corrdinator takes the commands from the commanders and processes them to the correct operator who then also feeds the info back to the corrdinator and back to command. Thus, the commanders don't need to be in the radio room with the operators.
A open walk up section is also needed with a are that is provided so that written request can be made out and handed to the corrdinator.
Now as for the radios and power. We have found that running on anything less that a genarator is more trouble and problems than its worth. The genarator is functional and over all takes less weight than all the rest of the high tech stuff. Of course a shore power system is also utilized when power is provided but, in real emergencies your not going to find it.
Our Genarators are two fold. One is inside the trailer unit. the other is in its own trailer so it can be located away from the command post and radio rooms. Fuel for one is propane the other diesel which most fuel trucks who service the other equipment at site carry.
The major reason that you need to have the genarators is also to provide AC, Heating and lights for the radio room personel. You go stuffing 4 or 5 people side by side in a van and you will be needing some sort of postive ventalation for not only the radios but for the personel as well. Otherwise it get real stuffy and unconfortable in high humidity enviroments such as after storms.
Antennas are the second major area that is determined by the location. Some haul beams other use what they can attach to the vehicles. We found that a antenna farm is a little better than close in. The major reason is to keep from interfearing with each other again.
Most of our research has come from what the military also does for setting up their command posts and radio comm sections. They have a very excelent and efficent manual, equipment list and antenna farm manuals that one can take advantage of. I suggest that one take a look at them before re-inventing the wheel. After all they are in the business and have had years of experiance at it too.
Looks impressive but from the pictures, you can't have a RV motor home and a command post. Nice try though.
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Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by K1CJS on November 20, 2006
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Its nice when a club or a group can afford to get a vehicle such as this, have it painted, equipped, and have their own version of a mobile op center built into it. Problem is, there are not many clubs or groups in the entire United States that are able to do it--much less pay the insurances and the associated costs of keeping it on the road.
There again, there's another matter--how many times a year will it be used? Once? Twice? At all???
The county here has a mobile command center similar to this one, the state has one even more elaborate--it's a custom built unit, built into a fifty three foot semi trailer! Both of these units are owned by the state and operated by the county sheriffs office and the state EMA respectively.
Even if a club in this area had something like this, in an emergency we wouldn't be able to park it near anyplace worthwhile to get any real use from it.
Sorry to put it this way, but in the northeastern US, something like this owned by a ham radio club or an ARES organization would be considered by local officials a civilian vehicle owned and used by a group of hams and wouldn't be useable for anything useful in any emergency situation. In fact, it probably wouldn't be allowed anywhere in the area of an emergency situation.
In the midwest, I have no doubt the situation is different, but around the Massachusetts area, a well equipped unit such as this is duplicated at least twice, and then again the Red Cross and the Salvation Army also have units they use.
Good luck with your new MCC, people.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KC8VWM on November 20, 2006
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Can I borrow the keys and take it for a test drive? :)
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by W3LK on November 20, 2006
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<< RCEMHS recently acquired a Mobile Incident Command Post >>
What is RCEMHS?
One of the cardinal rules of writing is to never use an acronym until you have first spelled out the complete name. :)
73,
Lon - W3LK
Baltimore, Maryland
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Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by G0GQK on November 20, 2006
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It means its a big van with seats where people can play radio like World War III
G0GQK
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by WI7B on November 20, 2006
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I have no affiliation with this organization, but I did a little searching.
Ramsey County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (RCEMHS) is an offcial county government emergency management department. This MCIP van/truck is government property. This is NOT just a ham club...
"Ramsey County Emergency Management and Homeland Security (RCEMHS) is charged with coordinating the emergency preparedness and homeland security efforts of the county. In addition to planning and educating, we provide assistance to local jurisdictions and county agencies before, during and after disaster strikes. EMHS works closely with county, local and state law enforcement, and cooperatively with neighboring jurisdictions to enhance homeland security and better prepare for and respond to incidents ranging from tornadoes to terrorism.
Homeland Security involves working with all aspects of public safety - from the federal level to working with individual citizens - to ensure the most comprehensive and coordinated approach to protection of the public safety. The division works with many agencies and jurisdictions to coordinate information, training and equipment needed for protecting the county and the nation from acts of terrorism. In the awful event that such an act is perpetrated upon us, EMHS staff will work with these agencies and jurisdictions to meet the problem quickly, mitigate its effect, inform the public, and reduce the chances that such an event can happen again.
We also operate a volunteer organization. Ramsey County Emergency Services (RCES) unit members are uniformed volunteers that provide emergency communications, coordination of resources, planning and labor. RCES supports local and neighboring community agencies such as; Fire, Ambulance, Sheriff, and Police Departments with coordination, logistics, communication and staging at emergency scenes."
=> http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/em/index.htm
73,
---* Ken
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by N5LX on November 20, 2006
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All you need now is Whoopy lights, orange vests with the word EMCOM on it and to top it off -- mustard stained T-shirts...
LOL
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by W1XZ on November 20, 2006
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This must be federal money. That means we paid for it. A bunker truck in Minnesota where the big weather is the low temperature at International Falls and heavy snow. Probably a lot of terrorist activity aimed at all peoples with Scandanavian sir names, too. -
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Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KB0UPW on November 20, 2006
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That is correct we are an volunteer unit tied to the County's Emergency Management Agency.
I ended up submitting the artile and could not go back in and did get to add the full name before the RCEMHS. I did take the advice and update our own website.
This vehicle is actually used many times during the year to support both our Emergency Mangement needs, other communities and our own ARES / RACES events.
From the photos it really doesn't show the door that can be closed to separate the radio room from the small meeting area. I also don't have any photo's that show an 8 x 8 slid out room that can also be used for the IC and their staff.
Having the shoreline is a great addition and used for many pre-planned events where power can be set up ahead of time. One example is during the county fair this vehicle is used for the command post and we have a dedicated power drop.
On the roof is actually 3 AC units with small heater units and we have 3 electric heaters on the floor also since it does get rather cold in during the winter.
If things really get used, we also posess a Mobile Communication Center that can be brought on site and used stictly for the radio communications. That vehicle was our MICP before this one.
For communications in outlaying areas ther is definitally an benefit to having some form of portable towers and antennas. Working in a city environment the most power that we really need is 5 watts on an external antenna to get into our radio systems.
Our county is also in a transition to the states new trunked 800 mhz system for public service and public safety. There will be a lot of changes in how emergency communications operates since a majority of agencies will all be using the same radio system and can talk to each other with out much trouble.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KB0UPW on November 20, 2006
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If you are interested here are two sites of interest
RCEMHS Official County Site
http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/em
Ramsey County Emergency Services Site
http://www.twinslan.org/~rces/
Thanks again for the great suggestions
Ryan Kelzenberg
RCEMHS
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by K8MHZ on November 21, 2006
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"You can not have the radio operators and the commmand center in the same vehicle. It just doesn't work. To much noize and commotion going on."
I have found that to be true as well. We are now making attempts to separte command from communications. Every event we tried this at proved that it worked well. The last event we did was a run through a dune area where comms were tricky. We had a portable repeater in the middle of the event, command at the staging area and I did net control from my shack 2 miles from the event.
It worked very well there and has worked well at much larger events, too.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by AE6RO on November 23, 2006
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G0GQK: I sure hope you meant play radio like in World War II, seeing how World War III hasn't yet happened.
By the way, to paraphrase Albert Einstein, post World War III radios will likely be tin cans and string. If the cans aren't too "hot" that is.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING! AE6RO
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by WA2JJH on November 23, 2006
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Nice post. One dude in my area, converted an old "ENG"
truck. The 30 foot pnuematic telescoping mast is great
for mounting antennas on it.
The 2 gas generators ans 2kv inverter are left after an old TV "Live" truck are sold.
Simply add antennas, Transceivers, or what ever else.
A used one can be had for $25,000. True many miles are on the odometer. However those mast's and generators make up for that.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by W0IPL on November 24, 2006
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Interesting van.
I agree that the workers need to be separate from the "chiefs" for radio operations to work. I also do not see any provision for head-phones, which are essential for any incident.
It wasn't until I got three web pages deep that I found out why you have such a large van. First it took three pages deep to find out you are in Minnie-soootah. After that it was evident why the van is so big. When a flock of the Minnie-soootah state bird (mosquitos) come by you can hide in the van and not get carried away by them. :-)
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KB0UPW on November 26, 2006
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That is why in the rear radio room there is a door that can be closed to cut the noise and during deployment the IC would generally work in the slide out that is at the front of the truck to also cut down on nose and traffic in the radio room.
Most of the communications done from inside the vehicle during an event would be communcations for the Incident Commander.
We also have our old mobile communications center that can be brought in to handle all the operational radio communications if the scope of the event needs more then two radio operators.
We also have to keep enough communications in the vehicle during community events when all the communications will be done inside the vehicle such as the county fair, MS 150 events and ARES / RACES support.
One advantage of the radios we use, such as the motorola spectras is that the front speaker is very direction and doesn't interfear with the next operator.
We have been looking at a few models of interface box that would allow these radios to be fed into a headset but they are around 500.00 each and a bit out of our range at this time.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by N6PEH on November 27, 2006
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So I'm curious, what are you going to do with this rig?
What incidents have you attended?
What events have you been to and what did you do?
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KB0UPW on November 27, 2006
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You can take a look at our website. We have a page that list our previous events that we have supported.
http://www.twinslan.org/~rces/
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KB0UPW on November 27, 2006
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The vehicle will be used as a multi-purpose mobile command center.
The vehicle is equipped with radios that cover the Public Safety, Public Service and VHF and UHF amateur frequencies used in this area. Once Ramsey County rolls out the 800 Mhz radio system, those will be added also.
The vehicle has been used for operations such as the County Fair, Disaster Drills, ARES and RACES radio operations.
As a Mobile Command Post it can be used is the Incident Command Post or as a command post for any of the other agencies or resources that would respond to an event.
By building this vehicle to support multiple uses, we have a very flexible platform to work from. If we would have built it only for a Mobile Incident Command Post we would not be able to complete all these other function as needed.
Our previons command post has been involved in assisting our County Sheriff's Department during events and the St. Paul Fire Department during stucture fires where we have used our video equipment to support them.
Our organization can preform multiple task such as providing communications support for the on scene staff, providing video feeds of the envent to the IC, assisting in technical assistance such as radio, video, telephone and data systems, along with our volunteers being able to assist as needed.
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KG4RRN on November 28, 2006
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I agree with the commenter who said that the conference
area needs to be seperate from the communications/radio area. Distractions, yelling , screaming, and equipment(ie: generator) noises are too prevelant, in closed spaces like this.
Enjoyed seeing the pics on the website.
Looks like about 2-5 mpg in the city and 5-7 on the highway... hope they have a gas card or account.
See the Red Cross site on how to install a mast so that your comms can be heard for miles.
73,
Bob, KG4RRN
Fairfax Co. VA. ARES member
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RE: Building a Mobile Communications Center
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by KB0UPW on November 28, 2006
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As many have said that the Comm area needs to be separate during large envents because of noise, we did learn a bit about that on our last vehicle.
It was a small delivery truck and we had a comm area in the front and a small bench seating area in the rear and it was separated by cabinets.
The noise was actually blocked pretty well but it would have been nice to have some solid door to close to separate the areas.
In this vehicle the generator noise is not an issue at all. It was build on an RV chassis and MOEX, now Medcoach did an amazing job with noise dampening. You can barely tell that the generator is running. I think that's a very important point with vehicles.
Here is another picture that shows the Command meeting are of the vehicle and how it relates to the Comm area in the back of the truck. This is the previous paint scheme.
<a href="http://www.twinslan.org/%7Erces/2383-drivers-side.jpeg" target="_blank">http://www.twinslan.org/~rces/2383-drivers-side.jpeg</a>
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