Virginia 911 center takes an innovative approach to use IP dispatch consoles with its Motorola ASTRO Conventional radio system

Prior to the upgrade, the 911 center used Orbacom TDM-150 dispatch consoles connected to a Motorola ASTRO® Conventional radio system. The legacy consoles had been obsoleted with parts and support becoming increasingly difficult to find. The 911 center needed a new Internet Protocol (IP) dispatch console system, but its ASTRO® Conventional radio system posed a major obstacle since it used a proprietary analog protocol that is not compatible with IP technology. A new IP console system meant the entire radio network would need to be replaced, a cost the 911 center couldn’t afford. But GCS had a better idea.

By using Avtec’s new Radio over Internet Protocol Module (RIC-M™), the proprietary ASTRO® Conventional v.24 protocol is converted into a standard IP interface. The RIC-M solution enables seamless communication between the existing ASTRO radio system and Avtec’s pure IP Scout™ console. Connecting to an IP-based console like Scout creates the opportunity for enhanced dispatching capabilities and the possibility to interface to virtually any other type of radio system.

“We were looking for a system that was non-proprietary, and would function well with other radio systems,” said Martinsville-Henry County Emergency 911 Center Director J.R. Powell. “Because our 911 center is a joint center between multiple jurisdictions, there are many different radio systems involved. We needed a console system that would play well with a variety of radio networks without having to reinvent the wheel. It needed to be affordable too.”

To finance the console replacement, Martinsville-Henry County 911 is using GCS’ Console Systems as a Service program which bundles the equipment lease with implementation, training, and ongoing support services into one monthly payment.