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Scene-of-Action Talkgroups <br />Several talkgroups have been created for "scene of <br />action" communication.These channels will allowtwo or <br />more radios to talk directly to each other when users are <br />inside buildings or in confined spaces where regional <br />coverage is not available.This feature could be invaluable <br />in, for example, a dangerous fire below grade when fire <br />fighters must communicate with each other directly. <br />The Project 25 Standard <br />For years, competing radio equipment manufacturers <br />marketed proprietary trunked radio systems. Choosing <br />one system over another often <br />meant being captive to a single <br />supplier for the life of the <br />system. If a neighboring <br />jurisdiction purchased frorr <br />a different manufacturer, <br />two agencies often couldr <br />communicate. Moreover, i <br />a given supplier went out <br />of business or discontinue <br />a particular technology, thE <br />user could be without recourse. <br />Recognizing the need for a national standard that w� <br />utilize the most advanced technology and, at the sar <br />time, be created on an architectural platform open tc <br />the Association of Public Safety Communications Of <br />�APCO► formed a committee charged with defining � <br />standard for digital trunked radio systems. The effort <br />was dubbed "Project 25" Today the definitions <br />the committee settled on have become known <br />as the P25 Standard. It is rapidly gaining <br />acceptance nationwide, and today several <br />manufacturers are building to this standard. <br />The Minnesota Metro System is a P25 digital <br />system, ensuring users can stay connectedand <br />get the latest in public safety technologies for <br />a clear migration path to the future. <br />Internet Protocol <br />As a happy result of fortuitoustiming, the Minnesota <br />Metro System is currently the most advanced in the <br />world. It is the first system anywhere that will use new <br />Internet Protocol switching. As a practical matter, this <br />means that every device on the system has an IP <br />address. Digital data will be transmitted in packets, just <br />as data flows over the Internet. Adoption of this software <br />platform means that, in the future, a data layer can be <br />added to the backbone, allowing for the exchange of <br />pictures, fingerprints, video, and even CriMNet <br />information. <br />While the Minnesota Metro Public Safety Communication <br />System is a closed network, in the future it will be <br />possible for users to tap into the vast resources of the <br />Internet, if applications dictate the need to do so. <br />