PETROLEUM DIRECTORY: A new portable emergency communications system

Petroleum News

North Slope Telecom Inc. has announced the delivery of a portable emergency communications system for the Alaska Land Mobile Radio, or ALMR, network. The ALMR network provides public safety officials and emergency first responders with efficient and secure radio communications during both emergencies and routine operations. The new portable system was developed in conjunction with Motorola and will extend the range of fixed communications sites, or act as a temporary replacement for an existing site during site upgrade or maintenance. The portable system can also integrate with a fixed site to provide additional communications capacity.

The system consists of four modules that can operate together or independently. Each module is mounted on a lightweight aluminum skid that enables people to load the module into a military cargo aircraft, a railroad car or a truck. Shock mounting of critical equipment minimizes the possibility of damage during transportation.

The first skid contains a complete ALMR repeater site and a variety of microwave, satellite and fiber optic equipment to connect the site into the ALMR system. The second skid contains dispatcher positions and a variety of radio equipment for access to any ALMR site and to conduct mutual aid or interoperable communications. The third skid contains a 50-foot crank-up tower and a 26 kilowatt generator to power the systems. The fourth skid contains a 15-foot satellite antenna for use when the system is deployed outside the coverage areas of existing sites.

Many Alaska vendors helped design and fabricate the new system. This use of local vendors enabled rapid design changes during the tight schedule that the development project required.

North Slope Telecom has begun production of a second portable ALMR system for the U.S. Department of Defense. The company, based in Anchorage since 1980, specializes in the telecommunications infrastructure for heavy industry in the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Alaska. Services include the design, installation and maintenance of a wide range of voice and data communications equipment.