First responders are often sent into situations where a catastrophic event has severely compromised the conventional telecommunications services. Is it possible to design, build and roll-out a specialized wide area radio system that is able to complement the traditional networks and is unaffected by conditions such as flooding, fire, loss of links, loss of grid power? This session is a case study describing the design, build and roll-out a true wide area critical push to talk communications system with LMR and implemented using DMR Tier III. The specific design considerations that ensure 100% up-time in very challenging situations are presented. How possible failures are overcome by the inherent design are discussed. Human factors in the operation of the network are also explained.

Key Takeaways
• An opportunity for administrations specifying first responder systems to learn about a low cost high reliability solution
• An opportunity for DMR manufacturers and installers to examine a new and different market
• Designers and implementers are able to see how 100% up-time is achieved