Dispatch and Sub-dispatch

Dispatch and Sub-Dispatch Facilities

In large systems, there may be multiple locations and departments separated in different offices which all need access to the radio system.

Sometimes that access can be accommodated with radio control stations (base stations) or walkies which work through the radio system.

However, in some circumstances, it may be desirable to have an "RF free" workspace where energy from transmitters can be eliminated to prevent interference to and from computers, telephones, and other electronic devices.

It may also be necessary for dispatchers or coordinators to monitor multiple channels to track the flow of information and incidents.

Dispatch facilities can be remotely located from the transmitter facilities, or can be co-sited; either carry-in or truck mounted.

System-Level Dispatch

This system provides for up to three system-level dispatch consoles, each of which can monitor eighteen primary system channels simultaneously. While monitoring those eighteen channels, the operator at a position can choose one of the eighteen to transmit on, or can bridge any combination together to interoperate.

The dispatch chain also has control of a 100 Watt, 64 channel simplex base station which can be used to communicate with simplex (non-repeater) channels. Multiple simplex base stations can be interfaced to these consoles. Simplex base stations can be UHF, VHF, LoBand, or control stations for 800mhz systems can be interfaced to them.

All the consoles can be operated on 12 volt DC backup batteries.

Telex/Vega C-6200 IP console with Analog TRC Interface

Task Group Level Sub-Dispatch
An actual screenshot of a 6-channel C-Soft dispatch application construct running concurrently with a tracking application at the Darpa Grand Challenge. Forty-three (43) such positions were employed at this event.	Sub-Dispatch refers to task-group level positions which are implemented on PCs running the Vega C-Soft application, and are networked to the primary consoles. An example would be a transportation coordinator whose primary responsibility is to stay in touch with their fleet, but may need the ability to jump to another channel. The C-Soft application can be custom-tailored to each position so that unneeded channels do not appear on their screen. Sub-dispatch consoles can also be placed in positions where base stations are impractical or where walkies cannot get out, such as a bunker or a basement or sub-basement office.
A photo of the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge COC during a quiet moment, showing part of the 43 PC based dispatch positions	C-Soft permits an unlimited number of sub-dispatch positions to be connected. The C-Soft window can be run along with or underneath another application, and uses the sound facilities in the host computer. PC only, Windows 2000 or XP required.
Command Operations Center in 2007. 60 PC Based Consoles networked to the Comm Trailer.
If PC's are not available, analog consoles can also be interfaced to the dispatch chain.

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