The First Steps towards your P25 System are the most important. Finding cohesive information on P25 systems is often difficult, but with P25 Best Practice, these steps are shaped into easily digestible guides to help your organization make the best decisions.
First Steps to your P25 System
Which way to go? This guide outlines some vital steps you can take right now, that will help you make the myriad decisions that lie ahead, and ensure your project runs smoother. Arm yourself with the right information and the right people from the beginning.
Identify your Project Stakeholders
Learn how to identify and involve as many of your critical stakeholders as possible. Properly consulting and informing them about the project will better prepare them for change. Some of the typical stakeholders in a Public Safety project include:
- Radio users such as first responders
- Dispatchers & System Administrators
- Technical Personnel
- Local politicians, administration and external agencies.
Define your Project Scope
Simply adding channels & base stations when and where needed was the process for analog conventional systems. With digital networks, this process of defining what is needed is more difficult due to technological advancements and the shifting DMR landscape. Replace or upgrade an existing system, join an existing large system, or let your vendor upgrade your existing system? All of these and more are important decisions to make.
Set up the Project
Once you have defined your project scope, setting up the project is the next step. You should consider using well-established Project Management concepts such as identifying team members, defining project objectives, and allocating responsibilities & guidelines.
Why use Consultants?
Seeking external counsel may save your project time and money in the long term, consultants can be a value-add member of your team who can provide a broad perspective about the technology, identify emerging trends and even assist in vendor negotiations. Choosing a good consultant involves shortlisting and checking references and evaluating previous projects. Finding a good consultant should not be difficult.
Securing Funds
Investing in a new system requires a great amount of time and money. It’s important to identify necessary funding for each step of the project. This includes early project estimates, equipment costs, shelters, and factor in ongoing costs such as equipment maintenance. Keeping a track of project spending is vital to ensuring project efficacy.
Needs Analysis
Before deciding where you would like to go with your communications, you need to clearly understand where you are now. What does your system currently do, what would you like it to do? Have you taken consideration of past and future users? What could be the drawbacks of those familiar with the old way of doing things and new processes brought about by change? Will your new comms system require additional radio spectrum?
Once you know what you want to accomplish with your project, it is time to gather fundamental information that will allow you to prepare system specifications and project requirements.
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