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The Project 25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG) is pleased to share our latest P25 System of the Month:

Oklahoma’s PatrolNet P25 Network

P25update21BLUE Oklahome State Patrol

The docvument can be downloaded using this link: https://www.project25.org/index.php/documents/ptig-p25-system-case-studies?view=frontlist&catid[0]=10015

The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (DPS) has implemented PatrolNet, a Project 25 (P25) conventional network that covers about 210,000 square miles in Oklahoma.

DPS oversees the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP), which staffs 1,500 civilian and uniformed employees across the state. OHP state troopers patrol the state’s 111,994 miles of state roads and highways, responding to traffic collisions, natural disasters, and civil disorders.

DPS had an aging VHF low-band system with spotty coverage across about one-third of the state. Maximizing Oklahoma DPS’ current sites, Stolz Telecom designed a coverage plan for a new P25 network using 35 sites and covering one-third of Oklahoma. To address the coverage problems with the legacy system, the department deployed an in-fill 700 MHz voted multicast coverage solution designed by Stolz Telecom and using Tait Communications P25 equipment in 2021.

The department has a Communications & Electronics Services Team that oversees and maintains its public safety communications network. That DPS team independently verified Stolz Telecom’s coverage calculations and assumptions. The new P25 base stations have remote access and spectrum analyzer capabilities, allowing DPS field technicians to remotely diagnose issues in real-time. This saves hours of driving time to remote locations that are sometimes five hours away.

The solution was cost effective, with the radio equipment, configuration, and training providing a solution that easily fit within the DPS budget. The infrastructure cost was about $1.5 million. The Communications & Electronics Services Team installed the shelter hardware and hired a tower crew to purchase and install the tower hardware for a separate cost.

The P25 conventional network includes three sites, two channels, a console gateway, and an RF console. The base station can operate in a trunked network in single, simulcast and fill-in receiver configurations. The mobile station votes each downlink frequency to find the best frequency available.

Stolz Telecom provided engineering support to configure the network and train the internal technicians for ongoing maintenance and firmware upgrades.

System Expansion

Texas County is in the panhandle of Oklahoma. The county seat is Guymon, and the population was 21,384 in 2020. Texas County is the second-largest county in Oklahoma based on land area and is named for the state that adjoins the county to its south.

OK map

The county includes 11 fire departments, 8 law enforcement agencies, and 2 ambulance services.

The county joined the DPS P25 conventional network in 2024 through an inexpensive equipment purchase. The tower equipment and first round of radios were funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money. P25 radios from at least two different vendors are being deployed. Additional P25 radios are being purchased using grant funds, and more radios will be budgeted into yearly budgets.

To ensure coverage would be adequate, hundreds of miles of drive coverage testing were conducted, and the results exceeded expectations.

The three tower sites in Texas County cover most of the Beaver and Cimarron County Oklahoma, and reach into five counties in Texas, one in Colorado, and five counties in Kansas.

OK radio Site map

The green portable symbols are portable coverage, and the mobile symbols that are green indicate mobile coverage.

Network Advantages

One of the benefits for Texas County to join PatrolNet in addition to meeting its budgetary requirements is improved coverage. The network offers clear radio traffic and 700 MHz portable coverage tested at nearly 100% countywide. Previous VHF portable coverage was 5 miles or less. Officer safety has benefited.

Network redundancy is another benefit through generators at state-owned tower sites. Texas County towers lacked generators at 3 of 5 previous sites, but DPS 700 MHz towers all have generators.

In addition, interoperability has improved. Joining PatrolNet allowed the county to restore communications with Kansas after the state moved to 800 MHz. Texas County mutual aid with Kansas EMS providers and fire departments is common, so renewed interoperability was critical.

Direct communications with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and local agencies was also established. The 700 MHz system will play a key role in communicating with neighboring counties and allow a future COOP plan. There are currently no radio communications with the two surrounding counties, but testing has proven the new system will fill this gap.

Lessons Learned

Rural areas pose unique coverage challenges. Because of smaller budgets, rural agencies must maximize coverage with effective network design, which is critically important to a successful P25 mission-critical communications system.

Working with state partners to share infrastructure provides cost benefits to both entities and allows for true radio communications interoperability between state and local agencies.

Achieving buy-in from local agencies to change spectrum bands from VHF to 700/800 MHz was a challenge. Stolz Telecom demonstrated the new frequencies’ improved coverage with propagation maps and a live demo of the PatrolNet system.

Details: 16 July 2025

The P25 Capabilities Guide document can be downloaded using the link below.

Project 25 Capabilities Guide V 1.8 May 2025

This document is intended as a guide that lists the capabilities of subscriber and infrastructure equipment enabled by the TIA-102 series of published standards. These standards are referred to as the “Project 25 Standard”.

The most common differentiator for both subscriber and infrastructure equipment are the air interfaces. This guide groups the listed equipment capabilities by the currently available standardized air interfaces:

FDMA Conventional
FDMA Trunking
TDMA Trunking

For each air interface grouping, this guide provides both a summary of capabilities and a more detailed listing which expands on the capabilities identified in the summary. This approach is used for both subscriber and infrastructure equipment. Within the tables of this guide, detailed references to the TIA-102 series documents are included.

At a minimum, two types of tables are provided in each section. There will be a high-level summary table titled “Feature Summary” for the services followed by a second table with details about the features under each service titled “Feature Detail.” The high-level summary will also list the frequency bands.

It should not be expected that ALL of the services and features contained in these tables will be included in P25 Infrastructure or in a P25 subscriber unit. The P25/TIA-102 Standard defines many services and features. System operators and users will need to make choices as to which features and services are required for their particular situation.

Details: 04 June 2025

The document can be downloaded using the link below:

P25 Frequently Asked Questions V1.9 2025

A sample of the questions are listed below.

Many of the answers include hot links to TIA, PTIG, and other government websites for additional detailed information on Project 25.

What is Project 25 (P25)?
Where can I get a copy of P25 Standards documents?
Where can I view the latest Changes and Updates to the P25 Standards and future work in progress?
How do I find which operational requirements and features are covered in the P25 Suite of Standards?
How are P25 Standards documents created?
What is the DHS P25 Compliance Assessment Program (CAP)?
What are the Benefits of Project 25?
What are the key considerations for purchasing interoperable P25 equipment?
Where can I find information on Best Practices for P25 Security, programming, and Key management?
Are there Standards for LMR-LTE Interworking?

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Details: 03 June 2025

The Project 25 Technology Interest Group is pleased to publish PPT slide decks from 7 PTIG P25 panels presented at IWCE 2025

The presentations can be downloaded using the link below:

https://www.project25.org/index.php/documents/ptig-p25-conference-presentations?view=frontlist&catid[0]=10014

P25 Panel Summaries:

Defense in Depth-Is Your P25 System Really Secure?

Moderator: Stephen Nichols (Project 25 Technology Interest Group)

Panelists: Scott Wright (Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection), Hermina Koshinski (Pennsylvania State Police PA-STARNet)

Today Project 25 offers multiple layers of Communication Security Services. The profile of each service will include a detailed definition of what is protected and how that benefits the First Responder. Keys to successful application including agency policies, radio programming, and encryption key delivery and management will be detailed

P25 Next: New Standards, Interoperability & Security for the Future

Moderator: Stephen Nichols (Project 25 Technology Interest Group)Panelists: Scott Wright (Connecticut Department of Emergency Service and Public Protection), Jeremy Elder (L3Harris), John Lambrou (Motorola Solutions)

Learn about the top priorities for the evolution of P25 from the P25 User Needs Working Group (UNWG). Get an Update for P25 Standards recently completed, new Standards in development, and their application for Public Safety Users, including LMR interworking with LTE.

Project 25 Revealed: How Standard Interfaces Create Interoperability for Transportation Users

Moderator: Stephen Nichols (Project 25 Technology Interest Group)

Panelists: Scott Wright (State of Connecticut), Barry Crates (Tait Communications), Josh Cingranelli (Connecticut Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection), Brad Stoddard (State of Michigan)

Come and see Project 25 Revealed through a concise overview and description of the Project 25 Standards, Interfaces and Capabilities in simple laymen's terms. Learn how P25 standard Interfaces create transportation agency interoperability links for planned large scale events, weather emergencies, as well as day to day operations.

Project 25 Case Studies: Real Systems. Real Users. Real World.

Moderator: Stephen Nichols (Project 25 Technology Interest Group)

Panelists: Stuart Sanz (Arlington County VA), Douglas Cochrane (Harris County Texas), Steve Ferguson (Next Generation Critical Communications- New Zealand Police)

Veteran P25 System Administrators and policy planners will offer a first-hand view of their experience with P25 technology. A description of their P25 Systems, architecture, and governance models will be shared. A detailed look at individual best practices and lessons learned to maximize interoperability. Case Studies: Washington NCR –Arlington County VA, Harris County TX-TXWARN, New Zealand Police Nationwide System

P25 New Products and Services for IWCE 2025

Moderator: Stephen Nichols (Project 25 Technology Interest Group)

Panelists: Cheryl Giggetts (CTA Consultants), Rick Burke (Televate), Rajit Jhaver (Federal Engineering)

See “What’s New” for P25 Products & Services in 2025. This panel will explore the latest solutions from members of PTIG. The slides will describe the user needs met, the benefits to Public Safety, and the relevance of the new product or service to the existing market. New products and services will be presented in an informational news format by veteran P25 Consultants.

New Testing Technologies for Compliance, Reliability, and Peace of Mind

Moderator: Stephen Nichols (Project 25 Technology Interest Group)

Panelists: Cheryl Giggetts (CTA Consultants), Ian Carpenter (Valid8), Stephen Jeffries (Viavi Solutions), David Adams (PCTEL), Don Root (APCO International), Chris Lougee (Compliance Testing LLC)

P25 Testing Technology has kept pace with the evolution of P25 Standards over the last 35 years; offering a broad array of new testing products, services, labs, and compliance assessment programs. These solutions are currently available to help First Responders assure the reliability of their Mission Critical Communications systems.

Details: 09 April 2025

See “What’s New” for P25 Products & Services in 2025. This PPT slide deck explores the latest solutions from members of the Project 25 Technology Interest Group. (PTIG).

The slides describe the user needs met, the benefits to Public Safety, and the relevance of the new product or service to the existing market. A matrix of PTIG member companies with links to thier websites is included.

Download using the link below:

P25 New Products and Services IWCE 2025