Console Operator Features

6.8.1 Assignable Talkgroups

In order for a dispatch console to communicate with a talkgroup, the talkgroup must first be defined as a resource within the console system. This is done using the User Configuration Manager (UCM). Once a talkgroup resource is define using UCM it can be assigned to individual dispatch consoles. Talkgroups can be assigned to dispatch consoles permanently (so that they are always available to the dispatch console) using Elite Admin or they can be assigned temporarily by the dispatch console, in which case they are only assigned until the Elite Dispatch application is next closed.

Talkgroups are represented on the dispatch console as talkgroup windows. Talkgroup windows can be displayed in expanded or compressed format and can be grouped in folders.

6.8.2 Assignable Speakers and Audio Summing

The dispatch consoles are equipped with two speakers, Speaker I and Speaker II. These are assignable to monitor any specific resource but are normally assigned as:

• Speaker I monitors the audio of the currently selected talkgroup

• Speaker II monitors the audio from all the (remaining) unselected talkgroups

This lets the dispatch console user monitor the voice activity on all the assigned talkgroups. The volume of Speaker I and Speaker II can be set independently.

6.8.3 Repeat Disable

The Repeat Disable feature allows a dispatch console to disable the talkgroup inbound audio from being repeated to the rest of the talkgroup. The feature allows Dimetra IP to emulate conventional Base Station operation. Once enabled, Repeat Disable is then effective for all group calls in that talkgroup until canceled.

6.8.4 Temporary Disable

Dimetra IP allows a network management operator to temporarily disable or re-enable a radio over the air. The radio is unable to make or receive calls while it is disabled, even if the radio is turned off and turned back on. If the radio is turned on, it is still registered in the system and is able to roam.

6.8.6 Trunking System Status

6.8.6 Trunking System Status

This feature provides a mechanism for dispatch consoles to determine the current zone status. The feature is similar to the Zone Status feature on the Radio Control Manager.

6.8.7 Console Priority

Once a group call is in progress, dispatch consoles have the highest priority when the system sets the source of audio for the call. This lets a dispatch console interrupt a currently transmitting radio in a group call. There are different levels of priority within the dispatch console system. The table below shows the priority for the audio source in a group call.

Table 6-1 Console Priority Levels

Priority Level Audio Source

1 Primary Supervisory Console Instant Transmit 2 Secondary Supervisory Console Instant Transmit 3 Operator Console Instant Transmit

4 Any Console General Transmit 5 Radio Transmit

6.8.8 Status Message Display

A status message that is sent from a radio appears in the stack of a talkgroup resource window of the Elite Dispatch application. The stack displays up to 24 entries. The talkgroup window in which the status message is displayed is the talkgroup to which the radio is currently affiliated.

6.8.9 All Mute

The All Mute feature lets a dispatch console operator quickly mute all audio except the currently selected resource for a predetermined length of time. The time can range from 0 to 255 seconds.

6.8.10 Instant Transmit

The Instant Transmit feature lets a dispatch console transmit to an unselected talkgroup with a single action without having to select the talkgroup first. It also gives the transmission a higher priority than using general transmit. Note that using instant transmit on an unselected talkgroup resource does not select that resource so any received audio is routed to the unselected speaker.

6.8.11 Safety Switch

The Safety Switch protects the dispatch console instant-transmit button from accidental use. The dispatch console system manager can protect the instant transmit button for each resource as required. To use a protected instant transmit button, the dispatch console operator must first select the safety switch, then press the instant transmit button within five seconds.

6.8.12 Intelligent Call Indicator

The Intelligent Call Indicator feature lets a dispatch console operator know whether any other dispatch console in the zone has a talkgroup selected. When a group call is in progress for an unselected talkgroup, the (incoming) call indicator in the talkgroup window flashes if no other dispatch console has that talkgroup selected. If another dispatch console selects the talkgroup, the call indicator stops flashing. The call indicator always flashes on the selected talkgroup.

6.8.13 Supervisory Console User

Multiple users in the zone may be configured with Supervisory Console User. This means that the console user has higher transmit priority.

Optionally, one or more dispatch consoles in the zone can be designated secondary supervisory dispatch consoles. These dispatch consoles have audio priority over other dispatch console transmissions in a group when using the instant transmit feature.

6.8.14 Console Multi-Select

This feature enables a dispatch console to transmit simultaneously to more than one talkgroup. A dispatch console that has been assigned a Multi-select resource can assign talkgroups to a Multi-Select resource.

When the dispatch console initiates a call to the talkgroups in the Multi-Select resource, a call is established to each talkgroup and the console audio is routed to each talkgroup.

When the dispatch console releases the PTT, the call to each talkgroup is terminated. (This is in contrast to Console Patch, where the talkgroups remain patched until the dispatch console explicitly terminates the patch).

6.8.17 Conventional Channel Patch

A Private call may be added to a Console Patch by first setting up the Private call, and then adding it to the patch configuration.

6.8.17 Conventional Channel Patch

The Conventional Channel Patch feature lets a console user patch talkgroups to conventional channels that are connected to the system. Voice detection is used on patched conventional channels to initiate group calls.

6.8.18 Console Acoustic Cross-Mute

This feature allows the acoustic muting of outbound transmissions from other dispatch consoles in the zone. This is typically used when dispatch consoles are located near to each other in the same dispatch centre to eliminate the possibility of acoustic feedback between the dispatch consoles. Cross-muting is configured via the User Configuration Manager.

6.8.19 Ambience Listening

This feature allows a radio to be remotely set to transmit, without giving any external indication that a call is being set up or is in progress. Ambience Listening is implemented as a simplex individual call, so the radio does not receive any audio during the call and if the monitored radio is turned off during the ambience listening call, it continues to transmit, although it appears to have been turned off to the user. Ambience listening is always initiated by the infrastructure, either from a dispatch console or via a third party application interfacing through the console feature API.