Polycom (Switzerland)
Polycom is a Swiss radio network based on Tetrapol . With the development of the canton of Zug , it has been available nationwide since 2015.
Infrastructure
Polycom is the national radio system for authorities and organizations of rescue and safety (boron) and works in the UHF - frequency range of frequencies from 380 to 400 megahertz . The network with around 55,000 participants has been gradually introduced throughout Switzerland since 2000. The Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection was in charge, the network was planned by the respective cantons. The first canton is considered to be the canton of Thurgau and the first organization to be the Swiss Border Guard in the Thurgau area. Polycom enables the wireless exchange of messages within the various organizations of border guards, police, fire brigades, rescue services, civil defense and associations of the Swiss armed forces .
The network was set up by Siemens and is technically supported by Siemens and the Swiss armaments company RUAG .
Polycom has long been the subject of public criticism due to budget overruns and outdated technology. 250 of the 750 base stations would be technically outdated and would have to be replaced. The administration and tendering of the project also met with criticism.
Based on an agreement between the Swiss Federal Council and the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein on January 5, 2004, Polycom was also introduced to the Liechtenstein National Police .
history
In Switzerland there have been radio networks for authorities and organizations for rescue and security since the 1940s. This happened without great coordination efforts by the organizations involved. Different radio networks were set up for different needs. The PTT took care of the allocation of the frequencies. Most of these were in the VHF range. Coordination channels have been established for cooperation between several organizations. A frequently used channel is the 158.625 MHz frequency .
In general, however, one can say that the systems of the various organizations were not very compatible. A uniform radio system, as it was known and known to the Federal Republic of Germany with its BOS radio and which enabled every participant in a BOS organization to contact every other participant in a BOS organization within a geographical area, did not exist in Switzerland. In Germany this was possible because there multi-channel devices were used that could also switch the frequencies of all other organizations, while in Switzerland few-channel devices were used, i.e. devices that were only suitable for using the organization's own channels. Efforts to change this have been made since 1996, but initially failed due to the various needs of the organizations involved. The foundation stone for the Swiss Polycom network was laid by the resolution of the Federal Council on February 21, 2001. The Federal Council provided for the costs to be borne jointly by the federal government, cantons and municipalities, as well as by the organizations concerned.
Due to the federal structure of Switzerland, the development took several years. Zug was the last canton to introduce the system in 2015, despite resistance from local politicians. Even after the introduction, many organizations continue to operate their old analog networks. There are several reasons for this. For example, REGA operates an analogue emergency radio network nationwide on the 161.300 MHz frequency, which is available to everyone. If the REGA were to switch to Polycom, it would no longer be able to offer this service, since in Polycom only approved devices can participate in radio traffic. Other organizations simply do not have enough IDs to convert their radio network, for example the cantonal rescue service of Valais. Still others simply shy away from the costs, as all existing radios would have to be replaced.
Polyalert
In most cases, Polycom is also used to control the approximately 5000 sirens in Switzerland. The control of the sirens is called Polyalert . After all sirens have been migrated to the new control system, all sirens in Switzerland can be controlled centrally. The Federal Office for Civil Protection was in charge, and Siemens is the supplier of the controls .
Numbering of the end devices
Each radio on the Polycom network has a unique number. It is made up of a three-digit network identifier (regional network), a single-digit fleet number, a single-digit sub-fleet number and a four-digit device number. Example fire engine in Thurgau 301550001, i.e. 301 for Thurgau, 55 for fire department device number 0001.
Regions
Polycom is made up of several independent subnets. Each sub-network has its own regional network identifier. The following subnetworks are currently (2017) in operation:
Web links
- www.handelszeitung.ch Polycom: With flashing lights and a standardized wireless network
- Canton of St.Gallen “Polycom Security Network” project successfully completed
- Federal Office for Civil Protection Polycom: Switzerland's security radio network
- Canton of Graubünden On Monday, September 3, 2012 the canton of Graubünden put the new security radio network POLYCOM Graubünden into operation.
- Makeshift POLYCOM for municipal and regional management staff
Individual evidence
- ↑ www.zentralplus.ch What about the Polycom radio system?
- ↑ www.amweg.ch The digital trunked radio system POLYCOM is the security radio network in Switzerland.
- ↑ BABS The BABS sees it as its duty to sustainably lead the existing communication infrastructure used by around 55,000 users every day into the future.
- ↑ www.handelszeitung.ch Polycom products are currently only sold by Siemens (Schweiz) AG and Ruag in Switzerland.
- ↑ www.siemens.ch Innovative wireless security network in Glarus
- ↑ www.inside-it.ch "Polycom" radio network will devour millions more
- ↑ blick.ch safety radio network is not yet ready, but it is old again
- ↑ www.computerworld.ch Polycom costs 700 million francs more than planned
- ↑ www.computerworld.ch The radio system used by the police, ambulance and fire services urgently needs to be replaced
- ↑ www srf.ch Federal government awards multi-million dollar contract for radio system without tendering
- ↑ www.gesetze.li Agreement between the government of the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Swiss Federal Council on the Principality of Liechtenstein's participation in the "POLYCOM" radio safety network
- ↑ Buildings Insurance Canton Zurich ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Analog radio deployment concept fire brigade
- ↑ POLYCOM Portal: Service support for the Swiss radio security network
- ↑ REGA The emergency or emergency radio channel (161.300 MHz) is available to everyone in Switzerland for alerting in emergencies if the alarm by telephone is not possible. Help can be requested directly via this frequency. The emergency radio channel is monitored by the Rega operations center.
- ↑ KWRO Cantonal Valais Ambulance Service In the Polycom concept, only 300 radios are provided for the medical area. The KWRO is therefore forced to maintain the analog network parallel to the digital Polycom network in order to ensure communication between all partners and to guarantee the safety of the patients.
- ↑ www.zivilschutzarbon.ch Staff assistant makeshift
- ↑ www.thurgaufire.ch POLYCOM / TETRAPOL specialist course in Erlen
