Instruction manual

ACU-1000 Operations Manual
Interoperability Now 1-1
1 General Information
1.1 Scope
This instruction manual provides the information necessary to install, configure and operate the
ACU-1000 Intelligent Interconnect System.
1.2 What Is Interoperability?
The ACU-1000 allows existing, disparate communications systems to cross-connect with each
other. For example, within an Interoperability System, a conventional VHF radio system can
communicate with an 800 MHz trunked system, an APCO 25 radio user can talk with a PSTN
or SATCOM user, etc., or any number of these users can be conferenced together. These
communications assets are called CSAPs, for “Communications System Access Points”.
Interoperability: The ability of disparate communication systems users
to communicate with each other (for example, a patrolman can use his
UHF radio to talk to a firefighter who is using her 800 MHz radio).
CSAP: Communications System Access Point. Any entry point into the
Interoperability System. For example, a conventional VHF radio
channel, an 800 MHz trunked talkgroup, a satellite phone system, Nextel
handset, or other type of communications system.
Another definition of interoperability is: The ability of any public service official to talk to
whomever they need to, whenever they need to, when properly authorized. The purpose of the
ACU-1000 and the related Raytheon products is to help make this happen in an efficient
manner. The Raytheon Interoperability Solution ties together existing communications systems
with minimal additional equipment and minimal disruption to ongoing communications.
1.3 Local and Wide Area Interoperability
The need for interoperability usually arises during a disaster or other unusual event (as existing
systems are set up to handle normal communications without interoperability). The majority of
cross-connections are required between CSAPs located where the incident has occurred.
Accordingly, the Raytheon Wide Area Interoperability Solution consists of a network of ACU-
1000 systems coupled with the ability to cross-connect together one or more CSAPs from
different local systems. The local connections mainly take place with an ACU-1000 system,
while the “Wide Area” connections take place over an IP-based network using Raytheon’s
RoIP/VoIP technology.
The area covered by an individual LIS typically encompasses a political region such as a city,
county or group of counties. This simplifies jurisdictional concerns that could otherwise
impede the quick decision-making and actions required during a disaster or other emergency
situation.