NCMCN On line training link
http://www.emspic.org/ncmcn

NCMCN DTMF codes and maps
http://facility-services.state.nc.us/EMS/pdf/dtmfref.pdf

NCMCN Dial code book
http://facility-services.state.nc.us/EMS/pdf/dialcode.pdf

The North Carolina Medical Communication Network (NCMCN) serves as the states medical communications system. The ultra high frequency (UHF) repeater network is installed at 36 high advantage radio sites providing approximately 95% geographic coverage to the state. The statewide network shares the radio towers and digital microwave facilities of the University of North Carolina television network and the State Highway Patrol. The NCMCN serves along with the state VHF 155.340 MHz hospital radio system, which is also installed in all hospitals throughout the state. The NCMCN system does not rely on any telephone or terrestrial lines for operation, thus making it immune to overload from public calls or susceptible to downed electric utility lines. The design of the UHF MED network provides for “local” or county medical radio systems and provides a set of statewide compatibility standard to provide compatible statewide communications. The compatibility standards establish nomenclature, tone, frequency and modulation standards required for interoperable communication.

Each NCMCN UHF radio site includes two separate radio repeater systems. These operate on UHF channels MED-8 and MED-10. The MED channels were established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for medical communications and are designated nationwide for such operation. Each of the NCMCN radio repeaters connects by microwave to the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Raleigh and to the Highway Patrol information management unit (IMU) computer center. Sixty-four of the UHF repeaters are connected to an electronic digital switch (JPS ACU-1000) system enabling any of these repeaters to be linked to any other repeater anywhere in the state. This linking is accomplished by DTMF (touchtone) codes input by any user of the system. The NCMCN system therefore does not require an operator to perform the linking functions. All communication over the NCMCN network is continuously recorded on a digital logging recorder. The sites are monitored by computer controlled IP and RF monitoring systems which continually monitor all IP functions of the network and can provide remote sensing of the RF power, receiver activity, temperature and intrusion alarm status at each of the sites.

There are two digital computer operator consoles connected with the network. The consoles provide full operator control of the network from the state EOC and from the State Office of Emergency Medical Services in Raleigh.

The NCMCN medical network is also interconnected with the NC state 800 MHz trunked “VIPER” radio system. This enables any UHF NCMCN user to have access and cross-band operation to the new state digital “VIPER” (Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders) system. This feature enables NCMCN UHF system users to operate and intercommunicate with the 800 MHz trunked system. The cross band “gateway” operation will all inter band operations until more systems and users can obtain 800 MHz radio equipment.

There are over 250 control station systems currently operating on the NCMCN. This includes virtually all hospitals with emergency departments in the state, all Community Health Centers, the state poison control center the state’s four bio laboratories as well as many of the state Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP), 9-1-1 centers and county EOCs. All public health departments (86) have been provided pack carried radio equipment that operates on the NCMCN system as well as providing VHF and UHF radios that operate on 300 public safety channels throughout the state.

A new 800 MHz network called the “Viper Medical Network” or VMN is under development. This new network establishes digital talk groups on the statewide 800 MHz VIPER system. This provides a separate talk group for every hospital, military hospital, veteran’s hospital, mobile hospital and Community Health Center within the state. When the equipment is deployed for the VMN, any hospital or EMS service anywhere in the state will be able to contact any other agency from anywhere in the state. This VMN system will continue to expand as hospitals and medical providers become aware of the value of the network and are able to obtain radio equipment to participate.