Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ernesto Butcher
The Port Authority of NY & NJ
Chief Operating Officer
225 Park Ave So., 18 Floor
NY, NY 10003
As a result of a meeting held with Mayor Bloomberg and myself on October 22,
2002, the Mayor requested that I obtain from the Port Authority of NY & NJ design
documents, system descriptions and any pertinent information as they relate to the FDNY
WTC repeater system. The City of New York contemplates using the WTC Radio
Repeater system as a model for future system development throughout the City.
Additionally, identification of any enhancement or new technology that would have been
applied to the system is also welcome.
The Mayor has requested that I supply him this information by Monday 10/28/02.
Your prompt response to this request is appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
Nicholas Scoppetta
Commissioner
Fire Department of New York City
c: Don Stanton
F. Cruthers
FIRE D E P A R T M E N T
2SO LIVINGSTON STREET BROOKLYN.N.Y, 1IZOI-5BM
.
Steptfen M. Gregory* T
Assistant Commissioner for
SMG:GPC:gb Communications
cc: G.P. Coorssen
SEAM/File
WTC; D. Geller
Nicholas Scoppetta
Commissioner
Fire Department of New York City
In response to your request of October 24, 2002 regarding using the WTC radio repeater
system as a model for future system development, I have attached the following.
• A white paper describing the design philosophy used at the WTC to combine
different radio frequencies on a common antenna system.
• Detailed drawings showing the design of the 150 & 450 MHz radio systems.
• IEEE Conference record dated March 22-24 1978 discussing the design concept of
the 450 MHz radio system.
• IEEE Paper September 1988 discussing improvements to the design of the 450 MHz
radio system.
I hope that this provides you with the information that you require. Should you need any
additional information please contact our Chief Engineer, Mr. Frank Lombardi at 212 435 7449.
Ernesto Butcher
Chief Operating Officer
The Port Authority of NY & NJ
WORLD TRADE CENTER COMPLEX
RADIO FREQUENCY ANTENNA SYSTEM
This antenna system was one of the first of its kind as it combined radio channels
from multiple frequency bands on a single strategically placed radiating cable to
cover indoor sub-grade areas. RF coverage was also provided to the towers, the other
low-rise buildings, and the outdoor plaza areas by a strategically placed high-gain,
highly directional comer reflector antenna, mounted atop the roof of 5 WTC and
aimed towards the midpoint of the twin towers. For details, see attached WTC Site
orientation plan and system block diagram.
The installation of the original antenna system dates back to 1975. That design
required that three (3) radio frequencies from multiple frequency bands be combined
into a single communications medium and routed to provide uniform RF coverage
throughout the complex. Thousands of linear feet of radiating cable was installed in
the sub-grade areas by the Authority's own in-house installers and RF technicians. In
addition, vertical runs of rigid coaxial cable were installed in the twin towers and
brought out in each of the Mechanical Equipment Rooms (MERs) to individual whip
antennas to provide supplemental RF coverage as because these locations could not
receive the over-the-air signals.
All radio equipment was energized using emergency power circuits so it would
continue to operate in the event of a loss of electrical power. The radio base stations
were also equipped with battery backup that kept the repeaters operational for 8 hours
in the event the emergency generators were not available.
As part of the recovery effort after the first WTC bombing in 1993, the antenna
system was upgraded to support VHF radio communications for FDNY personnel as
well as future 800MHz band communications by the Authority's Public Safety
Department.
In 2000, at the request of FDNY, the Authority once again upgraded the WTC
antenna system to support 480MHz band radio communications by FDNY, including
furnishing and installing a 480MHz radio base station/repeater as well as making
modifications to our custom-built bi-directional amplifiers.
The FDNY repeaters were originally controlled from the Port Authority Police
Desk in 5 WTC and were subsequently relocated to the tower fire command desks at
FDNY's request.
Audio from each two-way radio channel was recorded on an audio logging
recorder on a 24/7/365 basis.
It is also worth noting that the concept of using custom designed couplers and
combiners to distribute multiple frequencies throughout the complex has been
adopted over the years by other organizations including NYCT and MTA Bridges and
Tunnels.
1 WTC 2WTC
Whip Antenna
(Typical)
.RIGID COAXIAL
CABLE TO TOWERS
HIGH
L.
GAIN RADIATING CABLE TO
ANTENNA SUBGRADE AREAS
SIGNAL SPLITTER
AND COMBINER
BI-DIRECTIONAL
AMPLIFIER
-BI-DIRECTIONAL
AMPLIFIER
MULTICOUPLER SYSTEM
form, building Interiors, vines, snd other within the confines pf enclosed areas—are
areas where radiation of electromagnetic Induced Into a radiation radio transmission
energy Is restricted. This system is line In the area. These signals ere routed
Installed within the confines of the signal along the transmission line to the two-nay
void areas and uses radiating transmission signal booster amplifier that provides
lines in conjunction with e suitably spaced required selectivity and amplification.
two-vay signal booster amplifier, or aeries The selected and amplified signals sre then
amplifier arrangements to compensste for directed via suitable Interface to a repeater
signal attenuation. The system is designed radio base station ("hard-wired" mode) or
so that It can be connected to either a base are routed to a directional rooftop antenna
station or to an outside directional antenna for signal re-radiation (over the air) to
or to both. This enables it to become an an existing repeater radio base station
"add-on" enhancement to an existing "radio ("off-the-alr" mode).
system." This paper will describe procedures
and methods that the Port Authority of B. Conversely, the Guided Antenna System
New York and New Jersey's Engineering Depart- re-radiatee signals that it receives from
312
CH2622-9/88/0000-0312 tl.00 O 1988 IEEE
NEW YORK WORLD IRAS?: CEMTER THREE STATION, CO.'MO:) ASTE.'mA TWO-WAY RtPEATTK R--'.rJlv SYSTEM