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October 24, 2002

Ernesto Butcher
The Port Authority of NY & NJ
Chief Operating Officer
225 Park Ave So., 18 Floor
NY, NY 10003

Dear Mr. Butcher:

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

BUREAU OF FIRE COMMUNICATIONS January 19, 1994

Mr. Alan L. Reiss


Supervising Engineer
Plant and Structures
The World Trade Center
i World Trade Center
New York, NY 10048 Re: FDNY Radio Communications
The World Trade Center
Dear Mr. Reiss:
Please accept the appreciation of the N.Y.C. Fire Department
(FDNY) for the installation our Radio Repeater System in the World
Trade Center by your very capable staff. During our radio coverage
tests we concluded that the system worked exceptionally well.
Special thanks also goes to your very valuable Mr. David
Geller. As reported by this Bureau's Systems Engineering and
Maintenance Unit, Mr. Geller was responsible for the design and
installation of the FDNY Radio Repeater System. He was extremely
helpful throughout the various stages of this project from its
inception to its completion.
It is requested that your office inform captain Joseph
Mastella, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police,
that the FDNY Radio Repeater system should remain off when FDNY is
not using it. This radio system can cause interference with other
Fire Department radio operations if it is left on. The radio
system can bo turned on and off by the operation of the "FDNY
Repeat" pushbuttons on the Police Radio Console.
It is hoped that this Bureau will have the opportunity and the
pleasure of again working with you and your staff. Our thanks for
assigning a most capable group of technicians to this project.
Yours truly,

.
Steptfen M. Gregory* T
Assistant Commissioner for
SMG:GPC:gb Communications
cc: G.P. Coorssen
SEAM/File
WTC; D. Geller

WTER SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES


SAVE WATER

i22 T02 : 'ON 3NOHd : woad


Td Wtf9T:0T 2002 S2 '
October 25, 2002

Nicholas Scoppetta
Commissioner
Fire Department of New York City

Dear Mr. Scoppetta,

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

October 25, 2002

To solve the problem of distributing various radio frequency (RF) transmissions


throughout the WTC complex required an innovative design solution. By utilizing
custom designed RF splitters, combiners and amplifiers it was possible to use a single
antenna system to distribute RF signals throughout the facility.

The RF Antenna System at the WTC on 9/11/01 was capable of carrying 12


different radio frequencies of multiple frequency bands throughout the entire complex
into areas that could not normally receive RF signals over the air. The frequencies
included were three (3) 800 MHz radio channels, two (2) 800 MHz National Public
Safety Mutual Aid channels, three (3) 470 MHz channels, and two (2) 450 MHz
channels for the Authority; and one (1) 150 MHz channel and one (1) 480 MHz band
channel licensed to FDNY.

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

5 WTC DIRECTIONAL COUPLER

MULTICOUPLER SYSTEM

RADIO BASE STATIONS/REPEATERS

WORLD TRADE CENTER ANTENNA SYSTEM


BLOCK DIAGRAM
RE-RADIATION OF SIGHALS EMPLOYING GUIDED ANTENNA SYSTEMS OPERATING IN
TANDEM WITH TWO-HAT SIGNAL BOOSTER AMPLIFER

John Harrington, P.E./D«vid Caller. E.E.

Port Authority of Mev York and New Jersey

ABSTRACT ment used to design snd Install these Guided


Antenna Systems st the George Washington Bridge
A Guided Antenna UM> either radiating Bus Station, the Holland Tunnel, and In the
tranaialaalon line-leaky cable or a distributed World Trade Center.
antenna system comprising a number of antennae
that are connected through hybrid junctions
to a transmission line. The Port Authority's
SYSTEM OPERATION
"Guided Antenna System" has been successful
in solving tvo-vay radio communication A. Porteble or Moblle-to-Repeater Radio Base

probleas that occur In tunnels, subway plat- Station Radio Transmissions—originating

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

By Michael J. Caruso and David C e l l c r


The Pori A u t h o r i t y of New York and '.'^w J u r
Engineering Oeparcnunt
.'few York, New York

Introduction speed automatic search f o j t u i ' u of Che recorder u t i l i z e *


the d i g i t a l l y uncoiled LiiM s l y i u i s on t n u t ism.1, c t i a n n i - l
This papur describes an indoor/outdoor antenna to f a c i l i c a t . u Itic- i"i-v(i-u p ui' pi\-vi ini:i ly rot,orid i *i .stii*-
iiy.sU'm ili.il si-rvrb llu: Wurlil Tnulr Cciil.i-'i'» lliici' two- mi1 n 11>.
way r.idlo uUH l u u u , .•jiuiult anuous ly , e.ich uu dl f fertmt
UHF channels. Each station provides: a) base Co pot- The major portion of die system was Installed
able or nubile communications, b) poccablo to p o r t a b l e and comiiiissioni:d in A p r i l of 1575. A Lr.incl: was added
rviKi.ilur operation and c) one-way |ia|'.ii)g. The indoor in 1976 to accommod;iLc neu cur.utruct i^n. Another
auction ui the antenna system consists of many brandies branch Is presently b e i n g addu<: iu serve a UL-W truck
of leaky type antenna transmission line distributed via dock area.
;.irefully selected runs throughout the s i x subterranian
jroas each the size of several football fields. An Preliminaty Design and Tests
.issortoent of transmitter combiners, receiver combiners
jiM a quadruplexer couples the stations to tiie antenna Prior co the final design of the antenna syscem
system, branching was accomplished using signal split- in the concourse, and che sub-l>asej:encs, extensive radio
cars and combiners. The ends of each branch were signal strength tests were perforiuad ucilljins a leaky
terminated with quarter wave whip antennas mounted on cable which was cemporarily i n s c a i i t u co provide basic
ground planes to maximize signal conditions where down one channel two-way communications d u r i n g the e a r l y
line losses are the greatest. An outdoor antenna stages of the WTC c o n s t r u c t i o n . (Sec Figurt 2).
serves the above terrain areas of the buildings, the
plaza, the surrounding sidewalks and streets. All areas were sub-divided by seans of a road
map like g r i d system to e s t a b l i s h w e t ; >.!<;fir>o<i Loca- <
The World Trade Center, a f a c i l i t y of the Port clons for f u t u r e comparison, r c i c r u i i c e .mil u v d l u ^ t i o t i . . -
A u t h o r i t y of Sew York and Mew Jersey, when f u l l y oc- All six subterrai'.ian levels of t ; i k > W o r l d Trade J o n t e r
cupied w i l l hjuse approximately 50,000 workers, while were tested and the signal s c r e n g t u fc.i.liiirs i-«re re-
its tenants and exhibits will be receiving another corded. ' A c a l i b r a t e d U l l r radio huse > j c . ; i i j u r e c e i v e r
SO.OwV v.'.aiiars, constituting u daily population of was ui,ed co measure s i g n n i s t r e n g t h K-vi:1s cr.insnirt<;i!
130,0-JO. The complex is composed of two towers each by an also c a l i b r . i c e J 4 w a t t p o r t a b l e radio iron; loca-
vitii II1.) or.e-acre floors, three satellite buildings, a tions w i t h i n cite g r i d system. (Sctf Figure 2 ) .
plaza, a concourse and six subterranian areas, each
500 by 1000 feet. (See Figure 1). Obviously, a com-
plex of this magnitude needs co provide its occupants While knowing the approximate signal coupling
with the same services generally furnished by a small point (downline cable d i s t a n c e f r o m die radio station)
city, namely: administration, maintenance, security at the leaky cable and the downline (insertion) loss
and emergency aid. Communications are vital in the for the same location, a coupling loss f i g u r e from a
performance of these services. portable radio antenna co flu: leaky cable was tabu-
laced and graphed.
In the spring of 1974, the Engineering Depart-
ment of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Signal coupling loss versus distance to cable
was assigned the task of designing and implementing a graphs were platted fcr vari^ua sub-iiuscnunt areas and
r-Ji» ^,,^m LU fulfill the mobile communication re- a typical curve (as shown in Figure 2) was fornulateJ.
quirements of the World Trade Conner. The three sta- In the graph shown, die p o r t a b l e radio antenna was
l l . a svsU'V. .mat provide reliable i.umtr.unications on a oriencoJ parallel co the lual:y coble.
;.-!i^c, .1 f a c i l i t y operations and in-plane iBjintenance
ih.aincl w i t h control from many locations for eacli Information obtained froir. ciiese tests enabled
station. Obviously, the system must reach the entire ud to determine the propugacion properties of Che sub-
"small city" which means the exterior areas as well as carranian areas and thus provided data necessary for us
che interior of the buildings, the concaurse and die co proceed co die f i n a l design =t.cige.
iix subterranean levels.
Design Objectives
To accomplish this task, we designed a system
comprising of one 450 MHz and two 470 MHz base stations Overall system design had '-l.e following object-
ulch repeater and tone squelch functions. We combined ives:
Che 450 MHz and 470 MHz equipment in order to utilize
existing portable equipment and use previously author- a. Transmiccer and receiver i s o l a t i o n , i n c e r m o J u l a -
ized FCC channel assignments. Tone remote desk sets tion and spurious c-raission p r o t c c - i ^ i i .
4.-.j paging encoders make up the control system. The
r — i u i t J l .iji;a and key consoles arc connected co emer- b. S u b t e r r a n i a n le.iliy oablc; layout p r o v i d i n g evenly
i=:i>-,v po'.vr c i r c u i t s to keep them operational in die distributed down l i i i d losses Jiu .-vod si^r.cl d e n s i t i e s .
event --' a power blackouc. file stations are also equip- Maintaining a ' r e c e i v e r i n p u t s i g n a l ~i -it l e n s ; 9 dB
pid w i t h backup battery powtr Chat can keep the sta- above Che -107 i.l)m ciiiiicum require.! fur SO dl) q u i e s t i n g .
:io»s operational, at reduced power, for a minimum of (See Figure 6)
12 hours in case of a bre-ikdown in emergency power
jiaerators. c. . E f f i c i e n t signal s p l i t t i n g ana c o m b i n i n g , impe-
dance matching, low s y s c e m VSl-.'K and cable end whip
The transmit and receive audio from each channel ancenr.a ceriuinutlon.
is wired to three channels of a 20 channel, 24 hour,
audio logging recorder chat also records the t i m e , d. Adequate exterior signal densities for die uv-' !
telephone hot lint* to city emergency u.-.ics and Cclc- Trade Center twin cowers and s a t e l l i c o
phcne call* to the WTC Police Headquarters. Ti:e '

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