Disaster Planning

The motto of NENA’s “Disaster Planning for the PSAP” course is, “Never Say ‘IF.’ Always Say ‘WHEN.’” High-profile disasters like Hurricane Katrina are fresh in our minds, but when we consider possible risks, we realize that disaster could strike at any moment. A fuel tanker trunk accident in proximity to the PSAP, a rain storm that floods the PSAP’s basement, a localized fire in the facility… all are convincing arguments for network redundancy and diversity. Redundancy means having a minimum of two of each critical system. Diversity means having two pathways for each system.

Primary PSAP

The NetClock master clock, a critical network appliance, can be implemented with two units per site, with each NetClock GPS antenna on different ends of the PSAP building or radio antenna systems. Spectracom offers several Command Center Package choices that address redundancy and diversity for the PSAP master clock. These packages include the PresenTense software, which you can set up on your Domain Controllers to point to both NetClock time sources. If one NetClock goes off-line for whatever reason, your critical equipment is still synchronized by the other NetClock unit.

Secondary PSAP

Many Public Safety organizations are now implementing secondary PSAPs to serve as backups in the event that the primary is out of service for any reason.

Mobile PSAP

Mobile (tertiary) PSAP operations must be synchronized for the same reasons that primary and secondary systems are synchronized. Mobile Command Center vehicles typically are outfitted with NetClock GPS rack mount units, TimeView digital clock displays, and PresenTense timing software running on the workstations and servers.

Nomadic PSAP

The PresenTense software also works well to synchronize the nomadic client workstation laptop running a PSAP-in-a-box. This software lets you synchronize to the NetClock in the PSAP. This software also works on the LAN/WAN for other PC workstations. A server version as well as network monitoring and auditing capabilities are available.

Hosted PSAP

With the IP-centric PSAP, call takers and dispatchers could be working out of the Emergency Operations Center, out of their homes, or from their cars. As PSAP managers choose to use “virtual” or hosted equipment, they must be sure that these backroom data centers are synchronized with the proper NetClock master clock and time server.

Regardless of your PSAP environment, Spectracom’s NetClock master clock and time server provides peace of mind and legally traceable compliance to industry standards. If any action or event is called into question, accurate records can be presented in court as evidence and used for troubleshooting.

Additional Spectracom Products and Services Designed to Support Disaster Planning

Spectracom offers new reliability capabilities in each NetClock unit, including backup oscillator options. Oscillators allow the NetClock master clock and time server to maintain synchronized timing without an external GPS reference for up to two years.

Spectracom's PresenTense software alerts management via email if there is a problem with network timing. Spectracom's NetClock and Ethernet Time Servers also provide network alarms, such as through SNMP or alarm contact closure.

Spectracom offers a Premium Support service, connecting you to technical and customer support twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Our own facility has a disaster plan in place, preventing any interruption in this service.