Research Articles Base: Digital Dissertations

Chapter One   INTRODUCTION     1. 1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY   After reading these articles, Captain Johnson knew he needed to act. Over the next week, Captain Johnson received numerous calls from colleagues who were commanders of other State Police divisions and patrol barracks. Captain Johnson had long-standing relationships with each one of the callers through previous assignments. They expressed the frustration felt by patrol officers during incidents like these and impressed upon Johnson their strong desire to see something change. From these calls, the captain determined that several key factors limited the state’s ability to respond effectively to similar incidents. He came up with the following list of State Police wireless communications issues: <ul type="disc" style="margin-bottom: 0in"> <li class="MsoNormal"> The State Police was operating on a 40-year old land mobile radio system. </li> <li class="MsoNormal"> The State Police radio system (and their statewide mutual-aid channel) operated in a UHF band and is uncommon compared with what other law enforcement agencies in the state used. </li> <li class="MsoNormal"> Radio system repairs were becoming more frequent, and replacement parts were difficult to locate. </li> <li class="MsoNormal"> The State Police had little to no interoperability with federal, county, or local law enforcement. </li> <li class="MsoNormal"> The State Police also had no interoperability with responding fire or EMS units. </li> </ul> Captain Johnson, like other state and local public safety officials across the country, faced the problem of figuring out how to upgrade or replace their current public safety communications system with one that would allow all public safety agencies to talk to each other in real time. He thought that sharing frequencies or equipment with other agencies whose missions encompassed the protection of life and property could potentially solve some of the observed problems, but he was not an expert on the issue and was not sure what his next step should be. He mulled over three alternatives. Which one would you choose for Captain Johnson? Digital vs. Analog Digital radio has little in common with conventional radio, which uses analog technology. The technical difference between digital and analog radio can be compared to the difference between a digital and analog watch; the difference in sound quality is comparable to the difference between CDs and records. Analog radio, or any other analog technology, is based on a continuous flow of data. An analog watch moves from minute to minute, also touching on the infinite points between each time increment. Digital watches, on the other hand, jump from one value to another. Much the same way, digital radio is capable of broadcasting specific stations without following the continuous airwaves. Digital radio uses a built-in computer to scan each song or sound bit as a long series of numbers, then reproduce the sound created by each unique combination. This takes place at the same speed as with a CD player — 50,000 scans per second. Advantages of DAB Not surprisingly, digital radio also promises CD-quality sound — without the inconveniences of CDs, like skipping. This new technology also boasts static-free reception and a much larger selection of stations among its advantages. Furthermore, the digital receiver comes with a faceplate (also called LCD, or liquid crystal display) which is able to display all kinds of information. This includes the name of the radio station, the name of the song and its artist, traffic and weather reports, and even information about products being advertised on-air. A special antenna and a small receiver box are also required for digital radio reception. Digital radio is now only available to drivers — digital receivers for cars are already on the market — reinforcing radio’s dominance in one area that television and the Internet have yet to reach: the automobile. If they can afford the technology, commuters will be able to enjoy the benefits of digital radio. However, highway drivers will find that digital radio still has its limits, as stations broadcasting in digital format simply stop playing music past the reach of their digital signal. In the future, digital signals will connect stations across wide distances, so that a driver travelling east and listening to CBC Radio, for example, would hear a continuous stream of sound even though the computer within the digital receiver was switching from a fading station to a more powerful one. Even more appealing to travellers is the possibility that the computer would scan station information based on genre of music, and switch seamlessly from one Top 40 station to another, for example.   1.2  CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK      Input                                             Process                                      Output                 1.3       STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM This research will compare the different digital MTRS available in the market today and determine the best digital MTRS that the PNP can use for their law enforcement operations.  This stems from the plan of the PNP to upgrade their current analog MTRS into digital.   Specifically this study will consider the following criteria to determine the best digital MTRS:   a.      the cost of the whole digital MTRS if installed for the PNP in the Metro Manila area;   b.      the features of the digital MTRS and its suitability to the law enforcement work of the PNP;   c.      the after-service and product support to be provided after the installation of the MTRS;     1.4   STATEMENT OF THE HYPOTHESES Ho :     The upgrading of the MTRS from analog to digital will improve the law enforcement work of the members of the PNP;                                                     H1  :   The upgrading of the MTRS from analog to digital will not improve the law enforcement work of the members of the PNP;    ASSUMPTIONS OF THE STUDY                         The following assumptions are posed to support this study: 1)                 The PNP has a budget for the upgrading of the MTRS from analog to digital;   2)                 The different digital MTRS companies have given proposals to the Radio Division of the PNP.    1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Society             The importance of quick communication cannot be underestimated for a job like law enforcement.  Time is of importance in this type of work and proper coordination and quick action can be done only through an efficient communication system.  The MTRS has been useful to the members of the PNP through the years.  However, the emergence of digital technology offers and even broader range of activities for the people in law enforcement.  However, such efforts like upgrading facilities involve money and changes in the system, that is why, it is important to study the options available first and determine which of them has the best track record and an affordable price..   This study will also benefit the members of the PNP since with a more sophisticated equipment at hand, they are now expected to also be more efficient and effective in their law enforcement work.    Academe             This study will be of importance to those who want to upgrade systems in their own field of work.  This study will try to show why the factors involved in upgrading a system; cost, features and after service support, should be considered by those handling the acquisition of such goods.  The study will also try to show that it is possible to upgrade one’s facilities within one’s budget and one’s expectations.               1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY             This study will choose from among the different proposals from different digital MTRS companies, the best digital MTRS for the members of the PNP.  The upgrade of the system will entail cost that is why the study will use the following guidelines in choosing the best digital MTRS: cost, features, after service and support.  The different companies offering the digital MTRS will be rated according to the aforementioned guidelines.  The members of the PNP who use the digital MTRS will serve as respondents of this study, for they are usually the ones who directly use this equipment.               The study will focus only on the upgrade of the analog MTRS to digital as used by the members of the PNP.  .   1.7  DEFINITION OF TERMS Trunking is the automatic sharing of a small number of communication paths among a large number of users.   AWS………. Digitial Advanced Wireless Services TETRA …….. TErrestrial TRunked RAdio ETSI…………. European Telecommunications Standards Institute MESA ………. Mobility for Emergency and Safety Applications TIA…………… Telecommunications Industry Association EEA …………. European Economic Area PMR…………. Professional Mobile Radio TCP/IP ……… Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol PHY …………. Physical Layer (ISO Model) TDMA………. Time Division Multiple Access DQPSK …….. Digital Quadrature Phase Shift Keying 3G ……………. Third Generation GSM…………. Global System for Mobile communications TIPHON……. Telecommunication and Internet Protocol Harmonization Over Networks BRAN ………. Broadband RAdio Access Networks UMTS ………. Universal Mobile Telecommunication Service IPv6x………… Internet Protocol version x QoS ………….. Quality of Service C3…………….. Consultation, Command and Control APCO……….. Association of Police Communications Officials STF ………….. Strategic Task Force MRA ………… Mutual Recognition Agreement                                                                           Chapter 2 Review of Related Literature                                                                             Chapter 3   RESEARCH METHODOLOGY   This chapter presents the description of the research method to be used, a description of the respondents, the instruments to be used, the procedures and statistical treatment utilized in analyzing the data that will be gathered.     A.  Research Design   This study will use the descriptive-normative-survey approach.  The descriptive method involves the description, recording, analysis and interpretation of the prevailing conditions and the present nature of a certain group.  It will include the following processes: induction, analysis, classification, enumeration, measurement and assessment of the data. Survey refers to the gathering of data regarding current conditions. Normative is used to ascertain the normal or typical condition.  The survey will try to ascertain the effectiveness of the customer service offered by the website of a popular wireless cellular phone company.  Furthermore, the researcher will ask customers for other services they would like to include in the company’s website.   a)     compatibility of the system; b)     complete data; and c)      quick accessibility.   The procedure will include the general principles of gathering data and used published sources of statistics; sampling questionnaires; interviews; and content analysis of documentary and verbal material.  The researcher will present case studies of successful Internet-based businesses.     B.  Method of Data Collection               The primary source of the data will come from a researcher-made questionnaire which to be given to the respondents.  The survey will assess the current archival and retrieval system of the personnel records of the Philippine National police.  The questionnaire would solicit information using the following criteria: compatibility of the system; complete data; and quick accessibility of records.     C.  Sampling Design and Respondents   The general population for this study is exclusive and should have the following qualifications: a) an employee of the Philippine National Police who has used the analog MTRS for three or more years, and b) an employee of the Philippine National Police Archival and Retrieval Department.  The department has currently around 20 employees who will act as respondents for this study.    In determining the sample size of the employees of the whole PNP, the following ’s formula shall be used:   n          =           N                                             1 + Ne2   where:                                    n           –          is the size of the sample                         N         –          is the size of the population, and                         e          –          is the margin of error.               D.                Statistical Treatment of Data   After the questionnaires will be answered, the profile of the respondents will be taken, according to age, gender, educational background, civil status, occupation and frequency of Internet usage (number of hours per week).  To be able to get a description of the profile of the respondents, the data coming from each item mentioned above will be placed in tabular form with the indicated percentage as well as the frequency.  This will show the predominant characteristics of a Smart wireless cellular phone user website surfer.    The formulae that will be used in this study are:   1.       Sloven’s Formula – to determine the sample population.  The margin of error is 5%   2.       Percentage – to determine the magnitude of the responses to the questionnaire.             n % = ——– x 100        ;           n – number of responses             N                                 N – total number of respondents   3.       Weighted Mean               f1x1 + f2x2  + f3x3 + f4x4  + f5x5 x= ———————————————  ;                         xt where:            f – weight given to each response                         x – number of responses                                    xt – total number of responses                    The weighted mean scores for each item in the questionnaire will be determined.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

DIGITAL RADIO VS ANALOG RADIO

Chapter One INTRODUCTION 1. 1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY After reading these articles, Captain Johnson knew he needed to ac...