Programming BOS radios

Codeplugs for BOS radios without a PC on site

The Sepura BOS (Authorities and Organizations with Security Tasks) radios used by the Wuppertal Fire Department are updated approximately 1-2 times a year with new code plugs for keyboard layout, group assignments, etc. For this purpose, the devices or the associated charging/programming stations have an RS232 or USB interface, depending on the model. Both interfaces require the programming PC (client) to be in close proximity, so that, according to standard practice, there are only three options for carrying out an upcoming reprogramming, each with the serious disadvantages listed below:

1. The programming PC is connected to the BOS radio device.

• High costs/time expenditure for on-site programming at the individual locations by an employee. If the BOS radios are in use at this time, there is a risk of having to make two trips.

2. The BOS radio is connected to the programming PC.

• High investment in cost and time for the employee who has to bring the device
• Risk of overload for the programming center (all BOS radios arrive at the same time) or high organizational effort for scheduling appointments

3. On-site installed programming PC (client)

• Installation of a fixed PC is not possible due to the ambient conditions in many locations (workshop, fleet garage etc.)
• Installation of a fixed PC is also highly critical from the point of view of data protection and IT security
• High failure risk of the PC with 24/7 operation
• High power consumption

For these reasons the department responsible at the Wuppertal fire department conceived the following network-based data filling station and implemented it in practical terms together with W&T.

Data filling station: USB device server connects BOS radio devices with programming software

The heart of the data filling station is the USB server from W&T. The charging/programming stations are connected to its two USB ports either directly or via a USB<>RS232 converter. The software counterpart is the USB Redirector on a central PC with the Sepura Radio Manager. The Redirector integrates the "remote" BOS radio devices connected to the USB server into the Windows system as if they were located locally on the computer. Mechanically, the data filling station is designed as a rugged, plug-in IP54 wall housing, so that installation is limited to wall mounting and plugging in all components.

The data filling station was implemented in two hardware variants for the single and five-slot charging stations from Wetech. In addition to the connection for the respective charging station, both versions also offer the option of integrating the special connection cable for programming permanently installed BOS radio devices in emergency vehicles.

Automatic updates: simple and efficient

Three data filling stations are currently installed and in operation at two Wuppertal fire department locations. In the future, each location will be equipped with at least one data filling station. This makes the practical process of programming radio equipment very convenient and easy for everyone involved: An upcoming update is stored on the server side as a corresponding programming stack for all registered BOS radios in the Sepura Radio Manager. The Radio Manager independently monitors the programming/charging stations connected via the data filling station, and as soon as a BOS radio device is set up there, programming starts automatically.

The benefits of the data filling station at a glance:

• No local installation of PCs
• No problems with data protection/IT security, since there is no mouse, keyboard etc. to operate locally
• Current draw approx. 3-5W
• No sensitive hard drives and fans
• Minimal administrative effort for updates, no back-and-forth travel of employees or handhelds

From an economic perspective, the concept of the data filling station for the city of Wuppertal will likely pay for itself after just a few updates, simply through the time savings it offers. According to estimates by the responsible fire department employees, a conventional update operation for all BOS radio devices at the locations in the Wuppertal area would have taken approximately 6 man-days. This compares with hardware costs of only around €500 (plus assembly/installation costs) per complete data filling station.