Whether the 800 MHz radios were leased through the CSRF Lease Program or purchased directly through a vendor, public safety and public service agencies in Kansas can gain access to the State’s 800 MHz Radio System by contacting the Lease Program Coordinator.

Radios coming onto the System are assigned a System ID and must be programmed in order to operate on the System. A radio programming template or archive is created and used to program the radios. The template is created based on the fleetmap that was designed for that radio. The fleetmap is a set of talkgroups that have been designated to be programmed into the radio.

Users work with the Lease Program Coordinator to determine if any new talkgroups need to be created for that user agency, and what talkgroups need to be programmed into the radios. This process is called fleetmapping. There are no fees associated with fleetmapping, but there are fees associated with programming.

If a KDOT radio shop is creating the programming template or archive, there is a one-time $750 fee per template created. Plus, there is a $50 programming fee per radio.

Template building and programming can also be done at an authorized vendor. If a user decides to have the radios programmed through the vendor, then any fees due will be at the discretion of the vendor.

The first step in all scenarios for new users to utilize the State’s 800 MHz Radio System is to contact the Lease Program Coordinator and work through the process of being granted access to the system.

In 2008, KDOT Communications staff worked in conjunction with the Interoperable Communications Coordinator from the Office of Emergency Communications to develop the Statewide Interoperability Template. This template is a set of talkgroups that have been created to be used by public safety and public service agencies while working an event, incident or disaster. Each radio on the State’s 800 MHz Radio System should have this template programmed into it. With all radios having the same talkgroups programmed into them, interoperability throughout the state is greatly enhanced.

The Statewide Interoperability Template provides talkgroups that are specific to PSAPs, Medical Services and EOCs. It also provides talkgroups that are regionalized and discipline specific. It has talkgroups available to be used and designated by Incident Commanders during any size incident. Public safety and public service radio users can utilize the talkgroups in the template for any reason (other than normal, daily radio traffic) as long as they are within range of a State P25 digital tower.