North Dakota Statewide Interoperable Radio Network

North Dakota Statewide Interoperability Radio Network (ND SIRN):

Radio Standards

The SIRN Platform uses digital communications technology specified in the TIA-102 Series Standards, Interim Standards, and Telecommunications Systems Bulletins, commonly known as APCO Project 25 (P25) Standards. Specifically, the SIRN Platform employs P25 Phase 2 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). The P25 standards provide capability for full backward migration and limited forward migration along an evolving continuum of technologies and services, assuming the radios operate on a common set of frequencies. P25 standards also permit different vendors of subscriber radios and infrastructure to interoperate while providing value added vendor specific premium features and services.
Ref: Management of System: Subscriber Radio Standards

Talkgroup ID Numbering Convention

For ease of identification and standardization, talkgroup IDs shall follow the SIRN Talkgroup ID Numbering Convention described below. A talkgroup ID consists of five (5) digits. Digits in positions 1, 2 and 3 will be used to represent counties and agency functions as follows.

• 00000: The first two digits are used to identify agency or jurisdiction as follows:
  • 00 represents State agencies
  • 01 to 53 represents the 53 counties in alphabetical order
  • 54 is assigned to Tribal Nations
  • 56 is assigned to Federal Agencies
  • 57 is assigned for Miscellaneous entities
  • Other entities not directly affiliated to a federal, state, or local agency will be assigned the two-digit prefix on a case-by-case basis.
• 00000: The third digit is used to identify the non-State agency’s function as follows:
  • 1: Law Enforcement and Corrections
  • 2: Fire
  • 3: Ambulance and EMS
  • 4: Emergency Management and local (county level) collaboration talkgroups
  • 5: Highway Departments
  • 6: Schools
  • 7: Public Works and Parks and Recreation
  • 8: Health/Hospitals
  • 9: Transit/Transportation
• Talkgroups for State agencies shall further be organized per the following ranges (last three digits):
  • NDIT: 000-099
  • Mutual Aid: 100-199
  • HP: 200-299
  • BCI: 300-349
  • Game and Fish: 350-399
  • Hospitals: 400-499
  • State Radio: 500-549
  • DES: 550-599
  • P&R: 600-649
  • DOC: 650-699
  • NDFS: 700-749
  • DOH: 750-799
  • DOT: 800-899
  • NDNG: 950-999
    

Ref: Configuration and Allocation: SIRN Radio ID & Talkgroup Allocation

Talkgroup Naming

All talkgroup names programmed in the system must be unique; there can be no duplicates. In addition, special characters are not permitted. Talkgroup names shall adhere to the following conventions:

• Talkgroup names are limited to fourteen characters
• All encrypted talkgroups must end with an “E”
• Talkgroups names shall identify the agency and purpose of the talkgroup per the naming convention guidance below.
• The talkgroup/multi-group name will be prefixed with a County and agency identification unique to that agency.
• Talkgroups shall follow ## AAA BBBB E convention described below:
  • ##: the first two characters must indicate the County Number ranging from 01 to 53 (State agencies shall use 00)
  • AAA: two to four characters indicating the agency (e.g., BCSO, WFFD, HP, etc.)
  • BBBB: the remaining characters are used to indicate the purpose or function of the talkgroup (e.g., Narcotics, Dispatch, Operations, Arson, etc.)
  • E: Encrypted talkgroups shall have “E” as a suffix
• Regional interoperability talkgroups/multi-groups must be prefixed with "ND" and the appropriate two-character regional prefix, "NW" for Northwest, "NE" for Northeast, "SW" for Southwest, and "SE" for Southeast.
• Talkgroups and multi-groups that are not owned by an individual agency or region would not have an agency/region specific identifying prefix.
  • Examples of these would be statewide mutual aid and interoperability talkgroups such as ND MA 03 E.
    

Ref: Configuration and Allocation: SIRN Talkgroup and Multi-group Naming

Regional & Statewide Interoperability Talkgroups

SIRN will maintain and operate 31 statewide mutual aid talkgroups (referred to as ND MA talkgroups) designed for multi-jurisdiction and multi-discipline command, coordination, and tactical communications. SIRN will additionally maintain and operate eight (8) regional mutual aid talkgroups (Regional MA) for each of the four Emergency Management Agency regions. These Regional MA Talkgroups are designed for multi-jurisdiction and multi-discipline command, coordination, and tactical communications.

ND Emergency Management Regions

All devices operating on SIRN as their primary two-way radio solution MUST be programmed with the ND MA talkgroups and all Regional MA talkgroups.

SIRN statewide MA talkgroups are categorized and will be assigned as follows:

• ND MA HAIL: Statewide Hailing channel
• ND PURSUIT 1 and ND PURSUIT 2: Talkgroups for law enforcement use/coordination during pursuits
• ND MA 03 E – ND MA 05 E: General purpose secure talkgroups for law enforcement use per incident needs
• ND MA 06 – ND MA 30: General purpose clear talkgroups assigned per incident needs

SIRN Regional MA talkgroups are categorized and will be assigned as follows:

• ND (NW/NE/SW/SE) HAIL: Region Hailing channel
• ND (NW/NE/SW/SE) MA PURSUIT: Encrypted talkgroups for law enforcement use/coordination during pursuits (Regional)
• ND (NW/NE/SW/SE) MA 01 E: General purpose encrypted talkgroups for law enforcement use per incident needs (Regional)
• ND (NW/NE/SW/SE) MA 02 – ND (NW/NE/SW/SE) MA 06: General purpose clear talkgroups assigned per incident needs (Regional)
  

Ref: Interoperability Standards: SIRN Regional & Statewide Interoperability Talkgroups

Radio ID Numbering Convention (Unit ID)

Radio IDs shall meet the following SIRN Radio ID Numbering Convention. A Radio ID consists of seven (7) digits. Digits in positions 1, 2 and 3 will be used to represent counties and agency functions as follows.

• 0000000: The first two digits are used to identify agency or jurisdiction as follows:
  • 00 represents State agencies
  • 01 to 53 represents the 53 counties in alphabetical order
  • 54 is assigned to Tribal Nations
  • 56 is assigned to Federal Agencies
  • 57 is assigned for Miscellaneous entities
  • Other entities not directly affiliated to a federal, state, or local agency will be assigned the two-digit prefix on a case-by-case basis.
• 0000000: The third digit is used to identify the non-State agency’s function as follows:
  • 1: Law Enforcement and Corrections
  • 2: Fire
  • 3: Ambulance and EMS
  • 4: Emergency Management and local (county level) collaboration talkgroups
  • 5: Highway Departments
  • 6: Schools
  • 7: Public Works and Parks and Recreation
  • 8: Health/Hospitals
  • 9: Transit/Transportation
• Radio IDs for State agencies shall further be organized per the following ranges (last five digits):
  • NDIT: 01000-01999
  • HP: 02000-02999
  • BCI: 03000-03999
  • Game and Fish: 04000-04999
  • Hospitals: 05000-05999
  • State Radio: 06000-06499
  • DES: 06500-06999
  • P&R: 07000-07499
  • DOC: 07500-07999
  • NDFS: 08000-08499
  • DOH: 08500-08499
  • DOT: 09000-19999
  • NDNG: 20000-20500
    

Ref: Configuration and Allocation: SIRN Radio ID & Talkgroup Allocation

Radio ID Alias

Each radio has to be assigned a unique alias per this Standard. Radio User Aliases must identify the agency and user type per the naming convention below. The naming standard only governs the first two characters. Characters following the first two are at the individual agency’s discretion per this standard. Radio User Aliases shall follow ## AAAA BBBBBB convention described below:

• ##: the first two characters/prefix must indicate the County Number ranging from 01 to 53 (All State agencies are assigned 00)
  • Cities and agencies within a county would use that county’s prefix
  • Federal Agencies: US
  • Tribal Nations: TN
  • Other entities not directly affiliated to a federal, state or local agency will be assigned the two digit prefix on a case-by-case basis.
• AAAA: two to four characters indicating the agency (e.g., BCSO, WFFD, HP, etc.)
• BBBBB: the remaining characters are used to indicate the user’s function (e.g., Patrol Officer, Badge Number, Engine, SWAT VAN, etc.)

If a radio user has multiple radios on the system, each radio must have a unique alias. The alias could be suffixed with identification for the radio itself, such as a “-P” for portable to differentiate between a mobile and portable radio used by the same person. This would allow dispatchers and Administrators to readily identify radio users and whether the radio is a portable or mobile. At minimum, each radio must be assigned the county (##) and agency identifier (AAAA) as described above.
Ref: Configuration and Allocation: SIRN Radio ID Alias

Encryption

The North Dakota Office of Attorney General - Bureau of Criminal Investigation published a memo (Dated January 3rd, 2020) that requires all Criminal Justice Information (CJI) communicated over a radio system be encrypted per FBI CJIS Security Policy. NLETS is the portal through which all states, including North Dakota, transmit driver’s license, registration, and other CJI information. NLETS and all member agencies that have a connection to the FBI's CJIS network are required to adhere to the CJIS Security Policy. For these member agencies, NLETS shall adopt the CJIS Security Policy as the policy governing the NLETS connection. The SIEC reviewed and agreed with the BCI memo and federal guidelines on encryption of CJI over LMR on 01/14/2020. This would require that all LE CJI radio traffic be encrypted on the SIRN network.
Ref: Management of the System: Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Information (CJI) Encryption

North Dakota Counties with their respective county numbers

01-Adams
02-Barnes
03-Benson
04-Billings
05-Bottineau
06-Bowman
07-Burke
08-Burleigh
09-Cass
10-Cavalier
11-Dickey
12-Divide
13-Dunn
14-Eddy
15-Emmons
16-Foster
17-Golden Valley
18-Grand Forks
19-Grant
20-Griggs
21-Hettinger
22-Kidder
23-LaMoure
24-Logan
25-McHenry
26-McIntosh
27-McKenzie
28-McLean
29-Mercer
30-Morton
31-Mountrail
32-Nelson
33-Oliver
34-Pembina
35-Pierce
36-Ramsey
37-Ransom
38-Renville
39-Richland
40-Rolette
41-Sargent
42-Sheridan
43-Sioux
44-Slope
45-Stark
46-Steele
47-Stutsman
48-Towner
49-Traill
50-Walsh
51-Ward
52-Wells
53-Williams

External Links

• North Dakota Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee (ND SIEC) SIRN 20/20