PORTLAND, Ore., 18 Oct. 2007. The Oregon 102nd WMD-CST's ADVON (Advanced Party) is demonstrating, during the DHS TOPOFF 4 emergency response exercise, its preparedness to communicate with other responders quickly and to overcome the communications problems caused by massive natural disasters. The Civil Support Team is equipped with the AA battery-powered ICRI (Incident Commanders' Radio Interface), a small device enabling team members to bridge otherwise incompatible radio systems quickly, without dependence on external hardware that may be disabled by a man-made or natural disaster.

The Incident Commander's Radio Interface is the portable interoperability bridge used by the Oregon 102nd WMD-CST's ADVON. Enclosed in a protective case for field deployment, it runs on 8 batteries for up to 30 hours, and weighs just 3.5 pounds.

Prior to reestablishing IP or satellite links, which may take many hours or even days, the Salem-based 102nd is able to use the ICRI as an interoperability bridge, as well as a portable "repeater" to extend the range of their handheld radios into buildings and tunnels that are otherwise impenetrable by radio signals.

The ICRI is the tactical interoperability "gateway" solution for the 15-state WSCA program, the DHS FEMA CEDAP equipment grant program, and numerous local and state public-safety agencies in the upper Northwest, which have been deploying ICRIs in support of real incidents involving multiple public-safety agencies.

ICRI gateways are designed and manufactured in Virginia by Communications-Applied Technology (www.c-at.com).