PSRA Level 1 Exam study plan

Explain decibel relationships (dBm, dBW, dBd, dBi) and convert between them without a calculator error in 20 practice problems.

Describe modulation schemes used in public safety LMR (FM, C4FM, P25 phase 1/2 variants) and state occupied bandwidth for each.

Distinguish simplex, half-duplex, and full-duplex operation and identify which is used in a typical conventional repeater talkgroup.

Compute free-space path loss and link budget for a sample 700 MHz and 150 MHz scenario, comparing results.

Diagram a conventional repeater system and a trunked simulcast system, labeling each component from subscriber to console.

Compare P25 Phase 1 FDMA and Phase 2 TDMA in terms of channel capacity, vocoder, and migration path.

Identify the roles of RFSS, site controller, comparator, and voter in a simulcast network.

Trace a call from a portable through a site to a dispatcher console and list every interface it crosses.

Explain co-channel and adjacent-channel interference and describe how frequency reuse and site separation mitigate each.

Calculate a reuse pattern's co-channel interference ratio (D/R) for a sample cluster size and interpret the result.

Differentiate analog, P25 conventional, P25 trunked, and DMR systems in a comparison table.

Describe how a trunked system's control channel works and what happens when a site loses it.

Apply the Okumura-Hata and free-space models to predict coverage for an urban and rural site, noting the limits of each model.

Explain Fresnel zone clearance and compute the first Fresnel zone radius at mid-path for a given link.

Identify terrain, clutter, and building penetration effects on in-building coverage and recommend mitigation.

Describe how antenna height, gain, downtilt, and pattern shape affect coverage footprint and interference.

Map the SAFECOM Interoperability Continuum's five lanes to concrete actions a radio system manager can take.

Explain the National Interoperability Field Operations Guide (NIFOG) and how national interoperability channels are used during a mutual-aid event.

Describe the FCC licensing process for public safety land mobile (Part 90) including application, coordination, and construction deadlines.

Differentiate frequency coordination bodies and explain the role of the regional planning committee in 700/800 MHz.

List the key performance indicators for an LMR system (channel busy, call setup time, dropped calls, RSSI, BER) and state a normal range for each.

Describe how to use a service monitor and a subscriber diagnostic tool to isolate a coverage complaint.

Interpret a system performance report and identify the top 3 likely root causes of degraded performance.

Explain the difference between a site alarm, a network management alarm, and a subscriber-level fault.

Explain AES-256 and DES-OFB encryption in P25 and describe key management, OTAR, and key fill procedures.

Identify common threats to public safety radio (jamming, spoofing, unauthorized key fill, console compromise) and describe a control for each.

Describe the ICS communications unit leader role and the ICS 205 incident radio communications plan.

Draft an after-action documentation set for a simulated event including a timeline and lessons learned.

Compare P25, LTE/FirstNet, and hybrid LMR-broadband approaches for mission-critical voice and data.

Explain the role of Mission Critical Push-to-Talk (MCPTT) standards and how they interface with LMR.

Describe emerging trends: narrowbanding, 700 MHz band planning, encryption modernization, and GPS-based location services.

Synthesize the 8-week material into a 20-question self-test and score at least 80%.