Wireless communications are essential to emergency responders. Unfortunately, a typical emergency response scenario involves communication into and within building structures, which can severely interfere with or completely block the radio frequency channel. Several methods offer some potential relief to these problems, including the use of multi hop ad hoc networks for communication within the building, and the use of smart antenna arrays at exterior locations to improve the communication between the interior and exterior locations of the building. However, due to the enclosed nature of buildings, and the loss in radio frequency energy as a signal propagates through floors and walls, no single solution completely solves the communication problem.
