Evansville City Fire Dept Testing Radios

spooney · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2013, 10:38 AM

Evansville Fire Deptartment conducted a radio check on the Safe-T system TGID 22224 this morning and it appears they now have base units installed at all the fire houses in the city. 1Adam3 conducted the test and reported "loud & clear" all stations. Is it possible Vanderburgh County is working towards switching the old Edacs system to Safe-T? I thought the Safe-T system was pretty much close to capacity now. Is there room to make the switch?

KD4YGG · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2013, 11:32 AM

As you state, SAFE-T is running out of Radio ID's.

Evansville/Vanderburgh County is looking at its alternatives due to EDACS not being supported by Harris after 2015. I've heard they are considering migration over to a P-25 system, but no timeframe as of yet. This P-25 system would then possibly be tied into SAFE-T when that system (i.e. SAFE-T) is upgraded to P-25 at some undertermined point in the future.

Trido might know some additional details...

KD4YGG · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 11:37 AM

New update as of 11-Feb-2013:
Indications are that Evansville/Vanderburgh County will transition to a three-site LSM simulcast P-25 Phase I system in 2014.
System will utilize the two existing EDACS sites, and add one additional site at the North Vanderburgh High School.
No other information available at this time.

spooney · #4 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 11:50 AM

Thanks for that info. That's a good location for the 3rd transmiter since they always have problems hearing the mobiles in the North part of the county. Can't say I like the idea of an LSM system, but if everything is broadcast on all three transmiters at the same time it shouldn't be a problem.

Dispatch2323 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 2:42 PM

Interesting....Hamilton County and Howard County also use Edacs system. Make me wonder what they will do. Hamilton County does not have good safe-t coverage.

Thunderbolt · #6 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 3:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spooney

I thought the Safe-T system was pretty much close to capacity now. Is there room to make the switch?

SAFE-T officials were strongly considering upgrading the system to ASTRO 7.8 prior to the start of rebanding. However, when they received the price tag from Motorola, they decided to put it off for a while, so the state can budget for it accordingly. More than likely, the SAFE-T TRS will be upgraded to ASTRO 7.13 within the next two years, or sooner if they state can find the money. I understand they are trying to land some federal grants to help the process along.

73's

Ron

Dispatch2323 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 7:07 PM

Can a digital scanner monitor ASTRO 7.13?

KD4YGG · #8 (**permalink**) 02-11-2013, 8:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dispatch2323

Can a digital scanner monitor ASTRO 7.13?

yes

kb9sxk · #9 (**permalink**) 03-06-2013, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KD4YGG

New update as of 11-Feb-2013:
Indications are that Evansville/Vanderburgh County will transition to a three-site LSM simulcast P-25 Phase I system in 2014.
System will utilize the two existing EDACS sites, and add one additional site at the North Vanderburgh High School.
No other information available at this time.

Don't bet any money on the p-25 part just yet....