(Lapeer) Aging equipment plagues 9-1-1

[WU8Y]

Apparently, the Lapeer county TRS went down twice last month. When I'm home, it's almost always for sleeping only, so I didn't hear any of the MPSCS traffic when it went.

http://www.countypress.com/stories/0...90118238.shtml

Officials fault outmoded equipment for system failures to the life saving system that received 29,898 emergency calls for help last year.

To keep up with technological advances, cash strapped 9-1-1 must find $15.2 million to replace it.

Two recent breakdowns in December are concerning central dispatch.

"Over the Christmas and New Year's holiday we had a major failure of the microwave system, which links our three tower sites together," said 9-1-1 Systems Administrator Jeffrey Satkowski. "Each time the failure effectively halted our ability to communicate with the public safety agencies in Lapeer County. Fortunately, we were able to utilize the Michigan Public Safety Communications System digital radio system as a backup to maintain a small level of communication until our own system was repaired."

Repairs completed Jan. 9 were costly because of hard to find components for the aging system that are no longer covered under a service contract. While they're still available, 9-1-1 purchased more of the expensive parts in case of another failure, said Satkowski.

But changing technology has also improved operations at the center that opened in 1997 and now averages about 114,000 emergency and non-crisis calls a year.

"In 2000, 53% were from land lines and 47% were from cell calls. In 2008, 36% were from land lines and 62% from cell phones and 1% from Internet phones," said 9-1-1 Director Vic Martin. "This shows where our society is changing with technology and how it has affected our center."

Central dispatch receives most of its calls reporting traffic mishaps from cell phones.

"We're getting better firsthand information from people involved or those passing by," Martin said. "It used to be that people would have to leave the scene and hunt down a phone booth or knock on a neighbor's door."

But technological advances, such as switching from analog to digital systems, are hurting 9-1-1's pocketbook.

"Our center opened in 1997 and had one of the best analog radio systems for the time," Martin said. "As you have seen with TVs, our radio systems will have to change over to digital also. We're looking at the least expensive and yet the best system to change to in the near future."

A 9-1-1 technical board made up of fire, police, EMS, 911 and government officials will consider a consultant's recommendations and other alternatives.

[bigbluemsp]

All their mobiles and preps are BRAND NEW Moto XTS2500's and XTL5000's but their tower equipment, servers and dispatch consoles need updating.

All they need to do is aquire new tower equipment, software and consoles and reflash the radios and they are on the MPSCS. It's a fast, easy, cheap fix that they just flat out refuse to do. THEY DO have the money for the switch but their director of Central Dispatch refuses to do that.

[Chief71]

Originally Posted by bigbluemsp

All their mobiles and preps are BRAND NEW Moto XTS2500's and XTL5000's but their tower equipment, servers and dispatch consoles need updating.

All they need to do is aquire new tower equipment, software and consoles and reflash the radios and they are on the MPSCS. It's a fast, easy, cheap fix that they just flat out refuse to do. THEY DO have the money for the switch but their director of Central Dispatch refuses to do that.

I don't know what Post 38 has (I'm sure they are all squared away) but I don't think any of the agencies in the county have new mobile radios in the cars. I know most PDs have updated preps and maybe a few base units. I was working on the one day we had the failure and it was a mess it was, all of the car to dispatch traffic was cutting out. The digital system is neat but we were still getting interfearance similar to what a Nextel 2 way sounds like in dead spots.

[EC-7]

$15.2 Million, what a joke.

Why is it that we have grown to be "OK" with these ridiculous $ amounts for radio systems?
They wonder why the state, city and agencies have no money.
There is no reason that a new radio system should cost that much.
Why do we pay Motorola and these other companies up the butt for radio equipment, and other maintainance fees?
I have had radio systems and repeaters up for years, and never had problems with them "getting old".
I understand handhelds, and mobiles with wear + tear, but nothing else needs to be "maintained".

I think the Govt needs to rethink who they are paying, and what there really paying for, but they dont care, its not out of their personal pocket.

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by EC-7

$15.2 Million, what a joke.

Why is it that we have grown to be "OK" with these ridiculous $ amounts for radio systems?
They wonder why the state, city and agencies have no money.
There is no reason that a new radio system should cost that much.
Why do we pay Motorola and these other companies up the butt for radio equipment, and other maintainance fees?
I have had radio systems and repeaters up for years, and never had problems with them "getting old".
I understand handhelds, and mobiles with wear + tear, but nothing else needs to be "maintained".

I think the Govt needs to rethink who they are paying, and what there really paying for, but they dont care, its not out of their personal pocket.

Well, first of, the problem with a system getting old. Any ham will tell you that the feed line and antenna for a base/repeater needs to be changed every 10 years or so. Like an old garden hose, the coax will get lossy after being out in the elements for many years. And the aluminum antenna will either start to corrode, or if it's a fiberglass antenna, the fiberglass will crack, and mositure will be introduced inside the antenna. This has always been a great selling point for radio vendors to come in and say "the equipment you got is old and not cutting edge" and all that. And then they propose a new $15 million dollar system, when a few thousand dollars at the site will remedy the issue.
And the vendor knows this, trust me.

Did you read the article? The article says the county has brought in a "consultant" to tell them how to remedy the issue. Without a doubt, the consultant just happens to be the county's radio vendor. And what's the chance of the vendor coming up with some cost effective solutions? They're in it to make money, hence a $15 million price tag. And you're right, I can't imagine why a whole new radio system would cost half that much. Do the math. Handhelds and moblies are about $4000 each. Nothing at the sites is exotic, even the microwave stuff is plug-n-play stuff made by many companies.

And why is it the last thing any municipality will ever do is "shop around" for radio vendors.
There are plenty of radio vendors around, but once a city, township, or county gets their first one, they never comparison shop. If Lapeer County went out and got quotes from 3 different vendors, and the first vendor heard about it, I'll bet ya the first one would "take a second look" and come in with a lower revised quote.

[MOTST]

Plug and Play microwave, site standards, channel banks, etc! Don't let this get out, or I'll be looking for work!!

[bigbluemsp]

This is exactly what would save them a ton or money.

BTW MSP still uses the old Motorola radios wth the crappy siren conrol in the control head. Old, unreliable and just not worth it's costs.

Integrating siren controls and siren tones in a radio head was 80's tech, let Whelen control the siren and lights in one module.

CENCOM GOLD BABY!

[Ronaldski]

Lapeer County seeks to replace 911 system with digital system - 1/26/09 - Flint News and Saginaw News - abc12.com

[bigbluemsp]

Vic Martin used to be the Post Commander at the Lapeer Post.

[Wyandotte]

Originally Posted by MOTST

Plug and Play microwave, site standards, channel banks, etc! Don't let this get out, or I'll be looking for work!!

So I watch the video. A bunch of rack mounted cards. Something's failing? Hmmm.
Maybe someone needs to figure out which one of these components is failing.

If anyone knows this Vic Martin, how 'bout asking him to pay the state to have the MSPSC techs from District Two swing by and do a little troubleshooting. I see a bunch of rack mounted components here.
And they are only twelve years old. Parts are available. One of those rack mounted, slides right in and out, circuit boards is bad. And since it's only twelve years old, I'm sure there are diagnostic routines that will pinpoint which one it is. There may even be a little red light on one of those cards that latches when it has a fault. And the light don't go out unitl the fault is cleared.

This is like throwing away all your dishes because a bowl is cracked.