Digital Paging

[gg750]

This probably isn't the right forum for this post, but since our state uses a digital system, I figured I'd try here.

I wondering about fire departments that have joined the MPSCS and how they handle paging. I know you can't used traditional tone paging with digital systems. Do they maintain an analog VHF or UHF frequency just for the paging tones, then transmit voice over digital? I seem to remember there be some talk about our area joining the system a year or two ago, but someone brought up the fact that the fire departments could never join because the couldn't page. Now I see fire departments all over the state joining, so I know it can be done, just not sure how. Can someone fill me in?

Thanks!

G

[EC-7]

Some departments still use the old VHF/UHF fres for tone paging and dispach voice.
Livingston COunty sends the tones on the old 154.010 freq and the DISPACHER can be heard on BOTH the VHF freq and the 800 talkgroup. The mobiles can only be heard on one or the other, depending on what radio they are using. They can patch the 2 together, where ALL users on the VHF and the 800 talkgroup can be heard at the same time.

I "belive" that the 800 system was designed to allow individual radio and group calling, but I'm not sure on that. The only problem is that not every volenteer can have a $5000 portable, so they still carry VHF/UHF pagers.

[grizzlyadams73]

there are no paging capabillies on the 800 system. we still use the vhf system

[philkoz]

Hi everyone. This thread raises a question for me. I hear Shelby Twp toning out on 800 all the time. The tones sound very 'warbly' as I'd imagine they would on digital. In fact, I've noticed Chesterfield Twp is also using some kind of 'funky' alert tones now also. They don't use it 100% of the time, occassionally I still hear them using the old tones & dispatching on 154.130. Personnel acknowledge on 800, and the rest of the run is handled on 800.

Does anyone know how they're doing it or what they're using ??

-Phil

[ab8sf]

Probably paging on VHF with 800 simulcast. That's how the tones sound around here when they're digitally simulcasted.

Jim AB8SF

[wogggieee]

In the Minneapolis area there are a few departments that i know for sure use commercial style pagers to alert fire fighters. And by that i mean the type of pager you would call with a phone. They also give the call over the air. but for the departments that have the commercial style pagers I don't believe i have heard tones over the air for them either on 800 or the vhf simulcast. And for the ones on that same fire channel that do tone outs, i don't believe i remember hearing the tones on 800, only vhf, but the calls still go out on 800. So maybe some over there do something similar too.

[philkoz]

Hmmm, interesting. I know for a fact Shelby Twp FD does nothing on VHF, or UHF anymore for that matter. Chesterfield uses completely different tones on the 800 than on VHF, and its not simulcast. I've been listening VHF on 1 radio & trunked on another at the same time. If they're toning out on 800, no radio traffic goes over VHF. If they use VHF, its the same old tones they've used forever, and no 800 traffic until they acknowledge the run.

I'm not disputing that depts aren't able to digitally tone over trunked, but still I'm hearing what I'm hearing, and I'm assuming locals are hearing it too.....help ??

[balt527]

Shelby tones out over the 800 system and over the old UHF freq., but the UHF seems to be low power because I can't hear them too far away from Shelby Twp.