MPSCS More Questions (what does MPSCS stand for).

[jack3726]

Ok, these counties show up on these systems like Mason, Oceana, Kalamazoo, etc. What exactly is going on here, does this mean that this is the old MSP posts that are on these systems with a link to 911 dispatch or EOC or is this the whole county and county police on this system. If this is true then when does the fire for these counties come into play or do they stay on old UHF stuff because of costs. Next question, is it true that certain pieces of this system are statewide and others only local to the area that your in. Example: From detroit I might be able to hear the MSP in lets say Traverse City, but from Detroit I couldn't hear Oceana county police. I am trying to understand these new systems. This sounds like we have this great tower system that where the state will host your system for you with allocated TG's and frequencies that are I guess all digital or APCO-25 for a costs I am sure, this might be the way they are paying for it, not sure. Last question, how much of this system can be converted to not allow any scanning at all or is it safe to say that this won't happen, what scanner would be the best to hear all of this stuff.

[mikey60]

MPSCS = Michigan Public Safety Communications System.

The MPSCS is a multi site trunked radio system. There are over 180 towers on the system statewide. All of these towers are connected to each other to provide seamless communications anywhere in the state (Well, 95% of the state if you're mobile)

Agencies like Mason and Oceana county are full fledged users of the system. All law enforcement for both counties, and all ambulance and some fire department dispatch in Mason county is on the system. Most of their traffic is on the towers in those counties.

It's unrealisitic for every agency to always be heard on every tower in the system. This would require a large number of frequencies on each and every site.

It is possible to hear these agencies on the Detroit tower, but the only way that will happen is if someone has a radio with those talkgroups affiliated with the Detroit tower. Since this would be rare at best, you will not normally hear these agencies.

In general, 90% of what you hear will be local activities of agencies within about 50 miles (depending on how many towers you can hear) Some talkgroups will be heard on multiple towers (As is the case with MSP units where different units are affiliated with different towers.)

The other 10% may have nothing to do with local activities. You hear these because someone is traveling through the area of the towers you can hear, so thise talkgroups are being transmitted for that person.

The MPSCS is an APCO P25 compliant trunked radio system. All transmitted voice is done in a digital format. Once digital, it's quite easy to add encryption to that data stream. Some talkgroups are encrypted, many are not. The P25 standard also has the ability to encrypt the control channels. This would require that every radio on the system be encryption ready, which is an extra cost, and I would expect to be unlikely at this time on the MPSCS.

I hope this answered your questions..

Mike

[jack3726]

So just some more questions then:

A. What scanner would be good for this.
B. How do you find out who is next on the list to join the bandwagon.
Example: Would Kent County??
C. Could the City of Grand Rapids join??
D. So at the county level they must determine what services they want to have on there specific system.
E. Is there a statewide mutual aide channel.
F. Is it possible to encrypt lets say Mason, but not Oceana.
G. Is this the new wave then in Michigan to convert agencies to 800, here in Texas all cities for the most part have there own 800 systems.

Thanks!!!!!!!

[mikey60]

A. What scanner would be good for this.

The Radio Shack Pro-96, the Uniden BC296D, or the Uniden BC796D all work on this system. The upcoming Pro-2096 should also work.

B. How do you find out who is next on the list to join the bandwagon.
Example: Would Kent County??

There are reports that Kent county is looking at joining the system. If they want to, they can. They also have the option to create their own system and link it in as a subsystem if they want. This is what the City of Detroit, Wayne county, Genesee county and other areas are doing.

C. Could the City of Grand Rapids join??

Yes, any Public Safety agency can join the system.

D. So at the county level they must determine what services they want to have on there specific system.

Pretty much.

E. Is there a statewide mutual aide channel.

There are at least 30 (Possibly up to 45) statewide Event channels that can be used for mutual aid with prior arrangement with the network control center. Beyond that most counties that are on the system have a countywide common talkgroup that all radios (Police/Fire/Ambulance/etc) in that county would have. There are also statewide call channels for each state police district that any county can use to contact any other county.

F. Is it possible to encrypt lets say Mason, but not Oceana.

Encryption is enabled on a radio by radio basis. It's not unusual to hear a conversation where one person is operating in the clear, while everyone else is encrypted. The MPSCS is on record as stating that encryption is up to the local agency and their policies. If they want it, they can have it.

G. Is this the new wave then in Michigan to convert agencies to 800, here in Texas all cities for the most part have there own 800 systems.

That's what they're trying to do in the name of interoperability. For some agencies it works well, for others it doesn't.

Mike