Psp and starnet

[brey1234]

Interesting:

Heard 2 Dunmore units communicating with a Gibson unit on I 81 near Moosic at 155.460---NOT--Starnet. Problems?

[captclint]

Originally Posted by brey1234

Heard 2 Dunmore units communicating with a Gibson unit on I 81 near Moosic at 155.460---NOT--Starnet. Problems?

They say TAC comms are easier on VHF, so I hear a lot of usage of VHF TAC channels. I think it has something to do with TGID's for this type of comm. I also recall hearing straight simplex may require the radios to be rebooted. While Starnet may make this type of comm harder, that is not necessarily indicative of the type of "problem" you were suggesting.

[ocguard]

Correct, for the Starnet portable radios to operate in simplex off-network mode, they must be re-booted (power-cycled). Then, to go back to network mode, you must power-cycle the radio again.

I have GOOD information that newly delivered PSP patrol vehicles are being outfitted with dual-band Motorola APX mobile radios. What this implies? I'm just not sure. But PSP seems to have every intent of keeping VHF as an option.

[Chauffeur6]

Originally Posted by ocguard

I have GOOD information that newly delivered PSP patrol vehicles are being outfitted with dual-band Motorola APX mobile radios. What this implies? I'm just not sure. But PSP seems to have every intent of keeping VHF as an option.

They've already confirmed that months ago. They are completely rebuilding the VHF system so that it's narrowband compliant. VHF is going nowhere.



To answer Bob's question, most PSP troops leave the VHF mobiles on Tact while the 800 is on the main TG. It's not a matter of there being a "problem", it just makes sense to do that.

We all know there are many issues with OpenSky, and God knows you are tireless in your crusade to expose every single flaw in the system, but in this case you're making a mountain out of a molehill. Once in a while pause to consider the possibility that there may just be a better way of doing things, and it has nothing to do with a flaw in the 800 system.

[jjimenez01]

Originally Posted by ocguard

Correct, for the Starnet portable radios to operate in simplex off-network mode, they must be re-booted (power-cycled). Then, to go back to network mode, you must power-cycle the radio again.

I have GOOD information that newly delivered PSP patrol vehicles are being outfitted with dual-band Motorola APX mobile radios. What this implies? I'm just not sure. But PSP seems to have every intent of keeping VHF as an option.

That is 100% correct, APX7000's are being purchased for PSP cars. As it was explained to me by the Belmont barracks communication manager, the dual band radios were chosen for interoperability. Specifically Belmont is already moving forward to have direct contact with Delco, Montco and Philadelphia units.

JJ

[mattl3320]

so will they keep their old vhf channel or are they geting new ones that we will have to fine?

[jjimenez01]

The plan is slated to turn all existing FB simplex sites into FB2's and narrowband them at the same time. The current VHF channel line up will be kept with other VHF channels becoming the input to the new repeaters being installed.

JJ

[n3obl]

The APX series radios will not do opensky so they are for legacy interop probably will be VHF/UHF or VHF/800. the 800 can interop with motorola or other p25 trunked systems.

Frank

[brey1234]

As I understand it, most 2 ways manudactured after 1997 can be reprogrammed to narrowband. Maybe someone can explain WHY buy new radios when there is the possibilty to reprogram what they have.
By the way in 2000,I pointed out to the man who was in charge at the time of deploying Open Sky that putting up repeaters on the current VHF system could be done for a fraction of the cost. He looked at me like I had 2 heads! What really amazed me this guy was a ham radio operator!!! Of course this is the same man who predicted the Open Sky system would be deployed by the end of 2001.

[alf2109]

Originally Posted by brey1234

As I understand it, most 2 ways manudactured after 1997 can be reprogrammed to narrowband. Maybe someone can explain WHY buy new radios when there is the possibilty to reprogram what they have.
By the way in 2000,I pointed out to the man who was in charge at the time of deploying Open Sky that putting up repeaters on the current VHF system could be done for a fraction of the cost. He looked at me like I had 2 heads! What really amazed me this guy was a ham radio operator!!! Of course this is the same man who predicted the Open Sky system would be deployed by the end of 2001.

The VHF radios PSP had were Motorola SYNTOR 9000, SPECTRA mobiles along with SABER portable models manufactured long before 1997. Their entire VHF system was long in the tooth years ago, there wouldn't be a possibility of doing narrow band with any of those models.

[n3obl]

Yes those will not do narrow banding. Ive seeen troopers carrying old analog (red button) sabers up til the switch to opensky portables.

Most of their mobiles and portables would need replaced to meet narrowbanding. Plus the base infastructure. Transmitters and receivers are probably ancient dinosaurs. Possibly micor and MSR2000 base stations.

Frank