Middlesex - Fire Academy Tower getting antennas! Sayreville

cash082 · Jan 15, 2015

I work directly across from Middlesex County Fire Academy on Main St Ext. in Sayreville.

The tower they have there at the fire academy at one point was pretty barren.
However, this week they have been having 2, 3, 4 tower climbers up there at once.
They are putting a bunch of antennas on that tower it seems.
Just figured I'd alert all RR people to keep their ears open & check out those tower climbers.
Not sure what exactly is going onto the tower? PSIC? Middlesex OpenSky? Just a guess?
There is some directional microwave link antennas on the tower. One appears to be pointing towards New Brunswick making me hopeful for a PSIC link to New Brunswick? Anyone know?
I've been CC'ing on my Uniden Scanners at my work to see if anything is coming on..

ansky · Jan 19, 2015

Are you sure it's not just cellular?

Tech792 · Jan 19, 2015

Its not cellular. I just talked to the contractor doing the antenna work. He said it for police/fire comms for the new 700 and I believe he said some VHF/UHF also. It all going to be linked via microwave throughout the county.

cash082 · Jan 20, 2015

Tech792 Thank you for the info!
It really is a sight to see. They are working on it constantly.
By the 700 Mhz..you mean the new OpenSky system right? Or has Middlesex decided to pull the plug on OpenSky yet and do P25?
If you get any more info I'm sure there will be lots of interest here on RR. Thanks again.

ansky- I'm 150% positive those aren't cellular antennas. I've been watching with binoculars daily on my lunch breaks.

robertpearsall · Jan 20, 2015

Cash if you can post some pictures

cash082 · Jan 20, 2015

Here are some pictures I took today. Notice there is a tower climber up there!

robbinsj2 · Jan 20, 2015

cash082 said:
Here are some pictures I took today. Notice there is a tower climber up there!

Here's a challenge -- what channel is the climber using to chat with the tenders on the ground?

kd2pm · Jan 21, 2015

Last I knew Opensky was out the door so I suspect it will be P25.

ansky · Jan 21, 2015

kd2pm said:
Last I knew Opensky was out the door so I suspect it will be P25.

Are you saying the Middlesex County system that is currently using ProVoice will move to P25? Given that ProVoice is basically unmonitorable I would think this would be a welcome change for listeners.

richee2000 · Jan 21, 2015

everything thats middlesex- county based law enforcement will be encypted

johnls7424 · Feb 24, 2015

We can confirm that Middlesex County will migrate from the EDACS system and Provoice digital to Project 25 Phase 2. I will link the proof here.

14-1382-R Authorize the Purchase of a 700/800 MHz Simulcast Radio System as Required by the Department of Public Safety & Health in the Total Amount of $ $6,178,003.81 from Tactical Public Safety, in Accordance With NJ State Contract #83932, Which Ex

Also here is a price sheet too:

http://middlesexcountynj.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=4&ID=5013&MeetingID=1168

johnls7424 · Mar 12, 2015

Figured I would give you all a major update here. Thanks to another administrator for posting this in another forum related in a way to this one. Will help gauge the timeframe for all of this hence if the FCC approves their timeframe for buildout. From what I gather Middlesex County has already done a lot to complete the setup for the 700/800mhz system. Here is paperwork of their progress and should be up and running by September 2015

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/...ttachmentKey=19602327&attachmentInd=licAttach

CqDx · Mar 12, 2015

They certainly have a very aggressive schedule to put the system online, sounds like vcomm can't wait to get out of the contract

johnls7424 · Mar 12, 2015

CqDx said:
They certainly have a very aggressive schedule to put the system online, sounds like vcomm can't wait to get out of the contract

I think the letter from the FCC has facilitated a rush to convert from EDACS to P25 Phase 2. Most if not all the radios and hardware is easily upgradeable. I'm sure some talkgroups will be encrypted but maybe not a first for testing purposes until the talkgroup is fully up and running.

johnls7424 · Mar 13, 2015

An update to the 700mhz transition.

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/let...1418!2063744363?pdfFN=3324402201521352572.pdf

cash082 · Mar 16, 2015

Been noticing.
The tower work for now appears to be done, however the company that did it I guess? left lines going up to the top for hosting antennas etc. Further, they have a spot up on top of the tower I think I see.

johnls7424 · Mar 16, 2015

cash082 said:
Been noticing.
The tower work for now appears to be done, however the company that did it I guess? left lines going up to the top for hosting antennas etc. Further, they have a spot up on top of the tower I think I see.

Thanks for the update

johnls7424 · Mar 16, 2015

Is it at all possible to get confirmation photos of the changes that are being done to the tower?

johnls7424 · Mar 21, 2015

Just drove past the Fire Academy. Sorry I couldn't snap any pictures. Tower still looks the same as the previous updated picture post. Still one or two cables hanging down. Nothing interesting to note at this time.

cash082 · Mar 23, 2015

I'll try to snap some just to keep this post updated. Will try on my lunch break to see it and snap some pix.

Middlesex - Fire Academy Tower getting antennas! Sayreville

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