Milwaukee Fire / DPW OpenSky Schedule Update

[WISCOMM]

The City of Milwaukee has put out a RFQ to bid on radio installation for the DPW and Fire Department vehicles. Within that information the bid also included a installation schedule at vacant fire houses. Based on this they hope to have all 110 Fire Department vehicles installed by late July 2011. Here is the schedule:

Locations for Milwaukee Fire Department Mobile Radio Installations
March 13, 2011 to April 8, 2011
Engine 24 – 4927 W. Fiebrantz Ave, Milwaukee
Engine 35 – 100 N. 64th St, Milwaukee

April 9, 2011 to May 5, 2011
Engine 4 – 9511 N. Appleton Ave, Milwaukee
Engine 23 – 2130 W. Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee

May 6, 2011 to June 1, 2011
Engine 37 – 5335 N. Teutonia Ave, Milwaukee
Engine 11 – 2526 S. KK Ave, Milwaukee

June 2, 2011 to June 28, 2011
Engine 32 – 1551 N. 30th St, Milwaukee
Engine 10 – 5600 W. Oklahoma Ave, Milwaukee

June 29, 2011 to July 25, 2011
Engine 24 – 4927 W. Fiebrantz Ave, Milwaukee
Engine 35 – 100 N. 64th St, Milwaukee

REF: EXHIBIT 1 – MFD RADIO INSTALLATION LOCATION

I have no information how they plan on handling the transition to OpenSky.

Enjoy - Bid 2464

Craig
MKE

 

[70cutlass442]

this is just plain scary. The fire unions should be taking this head on.

 

[tencom]

this is just plain scary. The fire unions should be taking this head on.

What makes you so sure is just plain scary? I talked to two MPD officers, and both were satisfied, with OPEN-SKY, and said that the system is working much better now!

 

[70cutlass442]

Biggest concern I would have is the audio quality... its bad enough the PD is not happy with the audio quality, now try talking over broken sky with full scba on, or with loud pump running... plus with the coverage issues that were noted throughout the city... now lets go into the basement of a burning house and hope your radio works down there...

 

[Tim]

What makes you so sure is just plain scary? I talked to two MPD officers, and both were satisfied, with OPEN-SKY, and said that the system is working much better now!

I would love to know the two officers' name because nearly every officer I speak with has nothing good to say. These are daily users of the system, not white shirts who infrequently (if at all) use the system.

While the system is getting somewhat "better", it is still far from being a good/great system. I have used this system and some days it's ok, but other days it's plethora of "You are 10-1....can you repeat".

As for the highly touted "interoperability" of the system, all that means is the ability to access the 800MHz National Mutual Aid channels (old "I-Tac" channels). There can also be a "Gateway" (patch) to another talkgroup....but we could do this with the old UHF radio system.

Besides the trouble with the many dead spots, many of the suburbs are unhappy they can't monitor MPD anymore.

In my opinion, the city of milwaukee should have chosen to go with the P25 radio system. They could seemlessly communicate with most suburban agencies, instead of creating proverbial radio island. Most agencies in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties are going to P25 systems. Not to mention the WISCOM radio system.

Tim

 

[70cutlass442]

I would love to know the two officers' name because nearly every officer I speak with has nothing good to say. These are daily users of the system, not white shirts who infrequently (if at all) use the system.

While the system is getting somewhat "better", it is still far from being a good/great system. I have used this system and some days it's ok, but other days it's plethora of "You are 10-1....can you repeat".

As for the highly touted "interoperability" of the system, all that means is the ability to access the 800MHz National Mutual Aid channels (old "I-Tac" channels). There can also be a "Gateway" (patch) to another talkgroup....but we could do this with the old UHF radio system.

Besides the trouble with the many dead spots, many of the suburbs are unhappy they can't monitor MPD anymore.

In my opinion, the city of milwaukee should have chosen to go with the P25 radio system. They could seemlessly communicate with most suburban agencies, instead of creating proverbial radio island. Most agencies in Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties are going to P25 systems. Not to mention the WISCOM radio system.

Tim

/\ exactly what he said. I had the opportunity to tour the MPD dispatch center not to long ago, and Very little was said (probably has to do with a non disclosure agreement of some sort) but what was clear is that there is very little faith in the system. The fire side knew it was a matter of time, but made it clear they will use VHF as long as they can.

 

[ToDaMax]

So sad... It would have worked wonders if they went P25, would make much more sense. But it is too late now.

As to the point that communities are upset that they cannot hear them, I will have to admit that I do not care much for the giant black hole in the center of Milwaukee either. Not only is it information to us, but it i still find it entertainging in listening the crazy things that happen outside my door.

I've talked to one of the heads in Milwaukee Fire Department (Hazmat to be specific) and they are buying as much time as they can to stay out of the system and continue to work on thier convenitonal frequencies. They are not looking forward to Opensky AT ALL.

As for Tencom... I dont want to point fingers, but i really think he's streching the truth a bit too much...or just making it up altogether

 

[ltjweiss]

So sad... It would have worked wonders if they went P25, would make much more sense. But it is too late now.

As to the point that communities are upset that they cannot hear them, I will have to admit that I do not care much for the giant black hole in the center of Milwaukee either. Not only is it information to us, but it i still find it entertainging in listening the crazy things that happen outside my door.

I've talked to one of the heads in Milwaukee Fire Department (Hazmat to be specific) and they are buying as much time as they can to stay out of the system and continue to work on thier convenitonal frequencies. They are not looking forward to Opensky AT ALL.

As for Tencom... I dont want to point fingers, but i really think he's streching the truth a bit too much...or just making it up altogether

Tencom just loves to push OpenSky thats all.

 

[tencom]

Tencom just loves to push OpenSky thats all.

I can understand your anger towards OPEN-SKY, because of the excellent security that OPEN-SKY offers. Now law breakers can't be tipped off as well,as users can have privacy and personal information can"t be made public. If I was a victim of a crime I would not want that information reported, over the air
and get into the wrong hands. It is only a small price to pay, not being able to monitor private communications but necessary.

 

[mkescan]

I can understand your anger towards OPEN-SKY, because of the excellent security that OPEN-SKY offers. Now law breakers can't be tipped off as well,as users can have privacy and personal information can"t be made public. If I was a victim of a crime I would not want that information reported, over the air
and get into the wrong hands. It is only a small price to pay, not being able to monitor private communications but necessary.

Do you even read everything here? This isn't about scanning. Why don't you respond to what Tim has said?

 

[R8000]

I can understand your anger towards OPEN-SKY, because of the excellent security that OPEN-SKY offers. Now law breakers can't be tipped off as well,as users can have privacy and personal information can"t be made public. If I was a victim of a crime I would not want that information reported, over the air
and get into the wrong hands. It is only a small price to pay, not being able to monitor private communications but necessary.

Ahh...good ole Tencom ! *yawn* Some things never change.

Just ignore him guys. He's an obvious troll on the website with nothing to add except for comments that will just annoy everyone.

Unlike you, I have the courage to always end my posts with my real name....

Matt N3IVK

 

[mkescan]

Police Officers not heard sometimes, Can't transmit sometimes, Still lot of dead spots.

Tencom "It is only a small price to pay, not being able to monitor private communications but necessary"

 

[ToDaMax]

People like Tencom have to be annoying. Its like a hobby for them

And going P25 and encrypting everything can give a similar result, when they want to privatize comversations.. (I've probably given that suggestion about a few dozen times now)

Bad choices lead to bad consequences

 

[Spankymedic7]

BrokenSky

@Tim: I couldn't agree with you more. Interoperability is the name of the game. Why would Milwaukee want to create a virtual radio island (I LOVE that term Tim!)? There is no easy way to communicate with other agencies, and it's overly-apparent that they cannot communicate within their OWN agency most of the time! This has been a drain on taxpayers, and more importantly, to the officers that use this system. The 800 MHz was already there...ready to use...no extraordinary measures needed, just "plug-and-play".

As for Tencom, as a public safety provider, I don't feel there is a need for 100% encrypted communications. Let me say that there are FEW crimes that are committed with the aid of a scanner. The benefit of having "encrypted" comms far outweighed by the cost of employing such communications, and furthermore citizens do have a right to listen in to what's happening in the neighborhood. If there are communications that are indeed sensitive, then utilize an encrypted channel like MPD Tactical Squad did. Routine traffic does NOT need to be encrypted. Sounds like someone just likes to stir the pot.

Cory, WI9EMS