I've noticed when I listen to the DFW area on NTIRN I've noticed that they have a channel called interop calling , so when ever an agency gets into a Chase and enters other cities and counties , they can get everyone together on an assignment channel like I/O 1 or 2 and so on , and have multiple units and agencies on that channel during the chase pretty quick ! Really pretty cool but now TXWARN doesn't seem to have a set up like this. If say Houston gets into a Chase that goes into let's say Galveston county they don't have a channel set up like that as far as I know when I monitor chases her in Galveston like this they seem to have no way to get on a Channel to communicate with each other and I even hear uniits asking dispatch to call them for info , or is there a channel we can talk to them on ? And the dispatcher says I'm trying to find out. And if it's an agency that uses encryption that causes a bigger problem so the different agencies in the chase are confused on what the primary chase agency wants the other agencies to do like use stop sticks need K-9 or whatever. So my question is does TXWARN have an interop calling channel like the DFW area does ?
NTIRN vs TXWARN
- Thread starter kmartin
- Start date
TxWARN has interops groups by region. Not sure how they're used in pursuits, but there's three or four different interop TG sets.
The NTIRN officers seemed to be trained on use of the radio system a lot better than the TxWARN officers. Seems most of the TxWARN officers only know their "home" channels or like Montgomery County, they value encryption over everything else and are reluctant to go to a channel that exposes the "good, bad, and ugly" of any situation.
There are 4 interoperability sections on TxWARN, The WARN section, which is what should be used for chases, the mutual aid section (which good be used for chase), the GCI or Gulf Coast Interoperability used mostly by detectives from various agencies when working together. And the Public Health section.
Mostly it boils down to training of the officers and especially the dispatchers. NTIRN is just better at it.
There are 4 interoperability sections on TxWARN, The WARN section, which is what should be used for chases, the mutual aid section (which good be used for chase), the GCI or Gulf Coast Interoperability used mostly by detectives from various agencies when working together. And the Public Health section.
Mostly it boils down to training of the officers and especially the dispatchers. NTIRN is just better at it.
Yeah it's crazy because they really need a designated interop calling channel that police units in Southeast Texas can patch to when there is a multi agency chase , it's funny because TXWARN has been around for years and NTIRN is new. Maybe they will figure it out someday
In DFW we have a few Social Media accounts that post active incidents. Some are run by knowledgeable Scanner Hobbyist who keep a close eye on system updates and operational protocols. I give some of the credit to these folks for highlighting the Interoperable capabilities of the system and helping, in a backwards way, to refine the interoperable system. They see an event posted on one of these accounts and say "WHAT, we can do that?" and the word spreads. Now it is common knowledge. On the other hand the Dallas side hasn't caught on quite as quick. Not saying we get all the credit but we helped spread the knowledge. Maybe I'm blowing smoke by that's my theory.
NTIRN has been around a long name, just under a different name.
Yes it has. I've heard many Chases with police departments in the Harris county, Galveston county area that have isolated themselves from outside agencies because they use full encryption and when they get into a Chase that goes into other cities There is some confusion because the outside agencies can't go directly to a channel and talk with the unit's that are involved with the original chase such as why they are chasing the vehicle, or do we need to be involved in the chase, are they asking for our assistance ? Are they requesting we spike the vehicle ? So the dispatcher often times have to call the PD where the chase originated and find out then relay it back to the officers requesting that information, and that takes a lot of time and a lot can happen when they have to do this , now I know that in a lot of cases the dispatcher from the original chase City will contact agencies in the direction the chase is heading to let them know to be on the lookout, but sometimes they don't relay enough information on the car they are chasing
In TxWARN's interop zone 76, the first two TGs are listed as East Texas dispatch and tac. Does anyone know what area they cover? I can pick up three of the Smith County sites as well as Kaufman if they're in use up here.
Those two can be used by anyone for public safety/mutual aid incidents, the rest of zone 76 is reserved for Harris County. So probably something you want to monitor.
So are zones 75, 76, and 78 interops TGs that are internal to TxWARN and 77 connecting to external systems? Or am I wrong in my understanding of this?
As far as I can tell that is how it is setup. I know the GCI zone 77 is connected to the SETTRS system out of Jefferson, Orange, Harding counties. Also to the GATRRS system around Austin. Don't know who else they are connected to, I don't see them in NTIRN.
