Texas Database "Overhaul"

[pacrat551]

As many of you already know, we have been going through and updating the Texas database to ensure each county has proper geotags. I have noticed that we are starting to get some depreciated data throughout the state as more and more agencies migrate to P25.

Please check your respective areas and be sure to submit updates for outdated or new frequency information. This also includes state agencies.

Thanks!

 

[Russell]

To add to what pacrat has said;

Many agencies run both analog and digital while and after they migrate. Hill County is a great example. They have been bouncing back and forth for several years. Some users talk P25 and some talk analog - to the same dispatcher. We need to verify that the analog use has been completely abandoned before deleting it. Sometimes this isn't obvious. Consider the cache of analog walkie talkies that still have the old PL tone in them and are reused without reprogramming. These may get used in an event, shifted to another city department, or even sold to a neighboring agency. It would be better if we could tag a conventional channel as deprecated like we do trunked systems. Unfortunately, that functionality does not yet exist and we end up losing data forever. So, be careful deleting data.

There's also tons of info out there that isn't in the database, yet. If you see missing or incorrect info please let us know. The database is driven by submissions. The data base is looking pretty good these days. It takes a lot time to get it that way and it shows.

Thanks,
Russell

 

[loumaag]

...It would be better if we could tag a conventional channel as deprecated like we do trunked systems. Unfortunately, that functionality does not yet exist and we end up losing data forever. ...

Russell,
Sure there is, check the tags, one of them is "Depreciated". I have run across several in the DB so far. I am not sure how long that has been there, but there it is.

 

[loumaag]

To add to the above requests. As I was reworking the Panhandle area (geo tags, renaming in accordance with current policy, etc.) I noticed that we still have lots of towns that don't have any data. If anyone is up that way for business or pleasure it would be great if we could get some local Law/Fire/EMS data for several rural counties that we have county data but are missing local data.

 

[Russell]

Russell,
Sure there is, check the tags, one of them is "Depreciated". I have run across several in the DB so far. I am not sure how long that has been there, but there it is.

This is awesome! We definitely need to use this tag rather than delete any data.

Thanks,
Russell

 

[loumaag]

Well maybe. I mean there are instances for both dealing with the specific situation. :wink:

I will grant that in a lot of instances, especially in a movement from one type of system to another (conv to trunk for example) that depreciated works well. But in cases when you know they are going to abandon something forever, the right answer is to get rid of it. The reason is that a "depreciated" conventional channel still shows up in the DB whereas a "depreciated" TRS does not.

 

[Russell]

I understand that, too. However, I have a problem with deleting data that might come in handy later, especially things like PLs. Our local PD moved to a trunked system several years ago. We heard nothing on the old VHF freq for about a year then all of sudden there was activity again. The radios had been moved to the school district for use by school security, frequency and PL in tact. I kept the old freq programmed in just in case they were used for events, etc. Keeping that old data is something I want to do. It sure would be cool to be able to view deleted data in the RR DB just for such instances.

Russell

 

[texasemt13]

I understand that, too. However, I have a problem with deleting data that might come in handy later, especially things like PLs.

Similarly, New Braunfels PD and FD maintained their old VHF repeaters just for emergencies. During the floods last June these old handhelds were passed around as a back-up to the trunking system. Usually the out-of-towners (mutual aid agencies) were handed the handhelds to coordinate events with the IC. In some instances the VHF repeaters were patched to the trunking system as well. I wouldn't have these frequencies had they been deleted (as I started scanning after NB jumped on LCRA).

 

[loumaag]

Russell & texasemt13:

I agree that if there is a possibility they will be used then they should not even be marked as depreciated. But when they are gone, they are gone. I am reminded about New Orleans. Many years ago they were on VHF Hi. Then they went to UHF. Then they went to the EDACS system (that died with Katrina). Assume that something like RR would have been around for this example: On the VHF Hi to UHF move, they generally gave away the VHF equipment, no need to keep anything. On the UHF to EDACS move they kept some radios for use in the downtown district and sold the rest of the equipment; again, no need to keep the data (except for the downtown channel). Now when an agency hangs on to the equipment for possible future use, then depreciated isn't proper either. It seems depreciated is useful when you know they have no intention of using them again, but don't know what they did with them. Seems like a case by case basis sort of thing to me; maybe there is no right general answer.

Enough of that expired equine.

Just for the general knowledge, I overhauled the panhandle down to just above Lubbock and across the width. If anyone is more familiar with the Lubbock area, go for it, otherwise I will continue tomorrow.