New Radio System - Ridgefield, CT

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Lynch_Christopher

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From my understanding is that it is going to be a VHF P25 radio system with additional sites at the Boehringer Facility, Ledges Road, and Peacable Ridge Road. System will be connected by microwave links.
 

wardc1

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Town of Ridgefield Trunking groups

Any idea how one can obtain the specific details of the trunk groups to program a scanner?

Thanks,

ward
n1cui
 

ScanWI

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The system is not in the database yet, so it is either not on the air or no one has found it yet.
 

mtindor

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The system is not in the database yet, so it is either not on the air or no one has found it yet.

Given that not all of the frequencies on the pertinent licenses are listed in the DB currently [probably because they weren't / aren't in use yet], it might be difficult for anyone but the savvy to figure out when the "new" stuff is online.

People in that vicinity might want to review all of the FB2 frequencies on the following licenses:

WPNX994
WQAS473

If I lived there, I'd be monitoring the following [with a digital scanner]:

154.7325
154.9725 (current Ridgefield PD)
156.075
159.045 (current Ridgefield PF)
159.3825

Mike
 

Lynch_Christopher

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Listening to the Ridgefield PD appears that they are still analog on 154.9725 PL 71.4 haven't caught the FD yet.

Caught the FD dispatch a medical call at 1704L they are still on 49.14 PL 151.4 doesn't look like they are simulcasting on any of the VHF frequencies as of yet.
 
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N1GTL

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When the system goes online. Nothing has changed yet. They are still on their analog system.
 

Lynch_Christopher

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Came across this on the Town Of Ridgefield website in the Board of Selectman minutes from August 17th. They mention that the highway department and the public works department are up and running has anybody happened to catch what frequencies they might be on since I don't see any FCC licenses in the ULS database other than for Ridgefield PD and FD?

4. Radio Project Update: Dick Aarons
Dick Aarons, Public Safety Radio Project Manager, came forward to provide an update on the public safety radio upgrade project. The installation is about 75% complete. The Highway Department is fully installed and up and running. Parks & Rec is also up and running. For the Police Department, all mobile units have been installed. Yet to be done is the Emergency Department. Fire Department will be the last to be done. The Fire Department needs to get off three different bands. It will not be done until the infrastructure is up and running. This new system will provide point-to-point communication. Radio racks and timers are all set on remote sites. Also going to be able to simulcast. Perimeter sites are set all around the town. R. Marconi asked if the subcontractors are all insured. We need to be sure that insurance is all in place. D. Aarons stated all the subcontractors work for Motorola and Motorola provides the insurance.
M. Kozlark inquired as to what percent of the infrastructure is done – about 75% is done. Currently installing the point-to-point connections.
R. Marconi stated the Moses Mountain site is almost ready to go. It needs to be completely ready before the town can be turned on. Not sure if it is the responsibility of Frontier or AT&T. Improvements have to be completed to the road up Moses Mountain. We have been having wonderful cooperation with Boehringer.
M. Kozlark inquired if we are under budget or do we not know yet? R. Marconi responded we now have about $70,000 in surplus but we may need to use about $30,000 of this.
The radio project is tightly coordinated with the BOE. Looking at the antennae at the schools right now. We are working on how to manage the infrastructure. Before, each department managed everything on their own. The money for this project is encumbered. Nothing will be released until everything is done. The guarantee is one year from the date the system is up and running and useable. We did negotiate an extra year on the guarantee.
D. Aarons stated he would welcome giving the BOS a tour and show them the various sites and core sites. A tour will give the BOS “a flavor” of the equipment. The radio system has two major components – the “infrastructure” sites that serve all departments and the “subscriber” portables and mobiles that are used by individual departments. He passed out a paper that described the Subscriber Radios – Mobiles and Portables, Infrastructure Sites, and System Management Report. When the project is closed later this fall, he will present to the First Selectman and the BOS a recommendation for future management of the infrastructure sites and equipment (as opposed to the portables and mobiles that will be handled by the user departments as they have in the past).
R. Marconi thanked D. Aarons for all his work on this project. It is wonderful to have someone like Dick who understands the technical language involved.

http://www.ridgefieldct.org/filestorage/50/112/415/081716_BOS_mtg_minutes_appvd.pdf
 

Lynch_Christopher

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The town’s $3.7-million public safety radio system upgrade that started in 2012 is expected to be operational by April 1.

Work on adding an antenna to an existing Moses Mountain tower in Danbury begins this week, according to deputy emergency manager, Dick Aarons. It’s the final piece in linking the signals among five different antennas around town.

Aarons said Moses Mountain was the final and key location that will enable all public safety departments — police, fire, parks and recreation, highway, and emergency management — to start using the new Motorola digital radio system in all communications.

He said the system will guarantee all public safety responders 95% communication from any house in Ridgefield through their portable radios.

The Board of Selectmen approved paying $1,800 a month to lease antenna space on the Moses Mountain at its Jan. 18 meeting.

From analog to digital

Aarons said that for more than 40 years the town has added to each agency’s stand-alone radio systems as population needs grew. Each agency had problems communicating with one another, but the new system allows radio communication among all agencies.

The existing “analog” system was also a problem because various remote antennas for receiving were connected to headquarters by phone lines.

“If a storm hits the trees, they can take the wires down, taking down the remote receivers,” he said.

This can strain communications between headquarters and officers or firemen in the field, especially with the town’s hilly terrain that can block signals.

The new digital system will no longer rely on phone lines.

“Transmitters and receivers all over town –– the five sites –– instead of being hooked up by phones line will use microwave lines, all communicating with each other,” said Aarons.


Can you hear me now? Radio upgrade nears completion | The Ridgefield Press
 

N1SQB

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Still going.....

154.9725 PL-71.9 still going strong. I don't know how their new system is gonna sound but their current signal is good here in the valley.

Manny
 

APX7500X2

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Rumor has it that Motorola can't get the new system working correctly and they are waiting for smart people from Chicago to come out and fix what the local shop can't figure out.
 
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