North Georgia Interoperability

[Metrofire31]

Wanted to share information about activity pending in Congress to connect Metro Atlanta DTRS systems to provide blanket coverage across the entire area. The following is a verbatim description of legislation pending in Congress:

"This request focuses on connecting the Forsyth County Project 25 radio system to Cobb County's Project 25 radio system, which is the hub for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) communications system in the Atlanta region. The requested funding will provide microwave radio equipment and accessories, as well as provide a software and hardware upgrade to unify both Cobb County and Forsyth County's radio systems, making them operational with the UASI system. This project furthers the National Emergency Communications Plan Strategic goal of 2010, 2011, and 2013. Cobb County is a key player in developing a regional interoperable communication system that covers 11 counties from metro Atlanta to Alabama. The linking of like radio systems will expand coverage, coordinate responses, improve communication, and decrease response time in the event of natural or man-made disasters."

Source: washingtonweek.com

Metrofire31

 

[MTS2000des]

Wanted to share information about activity pending in Congress to connect Metro Atlanta DTRS systems to provide blanket coverage across the entire area. The following is a verbatim description of legislation pending in Congress:

"This request focuses on connecting the Forsyth County Project 25 radio system to Cobb County's Project 25 radio system, which is the hub for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) communications system in the Atlanta region. The requested funding will provide microwave radio equipment and accessories, as well as provide a software and hardware upgrade to unify both Cobb County and Forsyth County's radio systems, making them operational with the UASI system. This project furthers the National Emergency Communications Plan Strategic goal of 2010, 2011, and 2013. Cobb County is a key player in developing a regional interoperable communication system that covers 11 counties from metro Atlanta to Alabama. The linking of like radio systems will expand coverage, coordinate responses, improve communication, and decrease response time in the event of natural or man-made disasters."

Source: washingtonweek.com

Metrofire31

I'm still scratching my head asking why we didn't get ISSI roaming implemented when we (in Cobb) paid for it back in 2005 with this SPLOST. Now at a time where we're furloughing public safety employees, our STEP units sat idle on July 4th weekend, and our property tax is going up we've got our handout to Washington asking for more money?

Why didn't we get this promised level of interoperability 5 years ago when we bought this "overgrown pile of microchips and silicon diodes" (to steal one from the old 80's classic War Games)?

 

[Metrofire31]

To a government outsider, it sure doesn't make sense, either from a strategy standpoint or a timing one. Why Cobb and Forsyth? Is that a strategy that makes the most sense from a technology deployment or use of taxpayer funds standpoint? What is the ultimate goal? Does this get you one step closer to that goal? Is anyone asking questions like this - other than Motorola's Business Development Group?

 

[MTS2000des]

To a government outsider, it sure doesn't make sense, either from a strategy standpoint or a timing one. Why Cobb and Forsyth? Is that a strategy that makes the most sense from a technology deployment or use of taxpayer funds standpoint? What is the ultimate goal? Does this get you one step closer to that goal? Is anyone asking questions like this - other than Motorola's Business Development Group?

As a Cobb taxpayer and member of the radio community, I'm asking some tough questions. Especially when we as taxpayers were told we HAD to procure this expensive, proprietary network (remember Astro 25 is NOT fully CAI compliant and did NOT meet the APCO CAP testing unlike other vendors' products) in 2005, and raise taxes to do it- despite having a perfectly functional and adequate existing analog 800MHz TRS that to this day, is still supported by the vendor. A system that, if we kept, would provide the same functionality we have on the new system, and we would not have this budget shortfall we currently are suffering.

The new system was touting as enhancing interoperability and performance, when neither case has proven true. In fact, there are some serious performance issues where I work (my employer has radios on the system) that were not present on the old system. Yet complaints fall on deaf ears, or subscriber equipment is quick to blame. Other agencies have complained about coverage and performance issues, only to have their concerns drowned out.

Now we are at a point where we are once again being told to spend more money, money we don't have, and expect the Federal government (and what is our national debt?) to step in and pony up for something that we were have supposed to have gotten 5 years ago. We were told we were getting "the cutting edge" system and had to make a move NOW, yet what we have is missing essential pieces to provide that touted "interoperability" and we have to now once again feed the same money pig we did in 2005 and 1993.

At a time when we are sending PD officers home, furloughing county employees, and cutting services while raising property taxes. Absurd and outrageous.

If we got what we paid for that would be one thing, but it seems like we keep going down the same road over and over again expecting a different result. That is the definition of insanity.

 

[RFEngineering101]

To a government outsider, it sure doesn't make sense, either from a strategy standpoint or a timing one. Why Cobb and Forsyth? Is that a strategy that makes the most sense from a technology deployment or use of taxpayer funds standpoint? What is the ultimate goal? Does this get you one step closer to that goal? Is anyone asking questions like this - other than Motorola's Business Development Group?

I seem to recall from several years ago that Cobb was the first agency in the metro area to get a Smartzone switch. And Cobb has tried without success to get other agencies tied to their switch. (other than UASI). To date you can still hear crickets chirping on the UASI channels while DeKalb and COA got their own independent systems and their own switches.

Perhaps Forsyth is trying to save money by going the whole, "regional interop" route. The problem there is that interop grant funds for Public Safety are drying up. Good luck to both Cobb and Forsyth getting that thing through the gauntlet.

 

[jim202]

I guess nobody has ever heard of the smoke clouded mirrors that the Motorola sales force uses on the unsuspecting public safety agency department heads. The wine and steaks don't hurt to settle the mind into thinking all this star war communications system can walk on water and that there is an endless stream of money from the tax payers of every county. When you let the vendor write the specs, you shouldn't expect the best radio system ever to be built. That only happens in your dreams.

Problem is the day after the wine has worn off, these department heads find out they signed a deal for a system that will never fill the requirements of what the people on the street need. When they go back and read the contract that was signed, they then find out just what they never got. Hot air at the meals has led to missing air over the radio for coverage and performance.

Maybe the tax payers should wise up and take a stand to remove these department heads and find people that care about how they are spending the public's money. Maybe they can get these techno lacking department heads to bring in some unbiased knowledgeable people to work with them to point out the problem areas and make the vendor correct the problems on their nickle, not the tax payer's.

Don't feel like your alone on being taken by this radio company. They have had years to hone their sales skill and snake oil pitch. The time is at hand where they are now starting to feel the competition. The open P25 specs now has offered public safety with multiple choices for supply vendors. The longer the department heads try and keep a sole source radio system and equipment purchases, the shorter their employment will be. Stand up and be heard. The equipment revolution is here. You can save a pile of money by open bidding these systems.

 

[procopper7005]

I guess nobody has ever heard of the smoke clouded mirrors that the Motorola sales force uses on the unsuspecting public safety agency department heads. The wine and steaks don't hurt to settle the mind into thinking all this star war communications system can walk on water and that there is an endless stream of money from the tax payers of every county. When you let the vendor write the specs, you shouldn't expect the best radio system ever to be built. That only happens in your dreams.

Problem is the day after the wine has worn off, these department heads find out they signed a deal for a system that will never fill the requirements of what the people on the street need. When they go back and read the contract that was signed, they then find out just what they never got. Hot air at the meals has led to missing air over the radio for coverage and performance.

Maybe the tax payers should wise up and take a stand to remove these department heads and find people that care about how they are spending the public's money. Maybe they can get these techno lacking department heads to bring in some unbiased knowledgeable people to work with them to point out the problem areas and make the vendor correct the problems on their nickle, not the tax payer's.

Don't feel like your alone on being taken by this radio company. They have had years to hone their sales skill and snake oil pitch. The time is at hand where they are now starting to feel the competition. The open P25 specs now has offered public safety with multiple choices for supply vendors. The longer the department heads try and keep a sole source radio system and equipment purchases, the shorter their employment will be. Stand up and be heard. The equipment revolution is here. You can save a pile of money by open bidding these systems.

Motorola's sales force are masters of squeezing every dime out of dumb county commissioners and city councils.
Sure Motorola comes out with great new products all the time but most of the time local govts do not NEED the latest and greatest.
Case in point, Georgia State Patrol. Gosh its been at least 45 to 50 years since they had a different radio system. For most of the state the one they use now works pretty good.

As for the tax payers throwing the morons out of office? bahaha, most tax payers haven't a clue how the police communicate and are clueless as to how local govt works.
If the state of our current political environment is any clue then you know voters lack even the slightest clue as to what goes on at city hall.

 

[MTS2000des]

Motorola's sales force are masters of squeezing every dime out of dumb county commissioners and city councils.
Sure Motorola comes out with great new products all the time but most of the time local govts do not NEED the latest and greatest.
Case in point, Georgia State Patrol. Gosh its been at least 45 to 50 years since they had a different radio system. For most of the state the one they use now works pretty good.

As for the tax payers throwing the morons out of office? bahaha, most tax payers haven't a clue how the police communicate and are clueless as to how local govt works.
If the state of our current political environment is any clue then you know voters lack even the slightest clue as to what goes on at city hall.

and there in lies the problem. When people do concern themselves about politics, it's the theatrical figurehead show on Capitol Hill. However the real decisions that directly impact us happen everyday at city hall or the county commissioners meetings. Yet most citizens cannot even tell you who their city councilman/woman or county commissioner is, because their too busy fighting a house divided blaming the president, or members of congress (who are all in cahoots with each other anyway).

"It's a big club. AND YOU AIN'T IN IT!" so said the late great George Carlin.

People are otherwise too distracted to pay attention, playing with the latest iPhone, or Ipiss or American Idol to see who the real masters of the puppet strings are. It may surprise you.

 

[nunyax]

Looks like Forsyth County got it's money:

"Forsyth is joining forces with Cobb County for an interconnected emergency radio system."

Network will link county, other agencies

 

[lep]

Sure Motorola comes out with great new products all the time but most of the time local govts do not NEED the latest and greatest.
Case in point, Georgia State Patrol. Gosh its been at least 45 to 50 years since they had a different radio system. For most of the state the one they use now works pretty good.

Well, as much as it may surprise those up north in the Atlanta area, there are actuallly other GSP systems such as the SEGARRN APCO-25 700 MHz that I am listening to as I type from tower #103 here in Statesboro. Not completly constructed it covers so far Chatham/Effingham/Bryan/Liberty counties. If you google it you will see it is pretty much state-of-the-art and is planned to cover I-95 from SC to FL and I-16 from SAV to Macon, so far seems to be working well.

 

[RomeRon]

Something smells

From day one I have wondered why Rome Ga needed a 26 million dollar communication system, then the the Harris Corp in their presentation to the city/county was the ABC triangle, Atlanta, Birmingham, Chattanooga, now the federal government wants to help out, fiber optic cable because the government wants everybody in rural areas to be able to have high speed internet. Well I have yet to hear anymore as to when we will have that super high speed internet BUT there's marking on the streets leading up to the communication towers.

What I see is the citizens paying for big brother to have a top secret communications system, after all Harris Corp's is known for their military grade systems.