AA County to demo the New Mobile Command Unit?

[troymail]

I saw somehwere that this unit will be on display and demo'd this coming Tuesday (8/23) in Annapolis... curious what type of comms we might hear eminating from it... I've heard them testing the radios over the past few weeks....

Anyone else have any info?

http://www.thewatchdesk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14602

 

[CapitalPunishment]

I dont know, it seems to me like the money could have been better spent....

 

[TommyP]

Actually got to walk through this the first week they had it, they brought it to an APCO meeting. About the only thing of interest was a specially designed console/switching system by AIRINC. It appears that they are using AA as a test bed, then will market their interoperability solution to compete with Raytheon/JPS and the like.

TP

 

[TommyP]

I decided to followup on my last post:
http://www.arinc.com/news/2005/08-16-05.html

 

[TinEar]

Thanks Tommy...nice article that gives a good explanation of what's in that behemoth of a truck. It's typical (and bad for my taxpaying wallet) that local governments are chasing after these real expensive solutions to interoperability. At the same time, there are companies with smaller, much cheaper solutions that can't get any traction. For instance, there's a small company called Aegis Communications that has a $20K solution and is having trouble selling their product - other than to NYC. Politicians always have the mindset that a $1-million solution must be 50 times better than a $20K solution. Besides, it's not their money and, if they bought the cheaper solution, they wouldn't get the publicity that something like this Freightliner battleship gives Janet Owens and her band of taxsucking sycophants. Politicians -- bah!

 

[Samuel]

Are you against them buying the command bus at all or just not making smart purchasing desicions about the features in it?

 

[TinEar]

Basically Sam, I'm against local governments always selecting the most expensive solution to any problem. I'm happy our public safety guys have such an animal as this but could it have been done cheaper? More than likely - much cheaper. Other questions such as...why does a neighborhood fire station have to cost many millions of dollars? Many more examples could be tossed on the table for discussion. The tax structure is swallowing us whole. This is a rant against the governmental thought process when it comes to OUR money - not at all against public safety employees. I want them to be safe, to have good, reliable equipment and to be able to do the job they're hired for. However, I don't want the political beast to spend like there's an unending money supply - even though to them that's the way they seem to spend it.
/rant

 

[Dank]

Not to go too off the subject, but a quick comment. I really hated to see the sunset on the charitable gaming during Glendenning adminidstration. Although there is always some mismanagement when handling large amounts of cash, These casino nights allowed Depts to but the newest and advanced equipment without using taxpayer dollars.

 

[troymail]

MCCU demo underway

MCCU attempted to establish a patch between MSP and the county HazMat truck... MSP seemed to report that the patch was on the wrong channel and was covering operational MSP units... MCCU also tried to talk to Air-1 but MCCU couldn't hear Air-1 (even though they came through on the AA TRS). ...

Pictures must be interesting - Air-1 (county PD Helo) is delivering video of the crowd to the ground and they seem to like that (hey - they county has it's own news helicopter now --- maybe they can sell video to Ch. 13!)

So far, I haven't heard much cross agency conversation - at least not from any AACounty units...

 

[TinEar]

Cost of this 27-ton vehicle was $820,000....or...$1.61 for every man, woman, child and dog in Anne Arundel County.

 

[n3bxv]

Rumor from TWD is that this unit is on its way to NOLA.....

 

[FIREBOX2914]

Rumor from TWD is that this unit is on its way to NOLA.....

N3BXV Sorry Pal What I posted(yes im tim12) Isnt a rumor it came direct from the guy whos going to be driving the rig back after 60days.

Facts
NOLA
60+Days
After 30 Days a new crew is going down


Ill keep yall updated.

 

[n3bxv]

Now that you provided a source of the info it's not a rumor anymore....

Plus I saw it on the Baltimore evening news and they're always right...

 

[MCMD5]

N3BXV Sorry Pal What I posted(yes im tim12) Isnt a rumor it came direct from the guy whos going to be driving the rig back after 60days.

Facts
NOLA
60+Days
After 30 Days a new crew is going down


Ill keep yall updated.

Hey Tim some us already know you an expert FF buff on TWD are you an expert on radio communications also?
School start yet?

 

[Dispatcher308]

Mccu-1

Yes it did go to New Orleans. Now please lets continue on with the Thread and not bash Tim.

 

[MCMD5]

Yes it did go to New Orleans. Now please lets continue on with the Thread and not bash Tim.

Not a bash just messin with him.

 

[FIREBOX2914]

Hey Tim some us already know you an expert FF buff on TWD are you an expert on radio communications also?
School start yet?

I know enough to know which FD's have good comm and which have BADDDD Comm.

School hmmm I beleve that starts Sept 6th (God I love PRIVATE SCHOOL)[Go in late get out early and get for ever off @ xmas.]

 

[Hwoodz]

Money?..............................

Had to jump in here, after the "Rant" above. I certainly have no problem with the comments, but a bit of background might help for those who are not in the Public Safety business. I've been a Firefighter/Officer (Career and Volunteer) for the past 47 years. WE, that is those of us out in the field would like very much to be involved in the purchasing process, but we're not. Acquisition of things that we bet our lives on, Trucks, Tools, Gear, is done by a process that shuts out the very people who use the stuff. If the needs and likes and dislikes of those who are in Fire Stations and riding Fire Apparatus daily were taken into account, a LOT of money would be saved. Also, pick out a tool, anything that we use, say an axe. Go down to the Hardware store and buy one - $25.00, OR, order one from a Fire Equipment Catalog - $45.00 Then add the Bureaucratic purchasing process, and that axe is up to $70.00. Fact of life out there in America's Firehouses. P.G.County has a LAW that requires the County to accept the lowest bid on everything. Imagine what a nightmare that is. The most bang for the buck is always at a Volunteer Firehouse where they raise funds themselves and purchase things outside of government restraints, such as $25.00 axes. If this was off track, sorry, I didn't intend it to be.

 

[MCMD5]

Had to jump in here, after the "Rant" above. I certainly have no problem with the comments, but a bit of background might help for those who are not in the Public Safety business. I've been a Firefighter/Officer (Career and Volunteer) for the past 47 years. WE, that is those of us out in the field would like very much to be involved in the purchasing process, but we're not. Acquisition of things that we bet our lives on, Trucks, Tools, Gear, is done by a process that shuts out the very people who use the stuff. If the needs and likes and dislikes of those who are in Fire Stations and riding Fire Apparatus daily were taken into account, a LOT of money would be saved. Also, pick out a tool, anything that we use, say an axe. Go down to the Hardware store and buy one - $25.00, OR, order one from a Fire Equipment Catalog - $45.00 Then add the Bureaucratic purchasing process, and that axe is up to $70.00. Fact of life out there in America's Firehouses. P.G.County has a LAW that requires the County to accept the lowest bid on everything. Imagine what a nightmare that is. The most bang for the buck is always at a Volunteer Firehouse where they raise funds themselves and purchase things outside of government restraints, such as $25.00 axes. If this was off track, sorry, I didn't intend it to be.

You are right, the people in the field should have a voice in specing out equipment and use. Every area is different and has different needs. The folks that are assigned to the stations are the best to ask what equipment works best for your area.
Does this happen, nope. Let the guy or gal sitting in the budget office see where they can buy the cheapest thing.
Good example is Montgomery with there all steer tower. One person decided we must have it and bought it. I have lost count of how many accidents it was involved in where it was assigned due to such small streets, too many vehicles in the area and just plain hard to navigate around. And was finally reassigned to a larger area and the tiller truck was returned. Also lost count of how many people said I told you so.