Allegheny county new fire radios

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

hello, word on the streets is that each fire dept. will receive new radio's i heard it will be a couple radio for each department i was wonder if anyone else heard what model radios. ALSO there is chatter in the Allegheny 911 center is going to switch radio system to 800mhz or whatever people are saying which is not true all i heard was possible digital radios from money they are getting from the government or something. If anyone else got any intel .

 

[ffemt134]

More than likely, the APX series or Motorola radios.
Don't look for much to change, if at all. It's staying UHF and analog. The radios everyone will get aren't even going to have P25 enabled.
Also heard they are just replacing old/outdated hardware for the South/East/City of PGH zones. That's it.

 

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

Thanks man

 

[daine1619]

From what I have heard all Police, Fire and EMS agencies are to receive “ACES approved Motorola P25 equipment”. That really narrows it down to the APX series of equipment. Not sure why they would put out there that it would be P25 equipment if there wasn’t a plan for any channels to be migrated to P25.

I find it hard to believe that the County are ever going to switch 800mhz as they have so much equipment in the UHF band that would be useless.

 

[jeffm77]

I heard the same thing. County going P25 fully encrypted, everything. City of PGH 1st, then zone by zone roll out.

 

[ffemt134]

It's not.

 

[HM1529]

American Rescue Plan (COVID relief funding)

https://www.alleghenycounty.us/News/2021/County-Executive-2021/6442475775.aspx

Public Safety Countywide Radio Replacements, Upgrades
$18.25 Million
Emergency services has also seen agencies struggling with old, undependable communications equipment. Dedication of funding will provide each of the over 300 fire, EMS and police departments across the county with several new reliable radios. While not a replacement of all radios, each agency will receive new units to replace their oldest units. The average cost of the radios is $3,000. Agencies will be provided with handheld and/or vehicle mounted units, as needed.

*****
Based on the above, you're looking at maybe 20 new radios per public safety agency in the county provided everybody was getting the same number of radios. More than likely, that isn't the case and some will be getting more while some will be getting less.

 

[daine1619]

Public Safety Countywide Radio Replacements, Upgrades
$18.25 Million
Emergency services has also seen agencies struggling with old, undependable communications equipment. Dedication of funding will provide each of the over 300 fire, EMS and police departments across the county with several new reliable radios. While not a replacement of all radios, each agency will receive new units to replace their oldest units. The average cost of the radios is $3,000. Agencies will be provided with handheld and/or vehicle mounted units, as needed.

I know that this is to be split for new radios and "infrastructure upgrades".

I would be interested in what infrastructure they plan on upgrading or how the $18.25M will be split.

 

[n3obl]

They would be unable to go encrypted on all channels as most all fire departments in county with exception of Pittsburgh are volunteer and really a waste of resources to encrypt fire and /or ems. Some police encryption might be coming down the pipeline on secondary channels.

 

[mmckenna]

Not sure why they would put out there that it would be P25 equipment if there wasn’t a plan for any channels to be migrated to P25.

Federal funding/grants usually comes with the requirement that any radios purchased with the funds be p25 and AES-256 capable.

Note: There is a difference between P25 capable and P25 activated. Many years ago we bought a bunch of XTS-2500's with DHS funds. They were "P25 capable", but the flashcode on the radios did not allow it (we didn't need it). But it met the requirements.

 

[maus92]

They might be getting some multiband APX subs for departments bordering ICORRS counties.

 

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

ok so there are options for portable radios each dept can choose apx 1000 or apx 6000 or apx 6000xe and mobile radio is apx 4500. each dept will get 8 radios they can choose which 8 they want for example if they want all 8 in handheld or 5 handled and the rest in mobile or all mobile up to the fire chief and radio person in charge in each dept on there needs. once the fire dept/ems / police dept get there radios its now the property of that dept. each radio will have all zones in it. home dept will have bank 1 its zone for example if your station 163 greentree fire dept on the west zone your home zone will be west zone. the chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services gave a presentation on monday11/08/2021 and another on tuesday 11/09/2021 at the 911 center and online gave all the information needed as well as answer all questions. they are replacing old/outdated hardware for all zones that needed to be replaced.

 

[daine1619]

apx 1000

It will be the APX4000 2 knob model. Not the APX1000

 

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

It will be the APX4000 2 knob model. Not the APX1000

thanks for the correction.we are going with the apx6000xe we really like them better then the other ones.

 

[daine1619]

Also to add to this the County is offering agencies to purchase additional radios at the bulk price (heavily discounted).

This can be used in the situation an agency needs say 10 total radios they will be able to receive 8 paid for by the grant and then purchase 2 additional at the discounted rate.

 

[maus92]

ok so there are options for portable radios each dept can choose apx 1000 or apx 6000 or apx 6000xe and mobile radio is apx 4500. each dept will get 8 radios they can choose which 8 they want for example if they want all 8 in handheld or 5 handled and the rest in mobile or all mobile up to the fire chief and radio person in charge in each dept on there needs. once the fire dept/ems / police dept get there radios its now the property of that dept. each radio will have all zones in it. home dept will have bank 1 its zone for example if your station 163 greentree fire dept on the west zone your home zone will be west zone. the chief of Allegheny County Emergency Services gave a presentation on monday11/08/2021 and another on tuesday 11/09/2021 at the 911 center and online gave all the information needed as well as answer all questions. they are replacing old/outdated hardware for all zones that needed to be replaced.

Are they streaming this presentation today (11/9)? If so, it would be great to have the link.

 

[PGHSCANNERWACKER1]

Are they streaming this presentation today (11/9)? If so, it would be great to have the link.

Sorry I don’t have the links.hopefully someone else can share if they have the links.

 

[n3obl]

Sorry I don’t have the links.hopefully someone else can share if they have the links.

I’m sure the presentation was not for public consumption.

 

[maus92]

I’m sure the presentation was not for public consumption.

Yes, very secret stuff.

 

[IStebleton]

WNWC473

There is a fairly new FCC license for a 10 channel 800MHz trunked system for Allegheny County. The emission doesn't say anything about P25 though. If it is a countywide P25 system, would they join ICORRS, or would they build their own system?