AWIN Update: (New ASP Digital System)

[safetyobc]

AWIN Weekly Update – May 31, 2005

Area D Cutover Begins

With End Users trained and equipment installed, Area D is ready to be cutover to the AWIN digital system. The cutover begins Wednesday, June 1 and is scheduled to end the next day.

The first tower cutovers will be at the Forrest City, Shell Lake and Barton sites. Thursday’s cutovers will take place at the DeVall’s Bluff and Fair Oaks sites.

During this cutover process, Area D will revert to backup radio communications for as long as eight hours. Every effort is being taken to ensure minimal disruption of communication. Arkansas State Police coordinates the timing of the cutover to ensure that critical traffic is not hindered. You can stay up to date with the implementation schedule and statewide cutover progress at the AWIN website. Check it out at www.awin.arkansas.gov

Advice to the Troops

“The only thing not working well is when another Troop’s alarm sounds; we can’t do anything about it. Also, sometimes troopers in Sharp County [are unclear], but it’s only in certain areas. We were told to expect that in our training class. Other than that, it’s clear as a bell,” Chief Operator Brown of Troop B in Newport reported Friday, May 27.

Troops E and F Training Underway

A two-day Train the Trainer course is slated for Troops E and F Tuesday, May 31 through June 1. Two Console Operator courses will be held June 2 and 3. Radio users are trained at ASP Headquarters in Little Rock prior to their area’s cutover.

Cutover Status

Cutovers in Areas B, I, and L are now complete and the Area D cutover is underway this week. Areas E and F are tentatively scheduled to begin cutting over to the new digital system by mid July. You can stay up to date with the implementation schedule and statewide cutover progress at the AWIN website http://www.awin.arkansas.gov/cutover_schedule.htm


There is a list of digital freqs per Troop in the files section of my scanningarkansas yahoo group linked below. Also some are listed here in the rrdatabase.

 

[safetyobc]

June 2, 2005

Area D Cutovers Complete

Towers at DeValls Bluff and Fair Oaks were cutover yesterday. All of
Area D is now cutover to the AWIN digital system.


Troops E and F Training Scheduled

The final Console Operator class for Troops E and F are scheduled for
this morning in Little Rock at Arkansas State Police Headquarters.

 

[safetyobc]

July 14, 2005

Areas E and F are the next slated to be cutover to the AWIN digital
system. Moving forward, Area E cutovers will begin July 26 at Pine
Bluff Headquarters, Pine Bluff Arsenal and Dewitt, and continue July 28
with the Jefferson County Northwest and Southwest sites. Cutovers in
Areas B, D, I and L are now complete.

End User training for Troops E and F will begin approximately a week
before the scheduled cutover. You can stay up to date with the
implementation schedule and statewide cutover progress at the AWIN
website http://www.awin.arkansas.gov/cutover_schedule.htm.

 

[ronmicha]

Arkansas AWIN Question?

Can anyone speak to the accuracy of the current Ark. State Police frequencies for the AWIN system in Arkansas that are posted in the RR database? I'm in Memphis trying hard to get some active talkgroups. The state's AWIN page lists Forrest City, Barton, & Fair Oaks as on the air. I don't see them listed on the Radio Reference list. Are they called something else? Also is the Wynne control channel correct? Someone posted another Wynne control channel earlier, I think. Wynne may not be in the Forrest City troop, thus not on the air yet, but I'm hoping I'll be close enough to pick it up. I'm going to scan the Shell Lake, De Valls Bluff, & Walnut Corner control channels ASAP, if I can figure it out. I've got the ARC250 software at my computer but the radio is currently in the bedroom without a computer so I'm using the radio functions. Anyway, will post anything I find. If someone with answers to my questions, I'd apprecitate it. I've never listened to ASP and kinda looking forward to it.
Ron

 

[safetyobc]

I submitted all of the frequencies. I got them from the FCC database and from users in and around different troops in AR. They are correct.

I do however think I know why you can't hear them. You said you were using ARC250 which means you must be using a BC250D or BC785D. Neither of those scanners will decode the AWIN system. The AWIN system is a 9600 bps P25 system. The 250/785 will only decode 3600 bps. If I am correct about your scanner you have, I'm sorry but you are out of luck and will have to upgrade to one of the following scanners BCD396T, BC296D, BC796D, Pro96 or Pro2096.

 

[ronmicha]

Arkansas SP Reception in Memphis

I do have the BC796D but ARC still calls the software ARC250PRO which is the version I have. I'm going to put the control channels as iisted into the radio manually and see what happens. My antenna is a Discone from Grove Enterprises in the attic and it's served me well. I'm in East Memphis, but not Germantown or Cordova so I'm thinking I may have a chance after I'm sure I've learned the radio.
Thanks for the advice.
Ron

 

[safetyobc]

Sorry, didn't realize ARC250 run those radios.

There are some members of my scanningarkansas yahoo group that are in the memphis area and monitoring ASP, you are invited to join the group and ask the question there if you don't have any luck. Scanningarkansas group link below. These are the freqs and locations I have, which I am sure are what you have, but just in case you can review them.

C Pocahontas Randolph 860.4375
C Pocahontas Randolph 866.0875
C Pocahontas Randolph 868.3250
C Pocahontas Randolph 868.5750
C Pocahontas Randolph 868.9500
C Burdette Mississippi 866.5500
C Burdette Mississippi 866.8000
C Burdette Mississippi 868.5000
C Burdette Mississippi 868.7500
C Burdette Mississippi 868.7875
D Shell Lake Crittenden 866.1000
D Shell Lake Crittenden 866.1750
D Shell Lake Crittenden 868.4625
D Shell Lake Crittenden 868.7125
D Shell Lake Crittenden 868.9625
D DeValls Bluff Prairie 866.1875
D DeValls Bluff Prairie 866.4375
D DeValls Bluff Prairie 867.2875
D DeValls Bluff Prairie 868.6000
D DeValls Bluff Prairie 868.9125
D Walnut Corner Phillips 866.7625
D Walnut Corner Phillips 867.0625
D Walnut Corner Phillips 867.4250
D Walnut Corner Phillips 868.1625
D Walnut Corner Phillips 868.4250

 

[safetyobc]

Radios in the trooper's cars for E and F troops are being changed out to the new digital radios. Today and the rest of the week radio shops in Troops F and E are installing the new radios. Troops E and F are to cutover beginning next week 7-25-05.



From the AWIN newsletter:

Troop I & L Issue: AWIN is experiencing intermittent outages in the
Troop I and L areas. Until Monday of this week, these area outages
did not appear to be related. Troop area I consists of Baxter,
Boone, Fulton, Izard, Marion, Newton, Searcy, and Stone Counties.
Troop area L consists of Washington, Benton, Carroll, and Madison
Counties.

A Motorola Field Service Representative has been working this issue
since its inception. The analysis shows that the outages are a
result of two issues: lighting strikes that came through the state
beginning July 4th, and failing AC units in the equipment shelters
which cause high temperatures within the shelters. Motorola began
working these issues and have isolated the latest outages to the
backplane in the South DDM multiplexer at the Magnet K23 site. On
July 19, the technical team began work on the DDM Multiplexer (DAC)
at K23. By 3:30 p.m. Troop area L was back up, and the Shiloh site
in Troop area I was restored. Alarms were continuing on several of
the circuits and technicians worked until late evening to ensure
that all problems were repaired.

Status this morning: All sites were up by midnight; testing
completed at 1:00 a.m. Currently, there is a problem around the
Fort Smith site resulting in traffic not passing both ways around
the NW Microwave loop. A technician is on site to troubleshoot that
issue.

 

[safetyobc]

AWIN Weekly Update – August 3, 2005

Cutovers in Area H Scheduled

Area H cutovers are slated to begin Tuesday, August 16 and be completed by Thursday, August 18. Training for Troop E is scheduled to begin August 8.

Originally Area E was scheduled to cutover before Area H, but is delayed due to power issues currently being resolved. F

What is a Command and Control Template?

The AWIN Command and Control template is the list of talk groups programmed into a radio unit which ensures communication between all first responders during an emergency. The template is both the way buttons are configured on the radio and the programming which allows the radio to be used. Talk groups are the list of specific channels which first responders use to communicate. The command and control talk groups include law enforcement, emergency management, fire and emergency medical personnel.

Utilizing different template groups, first responders have the ability to communicate with each other in the event of an emergency. Previously on the disjointed system, different emergency management personnel such as fire and law enforcement were not able to connect to one another on the same radio network by simply pressing a button, or connecting to their talk groups; but they will have this capability using the templates. These, as well as all other talk groups in the template at this time, are available for statewide communication so that responders from other areas of the state can assist and communicate unhindered in an area when needed.

The command and control template was developed by a group representing the potential local users of the system.

 

[safetyobc]

AWIN Weekly Update – August 9, 2005

Cutovers in Area H Scheduled

Area H cutovers are slated to begin Tuesday, August 16 and be completed by Thursday, August 18. Training for ASP Troop E is scheduled to begin August 8. For questions about AWIN and cutover schedule inquiries, please visit www.awin.arkansas.gov.

Focus on Cutover Quality

The AWIN project schedule is currently experiencing a delay as all involved partners work to ensure not only meeting the project schedule, but more importantly implementing the highest quality system possible. The state and the AWIN primary vendor, Motorola, are both committed to quality over schedule at all times, and this delay will ensure the system will continue to be implemented to the highest standards possible.

Many of the Area E sites are designed to employ a 150watt High Power Base Station, which AWIN field technicians have encountered irregularities
with throughout sites in Area L. Area L was cutover to the new digital system in March 2005. Though Areas B, D and I are already functioning on the AWIN system, they do not use the High Power Base Station.

Motorola's product development engineers examined the power issue and identified a solution that will ensure the High Power Base Stations function at optimum levels. Upon completion of factory testing, Motorola development engineers intend to implement the improvement plan in Area L on August 19th.

To keep AWIN on the end of the year completion schedule, Area H is scheduled to cutover the week of August 15, while the issues with the High Power Base Stations are resolved.

Coming Events

Command and control end user meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks in Fayetteville, Clinton, Monticello, and Hope at the locations listed below. All meetings will begin at 10 a.m.

August 16th -- Fayetteville – Washington County Courthouse, 280 N. College, NE Conference Room

August 25th -- Clinton -- First Service Bank, 486 Hwy. 65 North.

September 7th -- Monticello -- Fire Department Training Room, 1665 Hwy. 278 East.

September 14th -- Old Washington Historic State Park, 1914 Schoolhouse. Nine miles northwest of Hope on US Highway 278.

For more information on the Command and Control Project, please visit www.awin.arkansas.gov. For further details about the command and control end user meetings, please contact Penny Rubow at 501.682.5358 or penny.rubow@arkansas.gov.

AWIN presentation at the Arkansas Emergency Management Association meeting August 30 – September 2 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.

 

[safetyobc]

AWIN Weekly Update – August 16, 2005

Cutovers in Area H Scheduled

Area H cutovers are slated to be completed by Thursday, August 18. For questions about AWIN and cutover schedule inquiries, please visit www.awin.arkansas.gov.

Local Leadership Council

AWIN is used by a variety of end users, from troopers to firefighters to elected officials. These individuals are represented by the Local Leadership Council. The Council’s purpose is to provide advice and guidance on strategic planning, funding, program policies and procedures from a first responder’s perspective.

The Council is composed of seven representatives, each who bring a different perspective of AWIN. Judge Glen ‘Sonny’ Cox is from the Association of County Judges; Joe Gillenwater, the Arkansas Quorum Court Association; Chief James Green, Association of Fire Chiefs; John Luther, Arkansas Emergency Management Association; Chief Montie Sims, Association of Chiefs of Police; Charles Newton, Rural Volunteer Firefighters; and Sheriff Danny Ormand, Sheriffs Association.

Issues related to use of the emergency button:

Once the user has depressed the emergency button the following happens:

For talk groups passing through a console operator: The alias associated with that particular ID is displayed on the console operator position (for example the alias for that unit might be something like A14-BOB). The console operator at that point must acknowledge and clear that call at the console. The raw ID for the unit initiating the Emergency will display on every unit that talk group selected on their radio. The radio will display the words "EA Received" then it will display the ID of the unit. (for example the ID of a unit might be 1000001). The user initiating the Emergency would clear his emergency by pushing down and holding the emergency button unit a tone is heard on the radio.


For talk groups not passing through a console operator position: Only mobile and portable units will receive this ID. The raw ID for the unit initiating the Emergency will display on every unit that talk group selected on their radio. The radio will display the words "EA Received" then it will display the ID of the unit. (for example the ID of a unit might be 1000001). The user initiating the Emergency would clear his emergency by pushing down and holding the emergency button unit a tone is heard on the radio.

Coming Events

Command and control end user meetings are scheduled in the coming weeks in Fayetteville, Clinton, Monticello, and Hope at the locations listed below. All meetings will begin at 10 a.m.



August 25th -- Clinton -- First Service Bank, 486 Hwy. 65 North.

September 7th -- Monticello -- Fire Department Training Room, 1665 Hwy. 278 East.

September 14th -- Old Washington Historic State Park, 1914 Schoolhouse. Nine miles northwest of Hope on US Highway 278.

For more information on the Command and Control Project, please visit www.awin.arkansas.gov. For further details about the command and control end user meetings, please contact Penny Rubow at 501.682.5358 or penny.rubow@arkansas.gov.



· AWIN presentation at the Arkansas Emergency Management Association meeting August 30 – September 2 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock.

 

[weather4ar]

AWIN Update Questions

I'm curious too. I noticed the new updates for the Guy callsign, is this also the new callsign for Gold Creek as well? I'm also curious as to whether or not ASP is starting to upgrade and re-use its existing frequencies for AWIN rather than use the 866 Mhz freqs, especially considering the FCC rebanding situation. Any ideas? Very Interesting Indeed!

Can anyone speak to the accuracy of the current Ark. State Police frequencies for the AWIN system in Arkansas that are posted in the RR database? I'm in Memphis trying hard to get some active talkgroups. The state's AWIN page lists Forrest City, Barton, & Fair Oaks as on the air. I don't see them listed on the Radio Reference list. Are they called something else? Also is the Wynne control channel correct? Someone posted another Wynne control channel earlier, I think. Wynne may not be in the Forrest City troop, thus not on the air yet, but I'm hoping I'll be close enough to pick it up. I'm going to scan the Shell Lake, De Valls Bluff, & Walnut Corner control channels ASAP, if I can figure it out. I've got the ARC250 software at my computer but the radio is currently in the bedroom without a computer so I'm using the radio functions. Anyway, will post anything I find. If someone with answers to my questions, I'd apprecitate it. I've never listened to ASP and kinda looking forward to it.
Ron

 

[safetyobc]

It is my understanding that any P25 systems will not be affected by the rebanding. So all current AWIN freqs should remain the same.



Today's update:

Area H Cutover Moving Forward

This morning cutovers at Pine Mountain, Bowles Mountain and Magazine Mountain sites began.

Tuesday evening Area H sites Fort Smith Headquarters, Poteau Mountain and White Oak Mountain were brought online to the AWIN digital system.

 

[safetyobc]

AWIN Weekly Update – September 8, 2005

Coming Events

Command and Control end user meetings scheduled for September 6th and 7th in Brinkley and Monticello were cancelled due to the number of participants involved with the Katrina relief efforts. These meetings will be rescheduled for later dates.

The meeting at Old Washington is still scheduled at this time on September 14th. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Old Washington Historic State Park, located nine miles northwest of Hope on U.S. Highway 278. The address is 1914 Schoolhouse.

For more information on the Command and Control Project, please visit www.awin.arkansas.gov. For further details about the Command and Control end user meetings, please contact Penny Rubow at 501.682.5358 or penny.rubow@arkansas.gov.

800 MHz Reconfiguration

The FCC ordered the reconfiguration of the 800 MHz band to minimize increasing levels of interference to critical public safety communications systems from commercial wireless carriers. As part of the 800 MHz reconfiguration, some licensees will be required to relocate. The AWIN system is an 800 MHz system that will require the relocation of some of the 800 frequencies.

Carl Jacobs, FCC Regional Chairperson, has arranged for a representative from the 800 MHz Transition Administrator’s office to hold a meeting in central Arkansas. The 800 MHz Transition Administrator (TA) has been established to facilitate a smooth transition to the new 800 MHz plan.

The TA is responsible for establishing reconfiguration guidelines, specifying replacement channels, reviewing reconfiguration cost estimates, monitoring payment of reconfiguration costs, managing the relocation schedule, facilitating issue resolution and administering the alternate dispute resolution process.

Joe Blair, from the TA office will present his program on Tuesday September 13th from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. The meeting will be held in the Fourth Floor Conference Room of the Big Mac Building located at One Capitol Mall. Anyone interested in learning more about the 800 MHz reconfiguration is welcome to attend.

Who Do I Call for Help?

24/7 phone support and technical assistance is available to AWIN subscribers via the Department of Information Systems Call Center at (501) 682-HELP (682-4357) or toll-free (800) 435-7989. You may also request assistance via e-mail at awin.support@arkansas.gov.