Is BCFD now totally off the VHF-Hi simulcast? I have not heard 154.415 now for several days. The fireground talk groups have been off VHF repeater for quite some time, but the dispatch was still operating as of last week.
Apparatus haven't had VHF portables assigned since narrow-banding took place and 7/800mhz passive coverage was extended into the metro tunnels (this was the primary reason for maintaining the VHF Ch. 1 repeater network and portable radios).The original theory was that they kept the VHF for members of BOX414. This was done with the first system that went into play I believe 23 years ago, before digital scanners came out. Now most members of 414 own XTS3000 portables that are allowed to affiliate but not transmit on the system. All firehouses have a VHF base and each apparatus has a vhf portable assigned to it for backup purposes, however, these are left over radios from the VHF days.
Apparatus haven't had VHF portables assigned since narrow-banding took place and 7/800mhz passive coverage was extended into the metro tunnels (this was the primary reason for maintaining the VHF Ch. 1 repeater network and portable radios).
In theory, dispatching could fall back to VHF in the event of a P25 system failure, however the primary fallback is CMARC/MdFIRST, as this provides continued talk-back capability. Most companies pay no mind to the VHF base stations anymore, if they're even working.
CMARC (and 8TACs) as a backup system basically failed the test when AACo had their recent outage. The county then applied for a large block of tgs on FIRST to backup their TRS.
What about Harford County?Yeah it's kinda laughable - CMARC doesn't have enough portable on-street coverage for the local-site talkgroups to even be usable, and the wide area talkgroups are so hit-or-miss you're only guaranteed service within a short distance of each tower (with almost no overlap and large gaps for portable users). That system's a money hole pet project, not a capable public safety system.
A $20 Baofeng portable that is also FCC Type accepted would last about 15 seconds in a real building fire. They do not have the ruggedness necessary. Also, if I'm following your reasoning, you want the portable secured to avoid the extreme possibility of EMP-a little off the beaten path, but OK. If you're protecting it from EMP are you also keeping the battery in the case to protect the charging circuit? If so, how can you expect the radio to work if you're unable to keep the battery charged? Better yet, if you do have the battery charged, what kind of life would you expect from it after it's been sitting on the charger for 5 years? Are you factoring in replacement battery costs every year to your $1000? I've seen some "interesting" posts from you in the past, but this has to be in the top 5.1 Baofeng portable per station - total cost - $1,000 (50 X $20)
1 EMP proof tacklebox per station - total cost - ? $1,000
versus
total burndown of entire city in the 48 hours it takes to fly in a radio cache from California
Yeah after Harford adopted that particular site to become their primary system and dumped a whole lot of extra beef into it to make it work. That didn't do much for the other 2 sites.What about Harford County?
Funny thing, I live in Parkville and get that system very intermittently , if at all, with SDS scannersYeah after Harford adopted that particular site to become their primary system and dumped a whole lot of extra beef into it to make it work. That didn't do much for the other 2 sites.
Parkville is about 9.5M to the closest Harford zone site, which is in Kingsville; the second closest is 11M in Joppa. Makes sense that your reception is marginal.Funny thing, I live in Parkville and get that system very intermittently , if at all, with SDS scanners
1 Baofeng portable per station - total cost - $1,000 (50 X $20)
1 EMP proof tacklebox per station - total cost - ? $1,000
versus
total burndown of entire city in the 48 hours it takes to fly in a radio cache from California