BCFA on 800

[TXEMT]

Bexar County Fire Alarm was broadcasting on talk-group 1814 on the gold and topperwein sites and you could copy all units. is this new or just old?

 

[blantonl]

This is new - and working this morning as well. There is actually a patch setup this morning patched to Patch ID 1.

The reception is outstanding, and in addition to being able to monitor all comms on BCFA, I've received skip this morning as far away as Dawson County:

http://www.radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&cs=KKS926&action=fcc

I heard a dispatch to a rollover from this dispatcher loud and clear.

Intersting!

Lindsay

 

[precoislen]

What exactly was BCFA broadcasting? Actual calls for the VFD's or were they chatting with the FMO's?

Or was it chatter with SAFD about the tornado sighting around 3:00 AM with last nights storms.

 

[TXEMT]

They were broadcasting acutual calls and it is patched to the vhf primary. as of today only talkgroup 1 is broadcasting and the 1814 one is not.

 

[precoislen]

Well that is indeed very intresting news. I will have to pay a little closer attention the next couple of nights. I was monitoring last night on the "Gold" in open mode on my Pro-95 & I heard all the typical PW & Parking Garage stuff, and the occasional SO Open stuff, but no BCFA.

In that defense BCFA was quite on VHF during that time, but this is indeed some very intresting news....

I wonder if the county is going to switch over to the EDACS system for VFD's... They supposedly had gotten an grant for the radios, but that money had gotten re-allocated or something...... hmmmm.....

BTW.... was there any tones dropped while simulacasting on these TG's or was it just verbal dispatches?

 

[scrotumola]

Hollywood Park fd got a FEMA grant for interop radios. They are now the proud owners of quite a few 800's on the new system. A patch connects an FMO assigned talk group to Bexar County fire alarm vhf tac 1 154.250. Everything the dispatcher hears at the console on that channel is simulcast to the patched talkgroup.

If this talkgroup is a permanent non-encrypted assignment, I'd like to solicit a Bexar County fire feed for the internet.

 

[pacrat551]

Hollywood Park fd got a FEMA grant for interop radios. They are now the proud owners of quite a few 800's on the new system. A patch connects an FMO assigned talk group to Bexar County fire alarm vhf tac 1 154.250. Everything the dispatcher hears at the console on that channel is simulcast to the patched talkgroup.

If this talkgroup is a permanent non-encrypted assignment, I'd like to solicit a Bexar County fire feed for the internet.

Scancentex.com would love to have a live feed for the san antonio area..... If someone is interested, please let us know at admin@scancentex.com or aslaughter@scancentex.com

Thanks!

 

[blantonl]

It has pretty good range as well, N Hays ESD#9 is also rebroadcasted.

 

[SABRAVEST]

I heard that all vfd are going to be on the system, which is really going to be stupid i think when they make the change all those vfd on a digital system not to smart.. :roll: because they are all not going to have radios.. you know the officers will be greedy, because when i was at camelot they said only officers are getting 800 radios, but why!! thats dumb. they dont make 800 pagers so how is every one else no whats going on or when they are at home if they get a call!!! it is going to be total chaos.

 

[blantonl]

Calm Down Matt.... :roll:

The radios will probably be in analog mode due to cost constraints... and having to patch back. The console will most likely still dispatch calls on 154.25 to support the legacy paging system.

If you ask me, this is a real benefit, since much greater coverage will be provided to the VFDs throughout the county.

-Lb

 

[scrotumola]

I heard that all vfd are going to be on the system, which is really going to be stupid i think when they make the change all those vfd on a digital system not to smart.. :roll: because they are all not going to have radios.. you know the officers will be greedy, because when i was at camelot they said only officers are getting 800 radios, but why!! thats dumb. they dont make 800 pagers so how is every one else no whats going on or when they are at home if they get a call!!! it is going to be total chaos.

Go over the previous messages in this topic and others in the forum.

1. The VHF system is to remain in place, one of the reasons is the pager issue. Other Depts in the State that have gone to 800 or digital systems maintained their old vhf systems if-for nothing else-pager alerting purposes. West I-10 fire department near Houston and Refinery Terminal Fire Dept in Corpus are prime examples.

2. All traffic received by the Fire Alarm console on VHF will be simulcast on the new 800 ANALOG NON-Provoice talkgroup and vice versa.

3. As far as the officers being greedy, its the (chief) officer's perogative where the radios go. They got those positions for a reason. Get over it.

4. Those issued the new radios will have further access to DISPATCH; since when did non officers speak with DISPATCH instead of through their chain of command?

5. As far as chaos, camelot has become primrose with access to decent funding. :roll: (sorry no cross-eyed smilies)

 

[djm]

Monitoring BCFA last night I noticed the dispatcher's transmission "timed-out" on 800 MHz in the middle of a lengthy administrative announcement. I didn't time it, but it seemed to be about a minute into the transmission when I heard beeps as if to warn the time-out was to occur...about 10 secs after that, the signal dropped.

BTW, on my BC245XLT I'm receiving BCFA on TG 00-002. All other TG's I receive on GOLD seem to match the database. Anybody know why I'm not receiving BCFA on 1814/14-xxx?

Thanks.

 

[Sanscanman]

Well the Patch id is what your seeing as talk group 2 but 1814 also seems to work as well, I saw 1814 come up a few times last night and then flash the patch id as well on the activity monitor.

I have to say I hope they continue this, it's nice to hear both sides of the conversation. now if they would just patch tac 3 as well, life would be spiffy.

 

[kkn50]

On my PRO-95 I am hearing the patch only on talkgroup 00-001. Any ideas why?

During the excellent tropo band opening tonight I heard a major MVA dispatched to IH-35, mile 319, Woodlawn exit. This puts it near Bruceville.

I could find no listing for 154.250 in McLennan county though it must be in use if this patch is listening to 154.250.

 

[djm]

"On my PRO-95 I am hearing the patch only on talkgroup 00-001. Any ideas why?"

I too see only 00-001 now (initially I saw only 00-002). But I don't know why I've never seen the "1814" talk group either.

 

[blantonl]

It is because of the patch ID.

The patch ID is dynamic - so it could be 1, 2, 5 etc. There are numerous other patches that BCSO uses.

Trunktracker scanner typically don't handle the patches properly - the EDACS control channel will tell EDACS radios " these talkgroups belong to this patch ID" - the trunker just sees the patch ID as a single talkgroup.

You'll have to keep an eye on it - the patch ID will probably change with other patches coming and going from BCSO.

Real EDACS radios cannot scan the talkgroups when they are patched - but they can receive when set directly on the talkgroup (the radio knows that the talkgroup it is sitting on (NOT scanning) is patched)

Warm regards,

Lindsay

 

[djm]

You'll have to keep an eye on it - the patch ID will probably change with other patches coming and going from BCSO.

Thanks for the explanation. I already have TG's 00-001 and 00-002 in the bank...I guess I'll monitor VHF to ensure I don't miss a "new" TG.

 

[kkn50]

07/07/05: I am no longer receiving BCFA at all on the GOLD system. I have a PRO-95 running in Open Mode.

I am hearing someone on 00-001 but it is not BCFA.

Any ideas?

 

[TXEMT]

sometimes BCSO warrents will show up on tg 1 or 3 it is more that likely them

 

[kkn50]

On the PRO-95, BCFA is back up on 00-003.