Berks County - Proposed 700/800mhz Digital Trunked Radio System

[Ravenboy2003]

Considering the another push was "interoperability" . ( seems like what you said about Lanco kinda blows that out of the water.) I'll have to hit the archives of the local paper where he was quoted at a Municipal meeting.

Saying that you're SAFECOM compliant and "interoperable" is a good way to keep yourself in good standing for receiving grant monies.

 

[iamhere300]

I have not heard anything new. Hope the system fails miserably. It was sold on lies and deception and the powers to be took it hook line and sinker.

Ok, back to the post I was replying to - and tried to do in a civil manner.

You are nothing better than pond scum if you actually want the system to fail miserably. The safety and well being of the responder community, as well as the general public literally lies in a communications system that works. You are advocating here putting those lives at risk, and that my friend is totally unacceptable.

The system has been proposed, bid, bid accepted, and is being installed. The system itself looks like a pretty good system, and I hope it works well for Berks County. The past is the past, and no wishing you could put responders lives in danger will change anything in the past.

Pretty sad, someone affiliated with a superior fire department like Upper Pottsgrove to advocate such a thing.

 

[NgoraSweatr]

Updates from Berks DES

For those who don't seem to think there are updates just because Berks DES hasn't updated the radio system upgrade page since August need to learn a thing or two about open source intelligence.

Most of the nitty-gritty stuff has been going through the Fire Services Working Group meetings. Their archive can be found here: Fire Services Working Group

<2cents>

Now, quit with the politics already and PRAY that FD and EMS won't be encrypted like PD will so we'll all have something to listen to come January 1.

</2cents>

 

[bgottschallberks]

Good morning. I found this forum through a "Google Alert" and was excited to see that so many people outside of our emergency services and general citiznry are interested in the progress oif our 700 MHz deployment. I would be happy to answerr any questions I can about the system or its development status.

Brian Gottschall, Director
Berks County Department of Emergency Services

 

[n3qam]

Ok, back to the post I was replying to - and tried to do in a civil manner.

You are nothing better than pond scum if you actually want the system to fail miserably. The safety and well being of the responder community, as well as the general public literally lies in a communications system that works. You are advocating here putting those lives at risk, and that my friend is totally unacceptable.

The system has been proposed, bid, bid accepted, and is being installed. The system itself looks like a pretty good system, and I hope it works well for Berks County. The past is the past, and no wishing you could put responders lives in danger will change anything in the past.

Pretty sad, someone affiliated with a superior fire department like Upper Pottsgrove to advocate such a thing.

LMAO , what an *** . Why don't you reveal your true identity instead of hiding behind a scree name while calling someone names .

You have no idea what affiliation, that of NONE, I had with a fire department that buts up against my property at the time of those posts .


And instead of taking my post out of context , read it for what it's intent is regarding a 60 million dollar wet dream , that was sold on LIES and DECEPTION to the tax payers of Berks County.

You sound like a real winner.

 

[iamhere300]

LMAO , what an *** . Why don't you reveal your true identity instead of hiding behind a scree name while calling someone names .

You have no idea what affiliation, that of NONE, I had with a fire department that buts up against my property at the time of those posts .


And instead of taking my post out of context , read it for what it's intent is regarding a 60 million dollar wet dream , that was sold on LIES and DECEPTION to the tax payers of Berks County.

You sound like a real winner.

Nah, I stand by what I said. If you want to put public safety personnel in harms way, then you are the one with the issue. WANTING the system to fail is exactly that.

Insofar as your affiliation with a FD, you might try the simple act of typing your name into the google search box.

Have a nice day.

 

[n3qam]

You might want to realign your google stalking skills . Since the post you reference was prior to any FD affiliation that may show up on google searches
. My contempt for this new system has NOTHING to do with field users , it is all in the Commissioners of the County and the DES of the County. He is a liar , and will stop at nothing to step on whomever he needs to get his way into PEMA and FEMA. THAT my friend is where it is directed . Unless of course, you are one of his under the desk buddies , strutting around with the gold DES badge on your hip

 

[iamhere300]

You might want to realign your google stalking skills . Since the post you reference was prior to any FD affiliation that may show up on google searches
. My contempt for this new system has NOTHING to do with field users , it is all in the Commissioners of the County and the DES of the County. He is a liar , and will stop at nothing to step on whomever he needs to get his way into PEMA and FEMA. THAT my friend is where it is directed . Unless of course, you are one of his under the desk buddies , strutting around with the gold DES badge on your hip

You sure seem to be prone to insults. Anyways - you said you wanted the system to fail. If it fails it endangers responders and the citizens. No matter how it came about, it is what is going to be in place and I hope it works well. I would not want a failure that would endanger people.

If you have a problem with the politics attack that, not the result.

If Upper Pottsgrove does not update their webpage with who is on their "Fire Committee" - I can't help that.

Have a great day.

 

[loumaag]

While it is appreciated that there are strong feelings about the politics involved in this system, it is not the topic of this 4 year old thread. The thread is active so I am not closing it; however, let's steer clear of the politics. BTW, I have been monitoring this since I got the first report on it, please folks, quit sending in reports.

 

[NgoraSweatr]

This message is directed to bgottschallberks:

Will there remain publicly scannable and listenable talkgroups on the new system or will the whole thing be encrypted?

I know your Lancaster County counterpart has publicly said only sensitive PD and EMS comms on their new upcoming system would be encrypted, everything else would be "in the clear". Didn't know if Berks shared their viewpoint.

Thanks for joining RadioRef and I assure you, the whole site isn't a bunch of political morons. Most of us are in this for the hobby and a great deal of us are public safety employees/volunteers and appreciate your positions.

Also, please fix the spelling of Amateur on the front page of the BerksDES website.

 

[bgottschallberks]

This message is directed to bgottschallberks:

Will there remain publicly scannable and listenable talkgroups on the new system or will the whole thing be encrypted?

I know your Lancaster County counterpart has publicly said only sensitive PD and EMS comms on their new upcoming system would be encrypted, everything else would be "in the clear". Didn't know if Berks shared their viewpoint.

Thanks for joining RadioRef and I assure you, the whole site isn't a bunch of political morons. Most of us are in this for the hobby and a great deal of us are public safety employees/volunteers and appreciate your positions.

Also, please fix the spelling of Amateur on the front page of the BerksDES website.

Thank you for your inquiry!

Law enforcement talkgroups will be encrypted. All other traffic will be in the clear. All interoperability talkgroups will be in the clear also, so the traffic that is patched to those groups as needed will also be in the clear, even when the traffic is law enforcement.

Thank you also for your words of encouragement. They are very much appreciated. One thing that is crystal clear to me through this process is that you can't make everyone happy, and even making most people happy is not easy when there are fair and legitimate but juxtaposed views about so many aspects of the project.

With respect to those folks with differing views, I hold no animus. Everyone is entitled to a viewpoint, and there is no obligation that their viewpoint matches mine. My only frustration is with those that formulate their position from a place of under-education or misinformation.

Thank you for pointing out the error on the webpage. That is very embarrassing and I have passed it on to our webmaster.
.

 

[cavmedic]

New Berks 700 MHZ frequencies

Anyone scan any of the newly licensed Berks stuff yet?

Wondering if any traffic could be heard , tests or if it is just on paper right now.


ULS License - Conventional Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQPJ427 - BERKS, COUNTY OF - Frequencies Summary

 

[HM1529]

SY WQQF590
Berks County Department of Emergency Services
[Applicant is a governmental agency providing public safety and communications services]
Control Point 1 - 2561 Bernville Rd, Reading PA 610-655-4931
(link)
12/12/2012 License Modified
Special Temporary Authority expires 05/26/2013
1 - 633 COURT ST., READING (BERKS) PA [Structure: Building with tower] (map)
769.28125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.29375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.78125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.79375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.08125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.09375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.50625 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.51875 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.35625 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.36875 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.78125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.79375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.93125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.25625 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.28125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.29375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.55625 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.56875 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.88125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.89375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.18125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.19375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.45625 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.46875 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.88125 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.89375 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.96875 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.21875 FB2 100p 179e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
2 - 0.3 mi.east of the intersection of Morgantown and Talbotville Rd's., Morgantown (CHESTER) PA [Structure: Lattice tower] (map)
769.28125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.29375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.78125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.79375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.08125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.09375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.50625 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.51875 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.35625 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.36875 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.78125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.79375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 8K70D1W 9K80D7W
771.93125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.25625 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.28125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.29375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.55625 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.56875 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.88125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.89375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.18125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.19375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.45625 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.46875 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.88125 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.89375 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.96875 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.21875 FB2 100p 23e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
3 - Along Skyline Dr. at the crest of Mt. Penn., Reading (BERKS) PA [Structure: Lattice tower] (map)
769.28125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.29375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.78125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.79375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.08125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.09375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.50625 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.51875 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.35625 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.36875 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.78125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.79375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.93125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.25625 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.28125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.29375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.55625 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.56875 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.88125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.89375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.18125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.19375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.45625 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.46875 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.88125 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.89375 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.96875 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.21875 FB2 100p 190e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
4 - Intersection of Rt. 61 and Tube Dr., Reading (BERKS) PA [NNLTANL] (map)
769.28125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.29375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.78125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
769.79375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.08125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.09375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.50625 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
770.51875 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.35625 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.36875 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.78125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.79375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
771.93125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.25625 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.28125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.29375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.55625 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.56875 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.88125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
772.89375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.18125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.19375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.45625 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.46875 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.88125 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.89375 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
773.96875 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W
774.21875 FB2 100p 309e Units: 1 9K80D7W 8K70D1W

 

[cavmedic]

Why are these Temporary grants , and only 1 unit designated?

 

[bgottschallberks]

Designated Control Channels

Rather than sort through the STAs, I assume it will make it easier for you if you have the designated control channels for each site. Note that the South cell P1 and 2 CCs are not yet listed on the STA. It is being modified and will be reissued. These designations are final.

South Site
773.96875 CC Priority 1 Not on STA yet (12/16/12)
774.21875 CC Priority 2 Not on STA yet (12/16/12)
772.56875 CC Priority 3
773.19375 CC Priority 4
North Site
774.45625 CC Priority 1
771.93125 CC Priority 2
774.46875 CC Priority 3
772.25625 CC Priority 4

 

[cavmedic]

So what's going to happen with existing low band operations aka Fire Police ? I know the western side pretty much uses the Associations frequencies but the East still uses mostly the low band?


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[bgottschallberks]

So what's going to happen with existing low band operations aka Fire Police ? I know the western side pretty much uses the Associations frequencies but the East still uses mostly the low band?


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using Tapatalk

There are resources being provisioned on the system to serve fire police no differently than any other discipline. The use of legacy systems by FP willl cease except where, on a local level, the agency elects to maintain a capability for some reason (although I think this is unlikely).

 

[cavmedic]

So in basic terms, one could expect they would have talk groups assigned to them similar to MontCo? As for County o County mutual aide interops, is is safe to assume that those provisions would be done with the National I Tac simplex frequencies?


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[cavmedic]

And will the comm center be monitoring the 800 I tac call frequency? Without looking at my notes, I believe this is different than the current linked 800 meg National call with 155.475


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[bgottschall]

So in basic terms, one could expect they would have talk groups assigned to them similar to MontCo? As for County o County mutual aide interops, is is safe to assume that those provisions would be done with the National I Tac simplex frequencies?


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using Tapatalk

Our plans for interoperability are actually quite extensive.

All subscriber units will be programmed with the 700 and 800 non-federal interops, so, as you note, a locally negotiated use of simplex channels by responders working in a mutual aid situation is always a possibility.

However, we are also deploying simulcast interop overlays with 95/95 portable on street coverage countywide. The intention is that out of county userts coming to a Berks home game to help should not need to invest in system radios, but by simply ensuring their radios are programmed properly, have comms with our communication center as well as our subscribers. Each of these overlay channels will be permanently patched to a 700 TG on our system so there should be effective communication between a Berks user with a 700 MHZ portable and an out of county user with one of their home portables as long as both are within our Rf cloud.

Further, for an extended mutual aid operation, we can initiate a temporary patch between the 700 TG that emulates one of the overlay channels and the designated operational talkgroup for the incident at hand.

These overlays will exist as follows:

• VHF low low cut 33.94 (note that this channel is not the non-federal interop, but is a currently Berks licensed channel)
• VHF low high cut – 45.88 – this handles Schuylkill fire users
• VHF high – VCall, VTac1, 155.295, 155.070 – handles Lehigh, Lancaster legacy, Schuylkill non-fire (again, note a mix of interops and currently licensed Berks channels to ease transition)
• UHF – UCall, two of the UTacs (can’t remember which ATM) – handles Lebanon and new Lancaster
• 800 – Originally this was to be a Call and three tacs for Chester and Montgomery interop. However, due to both county’s not be fully rebanded, we needed to rethink and are now planning to deploy 8Call, iCall, and one of each tac. This will limit capacity for simultaneous operations out of the gate but considering rebanding is still underway, we don’t see an option. Once rebanding is not a concern, we will reprogram the pre-rebanding repeaters and get to our call and three tacs.

This was a huge commitment for my bosses, but they took the time to really understand the position Berks is in with counties surrounding us in every piece of the radio spectrum, and the need for us to facilitate a system that permits the technological interaction of these emergency responders on a day to day basis. It was an evolutionary process to get them to understand that interoperability can be needed due to a 9/11 scenario, but that the real need is every hour of every day where we have responders coming to help on much more minor incidents. While it is not the same density of coverage as we have designed for the 700 system, 95/95 portable is (in my opinion) a great coverage density for people to expect in a system designed to handle mutual aid responders.

While not nearly the ease and convenience available by investing in Berks system radios, I think this is going to facilitate a great deal of comm. interop for the people we serve. Last thought, lots of technology laid out, but as we know it all comes down to policy and people (training). That chapter is still to be written.