Chattanooga Goes Digital

[ButchGone]

$3.8 million system upgrades now under way, to convert the current analog SmartNet system to an APCO 25 SmartZone system. Radio techs should begin testing upgraded system by end of February/March. The first public safety user will be Chattanooga Fire-Rescue. Getting mixed info as to when Chattanooga Police will upgrade. Radio shop has a stock of XTS-5000 portables. Currently, Chattanooga Fire-Rescue has the "2500" series mixed mode portables in use at the downtown superstation (four companies and hazmat) and at station 4. By the way, each apparatus has a mobile radio, and four portables. Hamilton County EMS has also begun equiping staff and some Medic units with the "2500's" Also Metropolitan Airport Authority has "2500" portables.
This will be a 3600 baud system, and right now it's uncertain whether Chattanooga Police or Fire will buy capability for encryption. It should be same type system used in Nashville.
Within the last few months, Hamilton County provided portables, MTS 2000's and "2500" digital radios, to the volunteer Fire and Rescue agencies. Highway 58 VFD now uses the 800Mhz system for all operations. But there are a couple VFD's, Dallas Bay and Tri-Community, that have their new 800mhz radios sitting around gathering dust, because Chiefs refuse to upgrade from their VHF simplex systems. (it's a turf thing)
Sequoyah, Sale Creek, Mowbray, Flat Top VFD's also use 800 system after tone-out on VHF. Walden Ridge Emergency Services dabbles around with their portables from time to time, but still use their VHF simplex assignment. Chattanooga-Hamilton County Rescue also uses 800, as does STARS (Special Tactics and Rescue Service) and Volunteer State Rescue (water recovery team).
Hamilton County Sheriff's Department will continue using 800Mhz analog mode for some time, and it will be years before they replace equipment. Same for other municipalities. Money for equipment is the issue.
The 800Mhz system upgrades include the addition of five conventional repeaters for the I-Tac channels, or the five nationwide mutual aid frequencies.
The SmartZone system will also allow adjacent counties to join in, as the system is being built out as a "regional system." Three north Georgia Counties are interested, with Catoosa County GA already making plans to tie-in two or three of it's own towers with the main controller on Lookout Mountain, and get equipment through a lease-purchase agreement with Moneyrola (oops, Motorola).

 

[wjay]

Thanks!

Thanks for the update. So it sounds like we will definately need a digital scanner to listen in on the Chattanooga TRS. I guess it will depend on which scanner to get, as to whether they buy the encryption capability???? If they don't buy it - then I assume any digital scanner capable of receiving 3600 baud will be sufficient?? If they do buy the encryption capability - then which scanner (if any) will we need? Any thoughts? Also - when might we know? Thanks again.

 

[rdale]

"If they do buy the encryption capability - then which scanner (if any) will we need? "

If they encrypt, there's no sense in buying a scanner now or evermore...

 

[CORN]

They will probably follow Nashville's system. A few select channels will probably have encryption but the rest, which is a lot, will be in the clear.

Joe

 

[wjay]

which scanner?

Which scanner will pick up Nashville's system? Any of the digitals?

 

[CORN]

All of the digitals will. 796, 250, 296, Pro-96 We are on a 3600 baud system. As i stated earlier most all of the channels are in the clear except for a few used for Vice and other not to be heard comms.

 

[gcr33]

Nashville

Just happened to catch the thread. I thought that Nashville was still Vselp and therefore could not be monitored.
When did they go Imbe?

 

[CORN]

As far as I know Nashville has never been Vselp. Memphis is but not Nashville. It's been 800 MHz digital 3600 baud since they changed in 2000 from the analog one frequency setup. Therefore all current digital scanners that are out can monitor the Nashville system. I am listening to PD as I type this.

 

[gcr33]

Nashville

Thanks, I guess I got it confused. Is Memphis still Vselp?

 

[CORN]

As far as I know they are but I believe they are seriously looking to switch to a Apco P-25 system. There are a few other threads in the TN section that are discussing this. You might get better info from them. Maybe someone in and around the Memphis area could shed some light.

 

[bg_nashville]

What's the current status of digital communications on the Chat/Hamiltion Co TRS?

 

[INDY72]

Memphis is indeed switching over from the old VSELP to an ASTRO-25 system this summer/fall. Shelby County will also be jumping onboard and dropping the EDACS they are on... Not sure how its all gonna work out now that Memphis is LOSING about 5 to 7 million in HomeSec grant money.

 

[suttles1972]

What's the current status of digital communications on the Chat/Hamiltion Co TRS?[/quote

Digital comms remain silent for now. However, the TRS is a true Smartzone system. Another site is being built and is to be fully operational sometime in late June or early July. Since the previous digital comms radio testing from the radio shop and the swapping of the systems control channels, digital radio testing has ceased from the radio shop. Rumor has it that many of the public safety's administration personnel will use digi-comms for inter-personal communications. However, in the fire department, I haven't seen any evidence to support this claim, as of yet.

 

[ki4cgs]

Another site is being built and is to be fully operational sometime in late June or early July.

What do you mean a new site? Another tower to be linked into the current system? If so, where is the new tower?

 

[suttles1972]

Another site is being built and is to be fully operational sometime in late June or early July.

What do you mean a new site? Another tower to be linked into the current system? If so, where is the new tower?

The water tank in rear of the U.S Express Building on Jenkins Rd. Yes, another tower to be linked into the current site. The true meaning of Smartzone site is having the ability to do just that. So now do you get my meaning?

 

[ki4cgs]

What areas will this benfit reception? Any towards the west? (I'm in Jasper, TN)

 

[suttles1972]

What areas will this benfit reception? Any towards the west? (I'm in Jasper, TN)

Not really. It's only to provide better reception coverage in the East Brainerd, North Brainerd, Ooltewah and Collegedale areas. Word has it that ONLY public safety will have access to this site. Also I've been told that this site isn't going to be used to simulcast, but to provide a better coverage gain in these areas. Therefore, when I-Call comms are being used, it'll take listening to both towers to hear what both individuals are saying, if one user is in the Hamilton Place area and the other is in the Downtown area. I'm not sure about the dispatches. But I believe that this site will act as a amplifier for the area, giving a cleaner reception to the main system.