City of Chicago Digital

[K9KRO]

There was an article in the MAY Mobile Radio Technology about a $160 Mil "Citywide Digital Trunking System" that will be going online. The first will be $10 mil for CFD this year! Not sure if existing radios are already flashed or if they need to be either flash upgraded or replaced. Hmmm.

As far as funding, there is tons of it available from Federal Sources and large metro areas seem to be getting a lot of grants.

A few weeks ago, I also noticed an RFP for 20 new repeaters for the CTA. I wonder if they are just replacing aging repeaters or migrating to something new???

I've been getting a lot of radio related info by watching for RFP's, bids, grants and contracts on State, Local and Federal websites. It's amazing how much money is flying around with little or no coverage in the electronic or print media.

RFP= Request for Proposal

nnnn

 

[werinshades]

The Chicago Fire Dept. has been testing a couple of Digital frequencies for the past couple of weeks. From the word i'm getting, is EMS will be the first to migrate, followed by Fire Suppression, then Chicago Police. Start small, work out problems, get better. I have had the oppurtunity to test one for a day, and it sounds clear, but the audio was low from the O.E.C. Unknown on what CTA is doing, but they're becoming more automated.

 

[INDY72]

Hmmmm will the person running the Chicago online scanner be able to continue, or will this digitalization kill that too?

 

[JohnWayne]

That article really made me laugh. The author refers to "cracking the code" when referring to the PL code they put in. Then Garry Briese is quoted as saying "To intentionally hack in to the frequency is uncommon; in fact, it;s the very first time I've heard about it happening." Another industry genius is quoted saying "It takes a bit of effort. You can't just go to the store and buy a radio that will do this." Hello?? Ever heard of Radio Shack?

They then go on to basically say that the new system will be unhackable that they will positive ID on anyone who keys up on it. Give me a break.

I don't know where they find these people.

Jeff

 

[RADIOGUY2002]

Shocks

Looks like I'll need to put my order in sooner then I expected. But, it seems a tad bit out of the ordinary as the cfd radios just got reprogrammed (vhf). Lots of time and money being spent, but is digital the solution? I do not know, I have mixed feelings about the whole situation. Especially when you do not listen to your officers that dislike it, I hate to be the officer running after a suspect and his or her radio cuts out on them, when the suspect draws a gun on them. On that note I would not leave for work without my cell so I could 10-21 the barn. At least they did one thing right, uhf band spread and not 800mhz, that would have been a potential nightmare. As far as I understand it its just a firm software upgrade and fixing of some outdated repeaters that can not accept it. But, the question becomes do they keep the vhf spread and attempt digital there, or do they shift fire opts to uhf. Next question becomes, is it going to be trunked uhf digital? I always wanted to listen to nwcds, guess my listening will come sooner then I willing to accept.

My other issue is with the officers and detectives assigned to the trunked tacatical system who still are using stx portables, while extremeily reliable as motorolas older products are, there not there for the upgrades.

Any idea, werinshades?

 

[werinshades]

Re: Shocks

UHF T-Band-Digital looks to be Convential thus far based upon the testing. It will be an all UHF digital system eventually. Current testing of Digital radios is being conducted. The two channels are EMS-Main Digital and EMS Englewood-Digital. Schedule of migration I heard was EMS first, Fire Suppression Companies, Chicago Police third. Reasoning is if their are any problems, EMS will find them. As far as the 800Mhz. Trunking System, that's unknown. My guess will be it will be disbanded and UHF Digital Radios will be issued...but only a guess. I suspect Chicago Police will be UHF Digital Trunked. They have acquired frequencies in between their current frequencies in the 460 Mhz. band. My suspicion is non-encryption due to the key word-interoperability.

 

[RADIOGUY2002]

Digital Yea

Okay this I could see coming, but my next question is what kind of portables are they using to test the digital network. Correct if Im wrong, but I thought they just brought online a fleet of xts 3500's. As far as I know they can not support trunked radio features, inless I missed that in the product reference part, but they do support digital p25 mode.

I personally would not be surpised if they start buying VoIP technology, and start running 28's via web applications and internet protocol for data on site. Motorola's gaming radio for professionals, lol. Java applicable, because thats really necassary. Welecome to the technology century, scary: looks like the movie the net is coming closure to reality then we like to admit. My thought for the day.

 

[werinshades]

Re: Digital Yea

Radios being used (so far) for testing..Motorola XTS 5000 portables..

 

[blantonl]

What exact frequencies are being used for this new rollout?

 

[RADIOGUY2002]

xts 5000

Now it make sense, but was a lot of xts 3500's bought and put online.

Thanks,
werinshades

 

[werinshades]

Re: xts 5000

Yes, alot of XTS 3500's were bought. They can be converted to UHF Digital I was told. EMS will be getting the XTS 5000's since we're still using the antiquated Sabres. I have used this radio and quite similar to the XTS Models. I use an XTS 3000 model at Midway to talk to the M.C.C. and all the other departments. The migration schedulae is not in place yet, however, I feel it will be very soon. The City has 16 frequencies licensed in the 476-481 Mhz. area. I know of two being tested .... 476.5125 & 478.4625. Not sure if this will be Trunking or not. Initially it appears to be Digital Convential.

 

[INDY72]

Yes the 3500's will do digital, but as of right now trunking is not supported on this radio. They most likely will be used to test the digital conventional format prior to trunking, or for a digital conventional system in addition to the TRS, sort of like a fallback or mutual aid system.

 

[werinshades]

Does this radio support both VHF & UHF ? Thay are using VHF on their now, will they be able to re-program them to UHF Digital?

 

[INDY72]

According to Motorola. Yes they will do both of those bandwidths in digital, analog, but only in conventional.

 

[N_Jay]

Does this radio support both VHF & UHF ? Thay are using VHF on their now, will they be able to re-program them to UHF Digital?

NO, at this time I do not believe that any manufacturer has a dual band (VHF/UHF) commercial radio that is type accepted.

 

[Josh]

I'm sure if they bought enough, motorola would make a flash-code and firmware supporting trunking.

If not, then they may choose the XTS3000- as it is still made and does a fine job.

-Josh :shock:

 

[N_Jay]

According to Motorola. Yes they will do both of those bandwidths in digital, analog, but only in conventional.

There may be UHF and VHF models of teh radios, but there are no UHF/VHF combined models.

 

[K9KRO]

Both of the airport tband digital systems seem to be working well. I think Tband was a good choice given the propagation vs. 800 mhz.

If the city has some good engineers or consultants, and they require proof-of-perfomance testing prior to to purchase, it should do just fine.

Many of the current handsets and mobile radios on hand can either be re-programmed or flash upgraded depending on how they were ordered originally.

db
"Oh, you are so Analog!"

 

[INDY72]

Any new news or info on the digital migration for Chicago?

 

[uspatriot1975]

So this means I have to shell out for the digital scanner???