City of Houston Project 25 TRS

[dupree617]

I noticed this morning that the system has been listed as "depreciated". What happened?

You and me both. I'm guessing it's all going into TxWARN, but there isn't any information to show that yet.

Mike Dupree

 

[mfn002]

You and me both. I'm guessing it's all going into TxWARN, but there isn't any information to show that yet.

Mike Dupree

I know. A few days ago, the TxWARN P25 DB page was updated, but I couldn't find what exactly was updated.

 

[kayi4cle]

I see Houston Public Works Simulcast Site (3-005) has been added to 1A7. Anyone know when it will be up and running?

 

[motorola_otaku]

You and me both. I'm guessing it's all going into TxWARN, but there isn't any information to show that yet.

Mike Dupree

All of the 3D8 users were moved to the 1A7 RFSS 3 sites last week. None of the talkgroup IDs changed, but the HPD/HFD talkgroups are still inactive. Everything is pure Phase II now and a PSR800 with the beta firmware loaded will decode the unencrypted stuff just fine.

 

[gjhamilton]

I was passed this information along and I would like to share it. These are the talkgroups that are supposed to be on the Houston Public works site that are for wrecker drivers, scanner enthusiasts, media, etc. I have no way of verifying this, so take it as you will. I was told that these were being tested for a while but that they were having some problems.

North Shepherd 30300
North East-30301
South East-30302
Southwest-30303
Citywide-30304
Central-30305
Special Ops-30306
Dectective-30308
South Central-30307
Northwest-30309
Westside-30310
HPD-b3-30311
HPD IAH-30312
HPD Nine-30314
HPD Hobby-30315
HFD-a1 44980
HFD TAC6-44985

 

[Ultanium]

Tommy,

Most of your post was close to being on topic (but only if you squint a lot); however, the quoted part is not only not on topic, it is inaccurate. Where do you see that only Motorola radios are available? Indeed, the move here in Houston to the P25 system is done by purchasing radios from several vendors.

As for Austin Co. SO, Bellville and Sealy are not encrypted, so why don't you object locally instead of carping about it here?

So you are saying that other brands are being purchased for use on the Houston P25 TRS? That has never, ever, been the case with anything HCTC has been a part of, they only have bats on their brains. Thats not to say that other brands of gear won't work on the system, but I have never seen any used for transmitting. In the old days of 2318, we used Standard brand radios to monitor the Houston and StarNET systems. Mark my words, our scanning days are nearing an end, at least when it comes to law enforcement. You will see more and more encryption on the new P25 networks, especially with phase II, and unless you have the keys, you'll be SOL. My advice is to get into gnuradio and a dongle (usrp, RTL), and try to keep up. As for my "carping" about ACSO, my guess is you don't listen out here much, BPD & SPD tacs are encrypted too, the only open chatter is where they are headed for lunch...

 

[KevinC]

So you are saying that other brands are being purchased for use on the Houston P25 TRS? That has never, ever, been the case with anything HCTC has been a part of, they only have bats on their brains. Thats not to say that other brands of gear won't work on the system, but I have never seen any used for transmitting. In the old days of 2318, we used Standard brand radios to monitor the Houston and StarNET systems. Mark my words, our scanning days are nearing an end, at least when it comes to law enforcement. You will see more and more encryption on the new P25 networks, especially with phase II, and unless you have the keys, you'll be SOL. My advice is to get into gnuradio and a dongle (usrp, RTL), and try to keep up. As for my "carping" about ACSO, my guess is you don't listen out here much, BPD & SPD tacs are encrypted too, the only open chatter is where they are headed for lunch...

Harris County has over 1000 Relm radios on 1A7.

 

[motorola_otaku]

Harris County has over 1000 Relm radios on 1A7.

These guys? KNG Portable P25 Two-way Radio

 

[KevinC]

These guys? KNG Portable P25 Two-way Radio

Yes, they actually feel pretty solid. Not sure how they will hold up, but time will tell.

 

[KA5YYD]

I recently heard there was a "problem" with the new Houston P25 system that was going to require a technican to "go inside" each radio to do something. They are currently scheduling the various agencies for the service. Anybody have an idea what that is about? While I can hear the Village Fire Department and Memorial Villages PD on the P25 Phase II system, none of the HFD talkgroups seem to be active at this point. Also, can anybody tell me what FRSS 3 sites are? They are referenced in the database (that the City of Houston will use FRSS 3 sites), but I don't know what they are.

Thanks in advance for any info and 73.

 

[loumaag]

I recently heard there was a "problem" with the new Houston P25 system that was going to require a technican to "go inside" each radio to do something. They are currently scheduling the various agencies for the service. Anybody have an idea what that is about? While I can hear the Village Fire Department and Memorial Villages PD on the P25 Phase II system, none of the HFD talkgroups seem to be active at this point. Also, can anybody tell me what FRSS 3 sites are? They are referenced in the database (that the City of Houston will use FRSS 3 sites), but I don't know what they are.

Thanks in advance for any info and 73.

I will leave the "problem" you mention to others to address as to exact details (if they wish).

But as for the RFSS (Radio Frequency Sub-System), it is a further break down of the system in question. The P25 standard allows for networks of systems to communicate. This starts at the Network level (WACN - Wide Area Communication Network). In theory, any assets from any system on the same WACN can communicate with little effort. Next is the System Identity (SysID), this is the level we here at RR establish each system (normally). This level contains all the assets that deal with a specific system and should be under the control of a single master controller. In most systems (currently) this also constitutes a single RFSS (usually #1) so it doesn't usually cause confusion. When the system gets bigger or the system designers need to segregate parts of the system, is when different RFSS numbers start to show up.

Now, with that background, the TxWARN P25 system is broken down into 3 sub-systems. These are (at least around here) commonly called "layers". Layer 1 is basically the FDMA portion of the system that is used in the Houston Metro area. Layer 2 is FDMA portion of the system that is used outside of the Houston Metro area. Layer 3 (the one you were asking about) is the only layer that will contain TDMA signaling. It also will carry FDMA signaling, but (at this time) those TGs that designated to be TDMA will all be restricted to RFSS 3 on the system and it is the layer that the City of Houston will be operating on (along with some smaller agencies locally.)

Back to the "problem" you mentioned, briefly it is a problem that is only a Motorola problem. In other words, the /\/\ radios are the ones with the problem, all the other manufacturers' radios don't have the problem. I also understand had a political decision not been made the HPD and HFD would have been on the new system in December as scheduled.

 

[dupree617]

I will leave the "problem" you mention to others to address as to exact details (if they wish).

But as for the RFSS (Radio Frequency Sub-System), it is a further break down of the system in question. The P25 standard allows for networks of systems to communicate. This starts at the Network level (WACN - Wide Area Communication Network). In theory, any assets from any system on the same WACN can communicate with little effort. Next is the System Identity (SysID), this is the level we here at RR establish each system (normally). This level contains all the assets that deal with a specific system and should be under the control of a single master controller. In most systems (currently) this also constitutes a single RFSS (usually #1) so it doesn't usually cause confusion. When the system gets bigger or the system designers need to segregate parts of the system, is when different RFSS numbers start to show up.

Now, with that background, the TxWARN P25 system is broken down into 3 sub-systems. These are (at least around here) commonly called "layers". Layer 1 is basically the FDMA portion of the system that is used in the Houston Metro area. Layer 2 is FDMA portion of the system that is used outside of the Houston Metro area. Layer 3 (the one you were asking about) is the only layer that will contain TDMA signaling. It also will carry FDMA signaling, but (at this time) those TGs that designated to be TDMA will all be restricted to RFSS 3 on the system and it is the layer that the City of Houston will be operating on (along with some smaller agencies locally.)

Back to the "problem" you mentioned, briefly it is a problem that is only a Motorola problem. In other words, the /\/\ radios are the ones with the problem, all the other manufacturers' radios don't have the problem. I also understand had a political decision not been made the HPD and HFD would have been on the new system in December as scheduled.

I just wanted to take the time to thank you. Even though I wasn't the one with the question, it's something that I've been wondering.

Mike Dupree

 

[KA5YYD]

I just wanted to take the time to thank you. Even though I wasn't the one with the question, it's something that I've been wondering.

Mike Dupree

Yes, thank you for the information.

 

[teknishun]

Harris County Texas TXWARN P25

Does anyone know when the new Harris County TXWARN P25 700 Mhz new system for police, fire, and EMS will be turned up for the outlying areas like Alvin, Pearland, Friendswood, Dickinson, League City, Manvel and Webster? The towers are built, the FCC licenses are issued, my scanner is programmed, but they are still using the current (old) 800 Mhz trunking system. When will testing of the 700 Mhz trunking system take place and when will it go live on the air? What is the holdup?

 

[N5AMS]

my giuess would be when the get the radio's installed into the vehicles and the dispatch centers and issue the handhelds to everyone. Also note that the Alvin site is on zone 3 which is the COH that is also TDMA and can only be monitored by a PSR800 unless there are FDMA transmissions, they would also need the manpower to go and install them. They also have an order that they go by as to who gets the radios next in line." anyone that really knows if this part is true please let me know".

 

[gjhamilton]

There is a good amount of Phase 1 traffic on the Pearland site. Dont know what agencies you are looking for though.

 

[loumaag]

teknishun:
I merged your new topic with the existing one, please don't start a new topic when there is already an active topic on the same subject, thanks.

 

[teknishun]

There is a good amount of Phase 1 traffic on the Pearland site. Dont know what agencies you are looking for though.

Pearland traffic, as well as the other agencies listed in my original message, are still using the
800 Mhz trunking ANALOG system. No one seems to be on the 700 Mhz DIGITAL trunking system yet.
The locations of the towers are different between the two systems. I have been told that one of the
area police departments already has installed the new radios almost a year ago, but they are still
using them on the analog frequencies. That is why I am curious as to when the P25 digital system is
officially due to be turned up.

 

[gjhamilton]

Im not sure what you mean by turned up. But if you set your scanner on the pearland site and use a wildcard tg you will see it is very much in use. Maybe just not the agencies you are looking for.

 

[loumaag]

... No one seems to be on the 700 Mhz DIGITAL trunking system yet.
...

You really cannot make such broad statements. The TxWARN P25 system has been on the air for years now and the majority of subscribers that were on the TxWARN Motorola system have moved to the P25 system. The fact the vast majority of the subscribers are Harris Co. folks impacts that some, but saying "No one seems to be..." is just plain wrong. What you might want to ask is why your specific agencies are not using it (if they are not.) I am not down there, but even here on the west side there are agencies that have not moved and I have no idea why (Katy PD, for example).