City of Houston Project 25 TRS

[wa1emt]

Ok. Could you also state that if you cant answer a question dont respond

 

[motorola_otaku]

The current UHF systems are built on MSF5000 repeaters with SpectraTAC voting receivers linked by wireline that was all installed in the early-mid 1980s. None of it is supported by Motorola any more.. you want parts, you're stuck with Ebay and the online market. The HFD simulcast is crippled by an ancient rubidium frequency standard that is well and truly on its last legs. And on top of that, there are known portable dead spots within both systems that have existed for years, especially in the Kingwood and Clear Lake areas which weren't even part of the city when the system was constructed. Then there's the system capacity/loading issues, some of which are perceived and some of which have been backed up with complex math.. tl;dr there aren't enough repeated channels with citywide coverage to go around for either agency.

Could the UHF systems have been overhauled to address all of these issues for a fraction of what the P25 system cost/will cost? Absolutely. (Two words.. well, two callsigns: KXK725 and WII335) But that's not what they wanted, and they couldn't have afforded it on their own even if they did. The P25 system was funded with a DHS grant which specified 700 MHz and P25 as qualifying criteria.

 

[procopper7005]

Could they just have purchased new UHF repeaters and infrastructure and keep it conventional rather than building this massive trunk system?

 

[wa1emt]

Mr. Motorola,
Thank you for answering my question and the explanation made alot of sense. I guess since I dont listen to it 24/7 i dont hear some of the issues.
Thanks again for taking out the time to answer my question.
William

 

[rattlerbb01]

The current UHF systems are built on MSF5000 repeaters with SpectraTAC voting receivers linked by wireline that was all installed in the early-mid 1980s. None of it is supported by Motorola any more.. you want parts, you're stuck with Ebay and the online market. The HFD simulcast is crippled by an ancient rubidium frequency standard that is well and truly on its last legs. And on top of that, there are known portable dead spots within both systems that have existed for years, especially in the Kingwood and Clear Lake areas which weren't even part of the city when the system was constructed. Then there's the system capacity/loading issues, some of which are perceived and some of which have been backed up with complex math.. tl;dr there aren't enough repeated channels with citywide coverage to go around for either agency.

Could the UHF systems have been overhauled to address all of these issues for a fraction of what the P25 system cost/will cost? Absolutely. (Two words.. well, two callsigns: KXK725 and WII335) But that's not what they wanted, and they couldn't have afforded it on their own even if they did. The P25 system was funded with a DHS grant which specified 700 MHz and P25 as qualifying criteria.

That is excellent information. Is there a wiki or other history page somewhere that goes into detail about the radio systems in Houston and Harris county through the decades? I would love to spend some time reading about it.

 

[motorola_otaku]

That is excellent information. Is there a wiki or other history page somewhere that goes into detail about the radio systems in Houston and Harris county through the decades? I would love to spend some time reading about it.

None that I'm aware of. You can sometimes catch an old-timer and pump them for information, though. :lol:

If you're a member of HoustonScan I uploaded the city's RCC report to the files section. It has excellent information on the UHF infrastructure and subscriber devices currently in use.

 

[Thunderbolt]

The city of Houston is requesting an STA, at all of their 700 MHz trunking sites. This is so they can go live immediately and start testing. After that phase is completed, transitioning users over will begin.

Letter to the FCC.

Yours truly,

Ron

 

[mfn002]

The city of Houston is requesting an STA, at all of their 700 MHz trunking sites. This is so they can go live immediately and start testing. After that phase is completed, transitioning users over will begin.

Yours truly,

Ron

Open letter to UPMan: WHERE'S THE PHASE II SCANNER???

Aside: It better happen soon, or he'll have every wrecker driver in the greater Houston area flooding his inbox with the same question.

 

[rattlerbb01]

The city of Houston is requesting an STA, at all of their 700 MHz trunking sites. This is so they can go live immediately and start testing. After that phase is completed, transitioning users over will begin.

Letter to the FCC.

Yours truly,

Ron

Good for them, though I hope the testing doesn't get rushed to the point there are failures from the beginning. It is a massive project, no doubt.

 

[mfn002]

Good for them, though I hope the testing doesn't get rushed to the point there are failures from the beginning. It is a massive project, no doubt.

According to what I heard a while ago, it is supposed to be the largest pure Phase II system yet.

 

[N5AMS]

well when that happens i guess i will have to switch the feed out to HCESD-1 or something else i guess

 

[twindad99]

I've seen posts elsewhere that the STAs have been approved......

 

[nd5y]

ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQOV398 - CITY OF HOUSTON ITD RCS
ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQOV401 - CITY OF HOUSTON ITD RCS
ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQOV410 - CITY OF HOUSTON ITD RCS
ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQOV411 - CITY OF HOUSTON ITD RCS
ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQOV412 - CITY OF HOUSTON ITD RCS
ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQOV413 - CITY OF HOUSTON ITD RCS

 

[motorola_otaku]

Boredom is a powerful thing.. City of Houston 700 MHz System - Google Maps Conspicuously absent from the STA licenses are the Pasadena tower near Beltway 8 and 225 and the tower near Clinton and 610.

 

[emd001]

forgive my ignorance but why are there 2 locations where there are 2 towers very close to each other?

 

[grem467]

but wait, theres more....

 

[ericcarlson]

forgive my ignorance but why are there 2 locations where there are 2 towers very close to each other?

In-building coverage requirements in downtown and the Texas Medical Center. Also, I believe the site at 600 Travis actually represents the downtown tunnel system fill-in site.

 

[mfn002]

I had a doctor's appointment in Bellaire the other day and I noticed that a new antenna tower had be built (off of 610 near Loop Central) and it had that distinctive 3-antenna arrangement that is indicative of a trunked system. My doctor said it was put up a few weeks ago. Is this some sort of new site for the Houston Public Safety system (aka City of Houston Project 25 system)?

 

[SCPD]

dead spots within both systems that have existed for years, especially in the Kingwood and Clear Lake areas which weren't even part of the city when the system was constructed.

Ah yes, the occupied territories. Sorry, old joke.

 

[procopper7005]

Open letter to UPMan: WHERE'S THE PHASE II SCANNER???

Aside: It better happen soon, or he'll have every wrecker driver in the greater Houston area flooding his inbox with the same question.

Great point about the wrecker drivers. Houston PD doesnt telephone wrecker companies, they just call over the air "need a wrecker at 12000 SW Freeway" and when 1 or 20 shows up the officer on scene says "no more wreckers 12000 SW freeway" It sounds crazy but actually works pretty well in Houston.

There are hundreds of wreckers outfitted with UHF radios or scanners that will have to be retrofitted to accommodate this new system.