CapStar362
Member
so the upgrade is back on? or is it still on hold?
Clayton County needs updating
- Thread starter wise871
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As far as I can tell its unfunded as of now, but there is an active RFP out. Looks like its just in the early stages.
RFEngineering101
Member
Perhaps this has something to do with the delay:
BOCWatch Community Forum • View topic - Public Safety Radio RFP 4.5 million +
Its interesting to note that Clayton apparently "borrowed" Floyd County's RFP. And Floyd just awarded a big contract to Harris. Things that make you go "Hmmmmmm....."
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Read the RFP. They are buying a phase I system. Phase I is 1996 technology. Phase II is also a ripoff. The smart money is to do what NYPD is attempting to do and work with the 700MHz 4G LTE developers to build a nexgen system that actually is 10 times better than LMR. It could happen much sooner if customers would demand it. But they are perfectly content buying yesterday's LMR technologies at tomorrow's prices. Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.
You are correct, none of the agencies you mentioned above that pissed millions of our tax dollars down the can get phase II or even an upgrade path without a complete rebuild. Should have asked those questions when the money was flowing like water and these perfectly functional analog TRS's were being scrapped. Remember the early days of Astro 25 promising HOST/DSP uplifts to phase II in a future core release? We see how well that worked out. It's APEX products from this point forward at the APEX of pricing structures!
Autonomy: how well is that working for us? Nothing like being on "separate but equal" systems and being nowhere more towards a real regional radio system than we were since the 1980's when everyone was on VHF/UHF conventional analog.
So long as there is no REAL regional authority to manage such autonomy and provide funding, well...where will be in 10 years from now?
Exactly where we are today. Paying too much for absolutely nothing we don't already have.
At a time when we are furloughing first responders and cutting services we need to think twice before signing on the dotted lines. Let's make sure we actually get what we think we're paying for this time.
Unfortunately there is no requirement to have a fully functioning brain to be elected as a county commissioner in GA.
RFEngineering101
Member
Phase 1 is pretty typical language in most RFP's right now. A good consultant wont try to lock their customer into technology only offered by one or two vendors. 5 years ago, you would only see Moto and Harris (ne M/ACom) show up at pre-bids. The plot has thickened recently. Big government contractors like Raytheon and Northrup Grumman are teaming up with other vendors such as EFJ, Tait, Daniels, etc. There are also two-way radio shops going up against the radio giants in some cases. Imagine if the MSS shops would have done that in the SmartNet glory days? Moto would have shut them down in seconds!
As for regional interop and trying to find a "REAL" authority, I agree 100%. It just boggles the mind that DeKalb, COA and Gwinnett all got brand new STAND ALONE Astro 25 systems while the UASI system sat there collecting dust. At least Cobb helped get the UASI system started from its inception AND connected to it to boot. The other agencies can just do the feel good thing and program talkgroups that will work on the UASI system and then claim that they are Safecom compliant.
b7spectra
EMS Dispatcher
So, with all these P25 systems, did we EVER get the interoperability that was promised?
NO!
NO!
RFEngineering101
Member
Nope..
And to think ISSI would solve a LOT of these interop issues. But guess what? ISSI requires TWO agencies to sign on a dotted line before they can connect to each other's system. Last time I checked there were ZERO ISSI connections between the metro area's 6 or 7 similar Astro25 systems. It's pretty sad, actually. The metro area blew threw millions of dollars in DHS grant money and there is very little to show for it.
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
I've come to the conclusion that the UASI system was never intended to be used. The problem is Cobb charges an OUTRAGEOUS access fee for UASI, which is why no one uses it. It's almost as if it was put up for show, as it is, as you say, quiet as crickets chirping of the idling control channels.
This is the best example I know of why the state needs to step in and create a regional authority with some bite to curb this separatism, the same way the state DOT does with roadways. By withholding funding, you can force people to "play nice" with each other. Right now, every county/city comes to the table paying out of pocket, and the state puts in nothing, so there is no incentive for any member to do anything other than what they wish for their own resources.
ISSI roaming will only be a reality when this happens. Until then it remains another unfulfilled promise by radio salesmen, and we're exactly where we were 10 years ago, just poorer.
CapStar362
Member
hmmmmmmmm indeed....shows you what clayton does for a living in their agenda's glad im moving to Rockdale!! tomorrow!!
Other than the I-Tacs and a few patches some counties have worked out no.
The best interop is the ole VHF state band when every car in the state had it and every dispatcher had it. I used to be able to drive from Atlanta to South GA and talk to any SO or PD dispatcher or unit I wanted to on state band. Most of the metro agencies dont even have these in the cars anymore.
RFEngineering101
Member
Hey speaking of Interop.... whatever happened to that big state-wide MotoBridge project that was supposed to solve the state's interop problems? Talk about something collecting dust and harboring crickets!!
Cobb most likely has to charge a subscriber fee due to the high cost of maintaining a system with no users.
Cobb most likely has to charge a subscriber fee due to the high cost of maintaining a system with no users.
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Oh you mean GEWIN...another nice 7 million dollars wizzed down the commode by the GTA. Never used, just sits around gathering dust like UASI.
What cost does Cobb incur? The hardware sits on other people's sites (like Morgan Falls) and the backhaul is already in place. It's just a money grab. Not worth the fees they want to put radios online that aren't used for anything more than occasional interagency comms when you can switch to I-TAC/8-TAC, grab your trusty VHF high power mobile or cellphone.
Again, another great idea poorly executed.
RFEngineering101
Member
Cobb is part of UASI, correct? And Motorola charges UASI a pretty hefty maintenance fee, correct? Or are they Time and Materials for maintenance? Either way, the grant monies are probably long gone. Which means UASI (which Cobb is part of) needs to recoup $$$ to pay the big M's hefty.
Bottom line is anything govt touches turns into a total money pit and often doesnt deliver what it says it was going to do.
Motorola wins though after greasing the wheels and getting all these separate massive comm systems at your expense.
Motorola wins though after greasing the wheels and getting all these separate massive comm systems at your expense.
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
it's shared infrastructure, or supposed to be. Cobb already charges subs an arm and a leg to be on their DTRS. so much so that some cities (Marietta namely) have pulled radios OFF the system for non PS and built their own systems at a savings. I hear Acworth has gone back to using VHF for car to car to eliminate airtime use, not to mention it gives them interop with Cherokee and Bartow who are VHF analog conventional.
Grant money dried up when the War started. Cobb's DTRS was paid for with a SPLOST passed in 2005. and already they want more money for the next round of buying what we already got, yet we are furloughing county employees and cutting services to citizens.
Nothing to see here...moving right along...
CapStar362
Member
okay i have a problem...... i am now in Rockdale County, but i am residing on a major hilltop. i can somewhat pickup County PD/FD/EMS but none of the local jurisdictions.... okay no problem.... but i cant always get a good signal of County. whats the best way to not permanently mount a outdoor antenna and best location?
my location is the top left corner of the house in the image circled
my location is the top left corner of the house in the image circled
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N8IAA
Member
You need to put up an antenna on the other side of the tree line
Are you asking about the VHF/UHF frequencies, or the trunked system. That's a pretty good hike from Rockdale to Clayton with a lot of other stuff to block the signal path.
Larry
Are you asking about the VHF/UHF frequencies, or the trunked system. That's a pretty good hike from Rockdale to Clayton with a lot of other stuff to block the signal path. Larry
CapStar362
Member
You need to put up an antenna on the other side of the tree line
Larry
well i can tell you that in the basement of that location im still halfway receiving Clayton Co PD/Fire/EMS but no local jurisdictions ( riverdale jonesboro forest park) which im fine with...... so if i were to run a cable up the corner of the house with a decent outdoor antenna facing the general direction of Clayton would i be ok?
N8IAA
Member
Most definitely. But, I'm guessing that even a dual band vertical will work too. I use a magmount with a dual band commercial antenna. Basically hear everything in a two county area. In the house on a four drawer metal filing cabinet.
Larry
Larry
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