Cobb County DTRS vs. GEWIN vs. AUASI

[b7spectra]

Has anyone noticed the "change" to the Cobb County DTRS system? It's now been renamed Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative! What is that? The Cobb DTRS is licensed by, owned and operated by Cobb County. So far, the ONLY jurisdictions in the Metro area that have any UASI channels in their radios are Cobb County. If you go looking for info on the Cobb DTRS, you have to go to the AUASI for it, not a listing for Cobb County DTRS!

Any moderators out there that want to fix this?

 

[Thunderbolt]

The reason that it was changed from GEWIN to the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative, was to reflect the way the system paid for and setup by the local authorities. Moreover, since the Cobb County DTRS and the Metro Atlanta (State Owned) Simulcast system, share the same the system ID and WACN, its our policy to list them under one system in the database. That being said, if for any reason one of these TRSs were to break away and change their system ID, then we would list them as separate systems in the database.

73s

Ron

 

[MTS2000des]

hey Mike, it's progress! at least they aren't calling it "GEWIN" anymore!

 

[b7spectra]

Big deal that it has the same WACN & system ID. Who is the 4 transmitters licensed to? Cobb County! Not Atlanta Urban boogity boo.

AUASI sounds like something I get on my salad at Outback Steak House.

Since this money has come from the Department of Homeland Security, why is it not listed that way.

Put the system under Cobb County P25.

 

[relicwr]

theres a way to link up systems online like amateur repeaters with echolink correct?

 

[ButchGone]

Hey now!

I have often wondered why people who live many states away control the information in places like Georgia and Tennessee. Why can't the Cobb County DTRS be listed as such, under Cobb County? Most people who listen to scanners probably don't know, or care for that matter, who or what the funding mechanism is for the radio systems, or how the FCC license is structured. It is so clear that the Cobb County DTRS is just that, for Cobb County and Cobb County alone. Any other Motobridge patching or links to other systems really doesn't amount to a hill of beans. A scanner user wishing to program and listen to the Cobb County system should be able to find the data under Cobb County, not buried in some obscure acronym or name listed in an adjacent county. I'm not trying to start a flame or war of words, but for simplicty's sake please post systems in the county in which they operate. And perhaps taking the advice from people who live in the area and listen to the system might be wise and help scanner listeners who just wanna know where that fire truck is going or why all the blue lights lit up the neighbor's house. Isn't Radio Reference supposed to help people in their hobby?
BG..

 

[N8IAA]

I have often wondered why people who live many states away control the information in places like Georgia and Tennessee. Why can't the Cobb County DTRS be listed as such, under Cobb County? Most people who listen to scanners probably don't know, or care for that matter, who or what the funding mechanism is for the radio systems, or how the FCC license is structured. It is so clear that the Cobb County DTRS is just that, for Cobb County and Cobb County alone. Any other Motobridge patching or links to other systems really doesn't amount to a hill of beans. A scanner user wishing to program and listen to the Cobb County system should be able to find the data under Cobb County, not buried in some obscure acronym or name listed in an adjacent county. I'm not trying to start a flame or war of words, but for simplicty's sake please post systems in the county in which they operate. And perhaps taking the advice from people who live in the area and listen to the system might be wise and help scanner listeners who just wanna know where that fire truck is going or why all the blue lights lit up the neighbor's house. Isn't Radio Reference supposed to help people in their hobby?
BG..

A big AMEN!
Larry

 

[MTS2000des]

The reason that it was changed from GEWIN to the Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative, was to reflect the way the system paid for and setup by the local authorities. Moreover, since the Cobb County DTRS and the Metro Atlanta (State Owned) Simulcast system, share the same the system ID and WACN, its our policy to list them under one system in the database. That being said, if for any reason one of these TRSs were to break away and change their system ID, then we would list them as separate systems in the database.

73s

Ron

Wrong, the Cobb DTRS was paid for through SPLOST (special local option sales tax) in 2006 by a vote of us Cobb county taxpayers- I think WE know better than anyone not from here who paid for it! The Cobb DTRS is NOT part of the Atlanta UASI system, this has been discussed on here in other threads at great length. There is, nor ever was, a statewide 800MHz system in Georgia known as GEWIN. Where this came from is beyond me, I provided a link directly to the FCC website describing what GEWIN is and nowhere in that document was mention of this statewide 800MHz P25 system some call "GEWIN".

 

[Casey]

The Cobb DTRS is NOT part of the Atlanta UASI system, this has been discussed on here in other threads at great length.

The Cobb Digital System IS connected to UASI, UASI frequencies are carrying roam traffic for Cobb Police and Sheriff 24/7...the system controllers for both systems share a common talkgroup numbering structure. When UASI was being installed I personally logged the same talkgroups coming across the state AND cobb towers as they brought up the mutual aid talkgroups.If you take a trip over to the Cobb County East Transmitter you will also see a microwave transmiiter pointed eastward to the Fulco North UASI site. These systems are tied in. Period

 

[Firebuff880]

Sorry you are not right ---

Casey,

Your are not right. Although you are not wrong. The Microwave you mentioned is pointed at the FC Morgans Falls facility and there is some cross programing between the systems throughout the area. The ability to roam is not yet there, and at the moment may not even be funded. As you need not only the Smartzone capability but also the ISSI software and certain consistent levels of code between all the systems to be linked.

Today, the system know as UASI (Urban Area Security Initiative) is a multisite/simucast overlay of the systems in the metro Atlanta area. The UASI Parties are Atlanta, Fulton, Dekalb and the State of GA. Cobb is not even officially on the board at this time, although they have played a major role in the design and role out.

As stated earlier the Cobb system is Cobb's payed for with SPLOST (special local option sales tax) in 2006 not UASI funds.

Maybe someday all these systems will be linked real time, and the user in the field will be able to seamlessly roam and interact with others across the metro area but today it's a matter of cross programing, assigning of UASI / Wide Area IDs and switching systems. Any thing else is $$$$$$s to be spent.


--------------------------

 

[b7spectra]

So, it looks like EVERYONE agrees on one point - Cobb County paid for and is licensed on the frequencies. Maybe I'll shoot Lindsay a message to put this to rest?

 

[blantonl]

So, it looks like EVERYONE agrees on one point - Cobb County paid for and is licensed on the frequencies. Maybe I'll shoot Lindsay a message to put this to rest?

This doesn't matter at this point. We've got tons of systems in the database that have individual components "owned" and "licensed" by different entities - but comprise of a single trunked network that share both infrastructure, configurations, and system ID/WACN.

We deal with this on a constant basis, and our database admin policies and procedures work for the betterment of the overall community. We also have a number of tools we can use to make sure that each county supported by a wide-area system is represented properly.... and

On the surface, from what I can see the system should be listed as one. I'll work with the Eric and the rest of admin team to gather additional details on this issue so we can come up with a final resolution.

 

[gatorhater]

I voted for placing as Cobb County since the residents of Cobb County paid taxes to get this done in the first place. I'm with b7spectra on this one.

 

[b7spectra]

gatorhater - even though I bleed gator orange and blue, it's nice to have you on my side!

 

[Metrofire31]

I also support at least having a cross-reference listing as "COBB COUNTY DTRS". You can call a system anything you choose for cross-reference purposes. Keep this database a meaningful tool for scanner listeners by at least having a reference to the Cobb County system.

 

[blantonl]

Gentleman, the system will remain with it's currently assigned name since they share the same zone controller, system ID and other infrastructure components. Cobb County is a participant in the overall project, albiet a major one, but still a participant.

We manage many other systems under this same policy without problems.

Our dbadmins have been instructed to make sure that entries on the Cobb County page highlight the fact that agencies in Cobb County utilize this system for communications.

That's our policy and our decision on this issue.

 

[Firebuff880]

By this logic ---

If this is the logic applied, you should also combine the MARTA, City of Atlanta, and Deklab county P25 systems into the one site as well. Since they have all put resources and personal into the project.

Additionally, one pont that was not made is the Cobb county can NOT put radios on this system, without the authority of the UASI board and being assignd WIDE Area id's and support. THE USAI system is a closed system, while the COBB system is open to an Municipal agency in the County that wants to be part of the Cobb system and signs the intergovermental agreement with Cobb County. an pays the usable fees.

The Cobb system is the Cobb system, and they have loaned UASI the use of a space on the existing SmartZone controller, the same way a SWAT team or Fire Engine might be loaned as part of an Interagency auto aid agreement..

BUT it's yor sand box..

Gentleman, the system will remain with it's currently assigned name since they share the same zone controller, system ID and other infrastructure components. Cobb County is a participant in the overall project, albiet a major one, but still a participant.

.

 

[b7spectra]

That's OK. Whoever the database administrator is, is now saying that GSP and other State of Georgia agencies use this system (query the AUSSI - or whatever else they want to call it - via Fulton County). HELLO? GSP works off of the Atlanta TRS and there are no other agencies on this system outside of Cobb County (inclusive of all cities within) and Douglasville (as a back up channel).

>Gentleman, the system will remain with it's currently assigned name since they share the same zone controller, system ID and other infrastructure components. Cobb County is a participant in the overall project, albiet a major one, but still a participant.<

Cobb County is the ONLY agencies that are on this system. Atlanta doesn't even have it in their radios (check the layout of the Atlanta Police radios under the Atlanta P25 system)! Over half of Fulton County is still using MTS2000 radios.

If you read the Metro Atlanta Urban Area Security Initiative, page 9 states that it "developed interagency agreements between Atlanta, Fulton County, DeKalb County and State of Georgia" - it says NOTHING about Cobb County. Page 11 states "Six sites in three core jurisdictions were selected as primary tower site locations" - none of which are in Cobb County, but "Cobb County did offer connectivity to their Master Site" even though they are not listed as part of the consortium. Page 13 states "When interfaced to the Cobb County master site", being the Cobb County DTRS which is not owned/operated by UASI.

If you would take a look at the controller and system ID of all the counties in the Metro Atlanta area that are on DTRS (read City of Atlanta, DeKalb/Forsyth/Fulton/Gwinnett & Hall Counties), not a single one of them are listed with those. Now, call me ignorant, but how can they be part of this AUASI if they don't match up?

Another item to read is the Atlanta-Fulton County EMA document, one that dated as of May 6, 2009, states they have not agreed to participate in the UASI. Page 7, Line M states "All equipment obtained from the UASI Grant Program is the sole responsibility of the receiving agency" which in plain text states it is owned/operated with the agency that owns it.

If we are to call it what you want, it would all boil down to being part of the Department of Homeland Security as that is where the funds came from.

I step down from my soap box.

 

[b7spectra]

Sorry, but one more round on my soap box.

>We manage many other systems under this same policy without problems.<

According to the FEMA FY 2009 Tier 2 Urban Areas, it list multiple locations throughout the United States who are not only Tier 1, but Tier 2 Urban Areas. A quick check of the RR database for several of the states (Florida - Jacksonville; Arizona - Phoenix; Washington - Seattle; California - Los Angeles; Oklahoma - Tulsa and Pennsylvania - Philadelphia) and none of them are listed as a UASI entity. Do you have examples of this?

 

[blantonl]

mike, you are failing to read what I have posted, otherwise arguing your position with obscure FEMA and interoperabilty references. Get off your soapbox and read what has been presented.

P25 systems are orchestrated by a zone controller, which comprises the logic and control of "a system." we track trunked radio systems in the database. The higher, overreaching participant in this system is the consortium, not Cobb County.

That's it man, boil it down... I don't care if Cobb county is leasing, renting, or loaning space to the higher level entity - it is all the same system, as indicated by the same system id and wacn.

Period. End of story.