Complied List of Jurisdictions Planning New Radio Systems

[maus92]

Due to budget constraints Dorchester will be maintaining the current Motorola system but has applied for a grant to purchase new radios which will operate on the FIRST system so they can maintain interoperability with neighboring jurisdictions.

That's interesting. The upgrade strategy to purchase subscriber units - usually handhelds - to enable crossband interoperability - 700/800 in this case - is typical and sound. However, the support for the current system is probably sunsetting in the next few years, so this is really only a temporary measure. Is this setting up a scenario where Dorchester County might join FiRST? How well does the current system work in Dorchester?

 

[troymail]

Looks like Cecil was able to grab 5 more 800's (15 total now) - and add additional sites on a 2nd license:

ULS Application - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked - 0007432612 - CECIL, COUNTY OF

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQYF685 - CECIL, COUNTY OF

This seems to suggest that it will be a "Phase 2 compliant" system that will be operated as Phase 1

 

[Mark]

Looks like Cecil was able to grab 5 more 800's (15 total now) - and add additional sites on a 2nd license:

Thanks for update,guess they won't have to mess with the 700 State system.

 

[maus92]

Thanks for update,guess they won't have to mess with the 700 State system.

Other than co-locating equipment on state owned tower sites.

 

[Mark]

Other than co-locating equipment on state owned tower sites.

Noticed on special conditions they have to notify Sprint/Nextel with 60 days advanced notice to fire up these freqs..Old cell phone freqs or just too close?
ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQYF685 - CECIL, COUNTY OF - Administration

 

[DisasterGuy]

Cecil is very hard to cover with a single simulcast cell due to tdi issues from its topography and geography. Expect that more than one "site" is highly likely.

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[boatbod]

I heard yesterday that Caroline fire/ems is supposed to make their move to FiRST some time in mid Oct, while Talbot is going to be moving mid to late Nov.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

Charles County 2016 Annual Report

With nearly 1,800 primary users on the county’s radio system,
including local and state public safety first responders and County Government employees, many rely on the system daily for critical communications during county and regional emergency response and operations. The system’s age and recent radio system infrastructure changes in neighboring jurisdictions resulted in the loss of communication with response partners in other jurisdictions. In an effort to restore the radio system’s functionality, the department is replacing all mobile radios in the county fleet. The department is also working to replace all hand-held radios. Recently, the department began assessing the current radio system to identify functionality needs, coverage gaps, and first responder requirements that cannot be met by the current system. This assessment will be followed by creating a detailed design requirements document for the radio system infrastructure replacement process. It is imperative that emergency radio communications equipment is current, and the county is well underway. First responder safety and a coordinated, multi-agency/jurisdiction emergency response are primary benefits of reliable interoperable public safety communications.

http://www.charlescountymd.gov/sites/default/files/FY2016AnnualReport.pdf

 

[troymail]

Worcester will be Harris Phase 1 / Phase 2 Dual Dynamic Mode with cutover during spring & summer of 2017 as c9verage testing under full foliage is required.

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Phase 2 license issued:

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQYS632 - WORCESTER, COUNTY OF

Appears to authorize P25 Phase 2 on 8 of the existing 800 mhz frequencies.

 

[troymail]

AA new Phase 2 license (expansion)

Anne Arundel grabbed some new frequencies - reportedly preparing for future upgrades to include new services such as wireless provisioning of subscriber radios and Automatic Resource Locator (ARL).

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/...tachmentKey=20044724&attachmentInd=applAttach

...and also requesting extension of the typical 1 year implementation time frame with expected functional acceptance testing in 5 years....

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/...tachmentKey=20044723&attachmentInd=applAttach

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQYS649 - ANNE ARUNDEL, COUNTY OF

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

Anne Arundel grabbed some new frequencies - reportedly preparing for future upgrades to include new services such as wireless provisioning of subscriber radios and Automatic Resource Locator (ARL).

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/...tachmentKey=20044724&attachmentInd=applAttach

...and also requesting extension of the typical 1 year implementation time frame with expected functional acceptance testing in 5 years....

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/...tachmentKey=20044723&attachmentInd=applAttach

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQYS649 - ANNE ARUNDEL, COUNTY OF

Always new it would be a long time away but 5 years (at the earliest), WOW, that is a long time.

 

[maus92]

It was interesting that in the first waiver request, the county was asking for a certain frequency, claiming that there were no others available. Then a few months later, they came up with three different pairs that were granted. They got licensed to the Greenbury Point tower site, which I don't think is actually used in the current simulcast cell - but I could be wrong about that. Might be a placeholder.

 

[troymail]

Always new it would be a long time away but 5 years (at the earliest), WOW, that is a long time.

Seems like a long time to me too but this county doesn't do anything quickly... I suspect they calculated for "worst case" and you'll probably see something sooner. If you're going to ask for an extension, may as well give yourself plenty of time - otherwise, you'll have to go back and ask again.

It was interesting that in the first waiver request, the county was asking for a certain frequency, claiming that there were no others available. Then a few months later, they came up with three different pairs that were granted. They got licensed to the Greenbury Point tower site, which I don't think is actually used in the current simulcast cell - but I could be wrong about that. Might be a placeholder.

That's my thinking also -- they just used GP as a license site to lock in the frequencies -- later, they can come back and the full list of sites.

 

[DisasterGuy]

I don't believe that Anne Arundel has even selected a vendor yet.

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[maus92]

I don't believe that Anne Arundel has even selected a vendor yet.

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They sent out a communication several months ago to prequalify interested bidders, but I don't think they've published a RFP yet.

 

[riveter]

Observing this process in AACO is really, really similar to watching paint grow.

 

[troymail]

Anne Arundel keeps moving money around - they allocate for projects and then use it for other things. I'm pretty sure I saw something recently taking funds from the planning phases of the radio project. They've been hacking at upgrades for a while with new radios, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if some of this stems from the amount of work done some time ago to prep to switch everything to digital and then the fire department fought and won to stay on analog (they had valid concerns). All of the radios were programmed and then it was never used. Then, they had the digital talkgroups removed from the radios (I believe) - too many radios were ending up on the digital talkgroups and they were losing track of units. I'm certain all of that work wasn't "free". Still, someone made the decision to switch to digital before these issues were resolved.

And then - there was the huge new CAD fiasco several year ago - millions of dollars and years of work - rolled out and then rolled back less than a month later.

 

[troymail]

Cecil

Looks like Cecil was able to grab 5 more 800's (15 total now) - and add additional sites on a 2nd license:

ULS Application - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked - 0007432612 - CECIL, COUNTY OF

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQYF685 - CECIL, COUNTY OF

This seems to suggest that it will be a "Phase 2 compliant" system that will be operated as Phase 1

And now a set of Phase 2 700 mhz frequencies -

ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQYU600 - CECIL, COUNTY OF - Frequencies Summary

ULS License - Trunked Public Safety 700 MHz License - WQYU602 - CECIL, COUNTY OF - Frequencies Summary

 

[troymail]

Noticed Cecil was sent Construction Reminders in April and again just recently for the 800 mhz licenses they got.

Also, CAPRAD is showing Cecil may be getting another standalone FiRST site in Cecilton - at least, they've set aside some frequencies for it.

 

[troymail]

Calvert apparently asked for more time -- letter submitted says they now believe they need more towers/transmitter sites than originally planned -- now as many as 15 sites. Expecting to be operational June 2018.

https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsEntry/...tachmentKey=20158416&attachmentInd=applAttach