Confused about simulcast

[RomeRon]

Catoosa, Dade, and Walker County is listed as a simulcast and I heard when Rome Ga's P25 system is up and running, Catoosa, Dade and Walker County will tie into the Rome P25 system. So my first question is, can police in Rome talk to police in Tennessee by going through Catoosa, Dade, and Walker County's simulcast?

From looking at the google maps I am seeing that Rome is filling the gap between Catoosa, Dade, and Walker County to Cobb County to Calhoun County-Talladega, Ala and eventually (as I see it) Cobb County and Calhoun County-Talladega, Ala, will tie into to the Rome system, If this happens, let's say Cobb County wanted to talk to Dade county, which of the Rome repeater(s) would they go through. The map below shows where the Rome repeaters will be located.

 

[n5ims]

The ability for one agency to talk to another (on the same trunking system) is more dependent on them having common channels (or talkgroups in this case) than being on the same trunking system.

For example, Agency A only has trunkgroups 1, 2, and 3 on their radios (not actual trunkgroup IDs, but for example only), Agency B only has trunkgroups 7, 8, and 9 on their radios, and Agency C's radios are programmed with trunkgroups 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Agency A couldn't talk to agency B since they have no talkgroups in common. Agency C could talk to Agency A on talkgroup 1 and could talk to Agency B on talkgroup 7. Agency A may be able to pass messages to Agency B (but not directly talk to them) by having someone at Agency C relay them through their common channels, but this would require them to switch channels a bunch (or use multiple radios).

One other option would be to have the ability to patch one agency's talkgroup to one for the other agency during a "mutual aid" event. In this case all traffic on either of the patched talkgroups would be heard on both.

 

[RomeRon]

The ability for one agency to talk to another (on the same trunking system) is more dependent on them having common channels (or talkgroups in this case) than being on the same trunking system.

For example, Agency A only has trunkgroups 1, 2, and 3 on their radios (not actual trunkgroup IDs, but for example only), Agency B only has trunkgroups 7, 8, and 9 on their radios, and Agency C's radios are programmed with trunkgroups 1, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Agency A couldn't talk to agency B since they have no talkgroups in common. Agency C could talk to Agency A on talkgroup 1 and could talk to Agency B on talkgroup 7. Agency A may be able to pass messages to Agency B (but not directly talk to them) by having someone at Agency C relay them through their common channels, but this would require them to switch channels a bunch (or use multiple radios).

One other option would be to have the ability to patch one agency's talkgroup to one for the other agency during a "mutual aid" event. In this case all traffic on either of the patched talkgroups would be heard on both.

Thanks n5ims

Would I be right by saying that Catoosa, Dade, and Walker County are only renting space on the Tennessee's P25 system, if so, why would Catoosa, Dade, and Walker County want to tie into the Rome system. Thanks for replying as I said I am confused about all this stuff.

 

[n5ims]

Most likely the Tennessee system was available to them with sufficient coverage and allowed them to join for less than creating their own (individually or jointly) system(s). They may be moving to the Rome system for various reasons, coverage, cost, mutual aid opportunities, or even by design (they may have joined the Tennessee system as an interium move until the Rome system was ready).

It would be logical that the Rome system would be a "better fit" for them than the Tennessee system. Most likely the agencies they'll need to work with during wide area disasters (think the Alabama tornado or large forest fire covering many counties) would be from Georgia, not Tennessee so the Rome system (which sounds like a wide area of coverage) would probably allow for easier communication between agencies in such an emergency situation. This assumes they create some inter-op talkgroups or can quickly do so (as well as push them out to the affiliated radios) to cover such a situation.

 

[RomeRon]

I feel so dumb

Most likely the Tennessee system was available to them with sufficient coverage and allowed them to join for less than creating their own (individually or jointly) system(s). They may be moving to the Rome system for various reasons, coverage, cost, mutual aid opportunities, or even by design (they may have joined the Tennessee system as an interium move until the Rome system was ready).

It would be logical that the Rome system would be a "better fit" for them than the Tennessee system. Most likely the agencies they'll need to work with during wide area disasters (think the Alabama tornado or large forest fire covering many counties) would be from Georgia, not Tennessee so the Rome system (which sounds like a wide area of coverage) would probably allow for easier communication between agencies in such an emergency situation. This assumes they create some inter-op talkgroups or can quickly do so (as well as push them out to the affiliated radios) to cover such a situation.

I feel so dumb
I was thinking Rome was the missing link for the other counties to communicate with each other, don't know why things like talkgroups, and what you said about the agencies A,B C etc ( have read that before) didn't register with me. Don't know, must have been like I was thinking about a missing cell tower or something. If a dumb question can be asked then it mosy likely will be Me asking it.
Thanks n5ims for teaching an old dog a new trick.

 

[n5ims]

Glad to help out. Don't feel like you're dumb, just understand that you're learning something new (or getting reminded of something you knew, but had forgotten).

 

[MTS2000des]

http://www.simulcastsolutions.com/ppt/MotorolaF7.pdf

This is how it works.

 

[CFD288]

RomeRon where did you get your info about Dade/Walker/Catoosa tying in to Rome's p25 (newspaper, tv, etc)? Just curious, I live 30 miles NE of Chattanooga in Cleveland TN and enjoy listening to these agencies via Chattanooga p25 simulcast and would hate to "lose" them.

 

[RomeRon]

Must have been a dream.

RomeRon where did you get your info about Dade/Walker/Catoosa tying in to Rome's p25 (newspaper, tv, etc)? Just curious, I live 30 miles NE of Chattanooga in Cleveland TN and enjoy listening to these agencies via Chattanooga p25 simulcast and would hate to "lose" them.

Must have been a dream.

It has always been like this with me, when I see, hear, or read something that I am interested in, it's like it gets burned in my memory bank, and I still say I saw this and I am sure it was Walker county, and it had to be in the newspaper, I know it was not on TV, and I know it was not on the radio because I don't listen radio. I have searched the newspaper online and can not find it, So it must have been burnt from a dream.

I think I need to shut the Hell up, I made myself look dumb with the start of this thread and now I am making myself look like a liar.

RomeRon

 

[CFD288]

Hey RomeRon, it's all good. I'm learning from everyone here on the forums.

I was just wondering if you had any more info as to when they might switch over to Rome. The Chattanooga press usually gives any info about the TVRTS 800 radio system much coverage in the papers and the tv and I have not seen or heard any recent stories about any agency changes. Maybe Dade/Walker/Catoosa will have a presence on both systems.

 

[RomeRon]

Hey RomeRon, it's all good. I'm learning from everyone here on the forums.

I was just wondering if you had any more info as to when they might switch over to Rome. The Chattanooga press usually gives any info about the TVRTS 800 radio system much coverage in the papers and the tv and I have not seen or heard any recent stories about any agency changes. Maybe Dade/Walker/Catoosa will have a presence on both systems.

Hi CFD288

I contacted a county official by email last night and asked him about Dade, Walker and Catoosa joining the Rome system, and he said Quote: they were looking at the Rome and Chattanooga systems linking together, and yes that would include Dade, Walker and Catoosa. end quote.

I guess I am losing my mind and didn't hear what I thought I heard about Dade/Walker/Catoosa.

 

[SCPD]

Rome-Floyd to tie into the Chattanooga System

Hi CFD288

I contacted a county official by email last night and asked him about Dade, Walker and Catoosa joining the Rome system, and he said Quote: they were looking at the Rome and Chattanooga systems linking together, and yes that would include Dade, Walker and Catoosa.

If this happens it will be very interesting because Rome-Floyd County awarded their 800 MHz P25 contract to Harris and the Chattanooga System is a Motorola System. I understand this can be done with an ISSI linking the two systems together, but some features and functionality of radios is lost. I'm sure some might claim this is an officer safety issue, but the main thing is they can communicate via two-way voice radio, right? The big question is do you think the political environment between the various government agencies and two different vendors are right to allow this to happen? The last time I checked no agency in Georgia using a Motorola 800 MHz P25 System has allowed an agency using Harris (formerly M/A-Com) to put this brand radio on their system. Guess we will have to wait and see....