Cumberland County PA New APCO-P25 Radio System

[HM1529]

From what I understand, the equipment rollout at tower sites is still underway. But, I don't know a timeliness in when that will be done this year. Cumberland will definitely be an expansion of the southcentral network used by Dauphin/Franklin/Adams. So, folks should keep an ear out for new CC activity.

 

[One13Truck]

Ugh. Hopefully the alpha paging will be an along with voice paging and not an instead of voice paging. But I’m also not the biggest fan of the alpha paging concept.

 

[W3DMV]

I did a serious search of the FCC records looking for new sites and
frequencies for the new system and found nothing. The Open Sky licenses
are still listed as expected but no indication of new paper work related
to the new P-25 operation. The search was for existing licenses as well as
applications awaiting approval.
It's getting a little late in the game to chew through the paperwork that
you would expect to find for a system of this type. I don't think I missed
anything in my search, but has anyone else seen anything?

 

[jtwalker]

I did a serious search of the FCC records looking for new sites and
frequencies for the new system and found nothing. The Open Sky licenses
are still listed as expected but no indication of new paper work related
to the new P-25 operation. The search was for existing licenses as well as
applications awaiting approval.
It's getting a little late in the game to chew through the paperwork that
you would expect to find for a system of this type. I don't think I missed
anything in my search, but has anyone else seen anything?

I found about 10 or 12 frequencies in 800 range licensed to Cumberland public safety that I put into SDR-trunk. I check them every week or so to see if it locks on to a control channel, and thus far nothing.

 

[W3DMV]

Ok. There are many current 800 licenses, but they are all part
of their current Open-Sky system. I'm looking for P-25 channels.
Even if they use their current channels, non-have been modified
for use on P-25, thus I was looking for new licenses.
If anyone has spotted some, please share them with us...

 

[jtwalker]

Ok. There are many current 800 licenses, but they are all part
of their current Open-Sky system. I'm looking for P-25 channels.
Even if they use their current channels, non-have been modified
for use on P-25, thus I was looking for new licenses.
If anyone has spotted some, please share them with us...

You are probably correct. I didn’t check against OpenSky frequencies because I had it in my head that OpenSky was 450 MHz..

 

[VIGILANT_HOSE_CO_52]

This information is the best available at the time of this posting because it continuously changes in regards to the various aspects of this project (time lines, etc.)

TIME LINE:
The most recent information changed from by the End-of-this-Year; however, now is slated for the 1st Quarter of next year.

FREQUENCIES:
(I haven't inquired about this .... so this is just my thoughts). I would think it would need to be new 700/800 MHz frequencies, because the existing OpenSky System will have to remain operational for a period of time during the change-over; as agencies transition over (plus the initial system testing timeframe).

TOWER SITES:
There will defiantly be FCC information at some point (which I am surprised their isn't anything posted yet) because their have been numerous changes regarding Tower Sites. This includes building new towers at existing sites (some with height increases, etc such as at the Shippensburg University Stadium).
Plus their are many completely brand new sites built (such as behind Yellow Breeches EMS in Mt Holly Springs ; atop a high-spot off Possum Hollow Road in Shippensburg ; monopole beside water tank on RT.233 just off Newville Exit of I-81 ; and several more locations).

PAGING:
As for Paging (this is where things get complicated; and is a "very-sore" subject with many).
*** For this Post, I am going to keep it "professional" and avoid expressing my personal feelings and opinions.
I am just going to provide the information the county is planning to implement (but hope that some serious re-consideration be given).

- It will be a P25 P2 Paging System
- plus Alpha Paging (text messaging)
- NO analog voice channels (including Dispatch)
- Elimination of "human" dispatches; replaced by "text-to-speech" Dispatching

 

[maus92]

Many agencies transition to new P25P2 systems without securing additional channels - TDMA can accommodate two talk paths per channel. This is currently being done on the Delaware statewide system.

 

[SlipNutz15]

I was talking to an employee in Cumberland Co and Fall 2025 was expected but now it sounds like 2026.

 

[SlipNutz15]

This information is the best available at the time of this posting because it continuously changes in regards to the various aspects of this project (time lines, etc.)

TIME LINE:
The most recent information changed from by the End-of-this-Year; however, now is slated for the 1st Quarter of next year.

FREQUENCIES:
(I haven't inquired about this .... so this is just my thoughts). I would think it would need to be new 700/800 MHz frequencies, because the existing OpenSky System will have to remain operational for a period of time during the change-over; as agencies transition over (plus the initial system testing timeframe).

TOWER SITES:
There will defiantly be FCC information at some point (which I am surprised their isn't anything posted yet) because their have been numerous changes regarding Tower Sites. This includes building new towers at existing sites (some with height increases, etc such as at the Shippensburg University Stadium).
Plus their are many completely brand new sites built (such as behind Yellow Breeches EMS in Mt Holly Springs ; atop a high-spot off Possum Hollow Road in Shippensburg ; monopole beside water tank on RT.233 just off Newville Exit of I-81 ; and several more locations).

PAGING:
As for Paging (this is where things get complicated; and is a "very-sore" subject with many).
*** For this Post, I am going to keep it "professional" and avoid expressing my personal feelings and opinions.
I am just going to provide the information the county is planning to implement (but hope that some serious re-consideration be given).

- It will be a P25 P2 Paging System
- plus Alpha Paging (text messaging)
- NO analog voice channels (including Dispatch)
- Elimination of "human" dispatches; replaced by "text-to-speech" Dispatching

The county took over two analog UHF frequencies for dispatch, plus they have EMS dispatch on UHF analog, and fire ops so I would guess they would still be used in some way. Unlike Northumberland County (who has no conventional channels and their TRS has crashed twice in two weeks), Cumberland would have analog paging, alphanumeric paging, P25 paging, combo thereof. Plus they have hospitals and out-of-county EMS come to their hospitals so I have a feeling they're going to upkeep conventional channels, outside of med channels, for alerting.