Dallas Fire - Trunked System Rollout 2022

[CodeYeti77]

I have seen plenty of mumblings that DFR will be transitioning to a trunked system for some time, but the transition does seem to be in the near future given a recent firmware update that was deployed. Does anyone have further information on the transition and/or timeline?

 

[mwjones]

The City of Dallas is building out the simulcast infrastructure to join the "North Texas Interoperable Radio Network" (formerly known as the Fort Worth Regional Radio System). Both PD and FD will be moving to this system, and presumably the non-public safety groups currently on the city's analog system will be joining as well.

I haven't heard a timeline, but some of the towers are online with the control channel. I sit just at the fringes of the coverage, so I don't know if they have begun testing the system yet or not (when Collin County moved from their analog system to join the PAWMCo radio system, there was several months of testing and updating before they started migrating users onto it - looking at the discussion, it was first seen active testing in July 2020, but the switchover didn't happen until March 2021 just to give you perspective).

 

[Russell]

I heard coverage testing on 33201 last week.

 

[Harold]

Sounds like they are rebroadcasting a Water Department talkgroup on 33012.

 

[BenScan]

Are you hearing that on RFSS 3, Site 2?

There's also Site 1 with a current control channel of 774.56875.

I heard coverage testing on 33201 last week.

 

[hiegtx]

Are you hearing that on RFSS 3, Site 2?

There's also Site 1 with a current control channel of 774.56875.

Ben,
My ProScan log is showing several TGIDs, including 33012, as coming up on the RFSS 3. Site 2. Not seeing any of them on Site 1, the "Dallas Simulcast" site on the Dallas P25/NCTCOG system.

 

[Russell]

I now see site 3-1 as
774.56875d
773.53125a
773.81875a
770.90625a

NAC 44A

These appear to be on the State License.

 

[hiegtx]

I now see site 3-1 as
774.56875d
773.53125a
773.81875a
770.90625a

NAC 44A

These appear to be on the State License.

I'm mildly surprised that they are using the same 44A NAC that's on the Ellis County layer.

I also wonder if, at some point, they roll the Dallas P25/NCTCOG system into NTIRN. I figure Dallas Simulcast will move, but would they just leave the others where they are now?

 

[Russell]

I also see site 3-52 as a neighbor with a CC of 770.09375 WRMF220. Looks like 3 two frequency sites out to Lake Fork (Water supply/DWU).

 

[Russell]

I'm mildly surprised that they are using the same 44A NAC that's on the Ellis County layer.

Yeah, I thought it was strange, too. This looks like it's not completely set up yet as all subscribers are being DENIED.

 

[hiegtx]

I also see site 3-52 as a neighbor with a CC of 770.09375 WRMF220. Looks like 3 two frequency sites out to Lake Fork (Water supply/DWU).

There are three two frequency sites licensed, almost certainly for DWU. One is at a facility near Terrell, then one each at Lake Fork & Lake Tawakoni.

 

[Russell]

Do you suppose site 3.1 is the County layer and 3.2 is the City layer or vice versa?

 

[BenScan]

I believe I heard one will be public works and one will be public safety, but I guess we'll see for sure when they're up and running.

Do you suppose site 3.1 is the County layer and 3.2 is the City layer or vice versa?

 

[hiegtx]

Do you suppose site 3.1 is the County layer and 3.2 is the City layer or vice versa?

I'm thinking along the same lines as Ben. One layer for Public Safety, the other for non-public safety agencies (water utilities, public works, etc.) Dallas County would not need to have an exclusive layer for their operations. Since, with the exception of Hutchins & Wilmer, all the other cities & towns in Dallas County are on a trunked system of some kind, I doubt we'd see anything specific for the smaller cities exclusive use.

I'm curious as to whether (and, if so, when) they intend to formally move what is now the 'Dallas Simulcast' from the Dallas P25/NCTCOG system over to NTIRN. And if they do, with the other NCTCOG layers move as well?

 

[kmartin]

I remember in The mid 1990's when DFD tried switching to an EDACS system it was a complete failure LOL !
It won't be easy for Dallas to a trunk system. Plus they can't afford it with the budget they currently have. It will take many years if it happens at all

 

[Russell]

That does make more sense.

 

[Motoballa]

I'm curious as to whether (and, if so, when) they intend to formally move what is now the 'Dallas Simulcast' from the Dallas P25/NCTCOG system over to NTIRN. And if they do, with the other NCTCOG layers move as well?

From what limited knowledge I have, my understanding is the Dallas Simulcast will move over to NTIRN however the NCTCOG stuff will stay on it's own system. Several agencies have the ability to patch into the interop talkgroups and on occasion will, mainly for pursuits. I've rarely actually seen subscriber units on the NCTCOG side, it's pretty much just been patches. Aside from the DPS stuff, of course.

That's current as of right now, in the future it's bound to change. It would make sense to have the NCTCOG sites on NTIRN but we're talking about government here so let's not use too much common sense.

 

[hiegtx]

From what limited knowledge I have, my understanding is the Dallas Simulcast will move over to NTIRN however the NCTCOG stuff will stay on it's own system. Several agencies have the ability to patch into the interop talkgroups and on occasion will, mainly for pursuits. I've rarely actually seen subscriber units on the NCTCOG side, it's pretty much just been patches. Aside from the DPS stuff, of course.

That's current as of right now, in the future it's bound to change. It would make sense to have the NCTCOG sites on NTIRN but we're talking about government here so let's not use too much common sense.

If the "Dallas Simulcast" moves to NTIRN, once Dallas & Dallas County actually move, they 'might' (my opinion only) use the current Dallas Simulcast frequencies to replace those state licensed channels currently used for the 'Dallas 1' (site 3-1) on NTIRN.

I suspect we'll also see three additional Dallas sites for those frequencies in use at Dallas Water Utilities locations in Kaufman, Hunt, & Wood County. Those are only two frequencies per location, so it's fairly unlikely you'd see any Dallas related units other than DWU om those channels.

 

[kmartin]

I get The feeling that all these systems in The Dalles ft worth area will become One one big countywide system in The future

 

[IAmSixNine]

I remember in The mid 1990's when DFD tried switching to an EDACS system it was a complete failure LOL !
It won't be easy for Dallas to a trunk system. Plus they can't afford it with the budget they currently have. It will take many years if it happens at all

Not sure why you say they cant afford it.
The apparatus radios and FF radios have all been switched out years ago with radios that are capable of being on this new system. Now i have not actually read a codeplug on the fire side but i did on the police side and they are APX7000 UHF/700/800 radios. But that was years ago when i had access to one. The system is up and being tested now so its not like they need to buy new portables or mobiles and they will share the cost with other agencies of the system its self so it is likely they will go on it sooner rather than later.
Im sure they will put non essential users on it first to work out bugs then police and fire will go on it. Just my guess though.