El Paso going digital

[CapSS92]

Yea it's gonna be P25 VHF digital with some repeaters piggybacked off the city system for coverage. Heck it's more like a city wide internet connection rather than radio repeaters. They've got microwave links and all kinds of switches and routers from what I hear. As for the radios my source told me that Fire would have to switch out too many accessories with the APX so it made more sense financially to stay with the XTS radios. I understand that S.O. used to be able to patch with the old system to PD already but they only had three channels so they didn't want to patch too often. I think I used to hear them patch more with DPS and BP helicopters than with EPPD. We'll see what happens with the new system.

 

[SCPD]

Have to keep eye on any FCC submissions and new frequencies. I would imagine they would add or change to newer frequencies. I will miss the old GE burps they were last of in region New Mexico and Texas to use that. But the digital VHF will carry further before narrow banding completely you would hear them pretty good up into otero and can in las cruces most of the time. The digital signal will be nice for the short term it'll be heard if you know what I mean.

 

[nd5y]

ULS Application - Public Safety Pool, Trunked - 0006414718 - EL PASO, COUNTY OF
6 simulcast sites with the same 6 frequencies.

ULS Application - Public Safety Pool, Trunked - 0006414719 - EL PASO COUNTY
Mt. Franklin single site 6 frequencies.

Emission designators for P25 phase II TDMA.

 

[SCPD]

Vhf trunked p25 or voip?

 

[SCPD]

9600 baud p25 phase 1?

 

[Go-West]

That's interesting. I'm curious to see when they will fire it up in testing and then turning it on for good.

 

[SCPD]

Looks like they'll prob hit the apx vhf/700 as I was told some time back if so.

 

[SCPD]

Doesn't make sense to go trunked vhf when everything else is 700 trunked mostly in El paso. You'd think they'd go 700 as eventually El paso will be a regional 700 trunked setup over toward hudspeth

 

[SCPD]

Missed the phase 2 part so yup apx.

 

[SCPD]

Wouldn't doubt El paso city will migrate toward phase 2 after.

 

[SCPD]

Well with the time frame of the STA once it's approved they can start testing on the frequencies they filed for. I'd imagine you'll get analog and mix phase 1/2 testing. By sounds of it they go with the apx trunk 110 watt with the radio siren and mdt option head. Either do a side by side install of the old equipment and then do a cold switch once everyone is upgraded snd hand out the portables after classes on use. It would also be possible to install the apx with a old current zone and add they new in so it's just as a vehicle comes in its upgraded with its normal maint. By the way they say due to the border danger I have a feeling E will be lurking. It will be interesting if the other towns on vhf will jump on.

 

[SCPD]

I'd imagine as full blown there going otar/otap will be used as needed.

 

[CapSS92]

I was told they are supposed to launch in September. PD has all their radios enabled for encryption now. I talked to one of their police dispatchers and they said they have all the talkgroups duplicated with encryption but haven't switched over to them. They also told me they would be moving over to 700mhz but had no timeline. As far as the smaller towns I heard they are trying to get funding to go digital but you know how that goes. From what the PD dispatcher told me, they are screwed if they have a big incident working in the county. Their interoperabililty is pretty much non-existent. They have to launch some kind of mobile rig that will let them patch their radios together but it's a process. Gotta love government efficiency.

 

[SCPD]

Yeah I figured E because the hype of border security. Interop wise I noticed there forcing some to use vtacs and 8tacs. Still doesn't solve problem and delay of dispatch to units with both agencies. The so changed while the xts is being end of lifed so apx was shoved down them plus tx dps is pushing the county fpr a 700 mhz interop trunk system for dps to be part of. El paso is killing interop. Sunland and Anthony will stay vhf fpr sure that's dona ana and dona ana wants no part of El paso system. Da so plans to stay vhf.

 

[nd5y]

ULS Application - Public Safety Pool, Trunked - 0006414718 - EL PASO, COUNTY OF
6 simulcast sites with the same 6 frequencies.

ULS Application - Public Safety Pool, Trunked - 0006414719 - EL PASO COUNTY
Mt. Franklin single site 6 frequencies.

Emission designators for P25 phase II TDMA.

STA licenses issued this week.
ULS License - Public Safety Pool, Trunked License - WQUM329 - EL PASO, COUNTY OF
ULS License - Public Safety Pool, Trunked License - WQUM417 - EL PASO COUNTY

 

[SCPD]

Let's see if they go phase 1 9600 baud trunk or go all out phase 2 right out. Will be interesting.

 

[SCPD]

As for interop unless units use the regional dispatch like they always did to relay interop is non existent. Least till everyone gets a apx or radio capable of tdma. Like said before non existent. Patching and gatewaying is possible but not feasible 24/7. Only when needed. I was figuring a big cost jump to a radio there getting they'd just go 700 mhz so them and city could have a flawless interop. Side channels may be used like 8tacs vtacs but if city is still using xts5000s they'd be stuck at 8 tac unless patches and bridges were done.

 

[SCPD]

It will be interesting if they use phase 1 conventional for normal operations and tdma phase trunking for specialized snd linking to pd. I'm also wondering if they will do a constant simulcast of main channels fpr interop till entire county is at level they are. There pretty much surpassing eppd with tdma diff bands but more technology then the xts city uses.

 

[SCPD]

I noticed the STA since it's by border was only authorized for testing only. Theyd have to reapply after for permanent. So there should be testing soon so snyone with phase 1 and 2 scanners get ready throw those freqs in for testing. If caught ahead time they'll prob say test dispatch or tac1 etc. I'm too far I believe to hear them on a trunking. Here is a page of emission designators and use. You can cross reference what they have listed on fcc to get idea. https://www.apcointl.org/spectrum-management/resources/licensing-links/emission-designators.html

 

[SCPD]

Haven't heard anything my way but still hear primary so 1 on vhf conv analog. Anyone locally hear any testing on the p25 vhf trunk freqs posted above?