FCC New "Alamo Area Regional Radio System"

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Michael-SATX

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San Antonio, Texas
New system name: Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS)
System users: City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and CPS Energy
System type: P25 Phase II (Uniden SDS-100/200 Simulcast Scanners)

Below is the official letter to the FCC which will impart specific details about the new P25 Phase II system and it's planned roll out schedule ;)

May 14, 2019

Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch
Federal Communications Commission
1270 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325-7245

Dear Sir / Madam,

The City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and CPS Energy are implementing a new trunked radio system, which they have named the Alamo Area Regional Radio System (AARRS), in order to support numerous agencies within the San Antonio / Bexar County region. The AARRS project consists of 28 P25 Radio Sites, aggregated into 5 simulcast cells for spectrum efficiency, and multiple dispatch facilities that support approximately 13,000 radios. To the greatest extent possible, the current 800 MHz frequencies will be utilized to implement the new radio system. However, in order to allow for uninterrupted critical public safety communications during the transition period, 24 additional frequencies are required. Upon final transition to the new system, 24 frequency pairs currently utilized in the legacy system will no longer be required. These 24 frequency pairs will be removed from the City of San Antonio licenses and made available for use by others. Due to the complex nature associated with projects of this scale, a multi-year construction and implementation schedule will be required. In addition, the system will serve a fleet of over 13,000 field units, requiring an extended loading schedule. As such, the City of San Antonio, on behalf of the AARRS project, is requesting a slow growth application for extended implementation in accordance with section and rule #90.629. Within five (5) years, AARRS will have all Simulcast Repeater Sites constructed, operational, and loaded. The actual stations should be constructed and operational within one to two years of license grant. Following authorization, the system will be constructed as follows, on or before the dates identified below. July 2020 Construct 28 Simulcast Sites – All stations constructed and ready for testing May 2021 Complete System Test and Validation – Perform extensive system performance and coverage verification testing Aug 2021 Transition AARRS Core Users to the new P25 System – Initial user transition will involve ~11,400 field units July 2022 Transition Additional Outside / Regional Agencies – Add additional ~1000 field units (24 frequencies returned) July 2023 Add Additional Regional Users, Enhance Interoperability – Add additional ~500 field units July 2024 Add Additional Regional Users, Enhance Interoperability – Add additional ~500 field units Total at the end of July 2024: 13,400 mobile/portable radios and control stations.

If I may provide additional information please contact me at (210)387-69xx

Sincerely,
John Rodriguez
AARRS Radio Network Manager
Assistant IT Director
City of San Antonio
 
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tyler3328

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Correct. It will remain active until they flip switch. They will be replacing the 700 freqs of the overlay and replacing them with 800. Will also use the same sys id
 

otter9309

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It never was officially the SAUA.

I think it's comical that it says its "5 simulcast cells for spectrum efficiency" One simulcast would be MUCH more efficient.
 

mostinterestingman

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It will probably be broadcasting the Benny Hill song with full simulcast distortion for a few years before it's operational and accepted.
 

boernegang

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When it says "City of San Antonio/Bexar County" are they referring only to City/County services?? What I'm trying to ask is what about all the other users on the EDACS system now?? Castle HIlls/Alamo Heights/Leon Valley etc. Will they have to buy their own system or would they be included in this upgrade since they are current users?? If there is a link to that info please send it to me and I'll be glad to look.
 

boernegang

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I have a Uniden 436HP. Can I use the "Discovery" mode to help get info on this system when it goes online?? I normally drive around San Antonio on a daily basis so getting site info should not be a problem. Obviously right now I am not traveling as much but would be glad to help when we start getting back to "Normal"
 

blantonl

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rattlerbb01

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Here are the associated FCC licenses with sites and frequencies....


Interesting stuff. Based on that, there is a 6 site NW Bexar Co simulcast cell with 13 frequencies. 5 are new, 5 are from Hill Country, 2 from Blue and 1 from Grey Forest. The 12 site Central/West simulcast is a little odd for only having 10 frequencies across two licenses, but it uses 5 new freqs, 3 from Gold and 2 from Blue. I guess I finally have something to listen for though, being that one of the sites is only 4 miles from Boerne.
 

rattlerbb01

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No that is not possible the new system for San Antonio Is Harris... Can't tie it to a Motorola core....
That’s not what I meant. I was referring to the “simulcast cells” and how the concept is similar to what the City of Houston did with their regional simulcast cells in TxWARN zone 3.
 

otter9309

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ISSI is full of limitations and tons of additional management. Unfortunately it's not a seamless solution to marry two disparate systems and have full integration.

As far as the multiple simulcast sites, it's because of the system and technical limitations of the Harris Vida core. Simulcast and Harris don't mix well.
 

NC5267

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Interesting that there isn't anything outside 1604 on the North and Northeast side. The areas that the American Tower site and the Toepperwein site cover now.
 

tkowalik

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Interesting that there isn't anything outside 1604 on the North and Northeast side. The areas that the American Tower site and the Toepperwein site cover now.
Isn’t there several? I saw 281/Bulverde, Overlook, Mark Wayne, 1604/Judson, Bat Cave, Toepperwein, even Rio Nogales in Seguin unless I’m mistaken.
 

RADIO-007

Member
Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
129
Location
San antonio
Call Sign
WRFV571
Radio Service YE
PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked
SAN ANTONIO, CITY OF


NW-03 HILL COUNTRY
29- 37 19.2 N
098 34 14.4 W
19382 NW MILITARY HWY
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

NW-04 SAWS WINWOOD
29 43 17.3 N
098 40 12.4 W
6914 WATERVIEW DRIVE
BOERNE, TX BEXAR County

NW-05 SAN GERONIMO
29 37 21.0 N
098 46 38.2 W
18970 STATE HWY 16 (TX13414-A #2)
HELOTES, TX BEXAR County

NW-06 SAWS RANCH TWN
29 36 27.8 N
098 43 55.2 W
12100 APACHERIA
HELOTES, TX BEXAR County

NW-08 SAWS CROSS MTN
29 39 17.6 N
098 39 29.1 W
8719 SAN FIDEL WAY
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

NW-09 TOUTANT BEAU
29 41 00.7 N
098 42 04.8 W
25695 TOUTANT BEAUREGARD ROAD
BOERNE, TX BEXAR County

851.0750
851.6500
852.1500
852.7375
852.8625
853.2625
853.4875
855.7375
856.7625
857.7625
858.4625
858.9625
859.7375

============================
Call Sign
WRFV572
Radio Service YE
PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked


CS-07 PEARSALL RD
29 21 25.5 N
098 36 01.9 W
5287 PEARSALL RD
SAN ANTONIO, TX
BEXAR County

851.6250
852.6500
853.1625
853.3875
854.0125
854.1125
854.6375
858.9875
859.9375
859.9875
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
WS-01 CAGNON
29 25 00.8 N
098 43 16.0 W
1.3 MILES SSW OF INTERSECTION OF LOOP 1604 & FM 19
SAN ANTONIO, TX
BEXAR County

WS-02 CPS TEXAS RES
29 25 13.7 N
098 47 11.4 W
1325 ZETA DR
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

WS-03 CPS HELOTES
29 32 59.2 N
098 40 52.9 W
11253 LESLIE RD
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

851.2500
851.8750
852.7000
852.9375
853.1375
853.4125
855.4625
856.2375
856.7375
856.9875
857.9875
858.2375
859.2375
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
NW-01 GREY FOREST
29 38 00.9 N
098 37 51.3 W
7439 HEUERMANN RD
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

NW-02 HELOTES PARK
29 35 07.9 N
098 40 37.2 W
10102 RAFTER S TRAIL
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

851.0750
851.6500
852.1500
852.7375
852.8625
853.2625
853.4875
855.7375
856.7625
857.7625
858.4625
858.9625
859.7375

============================
Call Sign
WRFV573
Radio Service YE
PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked

CS-01 FRIO
29 25 14.1 N
098 30 23.3 W
515 SOUTH FRIO
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

CS-02 KSAT
29 26 12.0 N
098 29 02.0 W
1408 NORTH ST. MARYS STREET
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

CS-03 HY-LIONS
29 23 12.5 N
098 26 11.5 W
2000 AMANDA STREET
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

CS-04 AUSTIN HWY
29 29 10.7 N
098 27 03.9 W
1051B AUSTIN HWY
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

CS-05 ZARZAMORA
29 22 41.8 N
098 32 14.1 W
FIRE TRAINING ACADEMY, ZARZAMORA & CENTENNIAL AVENUE
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

CS-06 MED CNTR TANK
29 30 58.7 N
098 34 23.3 W
8311 FREDRICKSBURG ROAD
SAN ANTONIO, TX BEXAR County

851.6250
852.6500
853.1625
853.3875
854.0125
854.1125
854.6375
858.9875
859.9375
859.9875

========================================================
Pending FCC Grants Files

File Number: 0009081457
File Number: 0009081464
 
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