Florida is well on the way to interoperability

[n4voxgill]

The following from the state radio system is just the latest on interoperability:

"Mutual Aid Build-out

Florida's interoperability strategy has two components: the interoperability network and the build-out of nine mutual aid (MA) channels throughout the state. The contract for the mutual aid effort was signed with M/A-COM last month and the statewide design is being finalized. The project will add 328 new MA channels throughout the state and should be completed by June 2006. There will be more details on this later this summer.


Continued Funding

The appropriations bill just signed by Governor Bush includes continued funding for the interoperability network and mutual aid build-out. This gives the State Technology Office (STO) the authority to pay all the network line costs through June 30, 2006. It also provides some funding for adding additional sites to the network."

gill

 

[northzone]

I sent the frequencies for this inter-op system into the database several weeks ago and I see they have been posted under Florida state, common.

 

[grem467]

hmm several counties around here are still on VHF with no plans to move to 800.. wonder how that is going to work.

 

[northzone]

It will work just fine. The system has 3 vhf channels, 2 uhf channels, and 6 800mhz channels.

 

[grem467]

do they have them set up as crossband?

we are on a mixed mode astro smartzone, clay county is on an 800 LTR Multinet, Nassau county is on VHF-Hi, and st aug is on VHF-hi

not to mention the SLERS system on 800

 

[northzone]

Any channel in the system can be patched to any other channel at any site. The 800 channels are conventional, so what type of trunking used does not matter.

 

[grem467]

ok, so these will be more of an "as needed" type situation (perhaps even involving mobile/portable infrastructure) or are they planning on building out the whole system on a county by county basis?

 

[northzone]

The system will be permanent and cover the whole state. It will only be linked as needed throught a control center.

 

[N4DES]

To clarify, there are 2 seperate interop. systems that the state is deploying. The first one is the build out of the existing NPSPAC MA Call and TAC 1 State-wide. This will provide those agencies that are on 800 MHz to have mobile and outdoor portable communications where ever they go in the state.

The second system is a Motorola VoIP network that allows patching of radio systems, no matter what the technology or age, to each other. While this seems like an excellent solution for different technologies within a defined overlapping area, it won't help those agencies officers that travel outside of their "home system". In order for them to be able to communicate they must have programmed the Mutual Aid frequency(ies) that are coordinated in the band which they typicially use. In addition to the VoIP network, the state is also building out the VHF and UHF mutual aid frequencies state-wide for those who don't utilize 800 MHz.

 

[northzone]

I have read the plan and part of it is that the MA channels WILL get programmed into every radio, those with 800 will get the 800 MA channels, vhf and uhf will get theirs. So it should work for anybody, anywhere in the state. They will not need to be in their "home" area. Remember these are conventional not trunked channelsl.

Also, I believe it really is considered one system. The control center will be able to link an 800 to a Vhf or Uhf, etc. Any channel to any other channel in the system at any site in the state. And yes, it uses VOIP technologly. Florida is really ahead of the game with this plan.

 

[N4DES]

If an agency has a situation and it gets patched to another local system and that agency doesn't have coverage in the requesting agencies jurisdiction, the VoIP system won't work. The responding agency's officers will have to switch to a MA or to some already recognized "mutual aid" resource if one exists. If an officer has to switch, he needs to know ahead of time where he needs to switch to and the patch should be engaged prior to him getting there.

To further clarify the utilization of the VoIP system, this is a op overview from the PSAP level as I have been thru the 8 hour Administrative Training and have been approved to have admin rights on this system and I'm very familiar with it:

Every PSAP is capable of getting the VoIP system to connect with their system, whether it be trunked or conventional and they are the only ones that can manually put in the patch to the local network, including the local Mutual Aids. The State's Control Center does not have the ability to overide this as there are 2 patches that have to be made at the local PSAP level to intergrate the VoIP with any of the local systems, including the local NPSPAC MA's which are 2, 3 and 4 and the conventional U or V MA channel.

Up to this point they are still considered 2 seperate systems as the VoIP is being installed by Motorola and the RF infrastructure be being installed by Ma/Comm. Also remember that the State only installs MA Call and TAC 1, it's the local agencies responsibility to deploy TAC 2, 3, and 4. In some parts of the state the remaining TAC's may not be built out for a while.