Fox News Interview FDNY Radio Failures

[Julian1]

Just saw an interview on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" Saturday edition.

Inteviewed founder of site www.skyscrapersafety.org

Perhaps some of this group who are knowlegdable on radio systems can offer info to these folks to help them in their cause.

They discussed controversey over radios. Too bad there wasn't somebody there who understood radio systems and the difference between 800-digital and vhf analog as it relates to signals reaching inside of buildings.

Salute to all emergency personnel who put their lives on the line daily to protect us.........and especially to the FDNY, EMS, NYPD, and other New York emergency personnel.

Best Regards,
Julian

 

[Al42]

Just saw an interview on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" Saturday edition.

Inteviewed founder of site www.skyscrapersafety.org

Perhaps some of this group who are knowlegdable on radio systems can offer info to these folks to help them in their cause.

They discussed controversey over radios. Too bad there wasn't somebody there who understood radio systems and the difference between 800-digital and vhf analog as it relates to signals reaching inside of buildings.

The difference between 800 MHZ and VHF? Or the difference between analog and digital? One has nothing to do with the other, except that the human brain is a much better integrator than a tiny DSP chip.

Salute to all emergency personnel who put their lives on the line daily to protect us.........and especially to the FDNY, EMS, NYPD, and other New York emergency personnel.

The plain, ordinary people who had to breathe that morning didn't do too badly either. Trying to breathe when you're blind and the air is about as thick as whipping cream can't be fun. Even miles downwind it got pretty nasty - not even counting that, by the next day, we knew that the dust we had been breathing had been people.

 

[SCPDfan]

Some of the family members of those lost don't even know about the radio systems.. They know nothing about radios and radio repeaters.... nothing needs to be changed with the radios. The radios are fine. Probably the only thing that needs changing is each radio should have one channel where in EVERY department can communicate with one another. Maybe it would be good for all departments, NYPD, FDNY, EMS, go on one trunked system. This would put them on the same frequencies, and only one button-press away from one another. Thanks!

 

[SCANdal]

More research was needed

Some of the family members of those lost don't even know about the radio systems.. They know nothing about radios and radio repeaters....

...And that's fine. Neither I, nor you, should have any expectation that someone outside of the public safety industry should have any knowledge of radios and radio systems.

Probably the only thing that needs changing is each radio should have one channel where in EVERY department can communicate with one another.

What you are proposing already exists. There are six repeaters (at least one for each borough and one citywide) designated as Interoperability Channels. In addition, "Tac U" has been designated as the Interagency point-to-point (simplex) channel. See http://www.n2nov.net/nypd_ems.html (look for the __IO channels) for details. The problem lies in the fact that the procedure to activate these channels is so cumbersome that it just discourages their use. Field units end up routing messages to the other agencies the old fashioned (translated: slow) way...through their primary dispatchers, who in turn will call the other dispatcher(s) by telephone or send them a message via CAD.

Maybe it would be good for all departments, NYPD, FDNY, EMS, go on one trunked system. This would put them on the same frequencies, and only one button-press away from one another.

I disagree. For one thing, as mentioned above, today's PD, FD, and EMS radios can be one dial turn away from being able to talk to each other. But, more importantly, the coverage troubles your own county is having with their existing 800 MHz trunked system, esp. in the second and seventh precinct areas, just goes to show me that trunking still is not a viable solution to public safety's radio problems. Setting aside the long wait for the FDNY and NYCPD Transit Bureau cutover from VHF to UHF, the systems in place today (in terms of coverage, capacity, and capabilities) are pretty good, all things considered - as you even suggest in your own post. Were the problem lies is in who is allowed to access the systems and the procedures established on how to use these very systems. They are designed (purposely) to control, restrict, slow, and as an end result, prohibit the easy flow of information.

SCANdal