Frederick County Simulcast System Neighbors

[BM82557]

Looks like the Frederick County system has neighbors on the FIRST system --

 

[maus92]

That is interesting. I *beleive* MSP Frederick Barrack uses the Frederick County system as their primary system. Perhaps this gives them the ability to "roam" onto FIRST sites without having to change to a FIRST talk group. It might indicate an ISSI relationship like what is seen with the Prince Georges County system and several FIRST sites. Or perhaps this is a result of some SHA coverage issues reported by Chris, or issues with the Frederick system also reported by Chris.

 

[BM82557]

The last time I "looked" at the Frederick system was a month or two ago. When I "looked" at it this morning the P25 data file was updated with the neighbors info.

 

[BM82557]

That is interesting. I *beleive* MSP Frederick Barrack uses the Frederick County system as their primary system. Perhaps this gives them the ability to "roam" onto FIRST sites without having to change to a FIRST talk group. It might indicate an ISSI relationship like what is seen with the Prince Georges County system and several FIRST sites. Or perhaps this is a result of some SHA coverage issues reported by Chris, or issues with the Frederick system also reported by Chris.

Yes, you are correct about the State PD --

 

[maus92]

I was able to remote into @Chris52 's Unitrunker 2 installation in southwestern Frederick County and looked at how UT2 reports the Peer sites. I'll attach the result below, but it *appears* that whatever functionality this will provide is not in service yet as the sites are not indicating a valid status. Also, the FIRST sites are not reporting the Frederick County 800 system simulcast site as a Peer, unlike what you see on the FIRST sites that peer with the Prince Georges County system. This will be interesting to watch how this evolves. At some point in the future, there is (was?) a plan to convert several FIRST ASRs into a Frederck County simulcast site. Perhaps this is an alternate / experiment to virtually achieve
this goal?

 

[firephoto184]

I was able to remote into @Chris52 's Unitrunker 2 installation in southwestern Frederick County and looked at how UT2 reports the Peer sites. I'll attach the result below, but it *appears* that whatever functionality this will provide is not in service yet as the sites are not indicating a valid status. Also, the FIRST sites are not reporting the Frederick County 800 system simulcast site as a Peer, unlike what you see on the FIRST sites that peer with the Prince Georges County system. This will be interesting to watch how this evolves. At some point in the future, there is (was?) a plan to convert several FIRST ASRs into a Frederck County simulcast site. Perhaps this is an alternate / experiment to virtually achieve
this goal?

View attachment 148056

ISSI started at the end of august and there was some testing on Multi-8 with FiRST techs (can’t remember the exact date at the moment) but they were talking about “a good test on talkgroup 5” and not much else. MSP is transitioning to the state systems and upgrades are underway at their barrack, not sure of an exact time frame of when the switchover will happen.

 

[maus92]

I noticed that the Brunswick 700 peer site is not phoning home.

 

[Chris52]

This morning units from Frederick, Franklin, and Washington Counties all operated on a multi bicyclists struck call during a racing even with fly outs on Foxville Rd and Stottlemyer Rd in Foxville. At one point radio reception was so bad command had to use his cell phone. He then stated over the radio that this was an ongoing issue and had asked the dispatcher to please notate this issue once more. I guess if the link between the Frederick system and First was working this may have not been a coverage issue ? I wonder what First site would grab that area ?


Side note - while listening to the 92D (Med 4) they now do a wobble tone after a request to speak to a physician. Perhaps to alert any other ems units who may be trying to key up ?

 

[maus92]

Both FIRST and Frederick County have a site on Tower Road on the ridgeline, which is the furtherest west site of the county system. The FIRST site was originally fast-tracked to support a G8 Summit at Camp David a few years ago (that was cancelled because of COVID). That intersection is just west of Camp David, but it's a mountainous area so coverage may not always be comparable to valley areas. Another FIRST site would be Quirauk Mountain ASR to the north.

 

[Chris52]

ISSI started at the end of august and there was some testing on Multi-8 with FiRST techs (can’t remember the exact date at the moment) but they were talking about “a good test on talkgroup 5” and not much else. MSP is transitioning to the state systems and upgrades are underway at their barrack, not sure of an exact time frame of when the switchover will happen.

As of 07:00am MSP Frederick has switched over to the First System

 

[BM82557]

As of 07:00am MSP Frederick has switched over to the First System

Still a little traffic on TG 5668

 

[Chris52]

I’m sure it will stay simulcasted to Fredericks system

 

[maus92]

Check Unitrunker for Peer statuses: are the FIRST sites valid on the Frederick system, and are FIRST sites showing up on the Frederick system?

 

[Chris52]

Check Unitrunker for Peer statuses: are the FIRST sites valid on the Frederick system, and are FIRST sites showing up on the Frederick system?

First - Shows none of the frederick sites

Frederick - Shows multiple first sites

 

[maus92]

First - Shows none of the frederick sites

Frederick - Shows multiple first sites

Are the FIRST sites checked as Valid?

 

[Chris52]

Active and valid

 

[maus92]

I was in Rockville / Gaithersburg today. The Frederick County system was not reporting the FIRST sites as Valid (no check mark in the box). @Chris52 - can you recheck?

 

[Chris52]

As of this morning they are now unchecked. Interesting

 

[maus92]

I think it has to do with FIRST testing their Critical Connect capability with Frederick who has also licensed the capability. Doesn't seem to be ISSI. The question is for how long the Peers have been showing up on the Frederick County system.

 

[Chris52]

The county is currently running a call in the area of the 17000 blk of Harbaugh Valley Rd. They have asked Adams County PA if they could use a talkgroup of theirs to facilitate communications for this incident. Mind you there is no Adams County unit responding on this call. Interesting