Indiana Toll Road Simulcast System?

[Stephanie1130]

Hello Everyone:

I am new here on this forum, and maybe some of you can answer a few questions for me about the new Safe-T radio system?

For my birthday three days ago, I received a new Uniden 796D scanner. I had wanted a 785D, but my brother-in-law, who is a radio technician for the Indiana Toll Road told, me that I would be better off with the 796D, over the 785D, so he talked my husband into getting the newer scanner. I wanted a new scanner since my county is going to the Safe-T radio system, and I love to know what is going on in my neighborhood.

My question is, what is a Simulcast system? My brother-in-law was telling me that in the next 2-3 years, they plan on overhauling their current radio system on the toll road, and replacing all of the towers that are over 35 years old, with new ones. But, they would be going to the 800MHz Safe-T system and each tower would be part of a Simulcast system in each county the toll road runs through. In addition, he mentioned that I would need the 796D when the new system was put in place, because it will use Motorola digital 6.1 or higher?

Thankfully, he will clone his radio to mine so I can get started, since I can not make sense out of the manual that came with the 796D. I have had a scanner since 1979 and loved it ever since. Ironically, they have become so complex in the Cyber Age.

Any advice you can give will be greatly appreciated?

Respectfully,

Stephanie

 

[scannerfreak]

Hello Stephanie,

In the case of the SAFE-T system, Simulcast means that the Talkgroups will be broadcasted on more than one tower. Basicly, The Toll Road Talkgroups will be able to be used anywhere that the Toll Road runs through. What is is talking about with the Motorola 6.1 or higher is the Astro Platform the system runs on. At this point in time, SAFE-T has no plans to make the swith to 9600 Baud.

The Smart Zone technology allows communication throughout a zone.
OmniLink technology allows communication across multiple zones.
Roaming technology enables their home talkgroups while traveling throughout the system.

The Idea is to be able to have users utilize the system no matter where they are in they state. For example, I monitor the Versailles, IN tower. I have been hearing Post 42 troopers go 10-41 and 10-42 from the state fair in Indianapolis. This is accomplished by use of all the IR sites communicating back to the Versailles tower at the post.

The ability for subscribers to routinely monitor any localized
not normally affiliated to that IR site, system-wide, may cause
available channels to be busy for all users of the site.

An example would be a large concentration of members of local,
county or state users meeting at the Indiana Law Enforcement
Academy, each wishing to monitor home agency talkgroup(s). Most of
these users would be affiliated with Site 24 (Mooresville) or Site
411 (Greenwood) while in the Plainfield area. As more subscribers
travel in to the area and affiliate with the site(s), channels would
become saturated resulting in system busies for local users who are
handling local public safety incidents.

Alternative methods of communicating with home dispatchers have been
provided. The ability to communicate with a dispatch center from
outside the normal dispatch area can generally be accommodated
through the use of regional talkgroups or one of the statewide mutual aid channels.



Hope this explanation helps you. Congrats on your new scanner, you'll get much enjoyment from it. 8)

 

[Thunderbolt]

each tower would be part of a Simulcast system in each county the toll road runs through. In addition, he mentioned that I would need the 796D when the new system was put in place, because it will use Motorola digital 6.1 or higher?

I think what she means is that each radio tower in every county that the Toll Road serves, will be part of a simulcast system, which means that there will be several frequencies reused on multiple towers in each county? This is what is currently happening here in Michigan with our ASTRO 6.3 system. Other states that have 9600 baud simulcast systems like Arizona, Colorado, and Minnesota have this capability.


73's

Ron

 

[Stephanie1130]

Yes Ron you are correct. My in-law says that the Toll Road system will be the first 9600 baud system to be built as part of the Safe-T system. The idea behind this is so frequencies can be reused at multiple locations in the same area or county. The only thing holding it back is lack of money to put the system in place.

Well my 796D is cloned and ready to go, but not much activity as of yet, but Mishawaka comes in loud and clear on Bank 5.


Sincerely,

Stephanie

 

[scannerfreak]

Yes Ron you are correct. My in-law says that the Toll Road system will be the first 9600 baud system to be built as part of the Safe-T system. The idea behind this is so frequencies can be reused at multiple locations in the same area or county. The only thing holding it back is lack of money to put the system in place.

Well my 796D is cloned and ready to go, but not much activity as of yet, but Mishawaka comes in loud and clear on Bank 5.


Sincerely,

Stephanie

Wow, this is the first I have heard of SAFE-T going 9600. All the techs I have spoken to have said there was no way. Good info, thanks!