Is the Cleveland RTA EDACS System still active?

[Cobra_Commander]

I can't pick up anything on the frequencies listed in the database is it shut down or what?

 

[Swipesy]

They are using MARCS

RR Database Home

The most complete database of radio communications data

www.radioreference.com

 

[kf8yk]

Looks like the EDACS system is offline, no CC's from the 3 sites I could normally receive.

All RTA operations are on MARCS and AT&T/FN nowadays: RTA Radio Project Update

 

[wd8chl]

Well, I'm glad they finally got something. The old mobiles were pretty old in 2015. The system wasn't really massively old by system standards, but it had been unsupported for a long time. And it was quite under-engineered from the start. I had to shake my head at whoever thought they could cover Cuyahoga Co. with 4 sites, especially on 900 MHz. It worked well for what it was (after fixing many issues), but it was long past time.
So even after they moved voice to MARCS (not sure how they got dispensation from the feds for a non-public safety agency to use PS channels, but then again, so did First Energy...hmmm...), they had to keep it online for the data side. And they are ***VERY*** data-centric! (There was no way MARCS data could handle what they needed, not with all the other agencies using it too.)

 

[kf8yk]

not sure how they got dispensation from the feds for a non-public safety agency to use PS channels, but then again, so did First Energy

No waiver needed, RTA as a local government agency is eligible under 90.523(a).

 

[wa8pyr]

So even after they moved voice to MARCS (not sure how they got dispensation from the feds for a non-public safety agency to use PS channels, but then again, so did First Energy...hmmm...).

As noted above, RTA is a government agency, so they're covered. The state applied for and received a waiver from the FCC so that First Energy could use the 700 MHz frequencies; even so, my understanding is that FE is set up to prefer the 800 MHz frequencies.

(There was no way MARCS data could handle what they needed, not with all the other agencies using it too.)

The MARCS data system probably could handle it, but it's public safety only; my guess is that RTA is probably using FirstNet data modems for their data transmissions.

 

[wd8chl]

700 MHz channels were only to be used by public safety agencies. Any non-PS usage needed a waiver from the FCC. That was the law. Same with "First Net". To be used by PS, otherwise it would get jammed up with too much traffic.
We see this on MARCS now, where a site gets slammed sometimes and no channels are available. Maybe it doesn't last long, but PS users that have been on conventional for decades don't get it, and consider it unacceptable for even one transmission to get missed because they system was busy.