Lock down test???

[ranger2004]

What is UCAN doing with the lock down testing?

 

[Spadinator]

The way I understand it is the lockdown is like switching to simplex operation. Each agency has a lockdown channel.

 

[kf7yn]

Lockdown is a fail-safe mode in which all units in their respective agencies (i.e. UFA Fire) switch to their home site and have access to only a few TGs. It's not simplex because they still go through UCAN repeaters but are unable to affiliate with other sites.

In the event of a system-wide failure, all units switch to their lockdown channel. Without drills now and then, comms would be in disarray when the crap hits the fan. Examples of this would be: site controller failures, microwave link or fiber optic link failures, natural disasters, etc.

 

[WalkieTalkie]

Can you give more information on the lockdown TG's or channels. Does anyone have a list county by county?

 

[kf7yn]

Lockdown and site trunking TGs are their normal main dispatch TGs.

 

[bbrasmussen]

Heard them the other day in Davis County doing something. Ever since, the audio from all dispatch consoles is just terrible. It sounds like low bitrate digitized audio. All of the mobiles and portables sound normal. Is the lockdown testing affecting the dispatch audio like this or is something else going on?

 

[kf7yn]

I dunno. UCAN is supposedly replacing zone controllers in each county. Several agencies here in SL Co are also complaining of lousy dispatch audio.

 

[Junior1970]

I too have heard a lot of the garbled audio on the dispatch channels. Mostly on the Salt Lake Simo site. I read on the UCAN website of replacing site controllers since the ones have no replaceable parts and to prepare for future digital capability in the future.
When I have been in Vegas and listened to the VHF channels simulcasting the Opensky system there it has the same garbled voice but inteligible. I heard it mostly tonight on VECC Fire and some of the UPD channels. Maybe it's me I don't know.
Utah County as we speak is talking about switching to these channels and they are to work things here tonight...

 

[recon20]

I'm glad it's not just me or my scanners.
The ucan dispatch audio sounds horrific lately...like bbrasmussen said, sort of like a very low bitrate that has been compressed, it also sounds muffled, distorted and scratchy with low volume and there seems to be a lot of static noise in the background, but the mobile units sound just fine.

I was thinking maybe it was just the dispatchers using crappy mics or poor technique, hopefully things improve soon.

 

[recon20]

I'm still getting poor audio on the Salt Lake area UPD and fire dispatch frequencies. It seems to be only the dispatch and not the mobile units.

Does anyone know why, and if this will get better, or is it just the way things are going to be from now on.