Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System (LA-RICS) - Master Thread

[tsalmrsystemtech]

At least now Avalon FIRE will get off of their old low band 46 mhz system. Looks like they will be connected into LA RICS now. Pretty good idea. Wonder if you will only be able to hear them on the Catalina Site only. Will be interesting.

Tried picking up the Catalina 700 mhz site from South OC and comes in with three bars on the SDS-200. Nice.

 

[avascan522]

At least now Avalon FIRE will get off of their old low band 46 mhz system. Looks like they will be connected into LA RICS now. Pretty good idea. Wonder if you will only be able to hear them on the Catalina Site only. Will be interesting.

Tried picking up the Catalina 700 mhz site from South OC and comes in with three bars on the SDS-200. Nice.

Hate to burst everyone's bubble, but even though the county gave Avalon some talkgroups, the chief does not intend on using RICS. They are actually waiting to see how they can make use of the new UHF/ACVRS/TRO-5 system since it is conventional and they can communicate on direct mode if needed. RICS has several weak spots around Avalon, and the sheriffs, who have been using the TRS since February, have noticed the radios dropping out and flashing "Out of Range" at several spots. Chief also mentioned he definitely wants to keep the lowband equipment - especially the mobiles - around for the foreseeable future since they have worked for them in the past, don't need infrastructure, they are already installed, and they know the limitations/capabilities.

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

Scary that it looks like they have three tower sites on the island and they still have coverage "Out of Range" issues. Now it makes sense above that they will stay on low band for the foreseeable future. Makes sense to stay on UHF at this time. Alot of growing pains coming down the road. As we know 700 mhz does not work well in mountain areas like on the island.

 

[avascan522]

Scary that it looks like they have three tower sites on the island and they still have coverage "Out of Range" issues. Now it makes sense above that they will stay on low band for the foreseeable future. Makes sense to stay on UHF at this time. Alot of growing pains coming down the road. As we know 700 mhz does not work well in mountain areas like on the island.

View attachment 145343

Refraction is crucial to communication on the island because of the sharp hilly terrain - 30 ft ASL to 1,500 ft ASL within one mile, as the crow flies, in some cases. That's why VHF-low and Hi perform better than UHF and up over here. The sheriff's 480 system had some weak areas and dead spots indoors, but moving a few feet one way or the other would usually get you back in receiving (or transmitting) range. Pebbly Beach, at the east side of Avalon city limits, is not covered by Dakin Peak. Simulcast analog signals came in distorted on the 480 system as transmissions came in from Dakin and Palos Verdes. On RICS, I imagine that the handheld radios have to roam to a mainland site in order to get a stronger signal.

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

Refraction is crucial to communication on the island because of the sharp hilly terrain - 30 ft ASL to 1,500 ft ASL within one mile, as the crow flies, in some cases. That's why VHF-low and Hi perform better than UHF and up over here. The sheriff's 480 system had some weak areas and dead spots indoors, but moving a few feet one way or the other would usually get you back in receiving (or transmitting) range. Pebbly Beach, at the east side of Avalon city limits, is not covered by Dakin Peak. Simulcast analog signals came in distorted on the 480 system as transmissions came in from Dakin and Palos Verdes. On RICS, I imagine that the handheld radios have to roam to a mainland site in order to get a stronger signal.

Wow. Thanks for the info. Interesting to hear the technical stuff involved. It all makes logical sense why they want to stay on Low Band and or UHF. Why fix something that really works well and break it with something better supposedely. The Fire Chief is making the right decision. He knows his island and all of the good and dead radio spots for sure.

 

[Engine104]

Has LASD Lost Hills dispatch switched to LA-RICS? I know the L-Tacs have and they are encrypted.

 

[patin]

Has LASD Lost Hills dispatch switched to LA-RICS? I know the L-Tacs have and they are encrypted.

All are on self DISPATCH system has been down since Thursday 6pm
SCC advised no ETA to come back on their doing everything on paper over their LTAC

 

[resnickm]

All are on self DISPATCH system has been down since Thursday 6pm
SCC advised no ETA to come back on their doing everything on paper over their LTAC

I also feared the worst lol, but as mentioned dispatch is down — due to a power outage according to one of the transmissions. They did manage to use their dispatch channels for a bit last night before switching back to self-dispatch (at least Dispatch 2, which is all I was monitoring). 🤞

 

[AM909]

Wow. Power outage at SCC? I'd have thought they had lots and lots of backup there. LA-RICS to the rescue!

 

[pewpew45]

I know the stations went on self dispatch Friday but listening all day and not hearing any traffic on the dispatch channels. Anyone have an idea of where the traffic went ?

 

[SOUTHBAYSCANNER]

I haven’t hear anything on Dispatch 7 or 12 all day.

 

[XTSJunior]

They’ll usually live on LTAC.

 

[patin]

I haven’t hear anything on Dispatch 7 or 12 all day.

They been on SELF DISPATCH since Thursday at 6pm system crash not normal for such

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

Hmmm. CRASH. Something just is not making sense. They might be in the process of switching over and something went south.

Just my opinion. Power outage. I am pretty sure they have huge generators to keep the radio system up and going if our LA power goes down. Pretty sure some pink slips need be handed out on Monday morning.

 

[epn440]

So LASD has been on self dispatch for days with traffic being broadcast on there LTAC or Metro encrypted of course I wonder when the will switch back. I heard dispatch 5 patch in in dual mode.

 

[Peter_SD911]

Ransomware attack?

 

[SOUTHBAYSCANNER]

Getting ready to prepare my feed (running an SDS200 located in Lawndale) for LASD Dispatch 7 (Dec 307/Hex 133) and LASD Dispatch 12 (Dec 312/Hex 138). Anyone know what site(s) would work? Looking at the coverage map, I'm thinking Station B UHF (SOW), Site On Wheels (SOW) UHF, Station B 700 (SOW), which all seem to cover the entire county. South Simulcast 700 appears to be the most promising as it seems to be centered over the South Bay. Thoughts? Suggestions? Input?

 

[tsalmrsystemtech]

South Simulcast 700 is a pretty strong site. Just a thought. Maybe the Downtown Site too.

Just so hard to say until everything goes live and everything settles out. Good Luck.

 

[Randyk4661]

The SOW's are temporary sites that can be set up during major events or disasters
I don't think you re going to hear much if anything on them..

 

[AM909]

Are the dispatch talkgroups active now?