Louisville Metrosafe

[windigofer]

The two bids were evaluated by a team of 10 city officials, who were led by Roger Schipke, a former vice president at General Electric. After a months-long process, Motorola was the unanimous choice.

"Both companies could have done it," Schipke said. "Both bids were very competitive. Motorola's coverage looked a little stronger. Motorola had a slight edge on price and a slight edge on the technology. The two things working together got Motorola the job."

This is actually sort of a relief--I'd been quite worried that MA/Com would get the contract (and there would be pressure to make the MetroSafe system an OpenSky system and thus unmonitorable). At least with Motorola, the system should be scannable (as long as one has an APCO-25 capable scanner).

 

[brey1234]

can u?

Can U post the URL for the article concerning making Motorola the contract winner?

 

[dispatch]

Motorola Wins Metrosafe Contract

Here the link...
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007705250451

 

[LouisvilleScanMan]

Well it's been months since the last post on this subject and I'm sick of waiting so I'm going to ask, is there anything new to tell?

 

[ofd8001]

The Courier article is the most recent news. I imagine it will take two years to get the system built out. They have not gone through the process for approving new tower sites (though that doesn't mean they are not attempting to co-locate on existing cell towers). They may also be trying to arrange new towers that are located on land already government owned.

Another step they need to take is putting out a request for proposal for subscriber units (portable and mobile radios in police cars, fire trucks etc). They are in the process of putting that RFP together.

 

[StinkyB]

I am hearing a lot of activity on the Mertosafe system tonight, I am running Pro96Com now, I'll see what I dig up. It is not testing, or chit chat stuff either, sounds like LMPD actually using it.

 

[StinkyB]

Just herd Harrod's Creek FD dispached over Metrosafe TG:00013

 

[StinkyB]

Sounds like they are simulcasting Jefferson Co. Fire East (145.2500 CT 74.4)

 

[kd4bas]

$1.58 million grant will advance MetroSafe

Saw this article in newspaper The Courier-Journal


$1.58 million grant will advance MetroSafe
Information system under construction

By Dan Klepal
dklepal@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal



Louisville Metro government has been awarded a $1.58 million homeland security grant that will help it continue building its digital MetroSafe emergency communication system.

Portions of MetroSafe have already been built. A $22.8 million contract was awarded in May to Motorola for the system's backbone -- six new communication towers and the computer and microwave equipment to tie it all together.

When completed, the system will allow unhindered communication between first responders all over Jefferson County, as well as with other public safety officials who may come into the county because of an emergency.

The system also will allow photos, diagrams, video and medical records to be transmitted directly to police cruisers, ambulances and fire trucks.

The grant amount "meshes with our expectations," said Allison Martin, a spokeswoman for Mayor Jerry Abramson. "Kentucky has seen a reduction in homeland security funding, and we knew there is stiff competition for fewer dollars."

The state received slightly more than $11 million -- but had submitted 200 grant applications asking for a total of $74 million in federal homeland security funding.

Metro Louisville requested $3.6 million. It received $1.08 million for communications infrastructure and another $500,000 for MetroSafe to help offset the end of Urban Area Security Initiative funding from the Department of Homeland Security.

MetroSafe Director Doug Hamilton said all of the $1.58 million will be used for the Motorola contract. He said the company is in the process of determining sites for the towers and seeking land-use approval.

"We are on schedule," Hamilton said.

Motorola is currently building the third phase of MetroSafe; it should be completed in about 24 months. The first two phases cost a total of $35 million.

The last phase is buying the radios that emergency responders will use in the field.

 

[StinkyB]

Has anyone noticed all of the simulcasting they are doing on the Louisville MetroSafe system? Why are they doing this? Are they testing?

 

[ofd8001]

I believe they are doing that for testing purposes. I've heard EMS, police and fire on the new system.

I would imagine that when the new system gets up and running, they will need to have some form of simulcasting or patching during the transition period. What they are now doing may help them anticipate what might happen then, and prepare for any issues.

The last I heard is that they are probably going to be using 12 sites around the county which is 9 more than the three already in operation.

Best as I can tell, this might be a real good system.

 

[BigDog-911]

I had heard some of F-2 activity of 0015 and heard something on 0013.

Not really picking up a whole lot of activity though....I may need to reprogram my channels together instead of being spread out.


Doug

 

[StinkyB]

I see, I work in Louisville, It has been going non-stop fro the past few days, I even heard them responding to the sinking houseboat, and the Star of Louisville Rescuing the ocupants. I heard LMPD F-2 Surban, and Jefferson County EMS MED 10 for the past 3 days. I heard alittle on 0013 It is LMPD, but I don't know which channel. Thanks ofd8001, that makes sense.

 

[jerk]

I see, I work in Louisville, It has been going non-stop fro the past few days, I even heard them responding to the sinking houseboat, and the Star of Louisville Rescuing the ocupants. I heard LMPD F-2 Surban, and Jefferson County EMS MED 10 for the past 3 days. I heard alittle on 0013 It is LMPD, but I don't know which channel. Thanks ofd8001, that makes sense.

And they need to use the frequencies if they get audited by the FCC they want to see some use form the frequencies or they could they lost them. Testing works fine, plus they can play with the radios at the same time.

 

[StinkyB]

Simulcasting/Rebroadcasting

And they need to use the frequencies if they get audited by the FCC they want to see some use form the frequencies or they could they lost them. Testing works fine, plus they can play with the radios at the same time.

I Kinda Figured That, TG#0013 is Jefferson Co. Fire East, at least at the moment. I have been using my Pro-97 to tell what is being simulcasted, there is a 1 to 2 second delay between the conventional from the Pro-97, and the Digital heard on the Pro-96, it sounds kinda freaky like an echo. Thanks again.

 

[N4JNW]

I have a spot in my Bearcat 396 reserved for the MetroSafe system.. Sounds like it's going to be FUN to program in.. :lol:

 

[StinkyB]

Oh Yeah! I'm Ready!

 

[BigDog-911]

I had a little trouble at first but now I am hearing them loud and clear. I haven't heard the EMS simulcast but the F-2 is screaming...May listen some this weekend while I am off.

Finally the money that they got is paying off.

Doug

 

[jerk]

I Kinda Figured That, TG#0013 is Jefferson Co. Fire East, at least at the moment. I have been using my Pro-97 to tell what is being simulcasted, there is a 1 to 2 second delay between the conventional from the Pro-97, and the Digital heard on the Pro-96, it sounds kinda freaky like an echo. Thanks again.

You should hear 2 digital radios in the same room. The delay will drive you crazy.
But I've noticed the delay, and some of it might be audio processing through the patch as well.
AL

 

[BigDog-911]

They are simulcasting using a computer called a MotoBridge. Of course it is a Motorola computer system. The front end of the system is a computer monitor that has several banks of radios showing on it. The operator can take any series of radios and bridge them together and get the simulcast that you are hearing.

The Suburban F-3...155.580 pl 146.2 and the Urban Channel 4 460.475 is always up on the system. I think that Suburban Command 155.070 and Urban channel 7 453.575 are also always up.

The computer has the capability to bridge at least 500 channels on the system. The backbone of the system sits in a room in the front of the center separate from the radio room and holds an enormous amount of mobile radios that are controlled through the motobridge.

The top of the 768 building has a crap load of antennas on it and is waiting for a lightning strike...LOL..

The operators on the floor can also bridge channels from their front end radio system which is touch screen in the event of an absolute need it now emergency.

Hope this helps anyone out that wanted to know alittle about the simulcast or bridging of channels at MetroSafe.

D