MARCS-IP ("New MARCS") Site and Talkgroup Discussion

[Jphila20]

Does the Unitracker program load the department names along with the ID numbers?..Scanner Pro used to but the last time I programmed it only loaded the numbers

You can download everything via Radio Reference. Talk Groups, Systems, Sites, etc.

 

[Wilhelm1234]

Gotcha, I'll probably just do a reload on this...it's been a couple years

 

[WX4JCW]

my submit on Stow PD got rejected, was explained it was a radio position, no worries, Ive never heard a dispatcher give radio positions as opposed to channels before, would be nice to see a matrix like COIRS sends out

 

[WX4JCW]

Gotcha, I'll probably just do a reload on this...it's been a couple years

Unitrunker wont do Subscriber ID's i usually just program ranges and match them to talkgroups see my example

 

[Wilhelm1234]

This process really seems to have gotten more complicated since I last did it .. I'll have to do more research

 

[rcid1971]

Portage County Commissioners break ground on JAG Campus MARCS Tower​

Portage Simulcast finally groundbreaking. A project 20 years too late.

Three new radio towers to be constructed in the next few months across Portage County will significantly increase the ability of public safety services to respond, communicate in emergencies and save lives thanks to a partnership among local, county and state governments.

The $7 million project to build the Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS) towers is a collaboration of the Portage County Emergency Management Agency (PC EMA), Portage County Commissioners, Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) MARCS office, James A. Garfield Local Schools, Village of Garrettsville, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Deerfield Township and Suffield Township.

Representatives of the partners attended a groundbreaking event Jan. 22 at one of the radio tower sites on James A. Garfield Local Schools property in Garrettsville Village. The other sites are Ohio Department of Transportation property on State Route 14 in Deerfield Township and Ohio Department of Natural Resources property on Waterloo Road in Suffield Township. The lattice MARCS towers will stand 330 feet tall.

MARCS, a 700/800 MHz digital radio system, is one of the largest publicly owned radio systems in the country. Ninety percent of Portage County public safety agencies, all state agencies and a host of public health and service industries use the MARCS radio system. Statewide, more than 3,000 public safety and service agencies are on MARCS.

Through funding from the Portage County Commissioners and the State of Ohio DAS/MARCS Office, Portage County is experiencing a $7 million upgrade to public safety communications, significantly impacting interoperability, coverage and capacity. With the transition to the MARCS platform, large swaths of radio coverage issues would be resolved in northeast, southeast and southwest Portage County.

Speelman Electric Inc., the contractor selected to erect the towers, is anticipated to complete the project in April. Shortly after, MARCS, in partnership with Motorola, will upgrade all the technology within the towers to a simulcast system. Changing to a simulcast system provides greater extended coverage across a larger geographical area.

The Portage County Emergency Management Agency (PC EMA) operates within the realm of public safety and is tasked with the overall preparedness and resiliency mission of Portage County before, during and after disaster incidents. You can learn more about PC EMA at Emergency Management Agency | Portage County OH.

 

[W8KIC]

Portage County Commissioners break ground on JAG Campus MARCS Tower​

Portage Simulcast finally groundbreaking. A project 20 years too late.

Unfortunately, Portage County isn't exactly rollin in the dough. It's one of the poorest counties out of Ohio's 88 and it's very difficult to earmark tax revenue that just isn't there. On those rare occasions, both the state and Uncle Sam provide the much needed help but it has to be allocated wisely and that means that the more expensive necessities (i.e. an updated communications system) take a back seat to food and housing. I don't like it anymore than you do but reality is what it is.

 

[rcid1971]

Unfortunately, Portage County isn't exactly rollin in the dough. It's one of the poorest counties out of Ohio's 88 and it's very difficult to earmark tax revenue that just isn't there. On those rare occasions, both the state and Uncle Sam provide the much needed help but it has to be allocated wisely and that means that the more expensive necessities (i.e. an updated communications system) take a back seat to food and housing. I don't like it anymore than you do but reality is what it is.

One thing I've learned in my service to the State of Ohio, having worked all 88-counties, all OSP & ODNR Districts, is that there's this thing where every single county wants to claim they're the poorest. It's like the prized metric amongst counties.

"Oh, Meigs county, you know we're the poorest in the state," then your next stop...."Gee whiz, Vinton county, you know it's the poorest in the state sir."

 

[N8WCP]

Unfortunately, Portage County isn't exactly rollin in the dough. It's one of the poorest counties out of Ohio's 88 and it's very difficult to earmark tax revenue that just isn't there. On those rare occasions, both the state and Uncle Sam provide the much needed help but it has to be allocated wisely and that means that the more expensive necessities (i.e. an updated communications system) take a back seat to food and housing. I don't like it anymore than you do but reality is what it is.

May not be the wealthiest, but not the poorest. Ranked in the top third in 2020. Every Ohio city and county ranked for median family, household income: census estimates

 

[WX4JCW]

Found 53791 with First Energy Radio ID's Joining

62583 UNK Summit County Public Works
62601 UNK Summit County Public Works
62710 UNK South Summit FD and this one has been active
62711 UNK South Summit FD Join only

 

[WX4JCW]

Here is my latest lists of Unknowns in my area

 

[W8KIC]

May not be the wealthiest, but not the poorest. Ranked in the top third in 2020. Every Ohio city and county ranked for median family, household income: census estimates

I have several friends who live over in Garrettsville near the Geauga/Portage County line. Obviously, not everyone in that part of the world is poor and I apologize if that’s how it came across. I get together with them every so often for a BBQ and to do some clay pigeon shooting and it’s always great fun. Now, I live in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) and we definitely have our own share of economic challenges. We used to have a massive manufacturing base and even though the skies were dirty, our local economy was one of the very best in the country. Today, that base is largely gone and even though we still have some manufacturing, it’s nothing like it was back in the day. Healthcare facilities (Cleveland Clinic,University Hospital’s and CWRU) account for a sizable footprint and that has saved us from becoming a near total disaster from an economic standpoint.

 

[a388sig2]

I have several friends who live over in Garrettsville near the Geauga/Portage County line. Obviously, not everyone in that part of the world is poor and I apologize if that’s how it came across. I get together with them every so often for a BBQ and to do some clay pigeon shooting and it’s always great fun. Now, I live in Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) and we definitely have our own share of economic challenges. We used to have a massive manufacturing base and even though the skies were dirty, our local economy was one of the very best in the country. Today, that base is largely gone and even though we still have some manufacturing, it’s nothing like it was back in the day. Healthcare facilities (Cleveland Clinic,University Hospital’s and CWRU) account for a sizable footprint and that has saved us from becoming a near total disaster from an economic standpoint.

I think Portage finally has an EMA director that wants action, and a sheriff that’s been working for improved comms, more leadership, less about being poor or failing to budget appropriately.

 

[N8WCP]

I think Portage finally has an EMA director that wants action, and a sheriff that’s been working for improved comms, more leadership, less about being poor or failing to budget appropriately.

Agree, positive changes in the past few years.

 

[WX4JCW]

Akron PD may have restructured as well no way to tell but

62567 has over 5,000 hits and is very active, all akron pd RID's
62565 has about 2600 hits
62568 470 hits
62570 737
62575 960
62576 998

---------------
62535 Popped up with an Akron FD Unit

64150 and 64148 ODOT Freeway Patrol Affiliations

 

[jsoergel]

Akron PD may have restructured as well no way to tell but

62567 has over 5,000 hits and is very active, all akron pd RID's
62565 has about 2600 hits
62568 470 hits
62570 737
62575 960
62576 998

---------------
62535 Popped up with an Akron FD Unit

64150 and 64148 ODOT Freeway Patrol Affiliations

I have heard 64148 and 64150 before. I think they may be inter-PSAP type talkgroups.

 

[WX4JCW]

I have heard 64148 and 64150 before. I think they may be inter-PSAP type talkgroups

64148,64149,64150 all had affiliations from ODOT

 

[WX4JCW]

54770 just became very active sounds like a corrections or court most likely TG state RID and Huron County RID's Definitely a corrections TG

makes no sense the TG is close to Ashlands TGID but the RID's are 9500XX and 39XX, only 4 of the 39XXX affiliated

 

[WX4JCW]

List is Getting Bigger, Akron is Expanding a bunch it looks like

 

[rcid1971]

2/27/24

Seems every agency in Northern Ohio is complaining of coverage and audio quality issues on MARCS. Never heard so many radio checks in one day. 🤦‍♂️