Slow down, Slow down, you have what now, with what now! Wow you guys are way over my head with this stuff
The Maryland Department of Information Technology and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources will soon host a town hall meeting to discuss the upcoming construction of a radio tower project in Patapsco Valley State Park. This project aims to improve radio communications for first responders in the area, enhancing public safety for residents and visitors.
The meeting will allow residents to learn more about the project, its objectives, and the reasons behind the selected location within the park. Officials will be available to answer questions and address concerns from the community.
The construction of the new tower is anticipated to begin as early as Spring 2026, depending on the completion of planned activities.
Meeting Details:
Date: July 24th, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Location: The Elkridge Volunteer Fire Hall, 5700 Rowanberry Dr, Elkridge, MD 21075
The radio tower is part of the Maryland FiRST network, a state-owned public safety radio system that provides critical interoperable voice communications to over 31,000 Maryland first responders. Officials at the town hall will discuss how improved radio coverage in the Patapsco Valley State Park area will support emergency response efforts, particularly during unplanned incidents that could harm life and property, such as water rescues and other natural disasters.
MD DOIT Facebook Page.
The meeting will allow residents to learn more about the project, its objectives, and the reasons behind the selected location within the park. Officials will be available to answer questions and address concerns from the community.
The construction of the new tower is anticipated to begin as early as Spring 2026, depending on the completion of planned activities.
Meeting Details:
Date: July 24th, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM ET
Location: The Elkridge Volunteer Fire Hall, 5700 Rowanberry Dr, Elkridge, MD 21075
The radio tower is part of the Maryland FiRST network, a state-owned public safety radio system that provides critical interoperable voice communications to over 31,000 Maryland first responders. Officials at the town hall will discuss how improved radio coverage in the Patapsco Valley State Park area will support emergency response efforts, particularly during unplanned incidents that could harm life and property, such as water rescues and other natural disasters.
MD DOIT Facebook Page.
Some recent activity....
7187 - "Testing" - MPA (Port) RID's - Baltimore Site
7239 - SHA Chestertown Shop Units utilizing it for traffic control - Kent Site
8242 - ENC - Baltimore Site
8408 - Unknown Federal - RID: 1248xxx - Cecil Site
8519 - ENC - Howard Site
7187 - "Testing" - MPA (Port) RID's - Baltimore Site
7239 - SHA Chestertown Shop Units utilizing it for traffic control - Kent Site
8242 - ENC - Baltimore Site
8408 - Unknown Federal - RID: 1248xxx - Cecil Site
8519 - ENC - Howard Site
Apparently the state police helicopters are not identical wrt radio configurations. Trooper 7 has had issues communicating with both Worcester and Ocean City when using tgs on their respective systems. Last month Trooper 7 had to utilize the Berlin Barracks tg to communicate with ground units for a MVA evac, and Ocean City has had issues several times in the past few months. Trooper 7 is due in Worcester when Trooper 4 is busy. Trooper 4 does not seem to have radio issues. Not sure if this is a training issue or an equipment issue, but we're spending a ton of money on interoperable radio systems, and this should not be happening at this point. The state has created AVTAC tgs on FIRST, but they are not programmed into ground unit subscribers in many counties.
The helicopters are being updated with new radio equipment. Not all helicopters have the same hardware in them.
Cruise Maryland Terminal Ops
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Remember - these aircraft were purchased back in 2012/13 areas before the MD1st System and were sadly outfitted with Phase I radios....flashforward to today - that as airframes are undergoing their heavy maintenance cycle - they are being outfitted with new P25 Phase II radios and additional onboard avionics to improve and enhance interoperable communications. Not all sections have been completed yet as the maintenance cycle is very lengthy - but well worth it!
I sorta get it, but then again these are life-saving tools that should have priority in terms of making sure every helicopter is compatible with the areas they serve, whether by equipage or by management. It's not like drivers don't pay a surcharge on their registrations to pay for these assets and keep them running and operationally relevant.
Trooper 7 is based out of St. Mary's County (St. Mary's Airport in Hollywood, MD) in southern Maryland. As with a lot of things down here, St. Mary's usually gets the "Out of sight, out of mind" treatment. Yes - life critical, but the saying still goes...
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Totally agree; but sometimes, as sad as it is, government and politics move at a snails pace and interfere with the priorities.....I know we all know that, but.....they can't take down the entire fleet at one time to make them identical - tha'st impractical. And I'm sure, just the radio upgrades alone weren't cheap so there has to be method to madness. The good news is that the upgrades are being completed, and the stop gap solutions from years past are being replaced with a more permanent solution that will meet the needs of all user. Just like MESIN, CMARC, WAGIN etc.....change is inevitable
Has anyone else heard the rumor that at some point CMARC system will dissolve into MD FIRST?
More likely the CMARC cells will just dissolve leaving only the Harford cell.
New talkgroup popped up on the Baltimore Site...
14408 - Encrypted - RIDS: 21670xx
14408 - Encrypted - RIDS: 21670xx
Any idea who it might be? Seems like a state RID.
14407 also became active (ENC) today.
Likely also 14401 & 14404 as I logged them ENC earlier this year.
Not sure, I was hoping someone would recognize the RID from other talkgroups/systems as I haven't logged them before.
I have kept a list of approved agencies from the RCB and I guess it potentially could be...
Department Juvenile Services (DJS) - Approved in 2016. Never have seen them active on FiRST.
JHU Police - I was leaning towards this but I previously logged a user with RID 21555xx. Maybe the user was the "hospital" and not police.
MFRI - Doubt it. Too active.
St. Johns College Special PD - Too active and not on AA Cell.
Bowie State U Police - Potentially. No idea if it is active on PG Cell.
UMBC Police - Unknow if approved in June. Would be pretty "quick" to become active on FiRST.
Could also be an established agency on FIRST who just got more radios/talkgroups.
If I would have to guess, I bet it is JHU Police.
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I just recently put MD first into my Unication G4. I've been in King George, VA and Charles Co, MD more recently. I am currently receiving off the Charles site now in Spotsylvania, VA. I am amazed on what I am hearing. Does every talkgroup in the state simulcast on every site?
