Maryland FIRST 700mhz TRS

[troymail]

Another interesting thing about the Matapeake ASR is that it provides good coverage up to the US50 / 301 split and beyond. The QA simulcast cell seems the be favoring the more eastern and northern parts of the county.

That was a comment I consider but left out -- Matapeake certain seems like a magnet/sponge for the activity along the Bay -- including somewhat surprisingly, lots of Kent County activity.

And you're right - the QA site coverage seems pretty poor on Kent Island. I think the closest towers are at MSP Centreville and Wye Mills.

 

[maus92]

Annapolis PD Tac is currently patched to Maryland Capital Police Events 1 for the Sty. Patrick's Day parade.

 

[marksmith]

SOC- Statewide Operations Center
TOC- Traffic Operations Centers

.... and an AOC is an area operations center? They seem to have one at the tunnels and the Bay bridge.

Mark
---------
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 and others.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

.... and an AOC is an area operations center? They seem to have one at the tunnels and the Bay bridge.

Mark
---------
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 and others.

According to CHART's Website: Authority Operations Center. Not sure exactly what it entails...

 

[troymail]

According to CHART's Website: Authority Operations Center. Not sure exactly what it entails...

...as in Transportation Authority (MdTA) perhaps?

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

...as in Transportation Authority (MdTA) perhaps?

Two links that I got the information from..
CHART - Coordinated Highways Action Response Team
CHART - Coordinated Highways Action Response Team


My guess AOC is it is it is like a command/control center for designated major sites like the Bay Bridge. And from doing a couple searches it looks like there is one at the Tunnels.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

While doing a little bit more research this is from 2013 so not sure if has changed it:

The Authority Operations Center (AOC) is responsible for managing traffic and incidents on
the MD Transportation Authority (MdTA) bridges, tunnels and roadways.

The AOC can override anyone at a TOC or the SOC when it comes to the MdTA resources.


AOC Centers:
AOC Central- Traffic Operations Center for MdTA toll roads and infrastructure (Central Maryland) Fort McHenry Tunnel Vent Building, Baltimore


AOC North- AOC North I-95 and JFK Hwy MSP Highway Barrack


AOC South- AOC South (colocated with TOC 5) Traffic Operations Center for the Bay Bridge and US 50
Corridor MdTA Lane Bridge Police Barrack

http://www.chart.md.gov/downloads/r...A 035 Del 14 R12 BAA Report Revision Body.pdf

 

[marksmith]

That was one hell of a busy document about what is really tracking traffic and accidents or disabled vehicles and keeping things moving. Whether it was written by staff or a consultant it probably cost a pile of $.

In any case I note that in at least one graphic on incoming data that the scanner was depicted as s source.

I can confirm hearing the AOC at both the tunnels and in particular the Bay Bridge. Interesting that the AOC has what appears to be ultimate authority within their responsibility areas. To the extent of overruling TOCs or the SOC.

This bears out in listening as those operating in those areas appear to always seek agreement from the AOC to whatever action is to be taken and seem to believe it important to keep the AOC apprised.

Mark
---------
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 and others.

 

[DisasterGuy]

The AOC (as the center of the Authority that operates as an enterprise fund) "owns" their roadways. This includes I-95 from the DE line into Baltimore County, all of 895, the ICC and several other sections of roadway. The MSP JFK Barack actually operates under contract to MdTA.

 

[matt_preller]

Just received word that Wicomico County Public Safety plans to fully change over to First before the end of 2018. $5 million has been devoted/budgeted to this project for FY 2016 alone.

 

[maus92]

The AOC (as the center of the Authority that operates as an enterprise fund) "owns" their roadways. This includes I-95 from the DE line into Baltimore County, all of 895, the ICC and several other sections of roadway. The MSP JFK Barack actually operates under contract to MdTA.

Anybody know the reason why MdTA contracts with MSP to provide police services on an Authority turnpike? Is it a legacy / carryover agreement that will expire at some point?

 

[marksmith]

Good question when we've seen that MDTA police are all over the traditional MSP territories. It might be temporary until MDTA could "bulk up", but its getting to be a long time.

Mark
---------
BCD536HP/HP1/HP2/BCD996XT/BCD396XT(2)/BCD996T/PSR-800 and others.

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

Some radio traffic with the MDE folks on the Overturned tanker on the ICC/95 today. I didn't realize that the FiRST radio coverage was that far south.

 

[maus92]

Some radio traffic with the MDE folks on the Overturned tanker on the ICC/95 today. I didn't realize that the FiRST radio coverage was that far south.

Yea, that's well into the NCR / P.G. / Montgomery County area, two counties south and west of Baltimore and AA Co...

 

[troymail]

Some radio traffic with the MDE folks on the Overturned tanker on the ICC/95 today. I didn't realize that the FiRST radio coverage was that far south.

They have some kinds of (extended) coverage over there. On police chases down 95 in the past, the coverage went pretty far. Some may have been coverage from the Anne Arundel site (fringe).

However, I haven't checked really closely but, I'm pretty sure I've been hearing "I" (ICC?) units on the Hatem Bridge talkgroup for a while now (I assume because that's a relatively "quite" talkgroup so the dispatcher can handle the extra load). This implies some kind of coverage on the ICC.

Then again, District 7 of SHA is on FiRST too but that's clearly mostly a patch from the western suburbs......

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

They have some kinds of (extended) coverage over there. On police chases down 95 in the past, the coverage went pretty far. Some may have been coverage from the Anne Arundel site (fringe).

However, I haven't checked really closely but, I'm pretty sure I've been hearing "I" (ICC?) units on the Hatem Bridge talkgroup for a while now (I assume because that's a relatively "quite" talkgroup so the dispatcher can handle the extra load). This implies some kind of coverage on the ICC.

Then again, District 7 of SHA is on FiRST too but that's clearly mostly a patch from the western suburbs......

Interesting... I don't listen to Hatem Bridge Talkgroup much but will have to listen to see any ICC traffic.

Is there any updates on how Phase 3 (Central MD ) is coming along. I haven't heard much about it. Wasn't it supposed to be completed last year?

 

[maus92]

They have some kinds of (extended) coverage over there. On police chases down 95 in the past, the coverage went pretty far. Some may have been coverage from the Anne Arundel site (fringe).

However, I haven't checked really closely but, I'm pretty sure I've been hearing "I" (ICC?) units on the Hatem Bridge talkgroup for a while now (I assume because that's a relatively "quite" talkgroup so the dispatcher can handle the extra load). This implies some kind of coverage on the ICC.

Then again, District 7 of SHA is on FiRST too but that's clearly mostly a patch from the western suburbs......

I wonder if PG or Montgomery have installed an ISSI interface so FiRST subscribers can roam onto their systems. FiRST subscriber radios could operate on either. PG's radios could roam onto FiRST, but I think Montgomery's radios are limited to 800 band until they buy new ones - which may have happened by now..

 

[maus92]

I just got word that DNR is now on the FiRST system at least down here on the shore. I wonder if they are the new 7551 or 7557 ENC TG.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using Tapatalk

Do you see a lot of traffic on those TGs off the Salisbury site? They are relatively busy on the Anne Arundel site.

 

[maus92]

So I was doing some research last night about when Talbot County will become live on the FiRST system. In a December 2014 minutes of the Talbot County Council, there was mention of new subscriber radios having already purchased and fielded, and the allocation of another $6M to upgrade infrastructure needed to join the FiRST system, and add a new tower site in Buxton. So they seem to be moving along, but no ETA to when they will switch over.

The bigger news contained in those minutes is the other partners in the UMESC will also be joining the FiRST system - so I'm going to be researching their timetables as well. This, combined with Wicomico County, will make FiRST the dominant system on the Eastern Shore. The question becomes whether Ocean City will join the network when their EDACS system goes out of manufacturer support - which is soon. They could still be interested in maintaining their own system, but Talbot mentioned that they will save operating/support expenses by joining FiRST, so maybe OC will as well - if there is channel/frequency capacity. It would certainly make sense for Somerset County to join if they can find some grant money to pay for subscriber radios. Worcester's system is fairly new, but is ProVoice - not sure what can be done with a non-P25 system. Perhaps Harris will provide an upgrade path to P25. Dorchester County is another possible client at some point.

 

[maus92]

Interesting... I don't listen to Hatem Bridge Talkgroup much but will have to listen to see any ICC traffic.

Is there any updates on how Phase 3 (Central MD ) is coming along. I haven't heard much about it. Wasn't it supposed to be completed last year?

I have some business over in Montgomery County this afternoon / evening - I'm try to fence off some time to fire up Unitrunker / SDR# to look for CC and signals along the ICC. I tried to find a CC in Howard County a few weeks ago, but found nothing.