METCAD (Champaign County) NEW 800 MHz ASTRO Trunked System

[cubn]

METCAD 911 Website (link)​

Just noticed that the Champaign County 911 Center (METCAD) website has some updated information regarding the implementation of the new 800 MHz ASTRO trunked radio system for Champaign County.

-There are now some pictures posted showing one of the new tower sites.

-METCAD is also starting to post some of their meeting minutes online.

The METCAD website continues to be a good resource for up-to-date information regarding the migration from VHF-UHF to the 800 ASTRO MHz TRS.

METCAD - Champaign County Public Safety System (Radioreference page) ​

 

[cubn]

Updated system news for December 2006

According to this website:
http://www.metcad911.org/MDICE/Radio Data/Equipment Order Process.pdf

Rural fire departments will be joining MDICE no earlier than Spring 2008. It also states that all the county fire departments will switch from VHF to MDICE at the same time, not individually.

***

This website:
http://archive.ci.champaign.il.us/archive/dsweb/Get/Document-4605/CB 2006-304.pdf

States that Champaign Public Works will leave the City of Champaign TRS in favor of the Champaign County ASTRO MDICE TRS in early 2008. The City of Champaign 800 MHz Motorola II system has been in service since April 1993 and will be phased-out of service and operations will be transferred MDICE.

Related to the above link, on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, the Champaign City Council unanimously passed bill 2006-304 allowing the city to purchase over $1 million of Motorola radio equipment for Champaign PD, FD and Public Works to use on the new MDICE TRS.

****

News-Gazette article about the new METCAD radio system:
http://www.news-gazette.com/news/pr..._new_radio_system_will_improve_communication/

****

Video of the METCAD presentation to the Urbana City Council 10/10/2005:
Low-resolution video: http://www.City.Urbana.Il.Us//MMS/C.../03_Presentation_METCAD_Radio_Project_28k.wmv
High-resolution video: http://www.City.Urbana.Il.Us/MMS/Ci...03_Presentation_METCAD_Radio_Project_100k.wmv

 

[Highlander_821]

Well, I guess I'll finally get a digital scanner....

 

[cubn]

Who will use the system--

A preliminary list of departments that will likely be using the MDICE system:
http://www.metcad911.org/MDICE/Agency_information.htm

 

[RFJammed]

I wonder how METCAD plans to handle agencies that can't afford too many radios, or agencies that aren't even on that list (ESDAs?).

 

[cubn]

Site Locations

I wonder how METCAD plans to handle agencies that can't afford too many radios, or agencies that aren't even on that list (ESDAs?).

I think fire departments may get some help from the Fire Act Grant. I don’t know about ESDA. My guess is that to have true interoperability, they’d want ESDA to be on the TRS eventually because if a disaster should happen, all agencies could talk to the EOC/ESDA, METCAD, each other, and vice-versa.

***

According the the FCC application for RF microwave links, it appears these are four of the five tower locations for the new MDICE TRS:

Thomasboro site: 2600 N 1600 E
Sidney site: 1000 N 1900 E
Urbana site: METCAD, 1905 E Main St.
Champaign site: Saga Communications, 2603 W Bradley Ave.

I believe there will be one more site in Champaign-Urbana but I don't know where that one is located.

Pictures of some of the towers can be found here: http://www.metcad911.org/MDICE/Photo_Album/radioprojectpictures.htm

 

[cubn]

METCAD requests special-use-permit to build new 285' MDICE Radio Tower

http://www.ci.urbana.il.us/urbana/m...das/archives/2006/12-21-06/PC_2027-SUP-06.pdf

 

[greeneyes965]

Hi i live in champaign,i'm bidding on ebay for a pro 2096 i have other scanners but why did champaign count go digital cause i miss listening to the champaign county

 

[KC8RFE]

Hi i live in champaign,i'm bidding on ebay for a pro 2096 i have other scanners but why did champaign count go digital cause i miss listening to the champaign county

Champaign went digital because their old system was anchant and was needing replaced. Why not go with the latest and greatest. Also they now have much better interopribility. If i were you i'd go with the PSR-500/600 or the Unident 396/996. They have more features and are more upgraded the pro2096 is being discontinued for a reason.

 

[greeneyes965]

pro2096

So your saying pro2096 is is on its way out how about pro96? when will this happan.why is the pro2096 being discontinued?

 

[greeneyes965]

Ok someone tell me which digital scanner is the best and the cheapist,please help me

 

[KC8RFE]

They are being discontinued because they are old also they cannot do 700mhz trunking. They also don't have the support going for them like the uniden and the GRE models. It's up to you which is better you'll get mixed results and i'm sure they will both work well. I own the uniden 396 and it's great don't know anyone with the GRE's.

 

[greeneyes965]

pro 96

How about the pro 96 will it be discontinued too?

 

[cubn]

I have both a Pro96 and BCD396 for listening to MDICE. The Pro96 sounds terrible on MDICE. It breaks up constantly when trying to decode, yet the BCD396T sitting right beside it decodes the system just fine. I haven't heard a GRE to know if it works well for MDICE. I use the Pro96 for Pro96com. Very rarely do I use it for listening to MDICE; however, it works well for listening to Starcom21 which in Champaign-Urbana isn't a simulcast site.

If you want a demo of the radios before plunking down the money to get one, I can bring mine to show you. Send me a PM if interested.

 

[greeneyes965]

Ok.where do you want to meet?

 

[greeneyes965]

I:m already bidding 200.00 on a pro 96 its over in 6 days i dont think i'm going to win it but you said it isnt that good for champaign counties frequences

 

[KC8RFE]

I:m already bidding 200.00 on a pro 96 its over in 6 days i dont think i'm going to win it but you said it isnt that good for champaign counties frequences

I think you should do some more reading a research on the scanner. All the questions you are asking can easily be found by doing some reading around here.

Yes BOTH the Pro-96 and 2096 are being discontinued. Go look at radio shack they are both on clearance. Probably going to start selling the GRE.

 

[greeneyes965]

So both the pro96 and the pro2096 is discontinued so what do you think about the pro103?

 

[greeneyes965]

Is the bearcat BC296D any good or is it discontinued too?cause i would like to bid on it

 

[greeneyes965]

I meant pro106 not pro 103,sorry