Milwaukee Fire OpenSky Radio

[citylink_uk]

Putting aside the discussion whether or not the Milwaukee training clip is or is not OpenSky, if you haven't had a chance to listen to the audio clip I posted from Palm Beach Garden, Florida, do so. It is OpenSky and you can hear the problems the system has and the fact it cannot be understood at times by dispatch or other officers. The clip is from a search for a stabbing suspect and is not a training exercise.

Here is a newspaper article concerning the incident which fills in a lot of details.

OpenSky communication breakdown causes problem during police chase

That clip gives the impression that portable talk-in is the problem. You can hear the repeater trying to recover the (seemingly) weak signal with limited success.

I wonder what the level of portable coverage the system claimed to achieve and how many sites it uses?

 

[mkescan]

I have confirmed with somebody at MFD that they were using M/A-Com Opensky mobile in digital mode

 

[TheFantom]

????

I love Motorola but how and why have some of their systems fail to operate when it matters most?

Uuuuuuhhhhhh..... thomasfd.... as a point of reference....The "OpenSky" format is from Harris - M/A-Com... NOT MOTOROLA.

 

[mkescan]

MFD Car 4 & Engine 9 were on OpenSky last night

 

[ToDaMax]

Is MFD using opensky with a simulcast to their VHF channels?

 

[mkescan]

Is MFD using opensky with a simulcast to their VHF channels?

Yep, and you will know right away when you hear OpenSky, and think 18+ Million for this.

 

[mfdude]

Here's a little "insider" information:

The roll-out date for Milwaukee Fire OpenSky is December 13th. This means that all Operations (Engines, Trucks, MED's, Chiefs etc) will have fully operational mobiles and portables installed/in their possession.

 

[mkescan]

Here's a little "insider" information:

The roll-out date for Milwaukee Fire OpenSky is December 13th. This means that all Operations (Engines, Trucks, MED's, Chiefs etc) will have fully operational mobiles and portables installed/in their possession.

Thank's for the update. I also heard mid December. Hopefully MFD will keep a patch up on VHF F1 or F2 for Mutual Aid & back up..

 

[mfdude]

Well right now support vehicles are not scheduled to receive the new mobiles (mobiles are currently being installed on the vehicles I had mentiones earlier). So until all those vehicles get the upgrades the patch between OS and analog will stay fully operational.

 

[ToDaMax]

Thank's for the update. I also heard mid December. Hopefully MFD will keep a patch up on VHF F1 or F2 for Mutual Aid & back up..

Lets hope so. They probably will keep a patch on VHF, depending on how unstable Opensky still is (I havne't been keeping up with their progress lately).

 

[mkescan]

MFD Rigs I heard using a OpenSky radio.
Battalion 1
Battalion 2
Battalion 5
Car 04
Car 12
Car 18
Engine 01 @ 784 N Broadway
Engine 04 @ 9511 W Appleton Ave
Engine 05 @ 1313 W Reservoir Ave
Engine 06 @ 1693 N Franklin Pl
Engine 09 @ 4141 W Mill Rd
Engine 10 @ 5600 W Oklahoma Ave
Engine 11 @ 2526 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Engine 12 @ 1400 S 9th St
Engine 13 @ 2901 N 30th St
Engine 14 @ 6074 S 13th St
Engine 26 @ 1140 S 26th
Engine 31 @ 2400 S 8th st
Engine 32 @ 1551 N 30th
Engine 34 @ 6205 W Burliegh
Rescue 01 @ 1400 S 9th St
Truck 03 @ 9511 W Appleton Ave
Truck 05 @ 2647 N Bartlett Ave
Truck 06 @ 2526 S Kinnickinnic Ave
Truck 08 @ 6074 S 13th St
Truck 11 @ 1400 S 9th St
Truck 13 @ 4927 W Fiebrantz Ave
Truck 14 @ 2130 W Oklahoma Ave
Truck 15 @ 3174 S Chase Ave
Med 03 @ 1140 S 26th
Med 04 @ 4141 W Mill Rd
Med 05 @ 4060 N 27th St
Med 16 @ 10320 W Fond Du Lac Ave

 

[ToDaMax]

Now it begins. MFD F1 has frozen up. So far, its been 20 minutes and counting

I dont know if its an Opensky problem (probably is) or a VHF problem (probably not)

 

[ToDaMax]

There is some traffic going over F1, but its sounding over the frozen audio. Most of the Audio is engines doing radio tests and dispatch trying to contact engines and visa versa, with little success. The dispatcher also said that CAD was down.

Update:
Radio Techs fixed F1 at 9:55. Total Down time:40 Minutes

Not good at all...