Milwaukee stuck with $17.5 million radio system that may never work right

[INDY72]

The big drawbacks to OpenSKY- It is not an interoperable system The radios on it may have P-25 capability, but as an whole OpenSKY is NOT P-25 compatable, is proprietary format that makes it an island, unless everyone else is on it. OpenSKY seems to be having a lot more technical problems than most other formats in use, though these do seem to be getting fixed, albiet slowly. OpenSKY is really not the best solution for public safety usage. It just has the advantage of being unmonitorable without having to use encryption...... Take that as you may. But other than the factual issues aforementioned it is an workable system. Just not for public safety. But it will continue to be implemented in many areas unless it does happen to have sudden massive failures accross the board. the biggest hurdle that would have caused this was overcome with the PA system. Massive usage at a sudden point causing catastrophic overload and systemic failure.. That didnt happen. So the powers that be that are buying into OpenSky will keep doing so.

 

[mkescan]

Another Milwaukee PD OpenSky failure

Badger Blogger » Blog Archive » Another MPD OpenSky failure… Scary!

 

[tencom]

From Tencom

I bet thei is now a OPEN-SKY repeater installed at Washington High School

 

[mkescan]

I bet thei is now a OPEN-SKY repeater installed at Washington High School

Did your crew install it today?

 

[mkescan]

Tencom, I see you online right now.
Any chance you can reply to this?
http://forums.radioreference.com/wi...ee-fire-department-opensky-2.html#post1263657

 

[mkescan]

A Milwaukee Common Council committee on Friday recommended the borrowing of nearly $1 million for the Police Department's troubled new digital radio system but required that police officials provide an update on the system before spending the money.
Panel recommends borrowing for troubled police radio system - JSOnline

 

[N_Jay]

Decent article.
Seems they got all the facts right (or close enough) and did not get into the "noise".

I love the comment from Dorwin, saying they should report the whining. Maybe he does not realize the difference between "news" and a "blog".:roll:

 

[mkescan]

whining.?
Cops complaining their radios don't work is whining?
Dude your a A**

 

[N_Jay]

whining.?
Cops complaining their radios don't work is whining?
Dude your a A**

Dude, The point is that cops complaining about how a new system is working is not "news".

I have trouble remembering any new system, (or "new" anything) that you could not find someone whining about.

(I am sure you will) but don't read this as a comment for or against this system. The issue is without the reporter doing some investigating, repeating the "whining" on a blog, (no matter if justified or not) is NOT news reporting.

From all accounts there is work being done to address the issues. This stuff takes time, so RE-reporting the same issues over and over every few days is NOT objective reporting (The supposed goal of responsible and respected news outlets)

So the A** is Dorwin and maybe you for not grasping some simple facts.

 

[SCPD]

From all accounts there is work being done to address the issues. This stuff takes time, so RE-reporting the same issues over and over every few days is NOT objective reporting (The supposed goal of responsible and respected news outlets)

So the A** is Dorwin and maybe you for not grasping some simple facts.

So six plus years late is acceptable? They are still working out the problems for seven plus years is ok.
How are you a consaltant when its ok for a radio system still having sever issues and six plus years late.
Yes reporting complaints by police officers does fit this article.

 

[mkescan]

Do you even live in SE Wisconsin? Do you follow everything that is going on with this system? Do you have contacts with anyone using the system? If not you shouldn't say this is not news.
Dorwin has a lot of sources and talks to cops, not everything is in blogs
This is a big problem that the city just wants to keep throwing more money away.

I have sources inside the dept that tell me things, which I can't share anywhere because it would be easy for Flynn to figure out who gave me the info.I am sure it's the same for Dorwin

 

[N_Jay]

So six plus years late is acceptable?

Nope. (Not to argue numbers but 2005 to 2010 is five years.)
As for how well the original schedule was developed, I don't know. (Do you?)
You screw up the original schedule you will be late.
You don't address the problems along the way, you are going to be later.
5 years over is probably beyond reasonable, but given where they are now, it has little to do with the decision to fix or scrap the system.

They are still working out the problems for seven plus years is ok.

Again, probably not, but that is not the issue I was addressing.
(You can argue history all day, but in the end you are where you are and the path forward is what is most important.

How are you a consaltant when its ok for a radio system still having sever issues and six plus years late.

1) Did I say it was acceptable?
2) Did I imply It was my system.

If I recall correctly, they started without a consultant.

They have also had a change of management.

Both of these are probably contributing factors to the length of time (without regard to the technology or vendor selected)

Yes reporting complaints by police officers does fit this article.

Reporting , yes.
Repeating??

Just don't loose track of the first three letters in "NEWS".

 

[N_Jay]

Do you even live in SE Wisconsin?

Close

Do you follow everything that is going on with this system?

Much

Do you have contacts with anyone using the system?

Yes

If not you shouldn't say this is not news.

I did not say the article was not News.

Dorwin has a lot of sources and talks to cops, not everything is in blogs

Good for him

This is a big problem that the city just wants to keep throwing more money away.

Maybe you did not read the article well.

1) The money being discussed has not been spent yet.
2) The money being discussed is already in the $17.5M that people like to say has been spent.
3) The city is looking for evidence that the system will work before spending the additional money.

What of these three facts are you complaining about or would want changed?

I have sources inside the dept that tell me things, which I can't share anywhere because it would be easy for Flynn to figure out who gave me the info. I am sure it's the same for Dorwin

OK

Do any of those "things" disagree with what I have said. (Other then your general believe that the complaints from officers posted to or referred to in a blog are "news worthy"?)

 

[mkescan]

Common Council agreed to extend $952,000 of borrowing authority for the Police Department's OpenSky digital radio system
Council renews funding for troubled police radio system - JSOnline

 

[Markscan]

Love the misinformation about the FD going on the system,"to comply with federal law" after 9/11.

 

[N_Jay]

Love the misinformation about the FD going on the system,"to comply with federal law" after 9/11.

"The Fire Department also plans to use the digital system, to comply with federal rules adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."

While not as clear is it could be, This is not "misinformation.

It might be somewhat misleading if you try to read more into it than it says.

 

[mkescan]

"The Fire Department also plans to use the digital system, to comply with federal rules adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."

While not as clear is it could be, This is not "misinformation.

It might be somewhat misleading if you try to read more into it than it says.

Why couldn't the Fire Department stay on VHF?

 

[N_Jay]

Why couldn't the Fire Department stay on VHF?

That question was neither asked nor answered in the article (and especially in that statement).

They have narrowbanding and interoperability requirements,
(broadly, but not truly accurately called " . . .federal rules adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."),
that the Fire Department also plans to use the digital system, to comply with.

 

[mkescan]

That question was neither asked nor answered in the article (and especially in that statement).

They have narrowbanding and interoperability requirements,
(broadly, but not truly accurately called " . . .federal rules adopted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks."),
that the Fire Department also plans to use the digital system, to comply with.

But why can't fire department do what ever they need to do for narrowbanding requirements and stay on VHF?

 

[N_Jay]

But why can't fire department do what ever they need to do for narrowbanding requirements and stay on VHF?

"They" can.

Now all you have to do is define "they", and determine who the decision makers are for "them".

My guess is that "They" are doing what they need/want to do to meet the requirements.

You seem to be looking between the lines to find what you want instead of reading what the article said.