GTO_04
Member
Harmonics could be at play. The third harmonic is usually the strongest.
GTO_04
GTO_04
CFD Radio Shops have been opened late on weekdays, and Saturday's to expedite the change out of all MDC's and install APX 8500's in all the rigs. The FD800 Zone has being programmed. Currently they're bringing the Engines down (assigned/not spares). Previously it was Trucks, Ambulances. Any new rig being issued has the new MDC's and APX8500's installed prior to being put in service.
Some information:
"There have been discussions with the CFD and OEMC concerning digital and
analog radios, and FD800 channels and zones. The CFD/OEMC will be switching the primary radios to a
different frequency to rectify the interference problems that we have been experiencing. The radio
shops will begin this work very soon starting with EMS and then FS&R. This process will take 3 months
and we will be on FD800 while these changes are being made."
"There have been discussions with the CFD and OEMC concerning digital and
analog radios, and FD800 channels and zones. The CFD/OEMC will be switching the primary radios to a
different frequency to rectify the interference problems that we have been experiencing. The radio
shops will begin this work very soon starting with EMS and then FS&R. This process will take 3 months
and we will be on FD800 while these changes are being made."
MtGreenRdo
Member
- Joined
- Oct 18, 2021
- Messages
- 10
So they are moving primaries fully out of the 470 MHz range? Any idea if they are moving to 450/460 MHz or back to VHF?
I haven't heard any updates.
"We're having trouble with the portable radios, please use the apparatus radios as much as you can." Spring must be here!
As of 0800 Hrs. today (4-4-23), all CFD Operations will be on the 800 system until further notice.
I first heard about this over the weekend, received a cell phone picture of the Operations Memo this morning as the dispatchers were reading it verbatim over the air. They were instructing everyone to refer to last years memo on how to switch zones. As usual, they have a few stragglers but it will get straightened out.
The first thing I noticed was all the apparatus radios that have been replaced and being used. Some still operating on portables and that could be a spare apparatus, or still don't have the APX8500's installed.
The "plan" as it's been told to me is to reprogram some older used UHF frequencies to P25, but which ones was unknown. My best guess would be the U-Metro frequencies that are listed in the database, but only speculating. Every time the word "plan" was mentioned, the finger quotations were used. Since every transmit and receive site, all apparatus and portable radios would have to be reprogrammed for P25 and a current working radio system that isn't susceptible to interference is in use, not sure how cost effective that task will be. Then again, this is the city of Chicago, so it's anyone's guess. They were getting ahead of the game this year, after Monday's fiasco with the portables again, was good timing. They "might" be used for back-up, not sure of the "plan" on that.
Those that are listening have probably noticed the high audio coming from the consoles. As last year I posted, they are using the Harris consoles, and that can also be noted by the lack of a consistent radio ID being transmitted. On Uniden scanners, you can actually see the 991xxxx RID being transmitted and I believe that's the IP Link to the Motorola system (I'll be corrected if I'm wrong there...LOL).
They must have tweaked the Main Fire and Main EMS consoles this morning. Nice level, hoping Englewood soon to follow.
They sure did. Console audio levels are equal to the UHF P25 system now.
Now they need to turn it up a bit for the "low talkers." With sirens blaring and ambient noise, some of the dispatchers might be difficult or impossible to hear. "Can you hear me now?" Um...nope!
I remember right before CPD Zone 11 switched to it's ENC P25 Channel, units were told to switch over to "Citywide 85". If I remember correctly, it was stated that it's 'C-15' in their radios. When looking through the Wiki for this system, I found that TG 5130 is the possible 'C-15'. Can anyone confirm this or has any more info?
That's correct.
That's a big negative. Dispatch is very much in the clear, and pretty active. Maybe it's your radio? I can receive this system pretty well up here in the North Shore area...
Ahh, figured it out. Switched from an APX900 to an APX8000 and I just compared codeplugs, and I forgot to transfer a setting, LOL
CFD is reporting to Battalion headquarters for the past month or so for "radio upgrades". What those are I can't be sure and have heard 3 different opinions from 3 different people. What I have seen, is the radio shops performing "key ups" on a bunch of different radios on previously unused talkgroups: 1016, 1017,1018. EMS Command 800 (1019), was also being keyed up. This "could be" a new zone being added to the code plug with additional 800 talkgroups, or could have nothing to do with nothing.
The other "opinion" was they're adding an upgrade to the P25 UHF Conventional frequencies with the hope this resolves the interference issues. It was also mentioned they were abandoning the current P25 UHF and switching to other licensed UHF frequencies. The potential issue with that is the previous analog 460.600/460.625 are the only two of the Metro frequencies licensed to Chicago. I did see they renewed licenses for other frequencies, but those appear to be used for data. Once again, no clue what they're doing.
Another thing I've seen, is the CFD talkgroups are affiliating with the Midway stand-alone site. Could this be the "upgrade" I ask, but I quickly answered, "I have no clue". The fear that operating on an 800mhz trunking system somehow is similar to the 9-11 New York communications system failures seems to be the thought process. If the radios were programmed to scan, and the personnel were "properly" trained on the operations, probably would put these comparisons to rest. I've seen some spare apparatus, Squads, all had APX8500's installed and are now using apparatus radios. New buggies also have been properly programmed with assigned radio ID's. CFD radio shops are working 6 days a week again to accomplish this goal.
I've also been monitoring the "old" UHF and potentially "new" UHF P25 frequencies, and have been quiet too. I would think if you reprogrammed a radio, you'd like to test it on any new frequencies, but then again, it is Chicago.
I've fortunately been utilizing my SDS100 as I've traveled to other states over the past few months with the hope of landing away from this goofy city. The areas I've been to aren't afraid of the citizens listening, and one area recently went on-line to a new system. Dispatch, car-to-car are in the clear, while tac isn't...just makes sense.
I'll be adding to this thread if I know more than I posted here. If any new talkgroups are added, I'll submit them too. That's all folks...LOL!
The other "opinion" was they're adding an upgrade to the P25 UHF Conventional frequencies with the hope this resolves the interference issues. It was also mentioned they were abandoning the current P25 UHF and switching to other licensed UHF frequencies. The potential issue with that is the previous analog 460.600/460.625 are the only two of the Metro frequencies licensed to Chicago. I did see they renewed licenses for other frequencies, but those appear to be used for data. Once again, no clue what they're doing.
Another thing I've seen, is the CFD talkgroups are affiliating with the Midway stand-alone site. Could this be the "upgrade" I ask, but I quickly answered, "I have no clue". The fear that operating on an 800mhz trunking system somehow is similar to the 9-11 New York communications system failures seems to be the thought process. If the radios were programmed to scan, and the personnel were "properly" trained on the operations, probably would put these comparisons to rest. I've seen some spare apparatus, Squads, all had APX8500's installed and are now using apparatus radios. New buggies also have been properly programmed with assigned radio ID's. CFD radio shops are working 6 days a week again to accomplish this goal.
I've also been monitoring the "old" UHF and potentially "new" UHF P25 frequencies, and have been quiet too. I would think if you reprogrammed a radio, you'd like to test it on any new frequencies, but then again, it is Chicago.
I've fortunately been utilizing my SDS100 as I've traveled to other states over the past few months with the hope of landing away from this goofy city. The areas I've been to aren't afraid of the citizens listening, and one area recently went on-line to a new system. Dispatch, car-to-car are in the clear, while tac isn't...just makes sense.
I'll be adding to this thread if I know more than I posted here. If any new talkgroups are added, I'll submit them too. That's all folks...LOL!
Chicago2210
Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2009
- Messages
- 308
That could explain why I've been having issues with the control channels on the City wide site.
I don't know what you're using, but that is a simulcast site.
Chicago2210
Member
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2009
- Messages
- 308
Rubber duck antenna on a BCD 966.
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