New Mexico DTRS

[Rad-1]

The big thing is that there is good coverage and audio quality with no dead spots! Need reliability for public service agencies. A1 priority! I am surprised they are using more alert tones on the system for dispatch and the PD aren’t using alert tones for when the channels are restricted for emergency traffic only. When I living in Nevada, LVMPD would clear the air with a code red for officer safety followed by a beep every 10 sec indicating emergency traffic only. Would think something like that would really help APD so they aren’t walking over each other during an urgent situation. Maybe this new system will have some new features like that.

 

[The_Operator]

When I living in Nevada, LVMPD would clear the air with a code red for officer safety followed by a beep every 10 sec indicating emergency traffic only. Would think something like that would really help APD so they aren’t walking over each other during an urgent situation. Maybe this new system will have some new features like that.

These peroiodic beeps are known as "channel markers," and its something the system is more than capable of - it is just a matter of enabling the option on the consoles and teaching the dispatchers how to turn it on and off. I think a lot of agencies just don't know its an option.

It does seem like APD is constantly asking if the air is 10-3, this could help with that.

 

[Giddyuptd]

The big thing is that there is good coverage and audio quality with no dead spots! Need reliability for public service agencies. A1 priority! I am surprised they are using more alert tones on the system for dispatch and the PD aren’t using alert tones for when the channels are restricted for emergency traffic only. When I living in Nevada, LVMPD would clear the air with a code red for officer safety followed by a beep every 10 sec indicating emergency traffic only. Would think something like that would really help APD so they aren’t walking over each other during an urgent situation. Maybe this new system will have some new features like that.

A issue most NM dispatchers dont use or do the channel markers. Most have the ability but don't use it or know how instead you hear the endless 10-3. We been trying to get the channel markers a thing here since most in field would prefer it over endless voice of the air is 10-3.

 

[Giddyuptd]

Wow! Didn’t know things were that political. Sounds corrupt as hell. Yeah they are very expensive. But from what I have seen at least in other cities Motorola has the best most reliable trunked systems. Especially the P25 systems. That’s no good when they know it and have bad customer service though. No excuse for that!

More then you know!

 

[Giddyuptd]

Wow! Didn’t know things were that political. Sounds corrupt as hell. Yeah they are very expensive. But from what I have seen at least in other cities Motorola has the best most reliable trunked systems. Especially the P25 systems. That’s no good when they know it and have bad customer service though. No excuse for that!

Kenwood offers the same ability for p25 systems at less cost yet most go for the cream of the crop Motorola. Lovely radios but be ready to barf a good budget or have a good grant writer. All politics and believe me the pee ground within a sand box gets pretty flooded and deep quick sand when it comes to the comm gods. Brutus and Ceasar style.

 

[Rad-1]

Kenwood offers the same ability for p25 systems at less cost yet most go for the cream of the crop Motorola. Lovely radios but be ready to barf a good budget or have a good grant writer. All politics and believe me the pee ground within a sand box gets pretty flooded and deep quick sand when it comes to the comm gods. Brutus and Ceasar style.

Yeah I’m sure it’s like anything else with the internal politics! Yeah Kenwood radios have always been pretty good from what I have heard. Surprised they aren’t used more. I didn’t know Kenwood was
even offering P25 systems. Thought they were only doing NXDN digital these days. Competition is a good thing. I had heard a rumor the railroads were supposed to convert to NXDN on the Kenwood radios in the locomotives but doesn’t look like that has happened. Btw - does anyone here know if BNSF Railroad Police are going to be on the new NM 700 statewide system? They tend to go on whatever system has the best coverage in the area for PD dispatch.

 

[Rad-1]

A issue most NM dispatchers dont use or do the channel markers. Most have the ability but don't use it or know how instead you hear the endless 10-3. We been trying to get the channel markers a thing here since most in field would prefer it over endless voice of the air is 10-3.

Yeah sounds like channel markers would def be the way to go for APD. Sounds like a procedural thing in APD and like you said training by the dispatchers. It seemed to work really well in Vegas. Officers would just say “give me a red on this channel” or “go ahead and lift the red” when they wanted to clear it. Units could switch over to the “Info”channel, I think you guys call this the NCIC channel here for non-emergency traffic while the channel was red. Effective.

 

[Rad-1]

14074 - Sunport Aviation PD.

 

[MrAstroSaber]

If APD used channel markers you would never hear any voice. Instead all you would here is beeps 247. Besides what cop wants a beep every 10 sec. when he trying to clear a house or business? Out of all the dispatch centers we work on none have EVER wanted this option. Every console on the market has this option but NONE here in NM find it a useful option. The beeper is just not a great idea.

Kenwood purchased EF Johnson about 5 years ago and has since rebranded EF Johnson as Kenwood Viking. The Kenwood Viking series is a great radio. EF Johnson has the Atlas P25 system solution and price compared to Motorola is about 25% to 35% less than Motorola at same spec. Motorola locks customers into there stuff buy selling them non p25 standard options that only they can do like Smart Connect, Group Services, and GPS push to locate. While these are neat options they are not P25 Standard. Also they come with a monthly charge. So many just buy and don't realize it comes with much more hidden costs after purchase. Lets not forget Motorola Pricing. Well you could buy the same radio 1 year later with same spec and it will cost 3 times more than it did a year ago. Yes 3 times. Motorola uses unethical and dirty tactics to lock and force there customers to continue buying there stuff. And if you need good service.... Well your better off calling domino's pizza because at least they answer the phone and someone brings you a cold gross pizza that you ordered. Unlike Motorola who does not answer the phone, return calls, or better yet outsources to Poland where they have no clue why your calling.

 

[Rad-1]

If the channel markers are being used 24/7 continuously someone doesn’t know what the hell they are doing and needs to take a training class. I am sure the new 700 system has this feature and more built in. Probably even easier to use now I would think.

 

[ChrisABQ]

Regarding the new system so far, a couple of questions:

Has anyone been able to confirm new tower locations for any of the active/listed sites in the Albuquerque area?

Did you need to make changes to your scanner to be able to decode/receive radio traffic better, and if so, what changes did you make?

 

[Rad-1]

Chris, I just disabled monitoring the Abq Simulcast cluster site because I don’t have an SDS or G4 to receive this site correctly. However, I have found that if I just monitor the Sandia and West Mesa sites I am able to receive the audio traffic at least for the time being until they change things. But not sure yet If I am receiving everything. I tweaked the threshold settings on my uniden 436/536HP scannners from Auto to manual and set the threshold level to 7 for both Sandia and a west Mesa sites. The Uniden seems to do a better job of finding new D2 talkgroups. Seemed to make a difference and make the Audio more clear. My TRX-1 is hit and miss and seems to have a hard time finding new D2 TG’s. Once I manually enter in the D2 TGID’s then it seems to receive them ok. Lots of experimentation right now. I am likely going to be pulling the trigger and upgrade to new SDS scanners to replace what I have soon. But right now I want to wait and see how things go when they are done with the install before I drop $2k on two new Uniden scanners!

 

[MrAstroSaber]

If the channel markers are being used 24/7 continuously someone doesn’t know what the hell they are doing and needs to take a training class. I am sure the new 700 system has this feature and more built in. Probably even easier to use now I would think.

It be none stop beeping because APD is non stop with 10-3 on the channels. Very annoying feature.

I am running a G4 pager to scan just the simulcast cluster. Also have SDS100 but very confusing scanner. I just need to sit down and figure it out. The audio is good coming from it. But the G4 has TG free scan and it just grabs all active TG and as I learn what they are I just name them. Great units

 

[ChrisABQ]

I am currently scanning the Crest and Holly NE (11b) sites, more city traffic does appear to be coming through the 11B site. I have my 436 changed to Man 8 for the Crest site and Man 7 for the Holly site. Working much better. To eliminate the long pause between scanning TG's, I set all TG delays to 0 sec's. Total delay between scanning is now at 5 sec's. The audio swing is HUGE, some very quiet while others sound like their shouting. As of right now, the 436 is working great, but the future might bring headaches, we'll see. I have directional antennas to try, but no need at the moment.

 

[The_Operator]

I am currently scanning the Crest and Holly NE (11b) sites, more city traffic does appear to be coming through the 11B site.

This is the expected behavior.

However, I have found that if I just monitor the Sandia and West Mesa sites I am able to receive the audio traffic at least for the time being until they change things. But not sure yet If I am receiving everything.

If you are only tuned into Sandia (or other sites besides the simulcast), you will definitely miss out on a good bit of city traffic. Since the simulcast will provide the best coverage to the majority of city users, only a small portion will roam onto other sites like Sandia. You'll only hear traffic on talkgroups that have active users who have roamed off the simulcast.

 

[Rad-1]

Yeah that’s kind of what I figured would happen. Looks like it’s gonna be $2k + G4 w/desk charger!!! At least the gov is going to help me subsidize the cost of everything with my $1400 stimulus check. Lol!!!!

 

[Rad-1]

Yeah that’s kind of what I figured would happen. Looks like it’s gonna be $2k + G4 w/desk charger!!! At least the gov is going to help me subsidize the cost of everything with my $1400 stimulus check. Lol!!!

 

[Rad-1]

Chris, what do you have your hold time set at for the new system?

 

[ChrisABQ]

Hold times for the sites Default is 0 and TG's at 0. Using Sentinel to program it.

 

[MrAstroSaber]

Yeah that’s kind of what I figured would happen. Looks like it’s gonna be $2k + G4 w/desk charger!!! At least the gov is going to help me subsidize the cost of everything with my $1400 stimulus check. Lol!!!!

Where are you shopping your scanners are G4?
Uniden SDS100 List Price $649 But I can get them all day for $600 new.

G4 Pager Pager new is $645 and also does TDMA.

So two scanners at List is only $1300 ... PM me if you want I can help you with better deal when your ready to upgrade.


I just heard on the G4 on all APD channels they recalling all radios back to get new speaker microphones. Yet another Motorola Failure and lack of planning on the city side. Who deploys thousands of new radios without testing and checking them first... Well Motorola I am sure rushed the job so they can get paid and the city who just doesn't care.

The state didn't have these issuse when they switched Santa Fe and ABQ troopers over to the new system. I guess the state did testing first before just blindly switching everyone over. Another prime example of good planing and not letting Motorola push you around. Oh well the city of ABQ might figure it out someday but not someday soon I bet.