OFFICIAL MSWIN Thread

[KE5TLF]

MHP hasn't migrated to MSWIN in any region. There have been some testing and demonstrations on various talkgroups that COULD be MHP related but nothing positively confirmed.

On that topic, I went on a drive about yesterday which included a trip to the new MHP D8 HQ and that thing STILL isn't totally finished. All 3 of the major buildings are done as well as most of the grounds, but there were a couple of ancillary building still being built, and a concrete truck pouring concrete for something in one of the parking lots. Also there were no state vehicles within sight either.

 

[KE5TLF]

Took me a couple of listens but I figured it out now.

South MS Correctional Institute officers and possibly a MWCC rep (RID 801004) were testing from numerous locations in (all towers, sally port, vo-tech, chapel, etc.) and around (City of Leaksville, Hwy 57 north) the facility yesterday morning. RID's being used by the officers were in the 1010500 to 1010511 range. I'm beginning to believe these are from a pool of loaner SE HT's. Traffic was copied on the ST SE CMN channel (TGID 10501) on the Harrison County tower. (ID 117)

People able to copy the Greene County tower pay attention and report in.

 

[KE5TLF]

WLOX did a story on the newly assigned National Guard company that was recently tasked to assist with oil spill response duties tonight. The segment was on the training they are receiving prior to undertaking this mission. The footage shot was of a training session on the radios they would be using to carry out this mission. There was one good shot of the display of one radio and ST SE CMN was the channel it was on. They were EF Johnson 5100 series radios btw.

 

[KE5TLF]

Well I witnessed a bit of a first time event earlier today.

SIX simultaneously active voice channels on both the Vancleave and Fountainbleu towers.

MHP seems to be getting very close to moving into the new D8 HQ. MHP techs have been working all day testing various things on their newly identified channel.

 

[KE5TLF]

MSWIN in the News. A collection of MSWIN related news stories, some of which have been posted elsewhere. Thought I would collect them in a single post.

The National Guard - Mississippi Guard uses interoperable radio system in Gulf
Be sure to look at the hi-res image of "Admiral Ackbar"

National Guard called up to fight oil intrusion - WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi
Governor Haley Barbour
Radio Resource Magazine: OnlyOnline

Not exactly MSWIN but some back story on the MS Guard ops.
Mississippi National Guard Responds to the BP Oil Spill on Vimeo <<< EXCELLENT video MUST SEE!
National Guard News - Mississippi Guard reaches 200 flights in response to oil spill
The National Guard - Mississippi Guard records 100 flights in response to oil spill
The National Guard - Keesler provides housing for Guard's oil spill responders

 

[nexus]

that's awesome. thanks for consolidating all of the media stories on here. Great find on Admiral Akbar too. Someone lied to the MSNG when they said it was a secure system.

 

[KE5TLF]

Hehe yeah, I just wish he had a HT with a front display so I could read the channel ID. LOL
That video story from vimeo.com is pretty awesome too.

Well it is somewhat secure in the sense that it is a sophisticated digital trunked system.

 

[INDY72]

It is secure. One keypress and your fully encrypted. You can't hack it. You can't access with a HT or Mobile unless its been allowed on the system. The only truly unsecured part is its future which is very much in limbo until the feds get thier butts kissed a LOT more!

 

[KE5TLF]

I SERIOUSLY doubt they bought 100's of handout HT's with encryption.

Those units are THE lowest tech units in the food chain, and for good reason. Reasons like getting used and abused the most, becoming lost or stolen, and ending up in the hands of unfamiliar users (KISS -keep it simple stupid). LOL

 

[KE5TLF]

July meeting minutes are out today...

Seems the MWCC is all set to maintain the long tradition of corruption and thievery that is the staple of MS government.

They are actually going to bill BP $701,925 to replace 100 cache radios given to the USCG :roll:

For reference a fully loaded DUAL band APX7000 (one of the most expensive HT's there is) with a full accessory package is about $6200 per MS ITS Express Products Lists.

Approval has (finally) been received on 25 of the tower sites submitted for FEMA EHP review.

 

[ffemt601]

July meeting minutes are out today...

Seems the MWCC is all set to maintain the long tradition of corruption and thievery that is the staple of MS government.

They are actually going to bill BP $701,925 to replace 100 cache radios given to the USCG :roll:

For reference a fully loaded DUAL band APX7000 (one of the most expensive HT's there is) with a full accessory package is about $6200 per MS ITS Express Products Lists.

Approval has (finally) been received on 25 of the tower sites submitted for FEMA EHP review.

HAHA, I read the same thing last night and came in this thread to post about it. You beat me too it again.

 

[marvin58]

Microwave Licenses Pending

New MSWIN Microwave Licenses Pending

 

[KE5TLF]

Awesome, about time something happened on this front. I've been periodically checking for this next round of MW licenses to show up myself. Glad to see some movement finally.

 

[SCPD]

More funds for the bridge to nowhere.......

Mississippi gets funds for
communications upgrades

The Clarion-Ledger • August 18, 2010

Mississippi will receive nearly $90 million for
communication system improvements, federal
officials announced today.

The bulk of the money, $70 million, will go to the
state for improving the emergency response systems
for first responders, such as law enforcement.

The funds will upgrade the current Mississippi
Wireless Information Network, which allows public
safety agencies statewide to contact each other
through radio systems clearly and quickly.

Contract Network Inc. received $11.6 million for
providing broadband service to 12 counties in the
Delta.

Smithville Telephone Co. was awarded $7.1 million
to offer broadband services in Itawamba and
Monroe counties.

The funds are part of $1.8 billion in stimulus
dollars for improving broadband access.

The awards are designed to increase safety and
economic development in communities with limited
access.

 

[SCPD]

Boy is this thing becoming an endless money pit or what? We're already upgrading a system that hasn't even gone online.

 

[KE5TLF]

Funny I was reading about some of this stuff right before I checked in here. hehe

My findings:
A million Mississippians can't read this - WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi
According to this one it's 7 billion dollars...unless that's a different pot of money?

This one expands a bit on the Clarion Ledger story.
Mississippi to get $70M for emergency communication - WLOX-TV and WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

Broadband data for public safety has been in the works for a while now and these statewide P25 radio networks are a one of many big parts of that plan.

More than you would ever want to know about it here...
The National Broadband Plan: Connecting America

But yeah it's a big ol' cash cow for sure. hehe. Hey at least some serious money is coming our way for something.

Of course if it weren't for our dear ol' federal gubment MSWIN would be a lot further along in the first place and actually even ready to really capitilize on these "upgrades".

 

[KE5TLF]

The list of 25 approved towers mentioned in the meeting minutes can be viewed here...btw
FEMA Library - Finding of No Significant Impact - 25 MICG Towers (June 2010)

Approval was signed 6/14/10, so some of these dudes should be built (or very nearly so at least) by now.

EDIT: Added all the sites that have been registered so far to the DB. Site numbers could quite possibly incorrect. Location info should be accurate though and useful for anyone that may have an opportunity to visit some of the sites and report what is going on. (if anything)

 

[davidgcet]

i'm actually programming some APX radios right now for MSWIN. it will be anothe ryear or two before it comes to my area of the state, as we are in the final build out plans, but many PS agencies are already getting the radios so they will have comms if they need to assist in another area.

i for one am excited about the future build. i have talked with several of the Moto techs (not local shops) that are doing the builds and it is pretty cool how all this ties together and the amount of things that can be done. i hope to see my first "6 pack" soon, it amazes me that a single rack can do all the same stuff and more than a 6 channel analog system that takes up most of a 12x20 building!

 

[KE5TLF]

Nice! Thanks for stopping by and sharing that.
So it sounds like other areas of the system are progressing along at least during this construction "downtime" and regardless of what buildout phase a particular area of the state is in. That's good to know.

Also in the event of an emergency the SOW's and the MSOW could be deployed in an area to make those radios quite useful too. As was the case with the Yazoo tornado disaster.

 

[davidgcet]

yep, i was told they used the mobile site to handle yazoo city. portable coverage sucked according to the EOC folks that went in to help, but that was to be expected in those hills with limited antenna height.

if i find out anything that cna be said publically, i'll be sure to update the thread!