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MARCS Zone Controller Upgrade - October 8th
http://ohioapco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/marcs100812memo.pdf
Date: October 2, 2012
To: All MARCS radio users
From: Dick Miller, MARCS Rebanding
Subject: MARCS Zone Controller Upgrade
As a continuation of our required rebanding effort, MARCS, Motorola, and RCC are preparing to
upgrade the four MARCS’ Zone Controllers (the “heart” of the MARCS wide area network) to give
them rebanding capability. The following covers some of the key points of the rebanding. The
rebanding team will begin to assemble and prepare on Sunday October 7, 2012. At 0400 on
Monday, October 8, all radio users will go into site trunking as the four zone controllers are
turned off.
 MARCS will be in Site Trunking beginning at 4 AM EDT on Monday, October 8th. If all
goes as planned, the system will be back in wide-area by 5:40 AM, but plans call for
restoration no later than 7 AM.
 Centracom Gold Elite Consoles will be off-the-air beginning at 4 AM EDT on Monday,
October 8th. If all goes as planned, the consoles will be back in operation by 5:40 AM,
but plans call for restoration no later than 7 AM.
 During this time, end users will see site trunking on their radios. Dispatchers who
normally use Gold Elite Consoles will have to revert to back up radios, portable radios, or
whatever agency plans dictate.
o Note: PLEASE remind everyone what site trunking involves. If a dispatcher is
using a control station, mobile, or portable – you will only be bringing up 1 site
due to the system being in site trunking. If an agency normally uses multiple sites
for coverage, they will experience reduced coverage since they will be utilizing only
1 site.
o Note: When the system is rebanded and returned to normal status, the radio
users will see “Site Trnk” disappear from their radios and will not need to do
anything else. The rebanding team will notify the end users using consoles when
the system is returned to wide area trunking. The rebanding team suggests the
consoles to be rebooted in the same manner as they are weekly.
o Note: Motorola will have 2 Field ST’s (Eric Marang and Clyde Spencer) on standby
should any consoles fail to come back online.
 MARCS, RCC, and Motorola are putting together a Contact List of people who will be
involved with the upgrade. If there are any questions during the process on Monday
morning, please call the helpdesk at 866-646-2727 or call Dick Miller at 614-419-2405.
 A contingency plan has been developed and MARCS, Motorola, and RCC are committed
to making this interruption as minimal as possible. Extra parts, extra field technicians,
and a Motorola and RCC team that has completed several of these rebanding efforts will
be involved. Motorola and RCC will remain on scene thru Thursday just to make sure
there are no residual issues.
http://ohioapco.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/marcs100812memo.pdf
Date: October 2, 2012
To: All MARCS radio users
From: Dick Miller, MARCS Rebanding
Subject: MARCS Zone Controller Upgrade
As a continuation of our required rebanding effort, MARCS, Motorola, and RCC are preparing to
upgrade the four MARCS’ Zone Controllers (the “heart” of the MARCS wide area network) to give
them rebanding capability. The following covers some of the key points of the rebanding. The
rebanding team will begin to assemble and prepare on Sunday October 7, 2012. At 0400 on
Monday, October 8, all radio users will go into site trunking as the four zone controllers are
turned off.
 MARCS will be in Site Trunking beginning at 4 AM EDT on Monday, October 8th. If all
goes as planned, the system will be back in wide-area by 5:40 AM, but plans call for
restoration no later than 7 AM.
 Centracom Gold Elite Consoles will be off-the-air beginning at 4 AM EDT on Monday,
October 8th. If all goes as planned, the consoles will be back in operation by 5:40 AM,
but plans call for restoration no later than 7 AM.
 During this time, end users will see site trunking on their radios. Dispatchers who
normally use Gold Elite Consoles will have to revert to back up radios, portable radios, or
whatever agency plans dictate.
o Note: PLEASE remind everyone what site trunking involves. If a dispatcher is
using a control station, mobile, or portable – you will only be bringing up 1 site
due to the system being in site trunking. If an agency normally uses multiple sites
for coverage, they will experience reduced coverage since they will be utilizing only
1 site.
o Note: When the system is rebanded and returned to normal status, the radio
users will see “Site Trnk” disappear from their radios and will not need to do
anything else. The rebanding team will notify the end users using consoles when
the system is returned to wide area trunking. The rebanding team suggests the
consoles to be rebooted in the same manner as they are weekly.
o Note: Motorola will have 2 Field ST’s (Eric Marang and Clyde Spencer) on standby
should any consoles fail to come back online.
 MARCS, RCC, and Motorola are putting together a Contact List of people who will be
involved with the upgrade. If there are any questions during the process on Monday
morning, please call the helpdesk at 866-646-2727 or call Dick Miller at 614-419-2405.
 A contingency plan has been developed and MARCS, Motorola, and RCC are committed
to making this interruption as minimal as possible. Extra parts, extra field technicians,
and a Motorola and RCC team that has completed several of these rebanding efforts will
be involved. Motorola and RCC will remain on scene thru Thursday just to make sure
there are no residual issues.
