OK City 800 system

[nwadler]

Is this system all provoice or is it also monitored using regular edacs. Cant tell and cant find any post about it.

 

[K5MAR]

Preliminary information is that it's going to be all digital. Current testing has been analog. It would be nice if at least the primary channels were analog. So, since the system is still in the building stage, it's anybody's guess at this point.

Mark S.

 

[mam1081]

Not all testing as has been analog. Most of it is digital actually. Last I checked, one talkgroup has been going in analog (test 1, 2, 3, 4, 5), and two others going in digital (two other radio IDs and other commentators on the announcement). The control channel should be analog forever and you scanner would be able to listen to the analog TGs unless they turn on ESK (this basically scrambles some of the bits in the control data) - in which case, the only way to listen would be to scan the analog conversations conventionally (and try to ignore the beeps!!)

 

[nwadler]

I know it is not up yet but which groups will be kept analog probably do you think.

 

[fireant]

Have heard only stuff like street crews etc. but also heard only the Tact and Det channels would not be analog. Who knows have heard that provoice is a terrible system according to others on this site and users I talk with from other states.

fireant

 

[mam1081]

It might be terrible, but from my experience, I can say that in the fringe areas, ProVoice seems to work better than APCO-25. I am just a hobbist, and have no real "numbers" to prove this, but when I get far away from a transmiter site, APCO seems to go garbled more than ProVoice does (I have only really checked out two systems though). The OKC system can be heard on a HT quite well in OKC. I have not noticed many dead spots. I have heard it north into Stillwater (spotty, but can be heard while outside), and south into Purcell and Chickasha. While on the Wichita Mountains in Commanche County, it can be heard clearly as well (yes, it's "slightly" above OKC and should be a nice clear shot to the tower(s)-but thats still great range).

ProVoice does mean the end of scanning as we know it, which is about the biggest downfall I know of. I still think it is evil (although a good idea) of M/A Com to have their own propietary digital format just to keep things private. Of course, that is why EDACS exists also - it's not /\/\oto trunked or LTR - scanner were not supposed to be able to listen to it - but look where we are today!

 

[crayon]

I still think it is evil (although a good idea) of M/A Com to have their own propietary digital format just to keep things private.

An evil digital format, eh? Does it have laser beams to zap scanners?

 

[mam1081]

How about this....

 

[nwadler]

That is the best I have seen in a while. Motorola is good for one thing, most of their systems are scannable.

 

[fireant]

How much problems once OKC switches over is it going to be for them to communicate with other departments?? I think the system is a big mistake should have went with motorola so at least they would be compatible with others around the metro. This was the whole purpose of the system right? after the Rominger accident to keep it from happening again.

fireant

 

[mam1081]

Well, I'm sure they will set up some NSPAC mutual aid channels (there is one call channel and 4 or 5 tac channels licensed nationally, I think) to talk to anyone with a 800 MHz radio. This still leaves the SO and anyone else on V/UHF (400) in the dark. I have heard of some systems (also made by M/A Com) that will link talkgroups to other conventional channels and back. I'm not sure if they are going to do this or not. I have not been scanning the NSPAC channels - I'll have to try that and see if there is any activity.

Then again, they could just leave the VHF radios in the car (other small towns), buy some 400's radios (SO, EMSA, other PDs), and 800 Motos (Edmond, Norman, State System), and then be truly interoperable! Maybe then their cars would look like ours

 

[chipjumper]

Nationwide tac channels? Thats great but wait---NO ONE WILL USE THEM! Most small to midsized PD's can,do, and will get by on a few channels. Look at the analog systems across the country--they have tons of tac channels but NEVER used them. Thats just the thing with this interoperability bandwagon. If they don't utilize it now, what makes you think they will after millions/billions are spent?

"With this radio, I can talk to any PD in the entire (county/state)"
-My response, "Big deal. You will never have to talk to any other PD besides the ones you border. If you were in a multi-jurisdictional chase, you would never think about changing channels"

Why don't they put in internet chat terminals in their vehicles so they can talk to other PD's in the world? Screw it, why don't they put up an international P25 system so I can give Berlin PD a bump when I pull over a German national.

 

[robynsjw]

I have not been scanning the NSPAC channels - I'll have to try that and see if there is any activity.

OC has been testing on the Mutual Aid channels, at least 2 or 3 of them, I've been driving when I hear them. But they are very weak in N OKC and Edmond, most of the time I can barely hear them, while at about the same point their system is loud and clear.

 

[jjminn]

In Edmond its quite common to hear the dispatch center patch another agency into its Moto truck system. LifeFlight helicopters, OCPD and surrounding fire units are heard almost weekly. With just a couple of mouseclicks in dispatch both sides are brought together seamlessly. The real benefit is that those with the truncked radios don't have to carry anything but them. All the magic is done back at the computer (and by the operator) in the dispatch center.

John

 

[K5MAR]

Didn't Edmond also use the NPSPAC channels during that building disaster drill they did last year? I keep forgetting to add them to all my scanner banks, but I just may setup a seperate bank with all the M/A and interop freqs. It's not like I can't spare the channels here in the big metropolis of Stillwater! :wink:

Mark S.

 

[jjminn]

I'm not sure about that one Mark. It seems like the Fire department here has a "disaster/training" drill about every month. Like you I really don't monitor the NSPAC much. I know I have them somewhere...

John

 

[K5MAR]

This was that big drill they did with the UCO dorms that were scheduled to be torn down, as I recall. Multiple agencies, doing building searches, etc.

Mark S.

 

[LAYMAN]

How about this....



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[mam1081]

Well, digital testing seems to have ceased as of this afternoon. When I came home for lunch, the 1250 talkgroup was digital, and the 1253 TG was analog. Now only the 1253 TG is going....

Interesting....

 

[foster_006]

Well, digital testing seems to have ceased as of this afternoon. When I came home for lunch, the 1250 talkgroup was digital, and the 1253 TG was analog. Now only the 1253 TG is going....

Interesting....

Also interesting, they seem to be testing a patch between Provoice and OKC Fire 2 (453.350). Everytime the test voice loops, the patch changes frequencies. I also believe this is in simplex.