Old MARCS Issues

[wbowery]

I don't know if someone can shed some light on this issue, but...

The Van Wert Co. Sheriff started using their old VHF repeater Monday rather than the radios for the old MARCS system. They have been using the old MARCS for several years. I thought that this might be related to a reprogramming of their radios to MARCS-IP. Then I realized that there was no control channel on the old MARCS system from the Middle Point tower.

Is this just a technical issue at the Middle Point site, or are old MARCS systems being shut down? I don't think this would be the case just yet, especially considering that OSP Post 81 has not switched over to MARCS-IP. Loss of the Middle Point tower might result in decreased coverage for OSP units.

Thoughts?

 

[W8RMH]

They have been removing frequencies from the old system and adding them to the new system. The old CC frequencies may or may not be used as CCs on the new system. I am sure they would not do anything to interrupt OSHP communications.

 

[wbowery]

I thought of that, so I ran Unitrunker on the Middle Point MARCS-IP system yesterday with no new frequencies popping up.

 

[wa8pyr]

I don't know if someone can shed some light on this issue, but...

The Van Wert Co. Sheriff started using their old VHF repeater Monday rather than the radios for the old MARCS system. They have been using the old MARCS for several years. I thought that this might be related to a reprogramming of their radios to MARCS-IP. Then I realized that there was no control channel on the old MARCS system from the Middle Point tower.

Is this just a technical issue at the Middle Point site, or are old MARCS systems being shut down? I don't think this would be the case just yet, especially considering that OSP Post 81 has not switched over to MARCS-IP. Loss of the Middle Point tower might result in decreased coverage for OSP units.

Thoughts?

Could be a technical issue, but towers on old MARCS are being shut down once everybody in the surrounding area has migrated to MARCS-IP, and the frequencies moved to the corresponding MARCS-IP site to be used as additional voice channels.

MARCS has been paying maintenance on two systems simultaneously for a year longer than they were supposed to, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if they're finally putting their foot down and telling people "move now or you're out of luck." If any agencies got left behind, they probably forgot about or ignored all those warning letters they have been getting for the last year or so.

 

[firemantom26]

I thought of that, so I ran Unitrunker on the Middle Point MARCS-IP system yesterday with no new frequencies popping up.

Other than OSP everyone should of switched to MARCS Ip and nobody seems to know why they have not and also when they will make the switch.

 

[mmartinfan]

Other than OSP everyone should of switched to MARCS Ip and nobody seems to know why they have not and also when they will make the switch.

none of the pd's around here are on IP from the old MARCS

 

[wbowery]

I did hear a "testing" message on the Van Wert SO's talkgroup (XSO-81) on MARCS-IP yesterday. Maybe the issue with the old MARCS is forcing them to migrate to IP. The only services from the Middle Point tower on the old MARCS still active are/were VWSO, a seldom-used Van Wert county fire talkgroup, and OSP Post 81 and related.

 

[phask]

Only thing still on MARCS in the Zanesville area is OSP, plus a few State agencies suach as Workmen's Comp. and SOFAST.

 

[phask]

Not knowing where around here is that's not very helpful

none of the pd's around here are on IP from the old MARCS

 

[mmartinfan]

Not knowing where around here is that's not very helpful

Well when you have to work 3rd shift sometimes what your thinking and what is typed doesn't work together

Around here = Columbus.

 

[phask]

Is there much still using MARCS (old) in C-Bus?

Well when you have to work 3rd shift sometimes what your thinking and what is typed doesn't work together

Around here = Columbus.

 

[mmartinfan]

New Albany, Gahanna, Whitehall, and Bexley PD's are all still on it. Might be some smaller State or local stuff on it. I don't listen to the old system much

 

[wa8pyr]

I did hear a "testing" message on the Van Wert SO's talkgroup (XSO-81) on MARCS-IP yesterday. Maybe the issue with the old MARCS is forcing them to migrate to IP. The only services from the Middle Point tower on the old MARCS still active are/were VWSO, a seldom-used Van Wert county fire talkgroup, and OSP Post 81 and related.

They're being forced to migrate to MARCS-IP because they have no choice in the matter, not because of technical issues with the old system. The old system is being shut down, and if they don't move soon they'll find themselves back on their old VHF permanently.

Ditto for the departments in the Columbus area. I've noticed that most channels have already been removed from the old Columbus simulcast site, and it's not long for this world. Once OSP moves, it will probably vanish soon after.

Since vehicle radios offer better coverage with fewer sites, and OSP has vehicle repeaters, some remote areas can get by with less coverage; supposedly sites in some of those areas have already been decommissioned. I wouldn't exactly call Van Wert a remote area, but it's possible that site has been decommissioned.

 

[guttapercha]

They're being forced to migrate to MARCS-IP because they have no choice in the matter, not because of technical issues with the old system. The old system is being shut down, and if they don't move soon they'll find themselves back on their old VHF permanently.

Ditto for the departments in the Columbus area. I've noticed that most channels have already been removed from the old Columbus simulcast site, and it's not long for this world. Once OSP moves, it will probably vanish soon after.

Since vehicle radios offer better coverage with fewer sites, and OSP has vehicle repeaters, some remote areas can get by with less coverage; supposedly sites in some of those areas have already been decommissioned. I wouldn't exactly call Van Wert a remote area, but it's possible that site has been decommissioned.

Any idea what OSP has done to solve their mobile extender problem? Last I looked, they had applied for a 700 frequency.

 

[firemantom26]

Any idea what OSP has done to solve their mobile extender problem? Last I looked, they had applied for a 700 frequency.

Locally OSP has been using 465.375 for their MRE for over a few months now.

 

[W8RMH]

http://forums.radioreference.com/ohio-radio-discussion-forum/328535-465-375-osp.html#post2530000