Ottawa Fire Testing MWS

[ocscan]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.654 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/398)

Listening to Ottawa Fire today, I am hearing testing on some kind of MWS, the vehicle is being told to press status buttons. With the dispatcher confirming that they are receiving the status in Dispatch.

 

[bpsmicro]

They've been playing with it for nearly two months now. It sounds like the reliability isn't quite there yet.

 

[DaveH]

I also heard some testing over the past week. Interesting that yesterday UniTrunker
showed activity on some of the lesser-used TGs i.e the 2nd/3rd/4th in some zones,
including 1347 (1-3), 1363 (2-3) and 1395 (4-3). This may be just coincidence but
the 2nd in each zone is known to be used for voice, and the 4th in one case for voice
to patch to other TGs i.e. 1380 (3-4) with 2010 and 0068 for Airport Fire. Maybe,
just speculation, the 3rd TGs are for MWS, similar to OC Transpo with its non-voice
messaging TGs.

Dave

 

[ocscan]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.654 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/398)

According to my source, they are using Compact toughbooks on the Telus EVDO network. Versaterm software similar to OPS is being used.

 

[DaveH]

Just after posting my last message it occurred that the MWS like others used by
PDs etc. may not be connected with the EDACS system at all...not like OC Transpo
that can get by with SMS. This still leaves a bit of minor mystery about the other
OFS TGs, and I have seen a bunch of other (unrelated) analog TGs with low activity
that haven't been identified yet...if anyone is interested...

Dave