PA State Police Struggle with OpenSky Issues

[dmg1969]

We will have to wait and see. Common sense would dictate that they move to a P25 Phase 2 system if their equipment is indeed coming to its end life. I did just see an article regarding their moving to silent dispatch to officers via computer (MDT) for non-emergency police calls.

 

[Steveradio]

What bugs me more is being a resident of PA and working with the Troopers/Penndot crews who use the system since a few years ago the system has been finally upgraded and working pretty well in most areas how ever they still have many dead spots which is why VHF mobiles have not been pulled after spending billions on the system to begin with . What are they trying to do keep up with technology and privacy concerns or is officer and user safety more important.
Working on call with Trooper one evening we had a suspicious activity going on, we were called in as back up. Trooper tried multiple times on portable trying get barracks nothing but busy signals. Contacted my dispatch center to relay the message.
Hopefully they go with something simple, still dont see the VHF system dying or being pulled any time soon.

 

[Voyager]

We will have to wait and see. Common sense would dictate that they move to a P25 Phase 2 system if their equipment is indeed coming to its end life. I did just see an article regarding their moving to silent dispatch to officers via computer (MDT) for non-emergency police calls.

Common sense would also dictate not selecting Open Sky, but...

Also, the 700 MHz system is P25 Phase I. Why not expand that if a transition to P25 is desired? Oh wait - too logical.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

Common sense would also dictate not selecting Open Sky, but...

Also, the 700 MHz system is P25 Phase I. Why not expand that if a transition to P25 is desired? Oh wait - too logical.

Well the 700 system is built out to support aircraft operations so I don't see anything happening there. They may end up keeping that system separate so they don't have to worry about aircraft hitting too many towers.

 

[HM1529]

Well the 700 system is built out to support aircraft operations so I don't see anything happening there. They may end up keeping that system separate so they don't have to worry about aircraft hitting too many towers.

My understanding is that is the plan. The aircraft system will remain a stand alone resource for the aircraft since it is optimized for that operation.

 

[phillydjdan]

If I recall, the Congressional hearing that was aired on CSPAN indicated that the overall plan was to develop a P25 system that uses the existing 700/800 frequencies in the urban areas and the existing VHF frequencies in the rural areas. So the system would in fact be dual band, and using dual band P25 radios would make moving between zones seamless. Who knows if that plan is still the final plan or not. Just something to keep in the back of our minds.

 

[jiminpgh]

RCC Consultants Bankrupt

RCC Consultants, Woodbridge, NJ has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.
According to a 2010 PA state issued open sky fact sheet, they were/are the primary consultant for STARNET.

Make your own case & findings but
Water always finds its own level.

Jim

 

[rrbum]

Another request for bids issued...

Bid on Land Mobile Radio Upgrades To PA-STARNET in Harrisburg | America Bid Network

Would be interesting to read the details, but some info can be garnished from the brief description provided.

 

[dmg1969]

Removed. It wasn't what I thought it was.

 

[Blaze36]

Interesting that Harris's contract is being investigated by an independent panel.. Police chief: 911 contract mismanaged, has not improved emergenc - WSFA.com Montgomery Alabama news.

 

[buckbull]

So that mean pasp will be able to be heard over a scanner if the switch to p25?

 

[mark40]

So that mean pasp will be able to be heard over a scanner if the switch to p25?

Yes, Unless they use encryption. If so, hopefully it's only used on tactical frequencies.

 

[Steveradio]

Question with the Open Sky or what ever its called now, work with State Police often and most of the Troopers dont even have portable on when they get out of the vehicle.. Hear alot of talking going on, my guess is everyone in that Troop N for instance is on one talk group and not individual Talk groups? Like PSP FernRidge has own and Lehighton, but all seem to hear each other or they scanning?

 

[HM1529]

Each station has its own dispatch talkgroup. I would imagine you are hearing other traffic because they are scanning neighboring station dispatch channels.

 

[buckbull]

this thread has been quiet , wondering if there is any new news about PSP dropping opensky?

 

[phillydjdan]

Not much to report. There's been some activity with licensing on both PSP and DCNR licenses, but until P25 control channel pops up somewhere all we know is that it's in the works.

 

[markandjere]

I have been hearing traffic on the old freqs. again , just checks at shift change, but had been silent for a long while.

 

[buckbull]

Well thats good news that its in the works.

 

[Steveradio]

Looking at the FCC Data from different counties looks like the Pennsylvania Commonwealth just got licensed in October for some more "Trunked" type systems:

ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQWQ415 - PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF - Frequencies Summary

This is just one of many seen popping up WQWQ415
The Radio Service is showing YE and the emissions 20K0F9W


ULS License - PubSafty/SpecEmer/PubSaftyNtlPlan,806-817/851-862MHz,Trunked License - WQWQ418 - PENNSYLVANIA, COMMONWEALTH OF

Not even sure if these are active as of yet since was just issued

 

[mark40]

I believe the F9W at the end of the emission designator is for Harris OpenSky, so maybe they are adding sites? Seems so late in the game to be figuring this stuff out and implementing it.

Any thoughts Ben R?