Around Beaver County, they use Tac-2 mostly for their traps or 'catepillar'. Admin 1 still is active with the morse code ident.
Yes, they can use the OpenSky to access jNet and MVRs.
Yes, they can use the OpenSky to access jNet and MVRs.
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More often seen on I-79, basically it's a trap setup where they line up one or more trooper cars on an on-ramp, and a dummy vehicle or chopper is positioned down the road measuring speed and spotting other violations. Dummy vehicle spots a violator and radios to the next car in line. "White car, 88.6 left lane, passing red car doing 75.6." They will decide to go after one or both.
The best example I recall was I-79 south right at Carnegie where they position 5 cars on the on-ramp and have a 'beat-up' pickup truck on the overpass ahead of the exit appearing to be broken down or abandoned.
Related article: http://www.wtae.com/news/23290206/detail.html
I'm not sure if that's the official name of the program, but I do recall seeing that name mentioned on the news. I cannot locate an article at this time.
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iamhere300
Member
So, to read this... PSP Commissioner Frank Noonan admits the open sky system does not work well for the PSP, and they need a backup to the fancy new system.
So, they are going to narrowband their VHF, replace 51 repeaters, 80 base stations, and 2500 mobiles. All because their 800 Mhz system does not perform as they were told it would.
And they want the FCC to give them a waiver of time to do it in.
The only other insult to injury they could do is to buy the new equipment from the same manufacturer as the open sky system...
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021755411
So, they are going to narrowband their VHF, replace 51 repeaters, 80 base stations, and 2500 mobiles. All because their 800 Mhz system does not perform as they were told it would.
And they want the FCC to give them a waiver of time to do it in.
The only other insult to injury they could do is to buy the new equipment from the same manufacturer as the open sky system...
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021755411
Probably explains why I heard a lot of traffic on channel D and some complaints on there talking about how they can't hear anyone or run mvr checks.
spencer05
Member
I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but in the last several weeks I have noticed a decent amount of traffic on the VHF here in my area. Most notably the Milton and Selinsgrove barracks along with Frackville. I placed all the VHF channels in 1 of my radios just to take up some empty space. Surprised that stone silence has gone to several hits a day. Even the Hazleton, Shickshinny, Bloomsburg and Fern Ridge have popped up more than usual. Don't usually here anything on the TAC channels being I am only 1/2 mile from I-81 area. Don't know what the deal is with the new system or whats up. I do more reading on the site than posting and just thought I would see if anyone else has noticed this. I think they correct term should be a" Reliable System" not a back up considering the traffic being passed. Only my thoughts!
This is correct! OS didn't have a working public safety system in the country let alone doing a massive project like a statewide radio system which saying was completely nuts is an under statement. The only reason they did this is because the PA gov likes to be secretive and work in the dark. The only selling part that was needed was the public can't monitor them. Nothing else matters. If they go with an OS 2 then that is beyond criminal.
GTO_04
Member
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Depends, sometimes they even will pace and follow. Other times an aircraft is used. Keep listening to the news this summer, they always have a piece on it.
phillydjdan
Member
- Joined
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I would be willing to bet that 99% of the time they use radar. The state police are allowed to use it, and they do OFTEN. Vascar is primarily used by the local municipalities, since they are not allowed to use radar (last time I checked, anyway).
captaincab
Member
if they switch back to the vhf system does anyone know what group or frequency philly and media barracks use along with the blue route and i76 in philly
Back before OpenSky disptach was on one channel and the cars were on another.
And if I remember correctly,
For Philly it was:
155.67000 Dispatch
155.91000 Mobiles
For DELCO it was:
155.50500 Dispatch
155.85000 Mobiles
Throughout the state:
154.75500 was car to car.
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The FCC document posted by another member earlier this week listed the proposed VHF plan if approved by the FCC. The plan details VHF repeaters being scattered across the state. The only one listed for the Philadelphia metro area was on the tower behind Troop K on Belmont Ave. The next closest repeater was up in Bucks County.
JJ
JJ
Where can I find a link to this... was this for a back up system or some broader purpose?
http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7021755411
The plan sounds like they want to use VHF repeaters to fill in coverage gaps and use it as a back-up system during periods when the OpenSky Network is down...
"Replacing the legacy VHF system on a one-for-one basis with narrowband equipment would be cost-prohibitive. Accordingly, PSP and OPRS jointly chose to pursue a VHF repeater system, minimizing initial expenditures, using newer PA-STARNET infrastructure that can be expanded (if needed) after initial narrowbanding.
New VHF narrowband analog repeaters will provide a critical layer of redundancy for PA-STARNET and PSP. VHF narrowband repeaters and mobile radios will provide improved off-network coverage, additional coverage in rural areas where 800 MHz is terrain limited, additional interoperability using shared VHF frequencies, and allow for back-up communications during obtrusive maintenance windows required by telecommunication networks. Analog VHF is the most cost-effective means to fill coverage gaps and provide redundancy required with both factors increasing overall statewide reliability of public safety communications."
JJ
The plan sounds like they want to use VHF repeaters to fill in coverage gaps and use it as a back-up system during periods when the OpenSky Network is down...
"Replacing the legacy VHF system on a one-for-one basis with narrowband equipment would be cost-prohibitive. Accordingly, PSP and OPRS jointly chose to pursue a VHF repeater system, minimizing initial expenditures, using newer PA-STARNET infrastructure that can be expanded (if needed) after initial narrowbanding.
New VHF narrowband analog repeaters will provide a critical layer of redundancy for PA-STARNET and PSP. VHF narrowband repeaters and mobile radios will provide improved off-network coverage, additional coverage in rural areas where 800 MHz is terrain limited, additional interoperability using shared VHF frequencies, and allow for back-up communications during obtrusive maintenance windows required by telecommunication networks. Analog VHF is the most cost-effective means to fill coverage gaps and provide redundancy required with both factors increasing overall statewide reliability of public safety communications."
JJ
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GTO_04
Member
Well at least they finally admitted that 800 MHz is "terrain limited." That's progress I guess.
captaincab
Member
thanks
- Joined
- Feb 28, 2012
- Messages
- 165
Question about psp and "opensky"
I am trying to understand this system. I would appreciate if anyone could help me with a few questions.
I guess what I am trying to figure out is if, when a patrol car is on the network and on duty is it constantly connected (similar to a cellphone call) or does it behave like a standard two-way radio system?
Basically I am curious as to what frequencies are eminating from the unit at any given time. For instance, if a patrol car comes within range of my antenna is there any way to pick it up. I understand that the modulated information is unobtainable but is there a carrier which can be detected and cause a scanner to stop on that frequency?
Thanks in advance to anyone that understands what I mean and can clear this up for me.
I am trying to understand this system. I would appreciate if anyone could help me with a few questions.
I guess what I am trying to figure out is if, when a patrol car is on the network and on duty is it constantly connected (similar to a cellphone call) or does it behave like a standard two-way radio system?
Basically I am curious as to what frequencies are eminating from the unit at any given time. For instance, if a patrol car comes within range of my antenna is there any way to pick it up. I understand that the modulated information is unobtainable but is there a carrier which can be detected and cause a scanner to stop on that frequency?
Thanks in advance to anyone that understands what I mean and can clear this up for me.
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.973 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)
I seriously doubt that there is a constant connection, as that would be very inefficient. There are some forum topics on OpenSky, which have a few details.
Yes, there would be a detectable radio transmission. You would have to scan all the available inputs, or at least the control channel input. There would be no way of knowing who is transmitting, and there would be a limited range on the unit-to-tower transmissions.
rrbum said:
I seriously doubt that there is a constant connection, as that would be very inefficient. There are some forum topics on OpenSky, which have a few details.
Yes, there would be a detectable radio transmission. You would have to scan all the available inputs, or at least the control channel input. There would be no way of knowing who is transmitting, and there would be a limited range on the unit-to-tower transmissions.
rrbum - I think it usually works this way.
1. User turns on / powers up a mobile or portable radio ("field units")
2. The radio searches for and finds the strongest control channel
3. The radio sends a data burst which says - "this is my ID - I want to operate on Talkgroup XXX"
4. If the radio has a scanning option, then it would include in the data burst - "I also want to hear TalkGropus AAA, BBB, etc"
5. The mobile or portable radio constantly searches for a stronger control channel - if a stronger CC is found, the radio sends a data burst on that channel (see 3 and 4)
The infrasturcture activates the required talkgroups on each tower as it receives the data bursts from the field units
1. User turns on / powers up a mobile or portable radio ("field units")
2. The radio searches for and finds the strongest control channel
3. The radio sends a data burst which says - "this is my ID - I want to operate on Talkgroup XXX"
4. If the radio has a scanning option, then it would include in the data burst - "I also want to hear TalkGropus AAA, BBB, etc"
5. The mobile or portable radio constantly searches for a stronger control channel - if a stronger CC is found, the radio sends a data burst on that channel (see 3 and 4)
The infrasturcture activates the required talkgroups on each tower as it receives the data bursts from the field units
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