chrisjz
Member
Out of the radio business. Deleted...
Philadelphia PD Astro radio system went down last night...
- Thread starter chrisjz
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No Failsoft
Gee I would think that a system of that Multitude would:
A. Have a failsoft System were it reverts to a conventional repeater system and or
B. have some type of back up system so they would not be in this postion.
You would think they would have some redundant measures in place.
Who Knows I am just a pee-on.
Gee I would think that a system of that Multitude would:
A. Have a failsoft System were it reverts to a conventional repeater system and or
B. have some type of back up system so they would not be in this postion.
You would think they would have some redundant measures in place.
Who Knows I am just a pee-on.
I completely agree that there should be a backup system. They had a great UHF system up -- but that is gone.
Failsoft never kicked in because none of the repeaters actually went offline. It is still confusing -- and they are still woundering why it happened that way.
Failsoft never kicked in because none of the repeaters actually went offline. It is still confusing -- and they are still woundering why it happened that way.
chrisjz
Member
Out of the radio business. Deleted...
It was software. All radios went back to the system at the same time, after a system announcment -- and I guess crashed it. Not sure. Still am not clear on exactly why and how it happen -- but it was during a system announcment.
It also had a lot of trouble during a car pursuit, and units couldn't get through. I believe Failsoft kicked in, not sure -- but all I could hear was the sound of open carrier.
I am starting to lean over towards the side of it was the city's fault. They tried to go cheap on a lot of things, and made some decisions on their own, and not listening to the experts who designed the system. Millions spent on encryption for fireground -- when that could of been used towards mobiles in the RPC's.
Their old radios went to the prison system. If you go up to the prison (hopefully not the one who in prison) but for a visit or whatever, you'll see them with the old scratched up GE MPA's on their hip. I used to listen to the Philly system from Wildwood.
It also had a lot of trouble during a car pursuit, and units couldn't get through. I believe Failsoft kicked in, not sure -- but all I could hear was the sound of open carrier.
I am starting to lean over towards the side of it was the city's fault. They tried to go cheap on a lot of things, and made some decisions on their own, and not listening to the experts who designed the system. Millions spent on encryption for fireground -- when that could of been used towards mobiles in the RPC's.
Their old radios went to the prison system. If you go up to the prison (hopefully not the one who in prison) but for a visit or whatever, you'll see them with the old scratched up GE MPA's on their hip. I used to listen to the Philly system from Wildwood.
This makes no sense at all. Hopefully, at the very least, the officers have a cell phone they can use to call someone for help? I know some police departments that have Nextels and they have Dispatch and other local patrol units programmed into the radio, so they can communicate off the regular system, or in case of a system failure.
Something needs to be done about this before someone gets killed.
73's
Ron
Something needs to be done about this before someone gets killed.
73's
Ron
I'm not sure what is going on. They are in there everyday working on it, some progress has been made. They finanlly did get the battery situation taken cared of. They have the IMPRESS batteries and seem to be working now.
As far as that time when they had the problem, it was a command that shouldn't have been used. Ron, you may have a better explanation -- but, when they do a system announcment and command about 2,000 radios to a special talkgroup -- when the radios return, all talk back to the CC to get instructions on where to return right? This is what they are saying has been causing problems. Why this was ever allowed to be used in Philly with all them radios, I don't know.
As far as that time when they had the problem, it was a command that shouldn't have been used. Ron, you may have a better explanation -- but, when they do a system announcment and command about 2,000 radios to a special talkgroup -- when the radios return, all talk back to the CC to get instructions on where to return right? This is what they are saying has been causing problems. Why this was ever allowed to be used in Philly with all them radios, I don't know.
They have recently have been having a problem regarding the dispatcher not being able to recieve the officers. At the consoles, it sounds like a bunch of unintelligable noise. Other officers can hear them fine, however the dispatcher cannot.
And just about all the officers have cellphones, many times Nextel's. However they have no way to reach anyone at the radio room with a Nextel.
Lancer252
Member
The biggest mistakes were taking the radios out of cars and doing away with the old analog system completely. With a radio in the car, you wouldn't have to use the portables as much. And the analog system could have been a back up. The airport units still come over on 453.450 and with the exception of the prisons on 453.250 no one is on the old 453 freqs.
Yea - they took them out of the patrol cars and gave them to sanitation. I remember seeing some of the sanitation vehicles getting radios installed (the old Spectra's).
There are 3 other municipal UHF repeaters, but they have been there for the longest time. (453.725, 453.775, and 453.925)
There are 3 other municipal UHF repeaters, but they have been there for the longest time. (453.725, 453.775, and 453.925)
Rich250
Member
Phila radio down again this weekend!
yep, went down again Oct 2nd and 3rd. According to the Phila. Inquirer, technicians suspect nearby cell phone towers causing the problem.
yep, went down again Oct 2nd and 3rd. According to the Phila. Inquirer, technicians suspect nearby cell phone towers causing the problem.
Rich250
Member
correction:
The system went down only on Sunday Oct. 3rd between 1:30AM and 4:30PM.
However, the point is the $52 million system went down again putting
police officer and firefighter lives in jeopardy.
The system went down only on Sunday Oct. 3rd between 1:30AM and 4:30PM.
However, the point is the $52 million system went down again putting
police officer and firefighter lives in jeopardy.
Quote:yep, went down again Oct 2nd and 3rd. According to the Phila. Inquirer, technicians suspect nearby cell phone towers causing the problem.
Cell Phone Towers causing the Problem highly Doubtful for making the Radio System Go Down.
Cell Phone Towers causing the Problem highly Doubtful for making the Radio System Go Down.
Lancer252
Member
This whole system has been a waste from the start and there are plenty of people to blame.
Dept of Public Property for getting the system.
The Mayor for continuing to pay for it.
The PFD for wasting money on encryption.
The PPD for not encrypting enough and taking perfectly good radios out of the cars and wagons.
The PFD and PPD commissioners for not recognizing the problems early on and fixing them. I don't buy the argument that this is a new system and it is bound to have kinks. For $3000 a radio you should be able to hear dispatch, Eagles, Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games (maybe the Steelers on a good day too), and be able to order lunch with the thing.
The only people I can't blame is Motorola. Hell, if I could keep getting people to to buy these systems, I'd keep selling them too.
And by the way what is the deal with the state's OpenSky system. These companies saw some suckers in PA and decided to cash in.
Dept of Public Property for getting the system.
The Mayor for continuing to pay for it.
The PFD for wasting money on encryption.
The PPD for not encrypting enough and taking perfectly good radios out of the cars and wagons.
The PFD and PPD commissioners for not recognizing the problems early on and fixing them. I don't buy the argument that this is a new system and it is bound to have kinks. For $3000 a radio you should be able to hear dispatch, Eagles, Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games (maybe the Steelers on a good day too), and be able to order lunch with the thing.
The only people I can't blame is Motorola. Hell, if I could keep getting people to to buy these systems, I'd keep selling them too.
And by the way what is the deal with the state's OpenSky system. These companies saw some suckers in PA and decided to cash in.
Lancer now that was Funny right there. I agree with you 100%
jwco16
Member
Wow???
Can someone please tell me why they don't just drop the silly encryption thing for the F.D. and make all of the primary talkgroups analog while they work this out?
The radios are all supposed to be backward compatible, right? Why not run analog and unencrypted for a while. It won’t fix the system failures, but will help the dead spots. I’d rather have reliable communications that can be intercepted than secure noise.
Just a silly question from an end user to the technical guys out there.
Can someone please tell me why they don't just drop the silly encryption thing for the F.D. and make all of the primary talkgroups analog while they work this out?
The radios are all supposed to be backward compatible, right? Why not run analog and unencrypted for a while. It won’t fix the system failures, but will help the dead spots. I’d rather have reliable communications that can be intercepted than secure noise.
Just a silly question from an end user to the technical guys out there.
jwco16
Member
Wow???
Can someone please tell me why they don't just drop the silly encryption thing for the F.D. and make all of the primary talkgroups analog while they work this out?
The radios are all supposed to be backward compatible, right? Why not run analog and unencrypted for a while. It won’t fix the system failures, but will help the dead spots. I’d rather have reliable communications that can be intercepted than secure noise.
Just a silly question from an end user to the technical guys out there.
Can someone please tell me why they don't just drop the silly encryption thing for the F.D. and make all of the primary talkgroups analog while they work this out?
The radios are all supposed to be backward compatible, right? Why not run analog and unencrypted for a while. It won’t fix the system failures, but will help the dead spots. I’d rather have reliable communications that can be intercepted than secure noise.
Just a silly question from an end user to the technical guys out there.
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