Rice County Plan to switch the 800 in the Fall
- Thread starter Jimbnks
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I'm being told Rice County is planning on doing testing on the 800 today, but I'm out of the area. to listen for any new talk groups
Here is the latest update I got out of Rice County switch to 800.
Dispatchers and public safety member are getting training on the new 800 radio system it’s expected to be completed by the week of September 16th.
On or by September26th. The new Dispatch center is expected to live, and switch over to 800 will take place within sometime within the next 90 days.
Dispatchers and public safety member are getting training on the new 800 radio system it’s expected to be completed by the week of September 16th.
On or by September26th. The new Dispatch center is expected to live, and switch over to 800 will take place within sometime within the next 90 days.
dgruver911
Member
It's my understanding that Rice County made the complete switch to 800 yesterday.
@ dgruver911 There was an emergency switch over to 800 on October 22 around 2:30 pm.
As of this posting VHF Leo 1 and Leo 2 repeater have crashed, the VHF Opts channel is working sporadically. They have been having major problems over the weekend with LEO 1 and tone dispatching.
At this point, EMS and Fire are still being dispatch on VHF opts 4, at least of this morning
Rice County had been doing testing on 800 for about the 3 months, they added receiver towers outside of Sterling, and Little River. Have heard grid testing off each tower.
I do have a number of talk groups logged with various unit/radio UID’s logged, And what they are using them as. There have been both encrypted and in the clear tests.
So far at this point in time, the fire department chiefs are the only unit that appears to have 800 radio's
Later today I will upload an update more information for the database to be updated as I confirm more things, however here is what I have confirmed in way of talk groups and possible usage.
2838-Opts 1-confirmed EMS traffic. Both in the clear and encrypted
2839- Heard test possibly Opts 2? Both in the clear and encrypted
2840-Heard testing possibly Opts 3? did here some tone test on here. Both in the clear and encrypted
2841-Heard testing possibly Opts 4 – did here some tone test on here. Both in the clear and encrypted
2847-LEO-1 Comfrimed LEO traffic. Both in the clear and encrypted
I'm not sure if they are using car radios and portable, or just portables. I will try to work on that through the UID's I have recorded.
My last information I had gotten was they were going switch with patches to VHF in early November but had to make a hasty switch on October 22nd due to the VHF system radio crash.
As of this posting VHF Leo 1 and Leo 2 repeater have crashed, the VHF Opts channel is working sporadically. They have been having major problems over the weekend with LEO 1 and tone dispatching.
At this point, EMS and Fire are still being dispatch on VHF opts 4, at least of this morning
Rice County had been doing testing on 800 for about the 3 months, they added receiver towers outside of Sterling, and Little River. Have heard grid testing off each tower.
I do have a number of talk groups logged with various unit/radio UID’s logged, And what they are using them as. There have been both encrypted and in the clear tests.
So far at this point in time, the fire department chiefs are the only unit that appears to have 800 radio's
Later today I will upload an update more information for the database to be updated as I confirm more things, however here is what I have confirmed in way of talk groups and possible usage.
2838-Opts 1-confirmed EMS traffic. Both in the clear and encrypted
2839- Heard test possibly Opts 2? Both in the clear and encrypted
2840-Heard testing possibly Opts 3? did here some tone test on here. Both in the clear and encrypted
2841-Heard testing possibly Opts 4 – did here some tone test on here. Both in the clear and encrypted
2847-LEO-1 Comfrimed LEO traffic. Both in the clear and encrypted
I'm not sure if they are using car radios and portable, or just portables. I will try to work on that through the UID's I have recorded.
My last information I had gotten was they were going switch with patches to VHF in early November but had to make a hasty switch on October 22nd due to the VHF system radio crash.
dgruver911
Member
The switch last week was planned well in advance. It was not hasty or done on an emergency basis.
@dgruver911 Sorry for the misinformation on the switch over.
Over the past few days, I have had a chance to visit with all of my sources in the county, three of the four did state. "it was a delayed switch over" to 800 MHZ, the one that told me that it was a not emergency, was obviously incorrect. I posted that part based on his information.
They confirmed the information the switch over was originally planned for September 24, 2019, however, it was delayed with no formal date set at that time.
So with that being said “ I should have checked” with my other sources before posting that part. I just had not had a chance to post the correct information.
nd5y
Member
New license for 3 KSICS sites in Rice County.
Here is what I record off each of the new KSICS towers in Rice County KS.
Little River Tower
System ID: 01B2h-001 Site ID 1-053
WACN:BE00 NAC 1B3
C.CH- 855.7125
Talk- 855.4625
Talk- 855.7125
Talk- 855.9625
Talk- 856.2125
Talk- 856.4375
Talk- 856.9375
Sterling Tower (Lyons 2)
System ID: 01B2h-001 Site ID 1-054
WACN:BE00 NAC 1B4
C.CH- 856.2375
Talk- 855.7375
Talk- 856.2375
Talk- 856.4875
Talk- 856.9875
Talk- 857.2125
Talk- 857.4875
Chase Tower
System ID: 01B2h-001 Site ID 1-055
WACN:BE00 NAC 1B5
C.CH- 857.2375
Talk- 855.9875
Talk- 857.7125
Talk- 857.9375
Talk- 858.2375
Talk- 858.7125
Little River Tower
System ID: 01B2h-001 Site ID 1-053
WACN:BE00 NAC 1B3
C.CH- 855.7125
Talk- 855.4625
Talk- 855.7125
Talk- 855.9625
Talk- 856.2125
Talk- 856.4375
Talk- 856.9375
Sterling Tower (Lyons 2)
System ID: 01B2h-001 Site ID 1-054
WACN:BE00 NAC 1B4
C.CH- 856.2375
Talk- 855.7375
Talk- 856.2375
Talk- 856.4875
Talk- 856.9875
Talk- 857.2125
Talk- 857.4875
Chase Tower
System ID: 01B2h-001 Site ID 1-055
WACN:BE00 NAC 1B5
C.CH- 857.2375
Talk- 855.9875
Talk- 857.7125
Talk- 857.9375
Talk- 858.2375
Talk- 858.7125
Wow. So they did not go Simulcast. Interesting.
After listening to the new towers over the last few days, the audio quality is a lot better for KHP and Rice County Units. then off the Partridge Tower or Lyons (Rice CO) Towers.
After listening to the new towers over the last few days, the audio quality is a lot better for KHP and Rice County Units. then off the Partridge Tower or Lyons (Rice CO) Towers.
I've been trying to find why they didn't go Simulcast, I have not been about to get any kind of answer other than they were not interested in doing so.
Recently I had a chance to tour the new 911 center for Rice Co.
I thought I would share what I found out.
While I was there, I asked a few questions and got some very candid answers.
The 3rd party vendor who designed the system guaranteed the county a 95% coverage in the county if they when with there plan to go on the KSICS system. And if they needed a new tower it would at the 3rd party vendor expense.
I asked, what were the problems they encountered on the switch over to 800?
When they did the first testing on 800 with state towers in place at that time (KSICS towers located in the cities of Lyons, Great Bend, Partridge, Hutchinson, and McPherson), gave good to moderate coverage for most part in the county on mobiles, however, there were huge gaps in portable and mobile coverage with little to no coverage in Sterling, Raymond, Chase and Little River.
The 3rd party vendor who designed the system was the one who said the needed three (3) extra towers to cover the county to meet contact agreement of 95%, The towers lease was shared by the county on existing towers in the county, however, the equipment was purchased and installed at the 3rd party expenses with the approval of KDOT.
With the three (3) new towers added in Little River, Chase, and South of Lyons (aka Sterling), they ended up with 98% coverage from a portable in the county.
I asked, was Simulcast even consider when they added the new towers? I was told no, the new towers were purely to provide better coverage in the county.
They did say that the mobile unit primarily uses the existing tower (in the cites Lyons, Great Bend, Partridge, Hutchinson, and McPherson) unless they fall below a certain level, then they affiliate to the one of the three (3) towers, the portable affiliate to the strongest towers.
I asked, how many talk groups did the county acquire, I was told a total of Twenty (20) of them, the current active talk is for the public safety side things. They also have other talk groups revered for Rice County non-public safety, The Cities of Lyons, Sterling (including the power plant), and one for each of the school districts in the county, and there are shared talk groups for school districts in Ellsworth, and Barton county that was not part of the 20 talk groups they acquired. These other talk groups are being used as of yet, but there are plans in the near future to be used.
I was also told they outright purchased all the radios and got a great deal for the outright purchase.
They did say one of the coolest features with the system is a Rice Co dispatcher, can go to any other 911 center in the state, log in with there credentials, and be fully operation just as if they are sitting in the 911 center in Rice County.
They concluded with saying overall that everyone is very with change over to KSICS
I thought I would share what I found out.
While I was there, I asked a few questions and got some very candid answers.
The 3rd party vendor who designed the system guaranteed the county a 95% coverage in the county if they when with there plan to go on the KSICS system. And if they needed a new tower it would at the 3rd party vendor expense.
I asked, what were the problems they encountered on the switch over to 800?
When they did the first testing on 800 with state towers in place at that time (KSICS towers located in the cities of Lyons, Great Bend, Partridge, Hutchinson, and McPherson), gave good to moderate coverage for most part in the county on mobiles, however, there were huge gaps in portable and mobile coverage with little to no coverage in Sterling, Raymond, Chase and Little River.
The 3rd party vendor who designed the system was the one who said the needed three (3) extra towers to cover the county to meet contact agreement of 95%, The towers lease was shared by the county on existing towers in the county, however, the equipment was purchased and installed at the 3rd party expenses with the approval of KDOT.
With the three (3) new towers added in Little River, Chase, and South of Lyons (aka Sterling), they ended up with 98% coverage from a portable in the county.
I asked, was Simulcast even consider when they added the new towers? I was told no, the new towers were purely to provide better coverage in the county.
They did say that the mobile unit primarily uses the existing tower (in the cites Lyons, Great Bend, Partridge, Hutchinson, and McPherson) unless they fall below a certain level, then they affiliate to the one of the three (3) towers, the portable affiliate to the strongest towers.
I asked, how many talk groups did the county acquire, I was told a total of Twenty (20) of them, the current active talk is for the public safety side things. They also have other talk groups revered for Rice County non-public safety, The Cities of Lyons, Sterling (including the power plant), and one for each of the school districts in the county, and there are shared talk groups for school districts in Ellsworth, and Barton county that was not part of the 20 talk groups they acquired. These other talk groups are being used as of yet, but there are plans in the near future to be used.
DEC | Alpha Tag | Description |
2838 | Rice County Ops1 | Ops 1 |
2839 | Rice County Ops2 | Ops 2 |
2840 | Rice County Ops3 | Ops 3 |
2841 | Rice County Ops4 | Ops 4 |
2842 | Reserved | |
2843 | Reserved | |
2844 | Reserved | |
2845 | Reserved | |
2846 | Reserved | |
2847 | Rice Co LEO 1 | Law Enforcement Dispatch |
2848 | Rice Co LEO Tac 1 | Law Enforcement Tac1 |
2849 | Rice Co LEO Tac 2 | Law Enforcement Tac 2 |
2850 | Rice Co Detention | Jail Operations |
2851 | Rice Co LEO 2 | RC Statewide |
2852 | Rice Co Alert | RC Alert |
2853 | Reserved | |
2854 | Reserved | |
2855 | Reserved | |
2856 | Reserved | |
2857 | Rice Co Hospital | Rice County Hospital ER |
I was also told they outright purchased all the radios and got a great deal for the outright purchase.
They did say one of the coolest features with the system is a Rice Co dispatcher, can go to any other 911 center in the state, log in with there credentials, and be fully operation just as if they are sitting in the 911 center in Rice County.
They concluded with saying overall that everyone is very with change over to KSICS
dgruver911
Member
They did say one of the coolest features with the system is a Rice Co dispatcher, can go to any other 911 center in the state, log in with there credentials, and be fully operation just as if they are sitting in the 911 center in Rice County.
This refers to the 911 phone system. It's a cool benefit of the statewide hosted solution (which all but 10 or 11 counties use). You can go to any other center that is on it, and log on as you normally do, and it pulls up your screens just like you had back home and your 911 lines. They also are in the process of installing an upgrade that if you get busy and the phone rings more than a number that you pick (ours is 5 rings) it automatically rolls over to up to 3 neighboring counties that you have an MOU with, and you have buttons on your console that you can see that and pull those calls back when you can answer them; and have a tab for those counties that roll over to you.
This refers to the 911 phone system. It's a cool benefit of the statewide hosted solution (which all but 10 or 11 counties use). You can go to any other center that is on it, and log on as you normally do, and it pulls up your screens just like you had back home and your 911 lines. They also are in the process of installing an upgrade that if you get busy and the phone rings more than a number that you pick (ours is 5 rings) it automatically rolls over to up to 3 neighboring counties that you have an MOU with, and you have buttons on your console that you can see that and pull those calls back when you can answer them; and have a tab for those counties that roll over to you.
Thank you for providing a little more detail on it.
This morning Dispatch on LEO 1 is encrypted. You can still hear the cars. I hope it's not the start of full-time encryptions on LEO 1.
Rice CO LEO Channel is back in clear now.
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