Santa Barbara County goes with EF Johnson

E5911

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PJH

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I forget what they are chosing, but IIRC 7/8. Ventura County will be jumping over to their 7/8 system next year last I was told. Also a possibility of 800 in the metro areas with VHF to the east, but its pure speculation but that's the current trend due to terrain
 

AM909

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Interesting. I don't see any relevant licenses or applications in the last five years in ULS; no trunked licenses at all. Since they appear to be building out a totally new system (like the San Bernardino County system, LA-RICS, and RCPSEC), they don't get to operate under the state's 700 license, right? Can they apply to trunk existing conventional channels?

"The new public safety grade radio system will provide unified communications to agencies across the county to include law enforcement, fire departments, public works, parks departments along with many other County agencies. The KENWOOD Viking radio solution includes multi-band and multi-mode products that help provide seamless interoperability to first responders in their daily operations."
 

PJH

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Yes yes yes and yes. We are adding two new trunked sites. They are not on the air but equipment is being installed and the licenses are not issued yet - but via the cordnator it’s basically a done deal.

they just inked the contract and it will be taken care of as the site survey are concluded etc
 

MtnBiker2005

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Agenda - Tuesday, July 13, 2021 9:00 AM

https://santabarbara.legistar.com/L...770&GUID=D4B76E65-E303-4511-ABE6-E79EDB9714E2

https://santabarbara.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&ID=831852&GUID=C0810C73-5052-4D70-BF04-7FB811159E84


On agenda: 2/5/2019
https://santabarbara.legistar.com/L...120&GUID=F9E85ABD-3BAF-4A55-84EF-44476FBEC803



 
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SBSteve

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So it's obvious that a good chunk of SBC is going to use 800 trunked, and conventional VHF, will they also incorporate some UHF?
 

SBSteve

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For the 2 new sites referred to in a previous post, I would guess they were referring to Abel & Figueroa, but I'm guessing (there is no licensing information to confirm that). There are at least 8 sites (for the 800 system): Harris, SY, Tepusquet, Rincon, La Cumbre, Pleasant Hill, Plowshare, Sudden, all of which have recent licensing. A good place to start confirming this is: WPIT744 - file # R500896 (YF-Public Safety Ntl Plan, 821-824/866-869 MHz, Trunked). There will, likely, be more future sites, in order to complete a viable 800 system. As for the VHF (conventional) portion, the existing Fire/EMS systems in the County will likely be upgraded to include sites identified for the 800 system, as well as others. An interesting thought, will they include some UHF for Law mutual aid and EMS encryption? Another interesting question is whether or not the system will have the ability to interact with CHRIS, Central RICS or VNC 700? (might have some acronyms distorted".
 

SBSteve

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They are saying that the system will be multi-mode, multi-band, and that equipment is being installed. but as of now, nothing new is being broadcast that I have been able to hear and all of the existing conventional systems seem to be operating as usual.
 

KK6ZTE

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I wouldn't say it's obvious about anything yet. Their radio techs don't even know how it's going to be setup exactly. Ignore the BS that EFJ piles onto these "press releases".

We're also looking at years before any significant movement. They don't have the microwave backbone in place to support the new system (new microwave is part of this project).

That license referenced is for their LG 800MHz channel that has been around for years. I wouldn't make any assumptions just yet.
 

SBSteve

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Yeah I know the LG 800 channel has been around for years but the license is being modified along with the other WPIT... licenses, 49 frequencies added. I only saw the one press release when EFJ was awarded the contract. When you say "new microwave is part of this project" do you mean they are replacing the entire MW system? Or, are they just adding new MW sites? Is the new MW system a part of the EFJ contract, or just part of the "project"?
 

KK6ZTE

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Yeah I know the LG 800 channel has been around for years but the license is being modified along with the other WPIT... licenses, 49 frequencies added. I only saw the one press release when EFJ was awarded the contract. When you say "new microwave is part of this project" do you mean they are replacing the entire MW system? Or, are they just adding new MW sites? Is the new MW system a part of the EFJ contract, or just part of the "project"?

That's part of why it's so expensive...all new microwave. Existing equipment is T-1 transport. There will also be new sites (Cuyama) that also require new (hopefully redundant) links into.
 

MtnBiker2005

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YW-25705 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - CONVERT TO DIGITAL TRUNKING & ADD FILL_IN SITES - 453.1625/.450/.7875 & 460.075/.3375 MHz FB8 9K80D7W emission 100 watts 6.0 dBd gain omni ant. 12.8-60.9 m high @ 34.0-411.5 m AMSL CTCSS none ERP 116.1-185.7 watts HAAT -127.5 (below) to 254.3 m.
Also 458.1625/.450/.7875 & 465.075/.3375 MHz FX1 (100) under "20-foot" rule, same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W emission area of operation Countywide.
Also MO8 (1000), same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W & 11K2F3E emission area of operation 32-40 km radius of FB8s.
NOTE: This Request APPROVED subject to satisfactory tests with adjacent Kern County.

YW-25706 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - CONVERT TO DIGITAL TRUNKING & ADD FILL_IN SITES - 453.1875/.4375 & 460.0375/.2875/.575 MHz FB8 9K80D7W emission 100 watts 6.0 dBd gain omni ant. 10.7-38.1 m high @ 1302.5-1376.3 m AMSL CTCSS none ERP 100.0-122.4 watts HAAT 739.7 to 1005.6 m.
Also 458.1875/.4375 & 465.0375/.2875/.575 MHz FX1 (100) under "20-foot" rule, same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W emission ERP 100 watts area of operation Countywide.
Also MO8 (1000), same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W & 11K2F3E emission area of operation 40 km radius of FB8s.
NOTE: This Request APPROVED subject to satisfactory tests with adjacent Kern County.

YW-25707 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - CONVERT TO DIGITAL TRUNKING & ADD FILL_IN SITES - 460.0625/.3625 MHz FB8 9K80D7W emission 100 watts 6.0 dBd gain omni ant. & 9.0 dBd gain dir. ant. @ 200 degrees-True 10.7-38.1 m high @ 983.7-1190.1 m AMSL CTCSS none ERP 100.0-184.0 watts HAAT 509.4 to 563.5 m.
Also 465.0625/.3625 MHz FX1 (100) under "20-foot" rule, same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W emission ERP 100 watts area of operation Countywide.
Also MO8 (1000), same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W & 11K2F3E emission area of operation 44-522 km radius of FB8s.
NOTE: This Request APPROVED subject to satisfactory tests with adjacent Kern County.

YW-25708 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - CONVERT TO DIGITAL TRUNKING & ADD FILL_IN SITES - 453.2875/.5375/.8125 & 460.1125/.4375 MHz FB8 9K80D7W emission 100 watts 6.0 dBd gain omni ant. & 9.0 dBd gain dir. ant. @ 0 degrees-True 15.2-30.0 m high @ 0.0-600.7 m AMSL CTCSS none ERP 65.31-260.0 watts HAAT 6.8 to 514.4 m.
Also 458.2875/.5375/.8125 & 465.1125/.4375 MHz FX1 (100) under "20-foot" rule, same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W emission ERP 100 watts area of operation Countywide.
Also MO8 (1000), same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W & 11K2F3E emission area of operation 32-40 km radius of FB8s.
NOTE: This Request APPROVED subject to satisfactory tests with

YW-25709 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - CONVERT TO DIGITAL TRUNKING & ADD FILL_IN SITES - 453.2625/.5125/.775 & 460.1375/.525 MHz FB8 9K80D7W emission 100 watts 6.0 dBd gain omni ant. 17.1-31.7 m high @ 27.8-1203.4 m AMSL CTCSS none ERP 100.0-167.8 watts HAAT - 157.3 (below) to 767.0 m.
Also 458.2625/.5125/.775 & 465.1375/.525 MHz FX1 (100) under "20-foot" rule, same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W emission ERP 100 watts area of operation Countywide.
Also MO8 (1000), same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W & 11K2F3E emission area of operation 32-40 km radius of FB8s.
NOTE: This Request APPROVED subject to satisfactory tests with adjacent Kern County.

YW-25710 - SANTA BARBARA COUNTY - CONVERT TO DIGITAL TRUNKING & ADD FILL_IN SITES - 453.4125/.7375 & 460.125/.3125/.6375 MHz FB8 .PA 9K80D7W emission 100 watts 9.0 dBd gain dir. ant. @ 215-235 degrees-True 19.0-24.4 m high @ 659.3-1777.3 m AMSL CTCSS none ERP 100.0-141.3 watts HAAT -170.1 (below) to 568.1 m.
Also 458.4125/.7375 & 465.125/.3125/.6375 MHz FX1 (100) under "20-foot" rule, same as above, except 6.0 dBd gain omni ant. 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W emission ERP 100 watts area of operation 32-42 km radius of FB8s.
Also MO8 (1000), same as above, except 8K10F1D/F1E/F1W & 11K2F3E emission area of operation 32-40 km radius of FB8s.
NOTE: This Request APPROVED subject to satisfactory tests with adjacent Kern County.
 

SBSteve

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Couple this with WRQS385 for the conversion to a digital trunked 800 element and an upgraded VHF conventional element for fire and you have a pretty capable system. Also several new sites for all three subsystems should alleviate most of the coverage issues. It was never as bad as some have described it here anyway. The biggest question right now would be, where are they with the back-haul upgrade, as KK6ZTE indicated?
 

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SBSteve

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My primary interest is the Fire/EMS aspect of the system, but I am interested in how the overall system will impact the Fire/EMS aspect. The ULS has a recent Application File # 0010048471 that has a YG 2-site, 3 frequency pair, MO, FB8, FX1 that I'm wondering if it fits into the proposed new system? The application eludes to it being for Blochman School, but that really doesn't make since. And KG7PBS, the link may be dead, but it really didn't give anything but the EF Johnson promotion anyway.
 

Progline

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Are they testing any part of this system yet by patching to the legacy analog system? I've been hearing odd traffic on the Santa Barbara stream for the last couple of days, and confirmed its coming from SB County Fire Ch3.
 

SBSteve

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I don’t think there’s any equipment for the UHF and 800 trunked systems installed yet, but I don’t know that for sure. As has been pointed out in an earlier post here, the backhaul system still needs to be upgraded and I haven’t seen anything that would indicate that has started in earnest. I think what you are hearing on SBC Fire Command-3, is the fire department assisting with a propagation study verification. Command-3 currently has the most repeater sites, so I’m guessing that’s why the testing is being conducted on it. Again, I don’t know this for sure, but as I understand it, Fire will continue to be VHF analog with new radios and new sites. So, no there’s no patching going on that I’ve heard. When the new fire dispatch center comes online, it will be dispatching for all fire and EMS resources in the county, and it looks like paramedic to hospital communications will be on the UHF trunked system. But that won’t require any patching, just multiband, multi-protocol radios in the field.
 

KK6ZTE

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I'll bet AMR is kicking themselves for buying those DMR portables against the recommendations of those in the know... :D

Equipment is a long time out. Don't expect it operational for a long time.
 

ko6jw_2

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There is another aspect to the EMS discussion that involves the County Board of Supervisors consideration of not renewing the AMR contact in favor of having the County Fire Department providing ambulance service. Currently AMR is at the end of what was a 15 year no bid contract. This contract has been extended temporarily while the discussion continues. The county currently operates three rescue ambulances. One is at UCSB, another in Lompoc and the third in New Cuyama. These are regularly called to cover AMR's calls when AMR has no units free. These RA's are dispatched on the fire channels not the EMS system although they use the UHF hospital frequencies.

AMR ambulances are currently dispatched on the county EMS radio system, but can operate on fire channels for coordination.

Many questions remain unanswered. With a combined dispatch center and a non- renewal. of AMR's contract would county fire ambulances also be dispatched in the individual city and independent fire districts?

The combined fire dispatch center is a ways off. Its reason for existing is partly political and partly practical. There is bad blood between the sheriff and the fire department. It is alleged that a combined dispatch center would speed responses across jurisdictions.

None of this directly relates to radio use, but it will have an impact.
 
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