Srrcs going digital by January 2014

[ccsochp11]

So I was told on Monday by the Delta wireless boys that are reprogramming are mobile and portable radios.
Is that SPD and a few other agencies are going digital by the start of December into January of 2014. I'm curious Antfreq, if you had heard anything of this as well. Since you deal with the county side of the system.

 

[gmclam]

Sacramento

I heard a rumor that it would happen on some TGs before 12/2013. So if the present schedule is December, that sounds about right.

It's amazing how much money these agencies have to make this switch, since they are (at least talking about) laying off sheriff officers and the city of Sacramento just passed a tax increase to get more officers.

 

[kma371]

I personally will believe it when I hear it, but I'm sure is possible.

ALCO and CoCo's system was supposed to be done last year I think and they're still agencies not online.

I've seen some documents for SRRCS p25 TGs but nothing set in stone.

 

[Sac916]

Starting and completing are two different things. For SRRCS, I expect this transition to take years. I'm sure the governing body has a goal/timeline.

Like KMA371 said - "was supposed to be done last year".

I'll believe it when I see it and it'll happen when it happens.

This year, I've seen several new digital talk groups pop-up and recently have heard techs doing P25 coverage testing in Elk Grove.

I expect larger departments ( Regional Transit, SPD, SSD, Fire) to take A LOT longer than smaller departments.
But again, the digital change is done at the Talk Group level - some Talk Groups will be analog, while others will be digital.

I think these new changes adds interest to the hobby and the thrill of the hunt of finding new things.

 

[Sac916]

There are a lot of PDF files floating around on the internet, published by various local governments. I haven't found any docs that give definitive timelines.

Check out these docs I found online about the City of Roseville TRS

City of Roseville, California - Details


http://www.roseville.ca.us/civicax/bids/inc/blobfetch.aspx?blobid=26638


Anyways -

MTS2000 radios have not been in production for years and existing supplies are dwindling. XTS are still in production but ending soon. XTS supplies will still be around for years. XTS and APX radios are being purchased to replace older equipment which are digital compliant.

Obviously smaller departments have fewer radios to replace, therefore can theoretically transition faster. Some departments have more money (grants or earmarked) at their disposal. Some departments are VERY limited on funds.

Something to keep in mind is that government money is not managed in one lump sum. You may have Patrol staffing levels suffering due to lack of funding, but you'll see purchases being made in the IT or specialized portion of the department. It all depends on how the money was obtained and how it's is "allowed" to be used. Some money for IT projects are acquired years in advance.


I tell all my friends and co-workers to only consider buying a digital scanner - I venture to say that some will have to re-think their choice in antenna or antenna placement. Monitoring P25 can be a bit more difficult.

 

[ccsochp11]

Well that's the reason I asked you Antfreq, because most Ssd patrol vehicles
are utilizing old equipment such as the mcs2000. But our SPD cars all have digital capable radios so
I think the switch will not take two years like the rebanding did .

 

[Sac916]

Well that's the reason I asked you Antfreq, because most Ssd patrol vehicles
are utilizing old equipment such as the mcs2000. But our SPD cars all have digital capable radios so
I think the switch will not take two years like the rebanding did .

All the SPD cars have digital capable radios? If that's the case, way ahead of SSD. That's a lot of time and money. The vehicles alone are a pain. SPD also has a fewer vehicles/radios than SSD.

So I would expect to see SOME of the SPD talk groups to make the switch. As system load and quality is evaluated, more digital Talk Groups will be added. I expect to see more encryption (not intended to start encryption conversation) - it's just that once you have the ability/capability, you simply need the desire.

 

[ccsochp11]

Well all the cars i have driven have the xtl2500 and correct me if I'm wrong but they are digital
and my portable is a xts2500 and that has to be digital, due to the fact we can monitor Los Rios.
But the county has some old equipment so your probably right it will take a while. Stupid question? Can ssds dispatch even receive and talk on digital .

 

[Sac916]

Well all the cars i have driven have the xtl2500 and correct me if I'm wrong but they are digital
and my portable is a xts2500 and that has to be digital, due to the fact we can monitor Los Rios.
But the county has some old equipment so your probably right it will take a while. Stupid question? Can ssds dispatch even receive and talk on digital .

Both of those radios are P25 compliant. Lucky. HA

Consoles are compliant so as long as the console's talk group template is updated to any changes, so P25 should be a non-issue.

 

[NorCalrescue]

I believe 6 channels per year upgraded for the next 4 years = 24 channels.

 

[ccsochp11]

I looked at the proposal that you put up Antfreq and I wouldn't be surprised if Roseville tried to jump on to placer county's new vhf p25 system

 

[Sac916]

I believe 6 channels per year upgraded for the next 4 years = 24 channels.

Ya but there are a lot more than 24 channels systemwide.

I have feeling it'll be more like 6 every 6 months or 6 for every evaluation phase (however long that is) -- Total speculation

Full migration, years. Majority migration I could see being months.

We shall see.

 

[WayneH]

Ya but there are a lot more than 24 channels systemwide.

Exactly. Factoring in Simulcast a channel is multiplied by the number of remote sites in the sub-system. Since you have to match hardware when you replace it at one site it needs to be done at every other site in that site's Simul network. That amount of hardware is a lot of work and money.

 

[xts3000r]

I hope spd. is Digital. by the END of 2013. it will work better, for them. i know spd. will love the Digital audio

 

[kma371]

I hope spd. is Digital. by the END of 2013. it will work better, for them. i know spd. will love the Digital audio

Question. Why do you make such a big deal about P25? I'm just curious.

 

[Sac916]

I hope spd. is Digital. by the END of 2013. it will work better, for them. i know spd. will love the Digital audio

What do you mean by - will work better -

I'd be worried about being inside a building without radio coverage on a marginal digital system. We'll see.

 

[gmclam]

P25

I hope spd. is Digital. by the END of 2013. it will work better, for them. i know spd. will love the Digital audio

Have you listened to P25 from San Joaquin county, including Stockton? Sounds like cr*p. And I don't mean just from 60 miles away either. And SPD has the additional infrastructure of being on a MOT trunked system. Digital does not always work better, and often works worse. Period.

 

[xts3000r]

Question. Why do you make such a big deal about P25? I'm just curious.

Well. I like p25. digital over the sound of analog. i hate the sound. of white nose and static. i use digital at work and i love it.

and what i mean by. it will work better. is the audio. will sound clearer. and the spd said of the trs. will work better for. p25 its built better with. more tower sites. so spd will have. good p25 digital.

 

[Sac916]

Question. Why do you make such a big deal about P25? I'm just curious.

Well. I like p25. digital over the sound of analog. i hate the sound. of white nose and static. i use digital at work and i love it.

and what i mean by. it will work better. is the audio. will sound clearer. and the spd said of the trs. will work better for. p25 its built better with. more tower sites. so spd will have. good p25 digital.

A good, strong signal certainly does sound good. But when you don't have a good strong signal, it's nothing compared to analog. At least with analog you can decipher words through the hiss/static.

Historically, P25 brings issues with coverage inside of buildings and pre-existing "dead spots" get larger. It may perform okay in a car on the road, but soon as you step in a building... that's the true test.

 

[xts3000r]

true