Summit County 800 System

[northernsummit]

Whatever happened to Sagamore PD on 423.200 with DPL? Is that history or do they still use that for something? My wife has a friend whose daughter dispatches for Sagamore but I doubt she knows anything about the tech side.

Macedonia took over Sagamore Hills dispatch in the fall of 2015 in a really fast/rushed event almost like they had a staffing issue in Sagamore I think?. Hence the above discussion about Sagamore units needing to hear / get into 423.625. I believe they hired some of the dispatchers, but its all done out of Macedonia now.

Edit: I guess its possible they moved that repeater to 423.625 for this. But I don't know anything for certain anymore

 

[KWs]

Why are we discussing Macedonia 400 system in such detail on this thread ?
This is suppose to be Summit Akron 800 .

 

[a388sig2]

Why are we discussing Macedonia 400 system in such detail on this thread ?
This is suppose to be Summit Akron 800 .

It's definitely relevant to the 800system and the lack of, or eventual participation.

 

[northernsummit]

It's definitely relevant to the 800system and the lack of, or eventual participation.

Sorry - my fault. We were talking about Macedonia's outspoken opposition on Facebook to the Summit 800 system and it digressed off topic while discussing the pro/con's, cost, etc. to abandoning their 420 repeater.

 

[mszabo2000]

northernsummit, appreciate the update and no apologies needed, we all learned something new. They most likely moved from wireline control of the MPD repeater to a control station so they can monitor the output of the SPD repeater to avoid talking over a transmission. The console is probably is just changing channels on a single control station located at dispatch.


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[tripleplay905]

I have to eat my words and apologize for thinking you guys were crazy here. I've had a scanner sitting here for days decoding tone and was about an hour or two away from telling you and tripleplay905 I wasn't seeing it because I hadn't, but I think what I learned out of that is how little Sagamore talks. I figured if I sat here through shift change surely I'd see it.

A few minutes ago I just saw it decode 156.7 on the input and it was dispatch talking to Sagamore. What doesn't make sense is she sounded pretty horrible on the input to me, and I can almost see the tower if not for a tree or two. So I really wonder where that RF is coming from when she does that. The unit responded and was weak but same PL. I sat there staring at the radio and said wow.

I didn't believe it either when I first noticed. I don't remember how strong the input was when dispatch was talking to a Sagamore unit. I'll have to check that one of these days. I assumed it was just the Macedonia console talking out on the input from the Macedonia tower, but I guess that doesn't have to be the case now that I think about it. Although what Szabo states is probably correct.

Macedonia took over Sagamore Hills dispatch in the fall of 2015 in a really fast/rushed event almost like they had a staffing issue in Sagamore I think?. Hence the above discussion about Sagamore units needing to hear / get into 423.625. I believe they hired some of the dispatchers, but its all done out of Macedonia now.

From the very limited knowledge I have I was told it was basically a budget issue with Sagamore Hills. That there was some sort of new rules about PSAPs being required to be staffed with two dispatchers at all times, and Sagamore's budget and their dispatch consoles/equipment not being up to that task. Not sure how true if at all that actually is..

 

[northernsummit]

Control channel shifting?

Is anyone else noticing the control channel moving 2-3 times in the 9:30 - 10:30 hour? It has been 857.9625 for quite some time. Around 9:40 I lost it and found that it was over on 855.2625. I manually moved my SDR there and it went back to 855.2625.

I'm nearest the Twinsburg tower but I'm assuming the CC channel is consistent in a simulcast system. Unfortunately the software I'm using doesn't accept multiple and move dynamically.

Edit: It went back/forth a bunch but has been on 855.2625 for probably 30 minutes now. I wouldn't care if the app I was using could dynamically go look for it, but it doesn't, so it becomes frustrating

 

[northernsummit]

Is anyone else noticing the control channel moving 2-3 times in the 9:30 - 10:30 hour? It has been 857.9625 for quite some time. Around 9:40 I lost it and found that it was over on 855.2625. I manually moved my SDR there and it went back to 855.2625.

I'm nearest the Twinsburg tower but I'm assuming the CC channel is consistent in a simulcast system. Unfortunately the software I'm using doesn't accept multiple and move dynamically.

Edit: It went back/forth a bunch but has been on 855.2625 for probably 30 minutes now. I wouldn't care if the app I was using could dynamically go look for it, but it doesn't, so it becomes frustrating

Now its all the way up at 858.7125 and outside of the range of my three dongles centered down around the voice channels. Something must be going on.

 

[mszabo2000]

The system detected an illegal carrier on the active control channel this morning and auto changed control channels. The other changes were techs testing the system.


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[northernsummit]

The system detected an illegal carrier on the active control channel this morning and auto changed control channels. The other changes were techs testing the system.

Good to know! Started to make me worry it was going to stay on that high end freq. I'd need a fourth SDR dongle if it stayed up at the higher end. For some reason when it was on any other control channel that I could hear (like 857.9625) I was able to capture about 3-4 events and then trunk-recorder just seized but never complained about a lack of decode. Thanks for sharing.

 

[a388sig2]

On Sunday, December, 4, 2016, Hudson PD had an officer involved shooting.

According to the OSHP investigation, a subject was driving recklessly on the turnpike, they would drive off the left berm and back on again, and struck a vehicle. After making contact, the suspect vehicle flipped, continued sideways across three lanes and crashed into the concrete median barrier. Witnesses say the driver had trouble maintaining his bearings, ran across all three lanes of traffic and into the woods towards the City of Hudson.

OSHP Aviation, Hudson Police and Streetsboro Police were contacted to look out for the driver. Hudson police located the driver and subsequently were involved with a confrontation. The subject was downed with a gunshot to the head. BCI is investigating.


(I'll have to research how to upload the audio)
Hudson Police had a lot of trouble with their radios. The officer that downed the subject actually had to phone 911 to alert dispatch of the situation. Their radios were almost useless. You can see the dashcam video of the officer's microphone picking up his transmission, but then when you listen to the dispatch center recordings, there's nothing received.

My fear is this is a major officer safety issue. Here Hudson had the single most critical moment of their department's modern history, and their radio equipment was useless.

I'm hoping Mike can shed some light...do the departments use portable-to-vehicle repeaters? Or are the officer's portable radios the only link between them directly to the tower?

I've heard of numerous trouble spots in Twinsburg Twp and Reminderville on the current 800Mhz system. My fear is that with the upcoming P25 system coming online, that the legacy 800 system is, well, not a priority?

The sad fact is, a lot of these departments were very late in the game to the Summit County system is coverage in this pocket of the county an issue that will be addressed?

 

[northernsummit]

(I'll have to research how to upload the audio)
Hudson Police had a lot of trouble with their radios.

I think they had trouble with just officer Doran's handheld not making it into the system, from my perspective of what I was able to decode. It was brief bursts of R2D2 digital mush but I tend not to presume what I heard is what they heard, since I'm not using a motorola radio to decode it in this particular case. I just know from the context of this recording that they couldn't hear him but every other officer was able to use their radios including once they got on scene - so I wonder how much of the failure was his inability to key his radio properly due to the fight? His first transmission was solid. Then based on the dash cam he went into a two handed pistol grip and what I can only presume was an exhausting fight.

I've been sitting on this recording but since the PD has released dispatch audio to the news media I'll share it below. Did you find a untouched copy online somewhere that the news didn't chop up? I'd like one to align it to the dash camera just out of curiosity.

With that said, here is my recording with all silence between transmissions removed (so it goes fast and you can't align this to the dash cam at all). His first "3200 BLOCK!" comes around 1:28 into this: http://northernsummit.org/files/hudson-suspect-shot.mp3

1:40 - second 3200 block
1:47 - garble
1:53 - garble
1:58 - shots fired
2:04 - 3200, long drive... all the way in the back, etc, etc. (clear transmission)

The officer that downed the subject actually had to phone 911 to alert dispatch of the situation. Their radios were almost useless.

Based on my copy I don't personally feel any radio other than officer Doran's failed, and I think it failed predominantly because of location and elevation. Once the fight was over he was able to get in and say shots fired, direct them to his location relative to his vehicle, etc.

Other officers to arrive we able to communicate with dispatch. The phone call was to begin the notification process for supervisors. By the time dispatch asked for it everyone was there making it into the system as far as I can tell.

but then when you listen to the dispatch center recordings, there's nothing received.

I think you were hearing his dash camera microphone, not his two way radio? But I'm speculating here based on what I heard/saw in limited footage so far, and having played the above recording back late Sunday night after the news broke.

 

[a388sig2]

You're absolutely right. Sounds more like a failure of the officer's portable. That's where I question about vehicle repeaters for portables. I don't have any first hand knowledge of Summit departments installing them.

The terrain and struggle definitely played a factor as well.

Your audio quality may be better than what the city 911 recordings released.

 

[spanner]

Sorry - my fault. We were talking about Macedonia's outspoken opposition on Facebook to the Summit 800 system and it digressed off topic while discussing the pro/con's, cost, etc. to abandoning their 420 repeater.

Since I am from the Nordonia Hills area and return often, may I ask which "Facebook" group so I can see this? Keep up to date also?

Thanks!!!

 

[mszabo2000]

"My fear is that with the upcoming P25 system coming online, that the legacy 800 system is, well, not a priority?" The legacy system is and will remain a priority until all users have moved to the P25 system. Motorola is installing the new system which leaves the techs at Akron Radio all the time needed to maintain the legacy system.

"I've heard of numerous trouble spots in Twinsburg Twp and Reminderville on the current 800Mhz system." If you have examples of problem areas in Twinsburg Twp, please share. The SO and the township use the system and have not complained of coverage issues in the township. There are known areas in Reminderville with spotty coverage due to terrain. Once the system is connected to MARCS, Reminderville units will have access to a Geauga tower which provides excellent coverage in Reminderville.

"do the departments use portable-to-vehicle repeaters?" Stow PD uses mobile repeaters when they are in the Giant Eagle, Kohls, Target, and other stores near the RT59/Fishcreek intersection. The new Stow P25 site will improve coverage in this area most likely retiring the repeaters. Akron FD has mobile repeaters available but rarely needs them.

Regarding the Hudson event, no issues have been brought forward by Hudson regarding radio coverage. I will reach out to my contact for more information.

 

[a388sig2]

I can't thank you enough for the information you provide this forum.

 

[MotorolaDave]

Boston Heights Dispatch Changes

Cuyahoga Falls is now dispatching for Boston Heights PD on 39280. This is in addition to them dispatching for Munroe Falls and Silver Lake. Boston Heights is no longer dispatched by Richfield on the Peninsula TG.

Boston Heights uses Valley Fire as their fire department. I don't know if Cuyahoga Falls is dispatching fire calls on the existing Valley Fire TG, or if a new TG is being used. Has anyone heard traffic related to this?

I have already submitted this info to be updated.

Here is an article that confirms the changes.

https://www.fallsnewspress.com/news...tch-services-to-boston-heights/?recommended=1

 

[fpo701]

As of last night, Richfield was still dispatching Valley Fire. I heard them head to Boston Mills a few times.

 

[Nasby]

"My fear is that with the upcoming P25 system coming online, that the legacy 800 system is, well, not a priority?" The legacy system is and will remain a priority until all users have moved to the P25 system. Motorola is installing the new system which leaves the techs at Akron Radio all the time needed to maintain the legacy system.

"I've heard of numerous trouble spots in Twinsburg Twp and Reminderville on the current 800Mhz system." If you have examples of problem areas in Twinsburg Twp, please share. The SO and the township use the system and have not complained of coverage issues in the township. There are known areas in Reminderville with spotty coverage due to terrain. Once the system is connected to MARCS, Reminderville units will have access to a Geauga tower which provides excellent coverage in Reminderville.

"do the departments use portable-to-vehicle repeaters?" Stow PD uses mobile repeaters when they are in the Giant Eagle, Kohls, Target, and other stores near the RT59/Fishcreek intersection. The new Stow P25 site will improve coverage in this area most likely retiring the repeaters. Akron FD has mobile repeaters available but rarely needs them.

Regarding the Hudson event, no issues have been brought forward by Hudson regarding radio coverage. I will reach out to my contact for more information.

Any word on when the Stow site will be online?

Will the Stow site be for MARCS or the Summit P25 System?

 

[MotorolaDave]

Any word on when the Stow site will be online?

Will the Stow site be for MARCS or the Summit P25 System?

Not sure when the Stow site will be up and running. That is a good question for mszabo2000. The Stow site will be a p25 tower. The way I understand it, the entire summit system will eventually have the ability to connect with the MARCS system.