Ventura County moving to 7/800 Phase I P25 trunking system by 2020

[Engine104]

Is the County FD plan still to stay with conventional VHF? LACoFD's plan of taking over several LASD UHF, and their own VHF tacs, frequencies seems to be working out well.

 

[kj6psg]

What I've heard is that VCFD is required by Cal-Fire to maintain conventional analog VHF capability, and that the department can't justify the cost of operating a working analog system while paying subscription costs to operate on the trunked system. Spectrum availability is also not as good in Ventura County as the T-Band region ends around South Mountain.

 

[abr02]

I noticed there hasn't been any new sites added to the new Ventura County system in quite awhile. Any one have any updates?

 

[LAflyer]

Db updated with a bunch of Talkgroups

 

[Engine104]

Any word on when they may switch over from VHF?

 

[LAflyer]

Per July 2024 memo, the Sheriff department mentioned system build-out and implementation of VCRRS "extends well into 2026".

I am not sure all the tower infrastructure is complete (can they really cover the county with the existing 4 transmission sites?). An early 2024 press release mentioned the simulcast system would have total of 19 towers across the county.

Additionally, per FCC the County was allocated 28 700Mhz frequencies. Per what we have in the Db now, only 21 are accounted for.

 

[Engine104]

"Per July 2024 memo, the Sheriff department mentioned system build-out and implementation of VCRRS "extends well into 2026".

Thanks! Good to know.

 

[officer_415]

Based on analysis of FCC license data:

Site 2 is a simulcast cell consisting of Red Mountain and Rincon Peak. This would provide coverage to the area between Ventura, Carpinteria, and Ojai.

Site 3 is a simulcast cell consisting of South Mountain, Laguna Peak, Hall Canyon, and NAS Point Mugu. This would provide coverage to the Ventura/Oxnard/Camarillo area.

Site 4 is a simulcast cell consisting of Castro Peak, Santa Susana, Torrey Mountain, South Mountain, Mt McCoy, Twilight Canyon, and Rasnow. This would provide coverage to the Simi Valley/Moorpark/Thousand Oaks area.

Site 5 is a standalone site at Sisar Peak.

There should also be another simulcast cell (Site 1?) consisting of Frazier Mountain, Lockwood Sheriff Substation, and Cerro Noroeste (however, Cerro Noroeste is only licensed for 3 of the 6 frequencies licensed at the other two locations).

 

[PacScan]

Based on analysis of FCC license data:

Site 2 is a simulcast cell consisting of Red Mountain and Rincon Peak. This would provide coverage to the area between Ventura, Carpinteria, and Ojai.

Site 3 is a simulcast cell consisting of South Mountain, Laguna Peak, Hall Canyon, and NAS Point Mugu. This would provide coverage to the Ventura/Oxnard/Camarillo area.

Site 4 is a simulcast cell consisting of Castro Peak, Santa Susana, Torrey Mountain, South Mountain, Mt McCoy, Twilight Canyon, and Rasnow. This would provide coverage to the Simi Valley/Moorpark/Thousand Oaks area.

Site 5 is a standalone site at Sisar Peak.

There should also be another simulcast cell (Site 1?) consisting of Frazier Mountain, Lockwood Sheriff Substation, and Cerro Noroeste (however, Cerro Noroeste is only licensed for 3 of the 6 frequencies licensed at the other two locations).

From the proposal of the project sounds like they are still working the Site 1 side of it out.



“Per the County’s request, placeholder 700 MHz remote simulcast site equipment has been included in this proposal for the Frazier Mtn site. Final determination of the feasibility of adding the Frazier Mtn site to Simulcast Cell 1 will be made during the implementation phase of the project and is subject to licensable frequencies and additional costs”.

For timeline on cutover not until between 11/26–1/27 but I expect that to be pushed as they continue to work on this.