Vigo County LEOs including THPD and THFD get new radios???

[usswood]

For the past few months, I'm seeing pretty much all new radio ID's for ALL Vigo LEO's including State Police.... did anyone hear of a radio upgrade for the locals... I know THPD was running XTS2500's....looks like they might have upgraded to something new!

 

[INDaviation]

ISUPD has a couple APXs but the CSOs are all carrying XTS5000s

 

[usswood]

Nice, looks like it was an APX Christmas for everyone!!! weird also cause all the Vigo dispatch consoles all have new ID's to

 

[usswood]

Sounds like new dispatch consoles...makes since...guess who's probably ready for PHASE II !!!!!

 

[west-pac]

Agencies get new radios all the time. The Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant's were awarded a few months ago, I believe, so don't be surprised when you start seeing new FD's on 800, or new RIDs. I've seen some users go through 2 or 3 RIDs in the past 2-3 years. RIDs can change when new vehicles are issued, old vehicles are decommissioned, vehicles get in crashes, people change positions within a dept, etc... it's not uncommon to see new/undocumented RIDs weekly.

However, if everyone has new RIDs, including dispatch, then you're talking about hundreds of radios, which would be newsworthy, so check the local Gov't news briefs for grants or radio system upgrades articles.

Everyone getting new radios on the same day doesn't happen either, it takes time to flash or install radios in every vehicle and in dispatch, plus there will be on-air testing, so if everything changed all at one time, then it's likely a SNAFU on your end somehow.

 

[west-pac]

The more I think about this the more I think it's an error on the receiving end. State police radio RIDs have nothing to do with Vigo county or THPD RIDs, they wouldn't be similar or replaced at the same time. I would check your software and system settings.

 

[usswood]

@west-pac i dont monitior unitunker everyday or have a dedicated machine setup for it to run continously like some do... I do, however, monitor here and their, and there is no way with others (like DNR) showing same radios ids, its a problem on my end...I have monitored enough to know a dispatch ID as 8400001 vs now 8410001 has changed but thanks for your info sir! Been doing this for YEARS now!

As mentioned above the othe poster reported ISU is carrying APXs now...THAT IS SOMETHING NEW AROUND HERE!

 

[west-pac]

...I have monitored enough to know a dispatch ID as 8400001 vs now 8410001 has changed but thanks for your info sir! Been doing this for YEARS now!

RIDs on SAFE-T follows the same format. They start at (county number) (10) (000) for radios that connect to the system via RF. Wired dispatch consoles RID format is (county number) (10) (single digit)

Vigo county uses, and has used, the (84) (10) (xxx) format for years, including a Vigo Co Disp RID of 8410008 that I first received on 08/16/2020. I have roughly 70 Vigo Co RIDs logged, and all of them are (84)(10)(xxx) or (84)(11)(xxx).

 

[INDY72]

ALL XTS's are going away ASAP. Everyone using SAFE-T MUST upgrade to APX or equivalent. This is old news, but its being enforced now.

 

[INDaviation]

Not sure why Terre Haute is holding out then. I've only seen two APXs and they belonged to ISUPD. THPD is still carrying the XTS2500, as is ISUPD. CSOs have the 5000s with no keypads. Last time I checked THFD was carrying XTS2500s as well. My guess is that they just don't have the funds at the moment for new radios. TH Transit, Street Dept, Parks, and Code Enforcement are all on the old EDACS system still.

 

[west-pac]

Not sure why Terre Haute is holding out then. I've only seen two APXs and they belonged to ISUPD. THPD is still carrying the XTS2500, as is ISUPD. CSOs have the 5000s with no keypads. Last time I checked THFD was carrying XTS2500s as well. My guess is that they just don't have the funds at the moment for new radios. TH Transit, Street Dept, Parks, and Code Enforcement are all on the old EDACS system still.

The majority of depts use grant money for radios; and before IPSC switches to P25P2 there will, and has already been several grant opportunities that many depts have taken advantage of. Just Google "(county name) radio system" or "(county name) radio grant" and you'll find a few articles for nearly every county you search for.

 

[NESN]

Is there any loose timeline for a switchover to P2 for IPSC/Safe-T for Central Indiana? I just got my Pro197 & 106 dialed in but want to plan for the future switchover and new gear.

 

[INDaviation]

Not for a good while yet

 

[INDY72]

Originally the plans were to be testing TDMA on sites by this year. That got put on hold and the priorities were shifted to getting FirstNet rushed out and integrated into SAFE-T alongside upgrading to the newest ASTRO-25 Firmware. That was all done, and now the push is on to hurry up and get all the discontinued, no longer supported radios and gear OFF of the system ASAP. Once there is significant progress along these lines, then testing and upgrade systemwide can occur. The system will go DDM for a while once this happens. Full transition to all TDMA will be a while. But you can expect initial use of TDMA voice, not just a few data packets within 2 years. (Assuming AT&T or some other vital linking part doesn't find a way to screw things up.)

 

[usswood]

They are new ID numbers for Vigo LEOs only because the EMA director purchased way more radios( Mobiles and HTs) then the county would ever need! All these radios were programmed when purchased, so when a radio dies (cant be repaired because they are discontinued) they just swap out the mobile or junk the portable! Thanks EMA for all the wasted junk you bought! I hope they don't let the EMA buy the new radios LOL... XTS2500 and XTL2500 room full!

 

[west-pac]

They are new ID numbers for Vigo LEOs only because the EMA director purchased way more radios( Mobiles and HTs) then the county would ever need! All these radios were programmed when purchased, so when a radio dies (cant be repaired because they are discontinued) they just swap out the mobile or junk the portable! Thanks EMA for all the wasted junk you bought! I hope they don't let the EMA buy the new radios LOL... XTS2500 and XTL2500 room full!

Nearly every county can get additional radios every year with annual grant monies. There are at least 2 EMA grants every year, one for half their salaries, and another for equipment; and the Assistance To Firefighters grant every year. Just search your counties name + IDHS grant, or + radio grant.

 

[usswood]

Nearly every county can get additional radios every year with annual grant monies. There are at least 2 EMA grants every year, one for half their salaries, and another for equipment; and the Assistance To Firefighters grant every year. Just search your counties name + IDHS grant, or + radio grant.

bottom line is we are stuck with a lot of junk and with TDMA around the corner, no one is talking about buying new equipment... We did get new dispatch consoles because of the age of the old ones!

 

[usswood]

Today, Board of Public Works approved a 1.3 million dollar radio replacement for the THFD for new radios!!!! LOL Not sure what they are going to yet, but I'm sure they will be TDMA and according to a battalion chief they will have cell switching tech also, for better coverage in some areas!

What are the models that do cell switching also? APX models?

 

[INDY72]

Today, Board of Public Works approved a 1.3 million dollar radio replacement for the THFD for new radios!!!! LOL Not sure what they are going to yet, but I'm sure they will be TDMA and according to a battalion chief they will have cell switching tech also, for better coverage in some areas!

What are the models that do cell switching also? APX models?

As in automatic roaming to best sites? APX, the new Harris'es, I think pretty much all of them have this now. Or do you mean the ability to go to IP and use LTE if the LMR signal is too degraded automatically? If that's the case now your talking APX NEXT type gear.

 

[usswood]

Or do you mean the ability to go to IP and use LTE if the LMR signal is too degraded automatically? If that's the case now your talking APX NEXT type gear.

News story was rather bland, but yes I believe what you described is what they want! Also radios that can get wet and still preform!