Weirton PD - now DMR as of August 2023

[mtindor]

Figured I'd open a separate thread for it.

Weirton PD is still on 154.800 (and maybe their other secondary frequencies too) but have switched to DMR

154.800 Color Code 1, Talkgroup 1, Slot 1

Sounds horrible on DSDPlus. But an SDS100 user reports that is sounds great on their scanner. Weirton PD has other associated frequencies, or have historically, but it is unknown if they are still used / if they will use DMR. They were only periodically used for Tac in the past. Now that they are on DMR with two timeslots available, there is probably no need for them to use any secondary frequencies any longer.

Looks like Kenwood repeaters are being used. My guess is that they are also using Kenwood radios.

And Kenwood does make radios capable of multiple modes (such as Analog / DMR / P25), So theoretically, whatever radios Weirton PD has may have P25 Phase I / Phase III trunking capabilities and may be able to connect directly to SIRN for interop.

M

 

[Bethanylt241]

I can confirm they have Kenwood Radios. NX5200's and 5700's im pretty sure, However being on VHF those Kenwoods they have are not dual band so they wouldnt be able to do VHF/UHF on one unit.

 

[firemantom26]

Well that means that they will not have communications with any Hancock unit if the switch to SIRN in the future.

 

[Bethanylt241]

Now Kenwood allows you to add a "brick" or Transceiver on your mobile set up to have a dual band set up if its a remote mount, but its practically buying another radio. Weirton Fire was given some SIRN Mobiles and Portables to be able to communicate with Brooke County for mutual aid. They could've taken advantage of them and got there Hancock stuff and started using them

 

[djkmeissner]

My understanding is the sheriff office is going to DMR as well. They did a complete bid package for it back in 2022. They sheriff office has NX-5700/5800 radios from Kenwood based on bids from 2020 when they did a radio upgrade.

The executive summary was: "The Hancock County is seeking to purchase a modern and state-of-the-art wide area voice/data network for use throughout the Hancock County utilizing DMR Simulcast Technology. We are looking for 6 site, 6 simulcast channels per site, along with a new antenna system with 7/8 in hardline at each tower"

It was suppose to be for all police and fire units in the county from reading the bid documents. not sure what has happened with the county sheriff and fire departments.

 

[firemantom26]

That did not happen because the grant that they were to receive had to be interop system. This means they would need to to switch to SIRN.

 

[djkmeissner]

I will have to go back and find the meeting minutes but the commissioners approved Lattamus to do the DMR upgrade. My understanding was the OEM does not want to go to SIRN and I talked to a dispatcher who said they are upgrading. They had questions originally and tabled it but then approved it at a later meeting.

 

[firemantom26]

Than I guess all the free money goes to waste. That's not very smart. So who is paying for this. The good old tax payers of Hancock County?

 

[djkmeissner]

they got money from the governor's office. not sure it had any stipulations but I am sure my tax dollars are paying for it.

 

[firemantom26]

they got money from the governor's office. not sure it had any stipulations but I am sure my tax dollars are paying for it.

@Bethanylt241 has the the insight on the how they grant money was to be used.

 

[Bethanylt241]

To my knowledge putting the pieces together I was told. They did bid out and approve a countywide DMR system, with funding from the State of WV. However the rules of that funding/grant stated it had to be used for a Interoperable system. A letter was sent to Hancock County Commission from the State SIRN Committee stating these facts. I did see that last month or month before in the minutes Hancock County is exploring SIRN Options again. At this point I have no idea what there game plan is. Maybe they found different funding or maybe there back tracking. I would be very interested in knowing whats going on.

 

[djkmeissner]

My understanding was they are still going the DMR route from talking to a dispatcher. Not sure where the SIRN thing came from in the last minutes. My understanding from multiple people was the OEM does not want to go to SIRN.

 

[firemantom26]

1. So what do they plan to do with all the SIRN radios that got a few years back?

2. So why doesn't the OEM like SIRN?

 

[Bethanylt241]

Not sure what radios you’re referring to, Brooke County supposedly gave a few to Weirton Fire so they could communicate with Brooke when coming in for mutual aid. I mean even if they do go DMR they should purchase radios that will do both SIRN and their proprietary system. It may even justify them using government funds. Atleast they would be somewhat interop if they have a dual band radio.

 

[djkmeissner]

1. So what do they plan to do with all the SIRN radios that got a few years back?

2. So why doesn't the OEM like SIRN?

1. I don't think they have any SIRN radios.

2. he was not happy with the speed things were going in putting towers in Weirton and East Liverpool for the SIRN system and the communciation if I remember correctly (it has been years since they last even discussed SIRN at the commissioner meeting). That is when they decided to move on to upgrading the current radio system.

 

[firemantom26]

They were definitely issued radios a while back to be used on SIRN.

 

[firemantom26]

I also know for a fact when they put out the the specs for the bid, it was for Kenwood system .That left out many vendors that could actually bid on it. The local vendor was awarded the bid, but apparently nobody read it and it had to be a interop system to receive the funding.

 

[djkmeissner]

I found something interesting in the Weirton Council meeting minutes from September. The chief thinks the radios are encrypted from his statement to council.

The chief told council: "Due to the department's use of new digital radios, information is now encrypted and can no longer be heard over normal scanners." Unless he is thinking analog scanners and not digital scanners. I know I can still pick them up with their change to DMR even though it is horrible sounding most of the time and hard to understand.