what became of the proposed ASTRO system for TX dps?

[mr_hankey]

the current statewide conventional VHF radio system in use by Texas DPS was supposed to be "upgraded" to ASTRO APCO-25 at some point...

recently, i heard the proposed statewide system had been shelved - possibly related to the same reasons that almost drove Austin to dump their Mot system...?

does anyone have any more information on the development of this ASTRO APCO-25 system?

i, for one, was looking forward to it after the recent ProVoice tidal wave hit Texas...

 

[mr_hankey]

actually, i started thinking about this...

seems like most of texas is already covered by large EDACS systems:

1) TXU in the North
2) LCRA in Central Region
3) AEP in South Texas

sure they're a bit dissimilar, but it beats erecting new sites just to cover the state for the DPS...would make sense to move to an EDACS system for the State of Texas.

...either that or the recent "budget shortfall" of 2003 made people come to their senses and realize that the current VHF system works just fine...?

 

[mam1081]

Digital DPS

I believe there are already some local DPS stations that have gone digital. While passing though Midland, either there is no DPS traffic (odd, since I-20 goes right through there), or they have gone digital. I belive they are going digital per area. I know they are still analog here in Lubbock, but I do not know when they are planning on switching. The local DPS Trooper cars recently (within the last year) had EDACS radios installed in them so they could talk to Lubbock. There are also several talk groups for DPS on the Lubbock EDACS system.

 

[mr_hankey]

yes, the DPS can be very "localized" in their radio comms when they operate near a metropolitan area...san antonio DPS units most likely have ProVoice hardware installed by now.

it seems the more remote areas use their VHF system exclusively, or on long stretches of remote highway (some South and most West Texas) where "intercity" frequencies can be used for county/dps communication.

radioreference.com lists a good set of Texas DPS freqs that are in use pretty much all over the state, so if you cycle through them in a scanner you are bound to hear something while on the road.

just wondering...where all the motivation to build the Mot system went...

 

[PJH]

It would be extremely cheaper to build out the conventional system than to install a statewide or fragmented EDACS system (or any other flavor). VHF in Texas terrian most likely the best thing for them. Lowband would be better, but I don't see an APCO25 lowband radio coming anytime soon!

It is not uncommon for state/federal agencies to have car's or radio's in captive service with donor radio's to operate on local systems. A savy communications manager would even add in a system switch to link the two systems together for seemless comms. I believe that in Durham NC there is a lowband/TRS patch in place so that NCHP can work with DPD cars.

 

[Stephen]

DPS is using VHF Analog Statewide, though many units that are assigned to a metro area or a large city cary mobiles and even hand helds for that city so yes some may be using digital to talk to cities but DPS dispatch to units and units to Dispatch are still Analog VHF they are bringing in narrow band frequencies and as soon as the money is where it needs to be I believe are looking into the likely hood of a VHF APCO-25 system or there was talk but money came into play on an 800mhz system which most likely will not happen.

 

[pacrat551]

Re: DPS

The last I heard was the first "test bed" P-25 VHF radio system was to cover the Southern Half of the I-35 Corridor from Williamson County down to the Laredo area. It was going to to be linked to each agency along the I-35 corridor (ie. LCRA sytem, Austin/Travis Co TRS, Williamson Co TRS...and so on) I haven't heard of any progress lately, but I will ask around. As this first systemis developed and tested, they would expand it region by region until the entire state was covered by a VHF statewide system, and eventually have an 800 statewide system. Each of these systems would have links to agencies and to each other. In theory, a DPS unit in Austin could contact a DPS unit in Midland via radio. This is all supposed to be the long range goal of the Texas Interoperability Plan

 

[PJH]

That would be a good smart way of doing things...except to build out the system then go over the TRS. That would be a big waste of $$$. Crosslinks/system switches to other systems are the way to go so that you would have a quasi-Smartzone system...without the TRS.

 

[mam1081]

Digital DPS in Abilene

I was in Abilene this past weekend, and noticed that the DPS base there is digital (on 155.4625). I do not have one of these new digital scanners, so was unable to tell if it is APCO or what. I believe Midland Base is the same way. There was no link back to analog on 155.46 either. Is the digital movement catching on with DPS already???

 

[redhelmet13]

Texas DPS digital

I took a drive this evening out to Ranger from Ft Worth and low and behold about 5 miles west of Thurber, on 155.4525 P25 traffic from the Abilene office come through on my Pro-96. Other traffice was heard on .4675 too as I got closer to Ranger. Its a bit different not to hear other stations beating against each other

Ed C.

 

[SCPD]

Digital DPS

Huh, Sick thought!

Governer Perry curses Smokers with a Buck raise on Tobbacco Taxes to pay for The tear down of the Robinhood bill, The Democrats who fled (twice) State Paid Trials are supposed to be up and comming, AG of Texas Declairs the Crime Victim Fund to shell out its last dollar in 2006. .20 cents of each gallon of gas in Texas goes to TXDOT who declares billions of dollars in Losses on Currant Construction projects and Demand the State make all exsisting Projects "Toll Roads" Texas Lottery Revenue seems to be Mis-appropriated and Un-accounted for. Hum, So Like where is the 1.5 billion dollars comming from to put DPS on the ASTRO Digital system?

Something's fishey in Texas Poltics Again!!!!

 

[mr_hankey]

>>So Like where is the 1.5 billion dollars comming from to put DPS on the ASTRO Digital system?


federal block grant.

heh.

 

[nrvate]

Re: Digital DPS in Abilene

I was in Abilene this past weekend, and noticed that the DPS base there is digital (on 155.4625). I do not have one of these new digital scanners, so was unable to tell if it is APCO or what. I believe Midland Base is the same way. There was no link back to analog on 155.46 either. Is the digital movement catching on with DPS already???

I noticed this when i was reviewing some frequency listings for the DPS, was curious what they were doing.

the only digital that was listed was there. stuck me as odd, but I guess thats the first area they are using it.

intersting stuff - I havnt scanned for years and suddenly everything goes digital.

seems.. expensive!

 

[hammer]

DPS has gone to apco-25 here in EL PASO as of 3-30-04.

 

[nd5y]

I found these 2 year old press releases today:

http://iwce-mrt.com/ar/radio_texas_taps_johnson/

and:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For investor relations information, contact:
Jim Stark, 202-833-7752, email: jstark@efji.com

For Transcrypt International information, contact:
Jenny Christiansen, 402- 479-8468, email: jchristiansen@transcrypt.com

For EFJohnson information, contact:
Kevin Nolan, 202-772-5441, email: knolan@efjohnson.com

EFJohnson Receives Contract Award from the State of Texas
Department of Public Safety Places $933,000 Radio Order
Lincoln, NE – June 19, 2002 -- EFJ, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: EFJI) announced that its EFJohnson Company subsidiary received a radio contract from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). EFJohnson will supply the State with its new 5100 series portable radios to be operated by the Traffic and Law Enforcement (TLE) division of the DPS. The portable radios will be used on the State’s VHF Project 25 digital communications system.

“This marks the second recent award for our new 5100 series portables,” said Michael E. Jalbert, EFJ chairman and chief executive officer. “With the successful implementation of these radios, we hope this is the beginning of a long-lasting relationship with the Texas DPS system.”

“The State conducted a thorough evaluation of the portable radios, and we were able to demonstrate the compatibility of our products on their Project 25 system,” added David L. Hattey, president and general manager of EFJohnson. “This adds to our success in offering the industry truly Project 25 compliant portable and mobile radio products.”

The EFJohnson Company (www.efjohnson.com), founded in 1923, provides wireless communications systems solutions for public safety, commercial, and government customers. The company designs, manufactures, and markets conventional and trunked radio systems, land mobile radio repeaters and mobile and portable radios, including Project 25 digital radio products. EFJohnson is a wholly owned subsidiary of EFJI, Inc.

EFJ, Inc. (www.efji.com) designs, manufactures and markets trunked and conventional radio systems, stationary land mobile radio transmitters and receivers, including mobile and portable radios, and manufactures information security products that prevent the unauthorized interception of sensitive voice and data communication.

Certain matters discussed in this press release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other matters, the Company’s continued development of Project 25 products and infrastructure equipment, customer demand for the Company’s products, including its digital interoperable and SMARTNET® / SmartZone® wireless communications solutions, and the Company’s future financial performance and position. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed, suggested or implied by the forward-looking statements due to a number of risk factors including, but not limited to, the level of demand for the Company’s products and services, dependence on continued funding of governmental agency programs, and other risks detailed in the Company’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2001.

 

[jastx]

Does anyone know when the Houston region is planning to go digital?

 

[mam1081]

APCO-25 TXDPS

Midland (DPS Dispatch "A") and Pecos (DPS Dispatch "B") are now confirmed APCO-25 digital. In both cities, they are set up similarly to the old system - base talks on one channel and mobiles talk in on another. I have also heard some repeaters that are not the normal DPS, i.e. 158.825 can be heard in Winkler Co (about 2-3 on my strength meter (dispatched out of Pecos) as a repeater (can hear both sides). It is DPS on these odd freqs (same dispatcher on Digital "B" and this repeater).

Anyone heard any other Digital DPS comms?