WISCOM (2010)

[n9upc]

To expand off of OpSec post some systems will use the site number to represent the different subsystems within a system.

As an example lets say Milwaukee and Madison will build out there own sub-systems. So while all sites not part of these sub-systems will be # 1, Madison might be # 2, and Milwaukee # 3. Thus, when the sites go on-line they can zone them out for more management and expansion.

MN did this with the ARMER System and it works well (to a degree) in most cases. As an example the metro area is all Zone # 1 but Ramsey and Hennepin Counties ONLY are Zone # 2. This is because the sub-system and users are so heavy in those counties that they need to have there own network in order to help with system loading.

 

[prowisscan]

Greenfield 800

As of this afternoon, 853.975 is being used for a control channel on the Greenfield 800 site. This is the first time I've noticed a change in control channels since the site came up.

 

[mkescan]

As of this afternoon, 853.975 is being used for a control channel on the Greenfield 800 site. This is the first time I've noticed a change in control channels since the site came up.

They are doing some updates on that site.

 

[box23]

North Memorial Air Care heard on TG 8021. I believe this is the WISCOM equivalent to their Flight talkgroup on ARMER, similar to how Life Link III is setup.

The talkgroup was referred to as "wis flight".

 

[N9NRA]

North Memorial Air Care heard on TG 8021. I believe this is the WISCOM equivalent to their Flight talkgroup on ARMER, similar to how Life Link III is setup.

The talkgroup was referred to as "wis flight".

Hey there Box23 . On what site did ya hear this TG? I`m going to be up in Douglas County soon for the holidays and might put that one in the `436HP. BTW, might hafta hunt ya up on 145.49/Solon Springs when i`m up there & catch up on life in the "great white north", at least it is now . N9NRA

 

[box23]

Hey there Box23 . On what site did ya hear this TG? I`m going to be up in Douglas County soon for the holidays and might put that one in the `436HP. BTW, might hafta hunt ya up on 145.49/Solon Springs when i`m up there & catch up on life in the "great white north", at least it is now . N9NRA

That was on Hayward. They were in the area for a transfer out from the hospital. It also looked like the were flying a new Augusta. Couldn't make out the model from afar, but it looked different than their A109's.

 

[sfd119]

North Air Care opened up a 24/7 Air Base at the Siren Airport. I'm guessing that TG will be heard a lot more now.

 

[pngoat]

I apologize if this has been asked before, but, does anyone know when or if the State Patrol, Deforest & Tomah posts, will be back on WISCOM again? It was my understanding that the system was to be down, until the end of October, for maintenance/updates. Have they run into problems or delays of some sort? Any information appreciated. Thank You.

 

[sfd119]

North Memorial Air Care heard on TG 8021. I believe this is the WISCOM equivalent to their Flight talkgroup on ARMER, similar to how Life Link III is setup.

The talkgroup was referred to as "wis flight".

It is WISFlight and it is North Memorial Air 6. Heard them testing this morning.

 

[N9NRA]

That was on Hayward. They were in the area for a transfer out from the hospital. It also looked like the were flying a new Augusta. Couldn't make out the model from afar, but it looked different than their A109's.

Hey groovy thanx ! Going to put that one in the scanner and see what i hear, might get fun. Anyway, see ya on the bands up north! Hapy thanksgiving ! N9NRA

 

[cpd38]

I apologize if this has been asked before, but, does anyone know when or if the State Patrol, Deforest & Tomah posts, will be back on WISCOM again? It was my understanding that the system was to be down, until the end of October, for maintenance/updates. Have they run into problems or delays of some sort? Any information appreciated. Thank You.

I was told that troopers filed a grievance due to spotty coverage and officer safety issues. I didn't hear if they had any guesses on a timeline.

 

[pngoat]

cpd38: Thank You for the info.

 

[sfd119]

I was told that troopers filed a grievance due to spotty coverage and officer safety issues. I didn't hear if they had any guesses on a timeline.

Why? Don't they use portable extenders when they're out of the car? Mobile coverage is there as its usually the same towers that their Analog stuff is on now.

 

[zeitgeist999]

Well, some genius decided to license the system for 40-45 watt mobiles instead of the the old 110 watt mobiles in the analog days. Digital+lower ERP=Coverage Holes. Can't get around basic radio facts. Either increase output, or build a crapload of new towers. SMH.

 

[n9upc]

Actually the coverage of the WISCOM System is designed based upon using a 50 watt VHF mobile radio with a quater wave antenna in the center of the roof. The coverage is also based upon a 95% coverage 95% of the time. In addition the antenna must be a wideband and cover 136-162 Mhz.

Many times the issues that I have seen have been caused by poor installs (refreshed instead of new installs), antenna location, and wrong antenna. Also add in the fact that some users are intimidated or not fully versed in how to use the radios adds to these issues.

As an example a squad that has the power wires with the old power connector cutoff and the new one butt spliced creates issues of constant power supply. Or worse yet if the power was set for ignition it can cause the radio to not deaffiliate before power down and thus issues.

If the antenna is not wideband it may not get down to the 130's for some control channels thus causing the radio to not hear the tower and roam correctly. Also mounting it on the trunk can cause shadowing if the tower is in front of the vehicle that it is trying to reach.

Now understand that I am NOT saying this is the reason some departments have gone live and then switched back. Those reason vary form department to department and are left up to them as to the reason why. I am speaking from experience with what I have found with some departments and once corrected the system works very very well.

The other thing that also needs to be remembered is that these radios need to be PM'd or checked on a service monitor on a regular basis. Just because analog might work well does not mean that the digital modulation is correct. Remember in C4FM we are dealing with the +/- of two different frequency tones for a total of four different frequency tones. If one or all of these are off the BER can increase and communications can be impacted on the control channels as well as the voice channels.

Just adding my two cents...as a daily user and technical work with subscribers on the system I have to say that the system performs like it was designed to do.

 

[OpSec]

Well, some genius decided to license the system for 40-45 watt mobiles instead of the the old 110 watt mobiles in the analog days. Digital+lower ERP=Coverage Holes. Can't get around basic radio facts. Either increase output, or build a crapload of new towers. SMH.

That's a lot of smack talk about basic radio facts, so let me lay some on you:

So far, I have been able to use a VHF 5w portable with a 1/4w external antenna everywhere on the WISCOM system I've been to this point...which is most of it. If you think that a mobile needs to be transmitting 100w or more on this system, you are mistaken. The system was designed for 50 VHF mobiles with zero gain antennas and it performs just fine.

A digital signal will provide more usable signal in a given area vs. analog, not the other way around as you claim. In real world use of various digital systems in VHF, UHF and 7/800 MHz, I (and many others here) see this demonstrated every day. There are places on WISCOM that a 5w portable walks and talks 100% where in the same place an analog 100w mobile is noisy on analog channels co-located at the same tower site.

Some users of the system have had negative experiences, true. However, upon detailed analysis finds that there are almost always contributing factors that are not the fault of the system. In the case of the State Patrol, they are in the process of replacing their vehicular repeaters with new technology that works favorably in a trunking world to help resolve the difficulties they have had in migrating onto the system. The system didn't cause this problem but it's easy to blame it first. Additionally, with exception to a handful of local users that have built out additional infrastructure, the system was built to provide mobile radio coverage. Somehow, a lot of people forget that and expect 100% coverage of the state with a portable laying on the front seat of their vehicle. You're right in that the fix for that is more sites, so I'm sure the state would happily accept donations or support from the local legislator for a new round of system funding.

Digital is a scary new place for some, but with proper planning and training it is a nice place to be for those that put in the work up front.

 

[WItrunk]

Digital is a scary new place for some, but with proper planning and training it is a nice place to be for those that put in the work up front.

This a is a fact that I find time and time again when working with Daily WISCOM users and occasional users. They think it doesn't work because they don't know how to use it.

 

[sfd119]

And besides, you're not theoretically operating off of one tower, most areas have multiple towers covering a large area, increasing your probability of a successful transmission.

 

[JT-112]

I mentioned a while back (around the time of the DaneCom interference issue) that the Milwaukee VHF site was operating with one channel besides the CC.

Now, it has no talk paths at all, no channels advertised, and no neighbors advertised either. Just a CC and that's it.

Also, Greenfield 800 was shown as being in site trunking mode.

State Patrol was patrolling Milwaukee county freeways (interesting, assume it has to do with the current situation there somehow), they were using their traditional VHF freqs and calling "Milwaukee."

In the SE part of the state, if it weren't for the scan channels, there wouldn't be much of any traffic at all...

 

[jpjohn]

Eau Claire Post - WSP VHF rebroadcast TG154 active again on WISCOM. Heard this evening. Also heard TG 144 (Wausau Post) this past Saturday.

WSP maybe shifting back soon?