WISCOM (2010)

[N9NRA]

Noticed that WSP Post 4 radios started to affiliate with the Rib Mountain site again today. Maybe we will see WSP traffic on WISCOM again soon.

I hope they come back on WISCOM soon, listening o to WSP on WISCOM, to be honest, is more pleasing than their old FM system IMO . In this case digital has FM beat a country mile.

 

[WItrunk]

I have been listening to a lot of traffic over the past few days on STAC6, 7, and 8. I have also heard some traffic on some other channels regarding what sounds like some exercises at Volk Field and Fort McCoy.

It looks like this is Miles Paratus?

Interesting to listen to

 

[JT-112]

Someone local to Oak Creek might want to pop over to city hall to look at the study done by Mission Critical Partners to learn what they found about WISCOM - here's relevant part of the Common Council report:

"The network migration study has now been finalized, and it shows that, not only will the costs be financially prohibitive, but numerous issues within the WISCOM organization have been uncovered. The pamphlet and lengthy study is on file with the Clerk's office and available for viewing."

I did search their website, and I didn't find the report, so someone would have to show up to see it, it would seem. Of note, LR Kimball did bid, but did not win this study. They (Oak Creek) made the decision to go with the Milwaukee/Waukesha system immediately after they got the report, so clearly it wasn't favorable to WISCOM.

Starting to wonder if the issues with WISCOM aren't limited to the technical issues surrounding the system (second-tier vendor, VHF issues and more) but also with people issues (not politics).

WISCOM started off with controversy and conflict with county and local people, generally over grant money. Add the whiff of corruption (Google "Carl Guse" WISCOM) and you're not really starting off on the right foot. Toss in system issues and we're headed down the wrong path entirely. Add in the long-standing local/state distrust and we wind up where we are. Perhaps it was inevitable.

Waiting to see what the sustainability report says.

 

[sfd119]

You want my opinion from a "backwoods" department? A few things need to happen.

1. Allow radio techs to get "certified" to add radios to WISCOM. The biggest problem is a lot of agencies have their own radio tech and when you apply for WISCOM syskeys, you have to "prove" you can program. When asking how you can "prove" it, they do not have an answer. Supposedly the state is working on some course.

Most agencies have an in house radio guy, and while I'm not advocating just any Tom, Dick, or Harry doing it, there should be a process.

I have about 50 radios additional I could get added to the system from multiple departments I currently maintain, but they won't answer my question on how I can prove that I know what I'm doing.

2. The STAC/RTACs are great, but give each agency an incentive to join WISCOM. Give them their own TG for free. Let them see how the system works.

When I asked how much one TG would be for an agency, I could not be given a definitive answer. The reply was "you should use an RTAC". After a straight line wind event, it's not uncommon to see 10-20 different FDs out. FG Blue & other statewide channels were so overloaded after the last storm, why would the RTACs be any different?

3. Instead of promoting "You can talk from Superior to Madison" to departments, show them the coverage area for their response territory. I know our agency would benefit with INCREASED coverage over our conventional system(s).

4. Finally, actions are louder than words. When I hear from State Agencies (DNR, WSP, etc) that they are holding off, or it's not working for them, etc...why would I want to migrate to the system? Add more tower sites and make the thing have great portable and mobile coverage anywhere.

MN Armer is working well with the majority of state and local agencies are on it already...but they are ten years ahead of the WISCOM system. Talk to them, see how they did it.

 

[jpjohn]

Eau Claire WSP Post is doing testing with a trooper....or at least his car and call sign....this afternoon. This is on TG151 which is the native WISCOM not the rebroadcast of 154.680. This will be the first activity on TG151 for some time.

Perhaps we are getting closer to a move by WSP to WISCOM?

 

[sfd119]

I heard some testing on that TG last week as well.

 

[fmulder13]

I also heard a blip on TG 151 Monday afternoon. Couldn't make out the content, nor did I think to jot down the UID.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

(snip)
WISCOM started off with controversy and conflict with county and local people, generally over grant money. Add the whiff of corruption (Google "Carl Guse" WISCOM) and you're not really starting off on the right foot. Toss in system issues and we're headed down the wrong path entirely. Add in the long-standing local/state distrust and we wind up where we are. Perhaps it was inevitable.

Waiting to see what the sustainability report says.

Carl Guse has already divested that business. He was doing nothing that could be considered unethical, he bid on VHF spectrum that the State and Local agencies had no interest in bidding for.

I remember years ago working for Motorola when one could get a 5 channel 800 MHz SMR license for the cost of postage. Being a good lad, I obeyed Motorola's directive that employees should NOT get these licenses. However as it turns out, one could have their family members apply or even have some corporate structure in place. Yes, those at Motorola with more ambition got the licenses anyway.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

You want my opinion from a "backwoods" department? A few things need to happen.

1. Allow radio techs to get "certified" to add radios to WISCOM. The biggest problem is a lot of agencies have their own radio tech and when you apply for WISCOM syskeys, you have to "prove" you can program. When asking how you can "prove" it, they do not have an answer. Supposedly the state is working on some course.

Most agencies have an in house radio guy, and while I'm not advocating just any Tom, Dick, or Harry doing it, there should be a process.

I have about 50 radios additional I could get added to the system from multiple departments I currently maintain, but they won't answer my question on how I can prove that I know what I'm doing.

(snip)

I would guess that having an approved programming template would be the place to start.

You have to give WISCOM credit for building this themselves with second tier vendor and encouraging multiple subscriber vendor participation. This has taken a lot more work and planning than simply handing Motorola a check.

I too would like to see the MCP study. My belief is that all of these statewide projects are financially unsustainable. How can they be sustainable when you have monopolistic vendors like Motorola making the technology obsolete with the same time-frame as the project construction.

 

[sfd119]

I would guess that having an approved programming template would be the place to start.

I do along with every other requirement that the want. I do not think you've read my post on the point of "How can one PROVE they can program trunked equipment".

 

[mkescan]

Anyone else think it's about time to let us post in more then one thread, instead of this big super long thread? At least something like a Northern WI & Southern WI. I am guessing 90% of us don't really care about areas we would never be able to monitor, and maybe just 1 or 2 Admin guys decided they want one Thread.

 

[sfd119]

Anyone else think it's about time to let us post in more then one thread, instead of this big super long thread? At least something like a Northern WI & Southern WI. I am guessing 90% of us don't really care about areas we would never be able to monitor, and maybe just 1 or 2 Admin guys decided they want one Thread.

I thought about this once and maybe doing it by WEM Regions....but at the end of the day, the Wisconsin sub doesn't really have much traffic anyway. You'd end up reading the other threads anyway.

 

[mkescan]

I think using the Regional Map would be a good idea http://interop.wi.gov/docview.asp?docid=27122&locid=166

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I do along with every other requirement that the want. I do not think you've read my post on the point of "How can one PROVE they can program trunked equipment".

I don't know if this is the latest since the link seems to be only available via a search of the WISCOM site. Seems they might request proof of attending manufacturer P25 programming training. This is a 2011 document.

http://search.wi.gov/cs.html?url=ht...programming+security+agreement&col=&n=1&la=en

 

[sfd119]

They're testing TG 151 Northwest Post Eau Claire Dispatch. They are testing multiple radios and doing tests with the X10DR wireless mic as well.

 

[nikegolf384]

I've been hearing sporadic transmission from Fondy Post on Northeast TG 131 over past 24 hours. Some dispatch traffic and others seemed like testing.

 

[ffmedjoe]

I just received an email from WSP. At 0900 on 7/26 all state patrol posts will migrate from analog to the wiscom system statewide. There will be no simulcast on analog channels. WISPERN (v-law 31) point to point and other operability channels will be monitored.

 

[scanner_geek]

2016 Vacation

So when I am driving through Wisconsin on 90 and 94 headed to Minnesota do I monitor WISCOM or the or the old VHF 154 MHz ? And what Districts is that I go through from Illinois 90 to Minnesota on 94 ?

Is there any "action packed" channels or talk groups in that area (cities) to listen to ?

Thank You

 

[ffmedjoe]

So when I am driving through Wisconsin on 90 and 94 headed to Minnesota do I monitor WISCOM or the or the old VHF 154 MHz ? And what Districts is that I go through from Illinois 90 to Minnesota on 94 ?

Is there any "action packed" channels or talk groups in that area (cities) to listen to ?

Thank You

You will go through district 2,1,5 and 6. As far as action packed, unless there is a chase or something like that you won't hear too much. You will hear traffic stops and stuff like that but a lot of times, at least in district 1 they will hop onto a local channel when something is happening that isn't on the interstate.

 

[SB-Wi]

If you're coming from Illinois on I-39/90, you won't go through district 2. A map of the regions is at http://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/about-wisdot/who-we-are/dsp/dsp-regions-map.pdf The list of radio ID's is at Wisconsin State Patrol (WI) Radio IDs - The RadioReference Wiki so you know who is talking.

District/Post
1 DeForest
2 Waukesha
3 Fon Du Lac
4 Wausau
5 Tomah
6 Eau Claire
7 Spooner