WISCOM 800 (2025) Thread

[OpSec]

Probably time to start a new thread for the State's new P25 trunking system that will replace the original WISCOM (2010) system instead of piling on to the 90 page OG thread.

L3Harris Wins $153 Million Contract to Provide Wisconsin Statewide Interoperable Communications

Mods, pin this to the top please.

 

[DVINTHEHOUSEMAN]

Going to be interesting to see what happens with this new system. Mostly curious what'll happen with coverage up here.

 

[Paul-W]

The current Wiscom system allows different radios from different vendors to be used on the current system. Does anyone know if this will be the case with this new L3Harris system?

 

[k9wkj]

i should quick buy stock in Rohn as they are going to need a heck of a lot of towers up here

 

[R8000]

Let's wait until the system goes online before we start the 800 MHz VS VHF argument to see how it actually performs.

 

[lenk911]

Let's wait until the system goes online before we start the 800 MHz VS VHF argument to see how it actually performs.

Amen. what the VHF proponents don't consider is the the number of negatives with the VHF spectrum and operation.

1. 1. The VHF band is not organized like the higher bands to provide standard isolation between TX and RX. i.e.
   1. More filtering required to permit duplex operation at site. More filtering = more insertion loss.
   2. The co-channel could be a base station on your mobile frequency. On high prop days it competes with your subscribers.
2. No tower top amplifiers on VHF.
   1. This is up to a +10 db gain on the subscriber uplink on 700/800 MHZ
3. VHF is suffering from manmade noise
   1. I have measured 25 db interference in buildings from LED florescent style lights on VHF systems. No significant manmade noise (yet) on 700-800 MHZ.
4. With WISCOM the channel plan with the military channels (139 Base and 142/143 Mobiles) is reverse from that in Ontario.
   1. On high propagation days skip across Lake Superior may compete with subscribers in Wisconsin.
   2. State is at mercy of DOD for a authorization recall.
5. There are off-air BDAs available on 700/800 to fill in small areas requiring coverage not available on VHF
   1. A full million dollar site may not be required.
6. The 700/800 system can be engineered to be balanced.
   1. Right now the downlink range of Wiscom exceeds up link probably by 10-15 db.
   2. Portables can hear sites that they cannot log onto!

All in all, we may find out not as many 700-800 sites are required to maintain the same coverage. A better system will result in the end.

 

[belladog9651]

Keep in mind, P25 to LTE cross-over is also very possible..

 

[lenk911]

I don't want to give the wrong impression of my comparison of a VHF to a 700/800 MHZ trunk system. In radio system engineering there is an old axiom, "you have to play the hand that is dealt you!" In the case of WISCOM 1, the state had about 100 million of mostly federal monies. For instance it cost Minnesota about 350 million to build ARMER. Iowa, less than 1/2 the size of Wisconsin, is north of about 125 million.

Wisconsin had VHF channels although south of US-10 the pool is tight. But they found a willing and quality contractor to construct the system which for the most part has served the state well. But the equipment is at retirement. The question at hand is do you replace it in kind or replace it with an improved system. I think they made a good decision.

 

[OpSec]

In the case of WISCOM 1, the state had about 100 million of mostly federal monies.

Not even close. It was about $15 million in fed grant dollars and WSP kicked in about $2 million to buy the 5th channel for the original buildout...otherwise it was going to be 4 channels/site.

It was truly a "do more with less" scenario.

Here's to the future...

 

[ts442k9]

The current Wiscom system allows different radios from different vendors to be used on the current system. Does anyone know if this will be the case with this new L3Harris system?

Yes. Any P25 phase 2.

 

[mws72]

1. With WISCOM the channel plan with the military channels (139 Base and 142/143 Mobiles) is reverse from that in Ontario.
   1. On high propagation days skip across Lake Superior may compete with subscribers in Wisconsin.
   2. State is at mercy of DOD for a authorization recall.

When Starcom21 was being built in western Illinois i was monitoring the build out in eastern Iowa . I was hearing public works traffic which at the time SC21 didn't have. Turns out we were hearing sites from Michigan & Indiana plus Milwaukee.

 

[rusty_shackleford1]

The OEC website has added a WISCOM 800 page. Sounds like the initial build out will be in the SE region.

WISCOM 800 | Wisconsin Office of Emergency Communications

 

[19-685]

Hoping they have/will be addressing some of the findings in the 2023 report:
1. Coverage
2. Missed Transmissions and Dropped Calls
3. Capacity
4. Training
5. Base Station Repeater Hardware
6. NMS Issues and Alarms
7. Installation and Optimization Issues
8. FCC Issues
9. Intermod

https://oec.wi.gov/wp-content/uploads/docs/wiscom/WISCOM_Report_Final.pdf

Look at nearby state systems like Illinois STARCOM21, Minnesota ARMER, Indiana Hoosier SAFE-T, Ohio MARCS and Michigan MPSCS and how they were implemented and are true interoperability systems between federal, state, county and local agencies - WISCOM has a lot of catching up to do and a lot of "catching on" to become the system it could be.

 

[MikeyBeeUSA]

Anyone think the state will eventually come down and just "force" everyone into daily use of WISCOM when 800 goes live? Take Michigan for example, where, I'm pretty certain, public safety for the ENTIRE state (all counties) uses the Statewide P25 system...

Do we even want them to? Some days I think yes. Other days I think not. Think not, because how many of the 72 counties (if not already done so) will immediately jump onto encryption.

 

[Pat]

Wisconsin is a home rule state, so that will not happen.

 

[kodachrome]

First WISCOM 800 site?

 

[ts442k9]

First WISCOM 800 site?

Doubtfull. There are multiple 800 sites on the current wiscom system

 

[OpSec]

First WISCOM 800 site?

First licenses are being issued. Nothing is on the air yet.

 

[werinshades]

First WISCOM 800 site?

Doubtfull. There are multiple 800 sites on the current wiscom system

First licenses are being issued. Nothing is on the air yet.

Looks like it to me. L3 Harris represenative is the contact, anyone close to the sites location can program in the 4 FB2 frequencies and wait for activity. All 4 frequencies need to be programmed since Harris uses all frequencies as a rotating control channel.

 

[OpSec]

All 4 frequencies need to be programmed since Harris uses all frequencies as a rotating control channel.

Which is the same as the current EFJ system, so no major scanner programming changes in that regard.