York County - HARRIS RF COM - p25 System

[ocguard]

Special attention to Tommahawk and those interested in laws related to electronic eavesdropping, this will be the last I post regarding this information...

Federal law prohibits anyone from intercepting messages sent to display pagers (numeric and alphanumeric)...

Taken from the United States Department of Justice website...

United States Code Annotated, Title 18, Part I, Chapter 119, Sub-Section 2511

Part I, Sub-Part A...
" Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter any person who--
intentionally intercepts, endeavors to intercept, or procures any other person to intercept or endeavor to intercept, any wire, oral, or electronic communication-- shall be punished as provided in subsection (4) or shall be subject to suit as provided in subsection (5)."

Reading further into the code will reveal that it is also unlawful to manufacture, possess, or distribute equipment designed to facilitate such interception

I think this should put any further debate regarding this subject to rest.

 

[ocguard]

Today is the first time in a few weeks that I've been home and had time to sit still for a bit and listen in on the new TRS. M/A-Com is doing extensive testing (doesn't sound like grid testing though) and I haven't heard a poor quality transmission yet.

I listen in on the old EMA-1 channel (453.600) but still haven't heard anything that sounds like POCSAG yet... I was under the impression that paging would be done and fully operational some time in April.

But otherwise, things seem to be progressing very well!

 

[policefreak]

Listened in from Cocalico area last weekend. Put in the central system and received a decent signal control channel. Oddly enough on my 396 each time it picks up the control channel it says "DAT". I guess that is supposed to happen? I'm not too familiar with P-25 systems. But do I also need to put in a band plan for the system to work in my scanner?

 

[Tommahawk]

OCGUARD;

I'm reporting you to the FCC!! Shame on you for trying to listen up to those messages!! This is highly illegal according to your own conclusion. Heck I'm not going to stop there I am also going to notify NASA and the UAE Military!!!!

 

[ocguard]

Listened in from Cocalico area last weekend. Put in the central system and received a decent signal control channel. Oddly enough on my 396 each time it picks up the control channel it says "DAT". I guess that is supposed to happen? I'm not too familiar with P-25 systems. But do I also need to put in a band plan for the system to work in my scanner?

The 396 and 996 displaty DAT when decoding a 9600 baud data signal. This is normal when monitoring a P25 system. And you shouldn't need a band plan. Just plug in the system frequencies and you're good to go.

 

[policefreak]

Cool! look forward to hearing the new system. What are the control channels for the East system and the North system? Are they even up yet?

 

[ocguard]

Cool! look forward to hearing the new system. What are the control channels for the East system and the North system? Are they even up yet?

They've been rotating them during testing. I'm not sure if there will be one or two specific CCs for the systems. I just loaded them all for now.. There isn't an East system, per se. For the eastern border of York County, the North system will cover York Haven, Goldsboro, and New Cumberland areas. The Central system will cover Wrightsville and Long Level. The South system for New Bridgeville and Holtwood, and the Fulton system for the fringes near the Peach Bottom nuclear plant.

 

[dcr_inc]

Paging

OCGUARD.. Not sure where the April paging came from but it has been may / june here forever... And it still looks like we will be on track..

Yes, M/A Com has been hitting the system for the last 2 weeks.. there is a continuous "loop" audio track that is rotating thru the channels. (enough to drive ya nuts !!!) but it does give a good idea what is coming as to system coverage..

Still no user activity as acceptance testing has not been started.

 

[ocguard]

"...seven... eight... niiine... ten... uh-leven..."

The rumor was of an earlier-than-anticipated loading of paging due to major troubles with 33.90 paging, but I guess it was just that -- a rumor. Thanks for the update, Dave. Is 33.90 paging from Queen Street back on the air? It's been sounding alot better the past few days. (knock on wood!)

 

[ocguard]

The new paging channel (453.600) is now producing bursts of POCSAG paging. It's very powerful, and very clear from what I can hear. It usually accompanies a dispatch (on the legacy voice dispatch channels) but sometimes it seems random.

I'm not aware of any pagers on the new system having been distributed, but I hear it's coming soon.

And no, I haven't attempted, nor do I intend to try to decode the pages.

Still ongoing active testing of the TRS, and it sounds great from everything I've heard.

 

[scan-pa]

The new paging channel (453.600) is now producing bursts of POCSAG paging. It's very powerful, and very clear from what I can hear. It usually accompanies a dispatch (on the legacy voice dispatch channels) but sometimes it seems random.

I'm not aware of any pagers on the new system having been distributed, but I hear it's coming soon.

And no, I haven't attempted, nor do I intend to try to decode the pages.

Still ongoing active testing of the TRS, and it sounds great from everything I've heard.

Here is pretty much what is going out on the pager system.

Sonik Test Message ESC System M600 - Page 01996

-026494- PAGE - THE ESC TERMINAL IS NOW CONTROLLING THE SYSTEM

-026494- PAGE - THE ESC TERMINAL IS NOW CONTROLLING THE SYSTEM

Sonik Test Message ESC System M600 - Page 01997

same thing over and over, but the page number/count gows up by 1 each page.

 

[dcr_inc]

Peter,
You have decoded the pages correctly..

ALL 16 paging sites are ON LINE and producing test pages..

Signal reports are welcome... This puppy should be heard all over the county PLUS SOME !!!



TRS is still on schedule !!! Coverage testing is coming soon...(coverage so far has been supreme)..

 

[scan-pa]

signal is loud and clear here in Lebanon City area of Lebanon County.

it's quite funny, there using the same batch of capcodes for there test pager, that Lebanon uses.

 

[policefreak]

Oh Jeez!

So, as far as the paging thing goes, when the new system is online, there will be no voice paging?

 

[dcr_inc]

New paging is active as TEST only... You are correct, NO VOICE on 453.600.. 33.90 will be up for a while (Maybe till 1-09)..

 

[Dispatcher308]

Any new or updated information on this system?

Nathan

 

[ocguard]

IT WORKS! You should be hearing the WEST and CENTRAL systems L&C from MEMA. Paging too!

All-out system testing begins SOON. Acceptance late-summer, followed immediately by end-user loading. All public safety users loaded before year end. VERY EXCITING!

 

[gr8tff]

Thank you Radio Guys


I’d like to give credit to the radio guys at York County. I heard them doing a test with the new portables that is a timely test regarding a present day issue. We all have heard all of the problems with digital radios and how their audio quality is affected by loud background noises. It is a real hot issue now in the fire service. On Thursday, I heard the radio techs testing the audio quality of the portables. They were standing next to HazMat 91 A while it was on high idle. The radio audio quality sounded very good. The portable did well but when they talked into the speaker/lapel mic, it sounded perfect. I was really impressed with this audio quality and with the initiative to do this test on the radios that we will all have soon. Please keep this progressive mindset when testing all the features of the new system.

 

[ocguard]

Thank you Radio Guys


I’d like to give credit to the radio guys at York County. I heard them doing a test with the new portables that is a timely test regarding a present day issue. We all have heard all of the problems with digital radios and how their audio quality is affected by loud background noises. It is a real hot issue now in the fire service. On Thursday, I heard the radio techs testing the audio quality of the portables. They were standing next to HazMat 91 A while it was on high idle. The radio audio quality sounded very good. The portable did well but when they talked into the speaker/lapel mic, it sounded perfect. I was really impressed with this audio quality and with the initiative to do this test on the radios that we will all have soon. Please keep this progressive mindset when testing all the features of the new system.

Listen Saturday AM -- more background noise testing slated with power saws, PASS alarms, driving water, etc.

Keep in mind, this testing is being done by the County radio staff members, NOT M/A-Com. M/A-Com continues to do their coverage and contour testing, while the YCDES staff continues to do things to build confidence with the system.

As the system continues to be optimized, it continues ti impress even the M/A-Com technicians.

I have even head a report of a portable radio connecting to the system from the top side of the Baltimore Beltway!

We in York County continue to look forward to this huge improvement in public safety!

 

[dcr_inc]

Saturday

KEEP IN MIND>>>>> WHAT YOU MAY OR MAY NOT HEAR IS UNOFFICIAL ....

As a courtesy, we are recreating the tests the IAFC committee performed...

If I may say so, The audio was VERY VERY clear on the shoulder mic...

If you have ever been on scene with the Hazmat 91 A unit, you know it is LOUD.. So loud that the mobile command post has a 1000 ft teher cord for data sharing so we don't have to be drowned out by the noise !!..

For those without digital scanners to hear our "roamings" (NOT TESTS !!).. The systems are EXTREMELY impressive.. Coverage is going to knock your socks off !!!! Portable coverage from Delta to Dillsburg.. Spring Grove to East Manchester.. You name it.. We've probably been there and talked from it !!!

Paging is Excellent as well... Coverage is Excellent... Border to Border and all points we could get to in between !!!.. No more excuses for not responding due to paging issues.. Full crews from now on !!!!

Folks, OUR (mine and yours) tax money was well invested in this project.. Believe in it !!! You can count on it !!!!

There are a few folks who have varying opinions and some even claim to have facts.. Do your own research before drawing conclusions.. There is a ton of info about every piece of equipment in the new system.. If you have questions ASK.. WE HAVE NO SECRETS...

Look forward... Keep your chin up ... and look for a GREAT new horizon in YORK COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS..


P.S. Pager distro is just around the corner with portables just behind it....