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Post by Skip18810 on Nov 5, 2003 19:35:40 GMT -5
This is a quick update on the com bus. This weekend it is going to have some of the radios reprogrammed to fit our current set ups. Then it goes back to Troy to be inside.
There is a box with the laptop computer and meters etc in the EMA office. Its there for obvious security reasons. That means someone from EMA will have to bring it to the bus. (Iwonder who gets to do that?) Anyway the computer is internet capable and has mapping and hazmat programming.
The cell phone has to wait for LEPC approval in December. I'm looking at a Verizon push to talk set up.
There are night vision goggles and binoculars availble to out to the field if they are needed, and also a satalite phone.
Can we get the bus to more alarms? It would be easaier to recruit workers.
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Post by canton1 on Nov 6, 2003 6:49:25 GMT -5
Will any of the radios being replaced and since we pretty much know who is getting the other equipment what happens when you are out of town. What about the dispatch procedures, Policy for Phone usage, Satalite Phone training, BUS TRAINING, Who is going to go with the bus? and so on........ Your Boss asked me to do stuff with it and I have heard nothing else. Should I take that as my recoomendations are not good?
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911Mom
Full Member
Welcome to the real world!
Posts: 60
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Post by 911Mom on Nov 6, 2003 7:22:22 GMT -5
I can understand why the laptop and all that are being kept in the office but that can also cause some interesting problems. Will the operators have to wait for the laptop, etc. or can they just go to the incident and it will be brought to them? If the incident is on the west side of the county (where the 2 operators are residing and working), and it is during the week, will they have to go to the EMA office to get the equipment? I know that there are dispatchers who would like to become operators but have never been offered the chance, sometimes it seems certain trainings and opportunities have only been offered to a select few. Maybe if this practice stopped there would be more people available. Just my humble opinion.
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Post by GVEMS11 on Nov 6, 2003 11:24:30 GMT -5
Regarding the bus: 1. Is there a set of criteria to be met when requesting it, i.e. nature of incident, # of departments involved, etc?
2. It would seem that Nextel would be a more feasible option regarding cell phone if you desire the direct connect/push-to-talk capability, as the Valley fire & EMS chiefs, as well as the police, some DPW, etc, have Nextel through Project Impact, and Verizon is not compatible with Nextel. Unless a switch to Verizon is made by everyone else, the EMA phone would be push-to-talk-to-yourself.
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Post by canton1 on Nov 7, 2003 0:55:32 GMT -5
Well,
As far as verizon goes remember there is more than the "Valley" that uses the bus and the equipment on it. It is used for alot more than that and those junkers dont even work in TOwanda from what I am told, Hell nuttin works in The GREATER WESTERN HALF!!!!!!
Well, anyway I say that we should just yell to each other. We are going to be working on procedures I think. But, If you want it call it....I have not had time to get with Skip but we will get it all worked out.
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Post by GVEMS11 on Nov 7, 2003 8:23:15 GMT -5
I know, I know... If the central region was using Verizon P-2-T, my argument would be different. But since nothing works on the western or eastern sides, or even much outside Towanda/Wysox, why not get the same provider that is already in use by those than do have service, instead of getting something altogether new and, like I said, only being able to talk to yourself? It would be like trying to do IC with an 800mhz radio in BC, just to try something new... tx light is on, but no one is home on the other end! What ever happened to cans and string anyway??
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Post by BCDISP on Nov 7, 2003 12:55:07 GMT -5
Nextel is great but it doesn't work outside the valley. I have a Nextel phone through the 911 Center and it's junk unless your somewhere else in PA or someplace in NY. The trac phone that WAlmart sells has better service than Nextel does. Also we have been in contact with Nextel numerous times to put something on the towers down here and there are no plans yet. At least Verizon is building a tower in Troy again.
Just my 2 cents.
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Nov 7, 2003 22:27:12 GMT -5
It would be like trying to do IC with an 800mhz radio in BC, just to try something new... tx light is on, but no one is home on the other end! What ever happened to cans and string anyway?? I'm not real sure just how smooth the change to 800 Mhz for all state agencies is going to be. From what I've been told it is probably not going to be easy for us in the northern third of the state. I have a major concern for safety when it comes to running an incident on 800 Mhz before the bugs are worked out (if they ever get worked out). There are two areas in particular: coverage & radio compatibility. Unfortunately it is coming for the ENTIRE State and we will just have to deal with it (at least the state agencies). The system we use now works well however it is getting VERY OLD and there are repairs being done on the Districts equip almost weekly. In the last 15 years I have worked in the Tioga Forest District I have seen the communication between the District and each County (Tioga, PA & Bradford) improve dramatically. I just hope when we change to 800 Mhz it doesn't take that long to get it as good as it is now.
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atpd2
Full Member
Posts: 29
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Post by atpd2 on Nov 8, 2003 22:22:34 GMT -5
My suggestion, have Nextel & a Verizon phone. The Nextel service in the Valley is terrible. You can 2 way all over but not from Herrick Ave. to Greenslanding. We are working in a fringe area for Nextel up here and it does not work that great. Also, unless you use the Nextel phone all the time and have alot of 2 way numbers pre-programmed they are very difficult to use. When the big on hits, it is not the time to learn how to use the phone.
As far as Verizon, their phone coverage is better throughout the county as a whole. I don't think I'd get involved with their 2 way now. Keep It Simple S-----!!
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Post by Tech81 on Dec 9, 2003 17:24:57 GMT -5
In my opinion one satellite phone would suffice.
When it comes to Verison or Nextel, why get either one? The coverage area of either one in this county sucks in my opinion. While the direct connect option that Nextel has had and that Verison is now getting can and has worked for communications on small incidents in the Valley, if we are engaged in a large scale incident and have incident command set up, it seams to me that only specific people of importance on a scene would be communicating to this bus. Rather then having direct connect phones where everyone and their neighbor is going to be contacting the IC/Bus, why not invest in a small number of radios like those used by the FBI, where they would have their own frequency for this bus but have the capability to be scrambled so that anyone with a scanner can not make out what is being said.
It seams to me that there would be a way to adapt our current radio communications to fit the need of this bus, rather then working around cell phone companies who have not got good coverage in the county.
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Post by SIERRA 14 on Dec 9, 2003 22:10:02 GMT -5
I'm not sure if what I am about to say is completely correct. I know enough about radios to get me into trouble.
I don't believe that High band frequencies can be "scrambled" so scanners can't recieve. PL's can be programmed in two-way radios transmit and recieve but scanners will recieve all transmissions regardless whether or not PL's are in use. PL's add more frequency capabilities and eliminate recieving unwanted channels on two-way radios. The purpose of scanners is TO listen or recieve.
I do know that 800 MHz can be "scrambled" though. However I have high reservations of the coverage 800 MHz will have. I believe every EMA and/or 911 EOC in the state will be required to install at least one 800 MHz radio. Correct me if I am wrong 911 Guy. The problem then with 800 MHz (other than possibly limited coverage) would be that radios utilizing 800 MHz will have to be the same make or a program will have to be installed to make them compatible. It won't be like communicating with a Kenwood and a Motorola.
The only other opinion I have with regards to cell phones is that they can be a great asset when they work. However I cannot rely on them as part of my operations due to limited coverage for the entire Forest District. I plan on not having the use of cell phones and hope I have coverage when I get there.
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