ok, so i've a few ideas rolling around my head about a concept that we are hashing out at work. first off let me mention i'm not too knowledgeable on current counsol design, and alot of my ideas have come from what i have been told about the system. when i say hardwire/tele wire, i'm told that our radio counsol is linked to our tower (several hundred yards away) by this type "WIRE". anyway, now my brain has gone to mush, and looking for a few fresh ideas.
this is all in ref to system that has yet to go on-line (Virginia's STARS), linking that to ems statewide ((155.205) wich is used by some helos to talk to the ground units), and more directly the possibility of linking all air med evacs and ground units together. the thought is to manage all helos from a central location, and monitor the entire mission, start to finish.
i have had a few thoughts:
first- have the the state police set up a patch on 155.205 mhz and a yet to be determined STARS sytem talkgroup. after giving all helos a STARS capable radio, and giving each vsp region the ability to patch onto ems statewide, this sounds like the best way, however, the entire state will not be on-line until something crazy like 2009!!!
second- and this is a solution i'm hoping will work. set-up towers around the state on the 155.205mhz (ems statewide) and link them by hardwire/tele-wire (i don't know the term) to a central location.
third- have the local dispatch be able to patch thier own dispatch/tac channel to ems state wide. This would be good too, but we would run into the same problem of not being able to monitor from a central location without setting up some sort of hardline.
if any of this doesn't make sense feel free to pm and i will get with you in another form of communication...
linking radio systems together
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topcop1833
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Sat May 07, 2005 1:36 pm
Re: linking radio systems together
Your kind of going in the right direction on connecting the console to the radio tower. Your kind of using the correct terms. Most people would use the term remote control using wireline. Most of the remote control today is done by tone control. The days of putting a DC voltage over the phone wires to key the remote transmitter are just about gone.
As for the state of Virginia upgrading the system, I believe that CTA is the consultant from Lynchburg that is working with the state in putting all this together. They have been very tight lipped about information on the new system. If you go onto the state web site there is a raft of info there. Only problem, when it comes to any details, that has been restricted. very little info on the details can be obtained.
The governor of Virginia has appointed a state person to be in charge of the radio interoperability. Mr. Chris Essid in the Public Safety Secritary office has his own tight group of people that are in the click. If you feel the need to ask question, he does have a phone number in Richmond.
From what I could find out, the state is planning to use the interoperability box made by JPS called the ACU-1000. This is a device that is widely used around the country by a number of agencies.
If you call JPS for information on the ACU-1000, you get informed to contact one of their reps for information. That is not how I would run a business in the field of working with public safety agencies.
There are a number of other companies that could provide an interoperability box at less cost and somewhat better features. however it seems the foundation has already been laid to use the ACU-1000. If I was involved, I would at least think that having the other vendors provide a demo of their equipment would have been a better move on the states part.
Anyway, back to the radio system. Bear in mind that the radio towers will have a limited range to be able to talk with ground units. This means that with only a 15 to maybe a 35 mile radius coverage, (depending on how high the antenna is) you will have to have the same common radio frequency in each of the towers for state wide service. The central dispatcher will have to selct which tower to use. at this point I am not sure if selctive tones (PL or CG) will be used or a large voting receiver system to select the strongest received signal. The users will have to wait and see just how that turns out.
The problem the state is having right now is trying to obtain enough radio channels to make a new state wide system play. There was a notice with the FCC recently to go after some non public safety channels with a special request. Haven't seen anything back on this subject yet.
Sit back and enjoy the dart throwing as time goes on. This new statewide radio system is going to prove to be interesting in just how it gets built. Keep asking your questions. Maybe the state will come up with some answers on of these years.
J
[quote="topcop1833"]ok, so i've a few ideas rolling around my head about a concept that we are hashing out at work. first off let me mention i'm not too knowledgeable on current counsol design, and alot of my ideas have come from what i have been told about the system. when i say hardwire/tele wire, i'm told that our radio counsol is linked to our tower (several hundred yards away) by this type "WIRE". anyway, now my brain has gone to mush, and looking for a few fresh ideas.
this is all in ref to system that has yet to go on-line (Virginia's STARS), linking that to ems statewide ((155.205) wich is used by some helos to talk to the ground units), and more directly the possibility of linking all air med evacs and ground units together. the thought is to manage all helos from a central location, and monitor the entire mission, start to finish.
i have had a few thoughts:
first- have the the state police set up a patch on 155.205 mhz and a yet to be determined STARS sytem talkgroup. after giving all helos a STARS capable radio, and giving each vsp region the ability to patch onto ems statewide, this sounds like the best way, however, the entire state will not be on-line until something crazy like 2009!!!
second- and this is a solution i'm hoping will work. set-up towers around the state on the 155.205mhz (ems statewide) and link them by hardwire/tele-wire (i don't know the term) to a central location.
third- have the local dispatch be able to patch thier own dispatch/tac channel to ems state wide. This would be good too, but we would run into the same problem of not being able to monitor from a central location without setting up some sort of hardline.
if any of this doesn't make sense feel free to pm and i will get with you in another form of communication...[/quote]
As for the state of Virginia upgrading the system, I believe that CTA is the consultant from Lynchburg that is working with the state in putting all this together. They have been very tight lipped about information on the new system. If you go onto the state web site there is a raft of info there. Only problem, when it comes to any details, that has been restricted. very little info on the details can be obtained.
The governor of Virginia has appointed a state person to be in charge of the radio interoperability. Mr. Chris Essid in the Public Safety Secritary office has his own tight group of people that are in the click. If you feel the need to ask question, he does have a phone number in Richmond.
From what I could find out, the state is planning to use the interoperability box made by JPS called the ACU-1000. This is a device that is widely used around the country by a number of agencies.
If you call JPS for information on the ACU-1000, you get informed to contact one of their reps for information. That is not how I would run a business in the field of working with public safety agencies.
There are a number of other companies that could provide an interoperability box at less cost and somewhat better features. however it seems the foundation has already been laid to use the ACU-1000. If I was involved, I would at least think that having the other vendors provide a demo of their equipment would have been a better move on the states part.
Anyway, back to the radio system. Bear in mind that the radio towers will have a limited range to be able to talk with ground units. This means that with only a 15 to maybe a 35 mile radius coverage, (depending on how high the antenna is) you will have to have the same common radio frequency in each of the towers for state wide service. The central dispatcher will have to selct which tower to use. at this point I am not sure if selctive tones (PL or CG) will be used or a large voting receiver system to select the strongest received signal. The users will have to wait and see just how that turns out.
The problem the state is having right now is trying to obtain enough radio channels to make a new state wide system play. There was a notice with the FCC recently to go after some non public safety channels with a special request. Haven't seen anything back on this subject yet.
Sit back and enjoy the dart throwing as time goes on. This new statewide radio system is going to prove to be interesting in just how it gets built. Keep asking your questions. Maybe the state will come up with some answers on of these years.
J
[quote="topcop1833"]ok, so i've a few ideas rolling around my head about a concept that we are hashing out at work. first off let me mention i'm not too knowledgeable on current counsol design, and alot of my ideas have come from what i have been told about the system. when i say hardwire/tele wire, i'm told that our radio counsol is linked to our tower (several hundred yards away) by this type "WIRE". anyway, now my brain has gone to mush, and looking for a few fresh ideas.
this is all in ref to system that has yet to go on-line (Virginia's STARS), linking that to ems statewide ((155.205) wich is used by some helos to talk to the ground units), and more directly the possibility of linking all air med evacs and ground units together. the thought is to manage all helos from a central location, and monitor the entire mission, start to finish.
i have had a few thoughts:
first- have the the state police set up a patch on 155.205 mhz and a yet to be determined STARS sytem talkgroup. after giving all helos a STARS capable radio, and giving each vsp region the ability to patch onto ems statewide, this sounds like the best way, however, the entire state will not be on-line until something crazy like 2009!!!
second- and this is a solution i'm hoping will work. set-up towers around the state on the 155.205mhz (ems statewide) and link them by hardwire/tele-wire (i don't know the term) to a central location.
third- have the local dispatch be able to patch thier own dispatch/tac channel to ems state wide. This would be good too, but we would run into the same problem of not being able to monitor from a central location without setting up some sort of hardline.
if any of this doesn't make sense feel free to pm and i will get with you in another form of communication...[/quote]