Showing posts with label trunk radio systems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trunk radio systems. Show all posts

Friday, February 28, 2014

USCP Begins Operating on New Radio System



Blog Editor Note: Here is the latest radio info on this system courtesy of Alan Henney and the Capitol Hill Monitors.
 
US Capitol Police TRS
Project 25 Phase 1 (Encrypted), Sys ID: 582, WACN: BEE00

Frequencies: 169.5750 169.8375 170.1375 170.3750 170.5750 171.0000 171.4125 171.7875 172.3875 172.6875 172.9625 173.1625 173.4750 173.8125 MHz
Press release below courtesy of Alan Henney and the Scan-DC group.
 
The ability to communicate via radio is one of the most critical tools a law enforcement officer can have at their disposal.  We are pleased to announce that on February 26, 2014, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) fully migrated to a new radio system—an encrypted, 14-channel, digital trunked P25 radio system.  This critical life safety tool provides our officers with significant improvements that enhance our ability to perform our law enforcement mission. 

The new system offers greater interior and exterior coverage, more capacity, improved voice quality, greater interoperability, and greater network redundancy within the system.  This modernized and upgraded radio system is future-ready.  The new radios that the USCP are using on this system are the latest technology and are designed for continued state-of-the-art upgrades.

Chief Kim C. Dine says, “the safety of our sworn and civilian personnel is of the highest priority and we would like to thank the Members of Congress for providing this state-of-the-art critical life and safety tool for our agency.  This day marked a significant milestone for the USCP.”

Successful implementation of this new radio system involved partnerships with numerous entities and the USCP would like to thank our partners whose collaboration made this milestone possible.  The men and women of the Department are especially grateful for the support provided by the Congress, Congressional leadership, the leadership of the Appropriations and Oversight Committees, as well as their professional staffs, and the Capitol Police Board.  We are particularly thankful for their support in receiving funding, assistance, and supportive oversight of this critical life safety tool and the radio modernization program as a whole.

Additionally, the Department is grateful for our partnership with the Architect of the Capitol and Naval Air Systems Command in designing, implementing and executing this complex state-of-the-art digital and encrypted radio system.  Furthermore, we are grateful for the oversight and partnership of the Government Accountability Office during this transformational effort.  Their participation assisted the Department in both the technical and program management areas.

It is estimated that the shutdown of the old analog system will occur in approximately thirty days.  Over the next thirty days, we will employ several strategies to continue the smooth transition to a digital environment and ensure employee comfort and familiarity with their equipment while adapting to a digital radio system.  During the next thirty days, the USCP will continue to employ post-migration optimization measures meant to fine-tune the system while it is in use.

The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) is comprised of over 2,000 sworn and civilian employees. 
The USCP is the sole federal law enforcement agency in the Legislative Branch of government whose mission it is to protect the Congress, its legislative processes, Members, employees, visitors, and facilities from crime, disruption, or terrorism.  They protect and secure Congress so it can fulfill its constitutional responsibilities in a safe and open environment.






Saturday, June 16, 2012

Beginners Guide to Trunking Basics


If you are new to scanning or public safety trunking has just become active in your area. be sure to check out A Basic Guide to Trunking wriiten by Uniden's Paul Optiz. It is available in Adobe pdf format by clicking here.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Tennessee turns to Motorola for P25 system

Three districts of the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) will replace its existing legacy radio network with a multiband P25 system from Motorola Solutions in the first phase of a communications upgrade that will cost $39.2 million, according to an announcement this week according to the Urgent Communications website.

Under the terms of the contract, Motorola Solutions will build a P25 hybrid system, with 700/800 MHz spectrum being used in metropolitan areas and VHF frequencies being used in more rural areas, said Jay Malpass, strategic projects manager for Motorola Solutions. With this in mind, the state plans to purchase multiband APX portable and mobile radios for its personnel and vehicle fleet, he said.

Phase I of the project will address upgrades in the Chattanooga, Fall Branch and Knoxville districts and is expected to be completed next year, Malpass said. State officials hope to solicit funding next year for the buildout of P25 technology in the other five districts in the state, he said.

You can read the rest of the article by clicking here.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Tyco Electronics Sells Its Wireless Systems Business to Harris Corporation

Tyco Electronics Ltd. today (April 16) announced that the company has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Wireless Systems business to Harris Corporation for $675 million in cash, subject to final working capital adjustments. Wireless Systems is a leader in the development of large-scale critical communications systems based on Internet Protocol (IP) technology for customers in the public safety, utility, transit and public service industries. The business generated sales of $461 million in fiscal 2008.

According to Tyco Electronics Chief Executive Officer Tom Lynch, "The sale of the Wireless Systems business will increase our focus on our core connectivity business and substantially completes the streamlining of our portfolio that we began two years ago. Wireless Systems is an ideal fit for Harris, whose size, resources and experience in the communications industry should help position the business for accelerated growth."

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the summer of 2009. Tyco Electronics will report the results of the Wireless Systems business as a discontinued operation beginning with its fiscal third quarter, ending June 26, 2009.

And from Harris:

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems business (formerly known as M/A-COM), an established provider of mission-critical wireless communications systems for law enforcement, fire and rescue, and public service organizations.

Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems, a business segment of Tyco Electronics Ltd. (NYSE:TEL; BSX:TEL), was formed in 1999 and grew through the acquisition of ComNet Ericsson in 2001 to create Tyco Electronics Wireless Systems ("Wireless Systems"). Wireless Systems will be combined with the Harris RF Communications business segment, creating a dynamic new organization that will provide end-to-end wireless network solutions to the growing $9 billion global land mobile radio systems market.

"The combination of RF Communications and Wireless Systems creates a powerful supplier in the global land mobile radio systems market," said Howard L. Lance, chairman, president and CEO of Harris. "With an 80-year heritage in providing communications for the public safety market, Wireless Systems has established a large installed customer base, extensive domain knowledge, and well-developed sales channels, which serve the federal, state, and local public safety markets. Wireless Systems provides complete end-to-end infrastructure solutions, including IP-based voice and data networks, which support multiple platforms and provide interoperability among disparate systems. Harris RF Communications offers industry-leading radio technology, including the latest in software-defined multiband radios for interoperability and upgradeability, high-level encryption capable of supporting top secret communications, and digital waveform technology. In addition, Harris brings to the new partnership access to well-established business channels for the Department of Defense, U.S. federal agencies, and international customers."

Under the definitive agreement, Harris will purchase the Wireless Systems assets of Tyco Electronics for $675 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. The goodwill arising on completion of the acquisition will be an allowable tax expense with an estimated net present value of $60 million, resulting in an effective purchase price of $615 million. The transaction excludes the State of New York wireless network contract awarded to Wireless Systems in December 2004. Wireless Systems' revenue for the fiscal year ending September 26, 2008, was $463 million, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $86 million. The acquisition is expected to be slightly accretive to Harris earnings in fiscal 2010, excluding acquisition-related charges, and a significant contributor to earnings in fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012. Morgan Stanley acted as the financial advisor to Harris, while Jones Day provided legal advice.

Wireless Systems is headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts, with product development and manufacturing facilities in Lynchburg, Virginia, and has approximately 1,150 employees, including 500 engineers and scientists. Principal end-markets for the business include public safety and public service, federal government, transit and transportation, and utilities. End-to-end solutions include network systems and software solutions; mobile and portable radio equipment; broadband WiMAX products for high speed-data applications; and operations, service and maintenance. The business is a key player in the wireless communications standards process, successfully driving its products to open standards in both U.S. and international markets, including the next-generation digital APCO P25 standard.

Wireless Systems will operate as a business unit under the Harris RF Communications segment, headquartered in Rochester, New York. Chuck Dougherty will continue to serve as president of Wireless Systems and will report to Dana Mehnert, president of RF Communications.

"This acquisition greatly accelerates our entry into the land mobile radio systems market and creates a significant opportunity for growth in both North American and international markets," said Mehnert. "Complementary distribution channels will provide Harris with immediate access to state and local government markets for our new UnityT family of multiband radios and will expand the reach for Wireless Systems infrastructure and single-band radios to the Department of Defense, U.S. federal agencies, and international customers. We look forward to delivering a new level of capability and value and bringing industry-leading customer service and support to this market by leveraging the nationwide Harris IT Services workforce."

"Reliable, secure voice and data communications are essential to first responders and government agencies entrusted with ensuring the public's health and safety," said Dougherty. "We have successfully deployed over 500 systems worldwide. Integrating our products, systems, technologies and market channels with Harris will allow our combined businesses to bridge the interoperability gap and unite public safety responders at all levels of state, local and federal government."

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

NY Statewide Wireless Network on Ropes

NY Times Blog Article By Danny Hakim

Source: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/20/statewide-wireless-network-on-ropes/#more-3697

More bad news will come tomorrow (August 21, 2008), when Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli will release a highly critical audit detailing failures of M/A-Com, a division of Tyco International, in living up to the requirements of its contract to create the network, according to a person briefed on the audit.

An ambitious plan to create an emergency radio network that was intended to connect all emergency agencies and local police and fire departments in New York State appears to be in danger of falling apart. The $2 billion network has been plagued with problems
( http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/nyregion/18radio.html?scp=1&sq=%22statewide%20wireless%20network%22&st=cse) and has also been the victim of the latest round of budget cuts, which included a $40 million cut to the project.

A press release detailing budget cuts issued by the Paterson administration Wednesday said, somewhat ominously, that "any decision regarding the future of the Statewide Wireless Network project" would be "made at a later date." At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. David A. Paterson was asked if the project was dead, at which point Speaker Sheldon Silver whispered something that was inaudible in the governor´s ear. "The Speaker just said to me it´s not dead," the governor said, "but it´s in critical condition."

Editorial Comment: Surprise, surprise, another dismal failure of a M/A-COM system. If the Dems in Congres want to do something useful maybe they should hold hearings on all the wasted taxpayer money spent on failed M/A-COM trunk radio systems, like New York state and New Orleans (to name just two). Florida, you have a big target on your back and the clock is ticking.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

MCC San Diego Trunk Radio System Status


OK San Diego, it is your turn in the barrel. We have the same basic problem in San Diego as we have in Atwater (see message below).

As some of you readers may already know the Federal UHF LMR band 406.1-420 MHz will use a new bandplan effective 1 Jan 2008. One of the facilities that will be directly impacted by this change will be the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego, California.

Their trunk radio system (TRS) does NOT fit the new bandplan and given the short period between this post and the deadline, I figure they must have changed to a new set of frequencies by now. But I have seen nothing posted anywhere.

So attention in and around San Diego County. If you are within radio range of the MCC SD facility I need your help. Could you please program your scanner with the information below and see if the system is still active with the parameters I have outlined. If not do you see or know where that system has moved to.

Any help is sincerely appreciated and we can even make you anonymous if you are so inclined.

System: Motorola Type II ASTRO 3600 baud (APCO 16 Mixed mode)
Motorola System ID: 6426
Base Frequency: 408.000 MHz, Spacing: 12.5-kHz, Offset: 380
Base Frequency: 412.000 MHz, Spacing: 12.5-kHz, Offset: 540
Frequencies: 408.3000 411.0250 412.5750 414.1250

US Penitentiary Atwater CA Trunk Radio System Status


As some of you readers may already know the Federal UHF LMR band 406.1-420 MHz will use a new bandplan effective 1 Jan 2008. One of the facilities that will be directly impacted by this change will be the US Penitentiary in Atwater, California.

Their trunk radio system (TRS) does NOT fit the new bandplan and given the short period between this post and the deadline, I figure they must have changed to a new set of frequencies by now. But I have seen nothing posted anywhere.

So attention in and around Merced County. If you are within radio range of the Atwater Pen facility I need your help. Could you please program your scanner with the information below and see if the system is still active with the parameters I have outlined. If not do you see or know where that system has moved to.

Any help is sincerely appreciated and we can even make you anonymous if you are so inclined.

System: Motorola Type II Smartnet (APCO-25 P25)
Motorola System ID: 6a37
Base Frequency: 408.350 MHz, Spacing: 12.5-kHz, Offset: 380
Base Frequency: 412.475 MHz, Spacing: 12.5-kHz, Offset: 612

Frequencies: 408.3750 411.1750c 412.4750c 413.6750c 414.3000c

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Cherokee Casino Licensed for Trunk System

My good friend Matthew Sadler over CHA way dropped me a note late last week with the following:

"Was snooping around on the FCC website and noticed that apparently Harrah's (Cherokee NC) is getting a trunked system.

Licensed as WQFC354 for these fequencies: 461.4125 461.7375 461.9875 462.1625 463.2125 463.9625 464.8625.

License was issued June 16, 2006. Don't know if the system is operational or not at this point.

When we make our next trip to pull a handle I will drag the BCD396T to check it out.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Gov Freqs to Monitor During Prez Ford Funeral Events

The following goverment trunk systems and conventional frequencies should be monitored for support of the President Ford funeral events in the Washington, D.C. area. I have a detailed list of military trunk systems in the D.C. area posted on my MT Milcom Blog as of this date as well. As always reports, updates, additions and corrections would be most appreciated. Send your stuff to larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.

Government Trunk Radio Systems

Washington, DC – Federal SMR System
System: LTR Passport Analog

Site ??? JFK Center for Performing Arts
408.4500/417.4500 (LCN01)

Site ??? National Zoo
409.4250/418.4250 (LCN01)

Site 101 National Mall
407.0750/416.0750 (LCN01) 407.3750/416.3750 (LCN02) 408.5500/417.5500 (LCN03) 408.8750/417.8750 (LCN04) 410.3125/419.3125 (LCN05)

Site 103 Udvar-Hazy Center
406.5875/415.5875 (LCN01) 409.8500/418.8500 (LCN02) 410.9625/419.9625 (LCN03)

Site 106 Unknown
406.5875/415.5875 (LCN01) 409.8500/418.8500 (LCN02) 410.9625/419.9625 (LCN03)

Site 107 Unknown
406.5875/415.5875 (LCN01) 409.8500/418.8500 (LCN02) 410.9625/419.9625 (LCN03)

Washington, DC – Unknown Federal System
System Type: Motorola Type II (Mixed Mode)
406.1125 406.3625 406.5250 406.7750 406.9250 407.0875 407.2375 407.4125c 407.5625c 407.7125 407.8875 408.0875 408.2625 408.4250 408.5750 408.7375 408.9125 409.1125 409.2750 409.4750 409.6375 409.9125 410.2875c 410.5625 410.7625


Miscellaneous Government Conventional Systems

Note: Frequencies listed below were heard during the Capitol Hill Sniper Scare that I monitored via the DXTuners on May 26, 2006. That information was posted to this blog also.

U.S. Capitol Police Channels
169.2250 Repeater/Simplex [156.7-Hz PL tone]
165.5375 Repeater/Simplex [118.8-Hz PL tone]
170.1750 Repeater/Simplex [107.2-Hz PL tone]
162.2500 Repeater/Simplex [146.2-Hz PL tone]
162.6125 Repeater/Simplex [127.3-Hz PL tone]

U.S. Capitol Hill Voice Pagers
169.5750 House Republican Pager
170.3750 House Democrat Pager
171.1750 Senate Democrat Pager
171.9750 Senate Republican Pager
406.6750 Senate Republican Pager
406.8000 Senate Democrat Pager
416.1500 Architect Pager/Emergency Alerting System

Miscellaneous U.S. Capitol Radio Users
414.8750 Architect of the Capitol Repeater/Simplex
408.4000 Capitol Tour Guides Simplex
409.1000 Congressional Aides/Pages Repeater
418.0750 Parking Enforcement Simplex
410.2000 Government Printing Office Security Repeater
408.1250 Library of Congress Security Repeater/Simplex

U.S. Park Police (National Park Service)
166.7250 Secondary Channel Repeater/Simplex [127.3-Hz PL tone]
166.9250 Dispatch Channel Repeater/Simplex [127.3-Hz PL tone]
167.0750 Administrative Channel Repeater/Simplex [127.3-Hz PL tone]
166.8500 Tactical Channel Simplex [127.3-Hz PL tone]

National Park Service Operations – National Capital Area
168.4250 NPS-Parks East (Fort Washington) Repeater/Simplex [141.3-Hz PL tone]
172.4750 NPS-Parks Control/Rock Creek Park Repeater/Simplex [156.7-Hz PL tone]
172.7500 White House Maintenance Unit Repeater/Simplex [156.7-Hz PL tone]
171.6500 White House Visitor Control Operations Simplex [156.7-Hz PL tone]
411.6750 White House Liaison Repeater [162.2-Hz PL tone]

You can find additional detailed government frequency information in an excellent Adobe Acrobat PDF file put together by the Capitol Hill Monitor Group for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration on their website.

As always I am looking for any updates, additions, and corrections by those who are in the area and monitor the event. Please send your material to larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.