Wednesday, June 15, 2005
kinda sorta a FLASH update
OVER HEARD
It was heard today by the Booger Blah-ger that Westmoreland County 911's Radio System is getting a major system update.
Now what could that be ?
In my 90 years of experience and a degree in BS, my guess is software. You know software controls the 911 center.. didn't you ? 911 has reported twice in as many days that they are having problems. These problems include Dispatching Consoles "hanging" or "locking up". Police agencies are reporting that their radios are locking on transmit.
Well, either way I will report what I know when I know it. Stay tuned.
FIRE IN THE HILLS
There was a modular home (big figgin’ trailer) fire this afternoodle, the call came in around 14:29:24 today (2:30 PM roughly) with more fire equipment dispatched than you can shake a stick at !
Ligonier (43), Waterford (44), Chestnut Ridge (110), Wilpen (45), Latrobe Salvage (113), and Hazmat 807 all responding. It appears as if there was a dryer fire that caused an extensive amount of smoke damage but no fire was found.
All units not on scene were finally cancelled and the incident was under control at about 2:42 PM. These are all times from my PRO96COM log.
I’ll tell you, this program is awesome.
TRACKING
Let’s play dispatcher. Ok, let’s not but here is a screen shot from last night’s computer and we can run down a little of what was done (kinda like listening with our eyes !).
As we start New Ken Car 9-14 calls 911 and they answer. Manor Car 1-21 also calls 911 while New Ken 9-14 is talking. 911 answers Manor on a different dispatch console (two different conversations going).
While those transmissions are finishing, Irwin Car 1-12 is calling dispatch. An ambulance is now being dispatched and Latrobe Police Car 4-2 is calling 911. Toward the bottom of the photo you will also see Lower Burrell Detective D-4 calling the 911 Center.
As you can see 911 can handle quite a bit at one time. The dispatch consoles are broken down into zones, for example one console handles Police District 4 which would include Latrobe, Derry, St. Clair Twp., New Florence, Bolivar, and Seward. Car 4-40 is in there somewhere too. Another Console would handle District 1 Police. Then there is a Console for FIRE, one for AMBULANCE, etc… 200 thousand Consoles ! Seriously, last time I saw they had 6 Dispatch Consoles. I would imagine they still have 6 and perhaps 8-10 now, all new !
What I had mentioned earlier about listening with your eyes might not be that crazy of a thought. This IS digital audio, right ? Just think of all the HEARING IMPARED people out there that cannot listen to a scanner !
Digital audio is decoded on a very small computer chip and then converted to analog audio that we can hear. The chip is called a D to A (or just D/A) converter chip. Who says that information can’t be decoded into words on a computer screen ? NOT ME, I think it is entirely possible !
Right now there are products out there that take the spoken voice and transform it to “typing” on a computer, so you young electronic engineers there’s a project for you !!
Hell, why stop there. If it can be shown on a screen it can be printed on a printer ! It can be faxed, emailed, inserted, stored.. you name it. Call the newly created chip a D/P converter, Digital to Print !
In fact, I bet that if purchased one of those headsets that turn audio into computer “type”, and held the microphone up to the scanner speaker, I would have a primitive version of exactly that, a D/P Scanner ! Think about it !
HELLO, TESTING
Speaking of audio, I’ve had several emails asking how I record this stuff. Well, it’s all secret ! So secret that SCOTT J. had the State Police Helicopter hovering 25 feet above his house this afternoon for almost 15 minutes !!
OK, it's not secret. I created a small web page with that information on it if you are interested. Just CLICK HERE to visit the audio communications control center for my recording system.
If you would like actual wiring information with impedance bridges and connection boxes you'll have to email with your exact questions.
STUFF
That's about it for this semi-flash afternoodle blah-g. Just want to remind you that NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE you can listen to the Westmoreland County 800 Mhz system by going to GMAN'S website. He has streaming LIVE audio !
The link is www.gmans.net and he'll be more than happy to pour you a cup of Joe.
WESTMORELAND'S CO. 800 MHZ GUIDE
FREQUENCY LIST OF WESTMORELAND CO.
the K3SAM WEBSITE
DOWNLOAD FILES FOR WIN96 and PRO96COM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Decoded for now,
K3SAM
It was heard today by the Booger Blah-ger that Westmoreland County 911's Radio System is getting a major system update.
Now what could that be ?
In my 90 years of experience and a degree in BS, my guess is software. You know software controls the 911 center.. didn't you ? 911 has reported twice in as many days that they are having problems. These problems include Dispatching Consoles "hanging" or "locking up". Police agencies are reporting that their radios are locking on transmit.
Well, either way I will report what I know when I know it. Stay tuned.
FIRE IN THE HILLS
There was a modular home (big figgin’ trailer) fire this afternoodle, the call came in around 14:29:24 today (2:30 PM roughly) with more fire equipment dispatched than you can shake a stick at !
Ligonier (43), Waterford (44), Chestnut Ridge (110), Wilpen (45), Latrobe Salvage (113), and Hazmat 807 all responding. It appears as if there was a dryer fire that caused an extensive amount of smoke damage but no fire was found.
All units not on scene were finally cancelled and the incident was under control at about 2:42 PM. These are all times from my PRO96COM log.
I’ll tell you, this program is awesome.
TRACKING
Let’s play dispatcher. Ok, let’s not but here is a screen shot from last night’s computer and we can run down a little of what was done (kinda like listening with our eyes !).
As we start New Ken Car 9-14 calls 911 and they answer. Manor Car 1-21 also calls 911 while New Ken 9-14 is talking. 911 answers Manor on a different dispatch console (two different conversations going).
While those transmissions are finishing, Irwin Car 1-12 is calling dispatch. An ambulance is now being dispatched and Latrobe Police Car 4-2 is calling 911. Toward the bottom of the photo you will also see Lower Burrell Detective D-4 calling the 911 Center.
As you can see 911 can handle quite a bit at one time. The dispatch consoles are broken down into zones, for example one console handles Police District 4 which would include Latrobe, Derry, St. Clair Twp., New Florence, Bolivar, and Seward. Car 4-40 is in there somewhere too. Another Console would handle District 1 Police. Then there is a Console for FIRE, one for AMBULANCE, etc… 200 thousand Consoles ! Seriously, last time I saw they had 6 Dispatch Consoles. I would imagine they still have 6 and perhaps 8-10 now, all new !
What I had mentioned earlier about listening with your eyes might not be that crazy of a thought. This IS digital audio, right ? Just think of all the HEARING IMPARED people out there that cannot listen to a scanner !
Digital audio is decoded on a very small computer chip and then converted to analog audio that we can hear. The chip is called a D to A (or just D/A) converter chip. Who says that information can’t be decoded into words on a computer screen ? NOT ME, I think it is entirely possible !
Right now there are products out there that take the spoken voice and transform it to “typing” on a computer, so you young electronic engineers there’s a project for you !!
Hell, why stop there. If it can be shown on a screen it can be printed on a printer ! It can be faxed, emailed, inserted, stored.. you name it. Call the newly created chip a D/P converter, Digital to Print !
In fact, I bet that if purchased one of those headsets that turn audio into computer “type”, and held the microphone up to the scanner speaker, I would have a primitive version of exactly that, a D/P Scanner ! Think about it !
HELLO, TESTING
Speaking of audio, I’ve had several emails asking how I record this stuff. Well, it’s all secret ! So secret that SCOTT J. had the State Police Helicopter hovering 25 feet above his house this afternoon for almost 15 minutes !!
OK, it's not secret. I created a small web page with that information on it if you are interested. Just CLICK HERE to visit the audio communications control center for my recording system.
If you would like actual wiring information with impedance bridges and connection boxes you'll have to email with your exact questions.
STUFF
That's about it for this semi-flash afternoodle blah-g. Just want to remind you that NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE you can listen to the Westmoreland County 800 Mhz system by going to GMAN'S website. He has streaming LIVE audio !
The link is www.gmans.net and he'll be more than happy to pour you a cup of Joe.
WESTMORELAND'S CO. 800 MHZ GUIDE
FREQUENCY LIST OF WESTMORELAND CO.
the K3SAM WEBSITE
DOWNLOAD FILES FOR WIN96 and PRO96COM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Decoded for now,
K3SAM
