Wednesday, July 06, 2005
VERY SAD DAY
This is a sad day in the History of the Westmoreland County (WC) Pennsylvania Public Service Radio System.
With 911 so eager to have their new 800 Mhz Radio System on the air they did so at the expense of possible lose of lives and property.
On the afternoon of 5 July 2005 at approximately 4:47 PM or 16:47 Hours the Western Section of the WC Department of Public Safety 800 Mhz Emergency Radio System CRASHED due to the intense electrical storm that passed through the area.
That CRASH took out or reduced communications in the areas of Washington and Allegheny Townships, Upper and Lower Burrell, New Kensington, Avonmore, Bell Township, Delmont, Irwin , N. Irwin, Arnold, Loyalhanna Township, Vandergrift, Hyde Park, West Leechburg, Jeannette, Manor, Adamsburg, Trafford, North Huntingdon, and Penn Township. Other areas also affected.
Not only did it affect the Police, Fire and EMS communications in those areas it also did a number on a few of the dispatching consoles and the software associated with dispatching (source, 911 audio).
On 911’s VHF system, EMS units were not receiving their tones telling them they had a call and fire sirens were going off when the tones were not intentionally sent by 911.
Isn’t this the system that we the people in WC paid Millions and Millions of Dollars for ? Mr. Staley, pass the A1 pleasse.
THIS IS LIKE GOING TO A BUD SMAIL CAR DEALERSHIP AND PAYING $45,000 FOR A CAR, AND WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST FLAT TIRE YOU FIND OUT IT DOESN’T HAVE A SPARE !
We are living with a communications system that doesn’t have a spare tire ! NO BACKUP COMMUNICATIONS !
Now you have Staley Communications attempting to blow up the bad tire while it is still on the car. It won't MOVE that way.
The spare should have been on the car while Staley’s fixed the flat ! This way the car continues to run smoothly.
For as much money that has been invested in this system there is no reason that it should have failed.
NO REASON !
Besides there being no reason there is NO EXCUSE !
NONE.
911 was also having problems with their dispatching consoles. In one case a single dispatcher was going from one dispatching console to another attempting to reach a Police Car in New Kensington. Poor Girl, not her fault the equipment doesn't work !
In other issues Station 110’s Station Alarm went off and 911 said they didn’t set the tones off (mentioned above). Except in some goofy situations like a distraught employee playing games, these tones were sent from one of the Fire Dispatch Consoles and the software probably did it out of confusion.
911 was also having problems with their VHF systems. In one such case 911 was working with New Ken Medic 125 asking for radios tests. ISN’T THIS WHAT STALEY COMMUNICATIONS IS PAID FOR (sorry, under contract) ?
My head is spinning ! The almightly MEGA really HERTZ ! In this case, HURTS.
No, I’m not done yet. I’m just wondering why, at the first sign of this CRASH 911 didn’t IMMEDIATELY go to their OLD communication configuration. You know guys, VHF in most cases. Not a peep out of 154.740 Mhz, the old Latrobe Police Frequency even though their part of the WC Radio System was working… if the plan was put in place they would have been forced back there.
Again I will state for the record that I use to be radio maintenance, retired now. So I know about the things that I am writing about. Don’t want you to think that I am a scanner nerd (which I am by the way) that just got out of high school.
I will say that I am a piss poor writer, and damn proud of it. I was not put on this Earth to write (thank you God) however someone has to speak up on this system and the way it is or isn’t working….
SYSTEM UPDATE
The System came back on line at 03:35 Hours this AM BUT still having major problems. Again, this should NOT be happening.
I was in DEEP CHAT with GMAN most of the early morning hours as his live streaming audio broadcasts were down while all of this was happening. He gets his audio feeds from the area that was affected by the SYSTEM CRASH.
I ask GMAN for a quote for this edition of the BLAH-G and he said “ I'm very disappointed, and not because of the live feed or my listening hobby, but disappointed that the system is this fragile to begin with, and that it takes this long to troubleshoot & repair. Not fair to troops in field who’s lives depend on it “. - GMan
I couldn’t have said it better !
GEEESH STALEY’S, GET IT UP AND WORKING.
GEEESH 911, GET THAT BACK UP IN PLACE !!
I WANT A REFUND FOR TIME DOWN !
LAST ITEM
I heard Arnold EMS Medic Station 101 go CODE 40 (dead or out of service) Last Night. From what I understand from my friends at KDKA it was due to a lack of funding.
I just want to say that I was deeply touched by your “sign off” speech that you read on the air prior to pulling the plug on your station.
In fact I was able to capture the audio and when I get a chance will post it here for those that might have missed it due to half the system CRASHING.
Your service to our county is greatly appreciated by one that had never needed it. Just to know that you were there is all that counts. God Bless You All !
DECODED,
K3SAM
800 Mhz WC GUIDE
Listen Live - Westmoreland Screamin' Streamin' Audio
(page updated 13:40 - 6 Jul 05)
With 911 so eager to have their new 800 Mhz Radio System on the air they did so at the expense of possible lose of lives and property.
On the afternoon of 5 July 2005 at approximately 4:47 PM or 16:47 Hours the Western Section of the WC Department of Public Safety 800 Mhz Emergency Radio System CRASHED due to the intense electrical storm that passed through the area.
That CRASH took out or reduced communications in the areas of Washington and Allegheny Townships, Upper and Lower Burrell, New Kensington, Avonmore, Bell Township, Delmont, Irwin , N. Irwin, Arnold, Loyalhanna Township, Vandergrift, Hyde Park, West Leechburg, Jeannette, Manor, Adamsburg, Trafford, North Huntingdon, and Penn Township. Other areas also affected.
Not only did it affect the Police, Fire and EMS communications in those areas it also did a number on a few of the dispatching consoles and the software associated with dispatching (source, 911 audio).
On 911’s VHF system, EMS units were not receiving their tones telling them they had a call and fire sirens were going off when the tones were not intentionally sent by 911.
Isn’t this the system that we the people in WC paid Millions and Millions of Dollars for ? Mr. Staley, pass the A1 pleasse.
THIS IS LIKE GOING TO A BUD SMAIL CAR DEALERSHIP AND PAYING $45,000 FOR A CAR, AND WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR FIRST FLAT TIRE YOU FIND OUT IT DOESN’T HAVE A SPARE !
We are living with a communications system that doesn’t have a spare tire ! NO BACKUP COMMUNICATIONS !
Now you have Staley Communications attempting to blow up the bad tire while it is still on the car. It won't MOVE that way.
The spare should have been on the car while Staley’s fixed the flat ! This way the car continues to run smoothly.
For as much money that has been invested in this system there is no reason that it should have failed.
NO REASON !
Besides there being no reason there is NO EXCUSE !
NONE.
911 was also having problems with their dispatching consoles. In one case a single dispatcher was going from one dispatching console to another attempting to reach a Police Car in New Kensington. Poor Girl, not her fault the equipment doesn't work !
In other issues Station 110’s Station Alarm went off and 911 said they didn’t set the tones off (mentioned above). Except in some goofy situations like a distraught employee playing games, these tones were sent from one of the Fire Dispatch Consoles and the software probably did it out of confusion.
911 was also having problems with their VHF systems. In one such case 911 was working with New Ken Medic 125 asking for radios tests. ISN’T THIS WHAT STALEY COMMUNICATIONS IS PAID FOR (sorry, under contract) ?
My head is spinning ! The almightly MEGA really HERTZ ! In this case, HURTS.
No, I’m not done yet. I’m just wondering why, at the first sign of this CRASH 911 didn’t IMMEDIATELY go to their OLD communication configuration. You know guys, VHF in most cases. Not a peep out of 154.740 Mhz, the old Latrobe Police Frequency even though their part of the WC Radio System was working… if the plan was put in place they would have been forced back there.
Again I will state for the record that I use to be radio maintenance, retired now. So I know about the things that I am writing about. Don’t want you to think that I am a scanner nerd (which I am by the way) that just got out of high school.
I will say that I am a piss poor writer, and damn proud of it. I was not put on this Earth to write (thank you God) however someone has to speak up on this system and the way it is or isn’t working….
SYSTEM UPDATE
The System came back on line at 03:35 Hours this AM BUT still having major problems. Again, this should NOT be happening.
I was in DEEP CHAT with GMAN most of the early morning hours as his live streaming audio broadcasts were down while all of this was happening. He gets his audio feeds from the area that was affected by the SYSTEM CRASH.
I ask GMAN for a quote for this edition of the BLAH-G and he said “ I'm very disappointed, and not because of the live feed or my listening hobby, but disappointed that the system is this fragile to begin with, and that it takes this long to troubleshoot & repair. Not fair to troops in field who’s lives depend on it “. - GMan
I couldn’t have said it better !
GEEESH STALEY’S, GET IT UP AND WORKING.
GEEESH 911, GET THAT BACK UP IN PLACE !!
I WANT A REFUND FOR TIME DOWN !
LAST ITEM
I heard Arnold EMS Medic Station 101 go CODE 40 (dead or out of service) Last Night. From what I understand from my friends at KDKA it was due to a lack of funding.
I just want to say that I was deeply touched by your “sign off” speech that you read on the air prior to pulling the plug on your station.
In fact I was able to capture the audio and when I get a chance will post it here for those that might have missed it due to half the system CRASHING.
Your service to our county is greatly appreciated by one that had never needed it. Just to know that you were there is all that counts. God Bless You All !
DECODED,
K3SAM
800 Mhz WC GUIDE
Listen Live - Westmoreland Screamin' Streamin' Audio
(page updated 13:40 - 6 Jul 05)
