the BLAH-G

Well Hello There ! This is not going to be a very good day for Westmoreland County Emergency Management as I've decided to start a small series called "911 UNPLUGGED".

In this first issue I am going to take the written words of 911, then tell you the truth according to the BLAH-Ger.

- issue 1, 911 unplugged -

I had mentioned about a billion years ago that the Westmoreland Department of Public Safety had a Question and Answer Section on their website that I found to be quite interesting. Mainly because I didn’t like the writers answers. Besides, I see their whole article as a “mask”, something written to pull the wool over most peoples heads !

I’m going to post the Q&A section here and give you some more insight on what is what.

So, here we go. MY COMMENTS WILL BE IN RED.
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800 MHZ PROJECT


The Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety is implementing a new 800 MHz County-Wide Trunked Radio System to be used for 911 radio dispatching and by police, fire, ems, and other public safety and public works departments in the County.

The primary purpose of the project is to establish a common “backbone” network consisting of dispatch equipment and radios sites that all users can use to communicate with dispatch and each other. The new system will be modern and reliable, and will be designed to grow with the County.I believe the purpose of this system probably has something to do with receiving Federal Grant Money and does not have anything to do with a backbone. As it stands now the police departments are having trouble talking back and forth to 911 as documented on my website in the form of audio clips, and in my blah-gs !

Read the latest update on the project. If you have any questions, email Mark Brammell.

BOOGER SAYS: You can read the latest on this project by keeping in touch with the BLAH-G !

This set of FAQs has been put together to try to answer many of the common questions and to provide basic information about the new system and what it will mean to you.

Why do we need a new radio system in Westmoreland County?

There have been many complaints over the past years around Westmoreland County regarding deficiencies in radio communications’ systems. Complaints have centered around many aspects of their particular system such as, lack of wider area coverage, dead spots, no secure communications, lack of interoperability with other municipal agencies, need for telephone interconnect, instant call for emergency, identification of units (unit ID), future use of Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), Mobile Data, etc. A well designed trunked radio network would address all of these issues and would correct them.

Booger Says: A well designed system would, this system is flawed and unreliable.

I have never read any complaints about the old system in the Trib or Latrobe Bulletin however there may be some. It wasn't a big issue before.

What is trunking?

Early telephone communications were set up in what was called a party line where only one telephone line connected a series of telephones. Under the party line concept only one conversation could occur at a time, all other users had to wait until that conversation terminated before trying to make a call. Perhaps you had a party line in your home when you were younger. Do you remember how you could listen in to other calls by simply picking up the receiver on the telephone? Most two-way radio systems work the same way today. Radio users share one frequency and only one conversation can go on at a time. In addition, radio channels today are extremely crowded so you wind up with many, many more users on that same frequency when you go to use it. This becomes increasingly frustrating for the radio user.

BOOGER BLAH-GER AGREES WITH THE ABOVE…

“Trunking” is a concept originally developed by the telephone company to alleviate the congestion on the telephone lines. Multiple, private phone use today is due to trunking. When a person want to make a telephone call that person accesses one of these trunked lines to use for the duration of their call. When the call is over, that person gives up the telephone line so someone else can use it. Trunking improves on the party line approach by adding multiple telephone lines (trunks) which are assigned to the caller for exclusive use during the call. This allows multiple conversations to take place simultaneously.

Trunked radio systems are modeled on the telephone trunking idea. Through advancements in electronic microcomputer technology, radio systems were able to incorporate the advantages of the trunking concept into wireless communications. Therefore trunking systems provide an efficient method for large groups of radio users to share a limited number of RF channels.

BOOGER SAYS: Only if ENOUGH frequencies are allotted and the system controller is capable of handling all those frequencies and calls at MAX Call Volume.

It is my belief that our Westmoreland County System does NOT have nearly enough frequencies nor is the software capable of handling this County at full usage.

Will trunking work in Westmoreland County?

Good question! Any radio network will perform satisfactorily if properly designed and engineered, taking into consideration the customers requirements of radio coverage; talking out to the units and the units talking back and the reliability of this coverage (on the street, in buildings, etc.); the types of radio units (portable and mobile radios, low power mobile data units); radio to radio coverage (whether the units are within sight of each other or on opposite ends of the county).

It’s important to understand that no wireless system will provide 100% coverage, 100% of the time. Factors such as terrain, atmospheric conditions, the movement of the user and nearby vehicles and objects all can effect the signal. What we are trying to do is to build a system which will provide a high level of coverage, generally 95% or better for mobiles and portables both indoors and out. Equally important as identifying where coverage is needed, is knowing where less may be enough so we do not build sites we don’t need.

BOOGER SAYS: Notice the phases “perform satisfactorily”, “reliability of this coverage (on the street, in buildings, etc.)”,”radio to radio coverage”, ”no wireless system will provide 100% coverage”, “high level of coverage, generally 95%”, etc… OH MY LORD !

That is LAWYER TALK !

Let me set everyone straight !

A system is DESIGNED FOR reliability so that it HAS coverage on the streets and in buildings, this is not guess work.

Radio to Radio Coverage is a MUST.

Wireless systems CAN be designed for 100% coverage !

The firemen using their portable radio on 33.52 Mhz (or any zone operations frequency) could talk back and forth to each other with 100% coverage AT A FIRE.

Right frequencies for the right job. They might not have communications with 911 dispatch 25 miles away but that is not needed AT THE FIRE by each firefighter.

There isn’t anything wrong with using 800 Mhz at all ! However, AT A FIRE all fire departments should be on an ANALOG SIMPLEX DIRECT FREQUENCY, NON TRUNKED. See the Phoenix Report I have posted on my website (http://www.k3sam.com/docs/radioreport.pdf)

What I didn’t see mentioned above was the NUMBER OF USERS ! Yesterday afternoon at around 4 PM EDST there were OVER 550 Westmoreland County Radios Turned On ! If (rough guess) 25 of those radios were put into the transmit state the system would (my words) CRASH !

If everyone would ask for a radio check at Noon on Tuesday, most users would hear a BEEP and they would NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT.

Is that a good radio system ?

The overall goal is to allow users to talk where they need to, when they need to, and to do as efficiently and cost effectively as we can.

What advantages are there on a trunked radio system?

Lots of things! Here are some of the features:
* Faster System Access (system ?)
* Orderly Access on a busy system (right, the fire can wait)
* Emergency Call (when working)
* Priority levels for each individual unit (ok)
* Carry on a private conversation between two units or more (no)
* Out-of-range Indication (that’s a good one !)
* Secure Communications (no)
* Wide-area unit-to-unit coverage (sometimes)

Do we have to use 800 MHz frequencies for trunking?

No, you don’t, but its the best band if you have the channels. Trunking can come in various shapes and sizes. There are, of course, 800 MHz trunked systems but other frequencies can be trunked as well including VHF-High Band, UHF and 900MHz channels. The FCC has set aside certain frequencies in the 800 MHz band for exclusive use by Public Safety users. Since Westmoreland County is already licensed for ten (10) 800 MHz channels it makes sense to use these frequencies to establish a “state of the art” trunked radio system network.

BOOGER SAYS: Oh Boy ! STATE OF THE FART ! Sorry folks, 800 Mhz isn’t the keyword here. Perhaps an extensive study on 400 Mhz might prove that to be the band to move to but NOT 800 ! (unless you are prepared to put up more towers)

Just because Westmoreland County already has 10 channels plus two extra ones used for detectives doesn't mean we can't get more. 10 Channels (frequencies) are not enough !

What’s the difference between what we have now and the new trunked system. Let’s explain it this way: All of the existing public safety radio systems in Westmoreland County are classified as conventional systems. A conventional system consists of a single repeater or simplex base station located at a site which provides the coverage needed to communicate within a given area. For example, a police department may have a repeater licensed for their use at a particular site. At that same site there may also be other base stations/repeaters being utilized by either another police agency, fire department, EMS or public works department. Ordinarily each of these stations would operate on a different frequency and, more than likely, a different frequency band. (You’ll also notice that the equipment is probably from different manufactures; some of it is old, some not so old. Timeliness of repairs, parts availability, frequency compatibility, etc. are all on-going issues at a site like this.)

BOOGER SAYS: WAIT A DAMN MINUTE !

THE REASON THE EQUIPMENT MIGHT BE FROM DIFFERENT MANUFACTURES IS BECAUSE MORTON COMMUNICATIONS, RHINEHART COMMUNICATIONS, TEC RADIO SYSTEMS, STANDARD RADIO, KENWOOD, MAXON and EVERYONE associated with those names HAD TO EAT AND SURVIVE. THEY ALL SOLD GOOD PRODUCTS TOO !

Just allowing MOTOROLA in here by using their system is called a MONOPOLY. That also means that Motorola can place WHATEVER PRICE it wants on their equipment any WE WILL have to pay for it. NO ONE TO COMPETE WITH THEM !

THIS IS CALLED FAIR TRADE FOLKS, OR LACK OF IT !!

This makes it very difficult for departments to talk to one another via radio. A conventional system isn’t very “smart”, a radio user accesses the system simply by pushing their push-to-talk switch. There is no magic, the radio transmits and everyone who has that channel in their radio or scanner and is within range of the system hears that transmission.

BOOGER SAYS: GEE, HOW COME THE STATE POLICE CAN’T TALK TO THE LOCALS ANYMORE ? HMMM, I GUESS THIS NEW SYSTEM IS SO SMART THAT IT KNOWS THAT TALKING TO THE STATE POLICE IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH !

A trunked radio system is considerably more sophisticated. Let’s look at the above scenario but in terms of trunking. We’re at the site looking at the equipment and it all looks the same! That’s because all of the repeaters are in the same frequency band, 800 MHz. But if you look closely you’ll see that they are all linked together, there may even be another box, which is not a radio station but, in fact, is a computer. Unlike conventional, this is an intelligent system! This system is “smart”! Where conventional is mainly hardware driven, trunking is software driven. The user possesses a radio that has a personality!

BOOGER SAYS: MY COMPUTER HAS PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT IS SMART. I HAD TO REBOOT TWICE TODAY BECAUSE IT’S SMART !

MY INTELLIGENT SMART SYSTEM IS HARDWARE DRIVEN, WHEN IT DOESN’T RUN NEITHER DOES THE SOFTWARE… and in your case NEITHER DOES THE RADIO SYSTEM, PERIOD. NOW, THAT’S SMART ! I WOULD SURELY PUT THE LIVES OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLCE OFFICERS IN THE HANDS OF SOFTWARE, VERY SMART.

So what makes a trunked system better ?

OK, let’s keep this simple! Let’s look again at the above scenario where we have a tower site with many repeaters being used by different agencies and departments. In a conventional repeater system, at peak user periods, the chances are that half of the repeaters will be so busy that an average wait of several minutes to gain access to a clear channel will be common.

BOOGER SAYS: This just isn’t true.

In a trunked system, users have access to all repeaters in the system as they are made available to all users.

BOOGER SAYS: YES, users have access to all repeaters in the system as they are all BUT THE ONES THAT ARE DOWN RIGHT NOW available to all users.

I HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION THAT A TOWER SITE IS DOWN AS I WRITE THIS ! THAT IS NO WAY TO RUN AN EMEGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER ! PERIOD !

In addition, voice channels are assigned automatically, eliminating the need for the operator to monitor and wait for a clear channel.

The channels are assigned to users on a talkgroup basis, not as dedicated channels. When a user needs to talk, he presses his PTT and the system assigns an unused channel to that talkgroup and all other users on that group are directed to that channel/talkgroup pair – automatically. The main difference between dedicated channels and assignable talkgroups is that the number of talkgroups is not limited to the number of physical channels. Even though the County will probably have a maximum of 10 channels at a site (BOOGER SAYS: THUS LIES ONE MAJOR PROBLEM !), the number of talkgroups in the system can exceed 10, in fact hundreds can be defined.

BOOGER SAYS: READ THIS NEXT SENTENCE BY WESTMORELAND COUNTY VERY CAREFULLY !

Obviously, not every talk group can be active at once.

BOOGER SAYS: So if the road crews are out, the park maintenance people are doing work, Mark and Bill are chatting on Talkgroup (TG)1, Staley's are on TG2, Ligonier Police are running a speed trap detail on TG 65, a fire department is pumping water somewhere, their is a working fire somewhere and TWO TG's are needed ... then IRWIN POLICE HAS AN OFFICER NEEDING HELP... is IRWIN PD'S CALL FOR HELP GOING TO BE HEARD ??

Since the talkgroups are defined by software and not hardware, they can be added or deleted from the system as needed through programming, without the need to buy new base stations or license new channels.

BOOGER SAYS: To sum up the above as I read it, there may not be enough frequencies at a given site to handle your communications. Nice, huh ?

Can I use my existing radios on this trunking system ?

Unfortunately not, trunking is an entirely different animal. Because of the sophistication of the call processing, new trunked radio units would have to be purchased to use on this system.

BOOGER SAYS: Very Correct ! Look out EBay… lots of radios to throw away !

What about paging?

At this time, due to budgetary constraints, no changes are being made to the paging network, and the 800 MHz trunked radio system will not effect this. In addition, no pager units are being made which operate on 800 MHz systems, and they aren’t anticipated in the future, according to the major vendors. After the 800 MHz system is up and running, a next step will be to upgrade the paging network to consolidate it on one band, either UHF or VHF where equipment is readily and competitively available.

BOOGER LAUGHS: Ok, VHF and UHF (400) has pagers available, 800 Mhz doesn’t. So, lets see, ok, thinking now… LET’S GO 800 MHZ !! YES, no pagers !

We Can Add Them In The Future ! NO WAIT, WE CAN’T !! That's ok because 800 Mega HURTS.

Is the radio equipment expensive?

It all depends on what you mean by “expensive”. Yes, you will pay more for most trunked units than you would for conventional units but you are getting a better system. Pound for pound the additional features of a trunked system outweigh the extra cost.

BOOGER SAYS: PAY MORE ! Oh yes, a Motorola XTS1500 series radio goes for around $1500 - $2200 each. A standard LOADED VHF / UHF radio goes for $500 - $800.

You can buy TWO VHF radios (maybe three) for the price of ONE MOTOROLA XTS radio. THAT'S A LOT OF POUNDS !

PLUS with no one around that can compete with Motorola they can set their own prices as high as they wish ! Who is stopping them ?

What are the other surrounding counties doing?

Glad you asked! Let’s start with Fayette County. They are currently using an 800 MHz trunked radio system for police, fire and EMS. Allegheny, Armstrong and Beaver County have applied for or are licensed on 800 MHz trunked radio frequencies and are evaluating plans to implement their own county wide trunked networks in the future. It’s not hard to envision, in the not too distant future, a high technology radio network encompassing Southwestern Pennsylvania. As of this time, Butler and Washington County are continuing to use conventional radio systems.

BOOGER SAYS: ALLEGHENY, ARMSTONG, and BEAVER COUNTIES have had 800 Mhz frequencies for awhile (last I looked) BUT they are not using them. Fayette County has a different trunking system than Westmoreland…

I think Butler and Washington are WISE !

We would like to equip our cars with mobile data terminals. How will trunking help?

Trunking is mobile data friendly and can be designed to handle any number of units. Because frequencies in the 800 MHz band are protected, you are assured of having a clear channel for data communications. Additionally, units will have access to the Commonwealth’s CLEAN system along with potential access to resident and remote databases. Also, NCIC 2000’s new capabilities will be available such as, mugshots, fingerprinting, access to new Federal Databases and linkage fields (providing the ability to associate multiple records with the same criminal or the same crime.)

BOOGER SAYS: Ok, I am going on reliable sources here so take the following however you want. I’ve been told by Westmoreland County that TWO MDT are being tested HOWEVER I have also been told by my READERS OUT IN THE FIELD that these MDT’s are not connected to the Westmoreland County Radio System ! The are receiving their signals from ANOTHER COUNTY !

This system can handle MDT’s, but that will tie up the repeater channels even more ! Think about it !

ADDITIONAL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: What is the length of the migration period from the existing to trunking system?
A: The County intends to support and dispatch existing conventional systems until at least January 1, 2006.
BOOGER SAYS: They better plan on 2010 at least ! Westmorland Has No Back Up System In Place !! NONE.

Q: Presently we have what we refer to as a private channel. Will we have this capability with 800 MHz?
A: Yes.
BOOGER SAYS: NO ! Private MEANS Private. I can PROVE that Westmoreland County’s Private Frequencies are indeed NOT PRIVATE.

Q: At its implementation, will we be able to choose the manufacturer or make of our radios?
A: Probably not as each system is proprietary and radios only work on systems from the same vendor.
BOOGER SAYS: BOOO HA ! THAT IS FLAT OUT MONOPOLY !! PERIOD.

You probably just put RALPH’S RADIO SHOP OUT OF BUSINESS. I will not profit from selling radios to anyone in Westmoreland County BECAUSE I DON’T SELL RADIOS, BUT RALPH DOES, TERRY’S RADIO SHOP, PAULS RADIO, ALL WAVE RADIO..

NO ONE CAN COMPETE WITH MOTOROLA – THAT IS WRONG !!

I use to sell tons of EXCELLENT QUALITY RADIOS (and they were NOT Motorola) to these same people and I appreciated their business, without that I wouldn’t have had a successful business back then.

BY ALLOWING OTHER RADIOS YOU KEEP EVERYONE IN CHECK, PRICES DON'T GET OUT OF HAND. $5,000 for a portable radio - DAMN !

WRONG, JUST PLAIN WRONG !

Q: If the answer to the above question is no, will we ever be able to choose the make?
A: Perhaps. If the selected vendor enters into licensing agreements with other manufacturer, other equipment choices may be available in the future.
BOOGER SAYS: Yeah, right. When Bill Gates Sells Me Microsoft for a Penny !

Q: After the conclusion of the migration period, will be able to communicate directly with other agencies that are not necessarily converting to 800 MHz ( such as DCNR, PSP) without having to utilize two radios ( in other words, will the county utilize conventional interface?)
A: Yes, there will be a conventional interface but it is not anticipated that permanent patches between the 800 MHz and conventional systems will be used. Therefore a separate radio may be needed to talk to other systems.
BOOGER SAYS: Don’t throw out your old Radios, ya hear !

Q: How many new towers will be erected with the 800 MHz system?
A: That will depend on the selected vendors design. It is estimated that between 9 and 12 sites will be needed.
BOOGER SAYS: We are up to 25 now, thirteen more than quoted and WE STILL NEED MORE ! ( 911 officially told me 24 towers were up, my sources say 25 at least )

Q: How many channels do you plan on having?
A: The County has ten (10) 800 MHz channels licensed for use in the system plus the two (2) existing detective channels which can be incorporated later.
BOOGER SAYS: Apply for more guys !

Q: What will the price of the radios be?
A: Pricing is not available yet, but user radios are anticipated to cost between $1000 and $3500 at list pricing, before discounts.
BOOGER SAYS: My guess is $1500 to $8000 depending on features and model.

Q: Will the County be able to develop a contract purchasing plan to assist us in acquiring radios?
A: Yes, this has been included in the specification.
BOOGER SAYS: Something I can’t argue about however not enough portables were allocated for the firemen ! Only so many FREE radios to each police and fire location, besides that it is OUT OF POCKET !

Q: Will the County guarantee that service will be equitable between different services and/or agencies.
A: Yes.
BOOGER SAYS: So far I have found this to be true HOWEVER the Police in District 1 are really getting the shaft ! A Good Deal Of The Time the 911 Dispatchers can’t hear them !

On the other hand they go right back to Mark on his mobile radio !

Q: Will there be enough channels to avoid “wait tones”?
A: During normal conditions, yes. During very busy periods, or upon equipment failure, some busies are to be expected.
BOOGER SAYS: WRONG WRONG WRONG !! More Channels Needed. A Police Officer In District 5 has told me several times that his radio could not be used and he received a wait/busy tone.

Anyhow, who cares about if it's a "normal condition" or not. Anytime a firefighter or police officer picks up his or her radio it's a normal condition or they wouldn't be on the air !

Q: Will we have encryption capabilities?
A: Yes, optional on digital radios. Analog radios will not support encryption.
BOOGER SAYS: No. The Encryption Used IS Being Received By Others that are not Police Officers, Detectives, Sheriffs or Coroners. ENCRYPTION IS AVAILABLE FOR ANALOG RADIOS. THE FACTS here are INCORRECT !

Q: Will the system be set for MDT usage?
A: Yes, as a future application.
BOOGER SAYS: The future is not here yet…

Q: If a site fails, will we be able to utilize another site even with multiple failures?
A: Yes, the back bone system will be fault tolerant with no single point of failure.
BOOGER SAYS: NOT SO. NO BACKUP IN PLACE ! The only backup available is the OLD RELIABLE SYSTEM.

Q: What is the direct unit to unit communications capability, without using a repeater?
A: Unit to unit talk-around capability will be supported.
BOOGER SAYS: TALK AROUND, Yes. You might get 2-10 Miles out of a VHF System in flat land, much less with 800 Mhz. But not from Vandergrift to Latrobe WITHOUT the use of the repeater.

Q: Will there be a multi-site controller?
A: Probably. This is a final design issue depending upon which vendor is selected.
BOOGER: No comment. (“is that the hard drive making noises ?”) Also I believe this system was DESIGNED on a Motorola System… the vendor was already selected in many peoples minds !

Q: Has the Fayette County 800 MHz trunking experience been reviewed?
A: Yes
BOOGER SAYS: Huh ? Is the sky blue ? Do Ducks Have Lips ?

Q: Would it be advisable for us to retain some of our current high band radios?
A: That will be up to each agency depending upon its needs. One of the main objectives of the system is to get everyone on the same platform so only one radio is needed.
BOOGER SAYS: YOU BETTER !! GONNA NEED THEM SOMEDAY !! WHATEVER PLATFORM that might be I hope it's not high.

Q: Will we be able to program our own radios?
A: Technically, yes. This and other system administration issues remain to be worked out during system implementation.
BOOGER SAYS: You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose… but you can’t pick your friends nose ! Of course this is technically possible and this Booger remains to be worked out.
= this is the end of the 911 article, now my final comments =


Hey, the system is not working right. Each day I am receiving more and more inside information confirming how badly the 911 system is working, and now I’m finding out about DISPATCHERS being on the phone for hours on personal calls, only having 6 dispatchers (TCO’s) at the center while the others go to Denny’s for dinner and NO SUPERVISOR on site, and much more!

THOSE items to be addressed in my next 911 UNPLUGGED series !

GEEESH, HOW WE HAVEN’T HAD A FIRE FIGHTER OR POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY DUE TO POOR 911 OPERATIONS, HUMAN OR ELECTRONIC… IS BEYOND ME !!!

DECODED,
K3SAM