Wednesday, August 03, 2005
UPDATE FLASH
Ok, so I gave you an incorrect report about Greensburg Police coming on line with 911 on the First of August however to my vindication I did say that my "feeling" could be that of GAS !
Sure enough... gas it was (thar she blows...).
EITHER WAY YOU CAN BANK ON THIS:
Ligonier Ambulance Service for one will be switching over at NOON on Thurday, the 4th of AUGUST 2005 to the new 800 system. Good Luck guys and gals, you may need it !
Are you switching over tomorrow ? Send me an email !
news@k3sam.com
DECODED,
K3SAM
Sure enough... gas it was (thar she blows...).
EITHER WAY YOU CAN BANK ON THIS:
Ligonier Ambulance Service for one will be switching over at NOON on Thurday, the 4th of AUGUST 2005 to the new 800 system. Good Luck guys and gals, you may need it !
Are you switching over tomorrow ? Send me an email !
news@k3sam.com
DECODED,
K3SAM
JUST THE FACTS JACK, 10 - FOOOO
Twas a night with my cohort
With the scanners alive
District 5's a man short
Waiting for Mark to arrive
But a dead deer on the road
And transmissions in code
Stopped Vinny and Mark
Cold cuts in the Park
HEY, I told you before that I that wasn’t a writer, now you know I’m not a poet either, and believe me I know it !
GOOD MORNING ! from the Booger Blah-ger.
This morning I’m going to touch on how the sound of a Cops voice gets from his month to your radio or scanner. Don’t worry, I won’t get too technical.
I’m doing this for the benefit of a few that have emailed me with this question and those that just don’t have anything better to do than read this old man’s blah-g.
Please note that this is good reading material AND it does contain some newer information well worth reading.
HOW A TRANSMISSION HAPPENS
When the Officer speaks, his voice is picked up by a microphone. From there the electronic signal from the microphone goes into a micro-chip that analyzes the audio and changes it into a digital signal. Then it is applied to the 800 Mhz frequency transmitter and sent out over the airwaves on Frequency A.
An antenna on a tower out yonder is listening for any signals and it sees that one and picks it up on it’s repeater receiver. It is then processed (who’s radio is it, what talk group does this audio belong to, audio level adjustments needed, etc..) and sent out to ALL of Westmoreland County’s 25 tower sites via Telephone T1 Lines.
The electronic computer controller at each of the 25 towers accepts the information from the T1 line and checks for transmission errors, then it is then rebroadcast on ALL 25 towers at the same time on Frequency B.
The delay time from the time the Officer Speaks until it comes out the speaker on any radio or scanner is approximately 1 second. System overloads can make the delay longer and can also add a bit of echo to the sound.
The radio or scanner then hears what the officer said as it is being rebroadcast on Frequency B (not the original frequency A that the officer started to talk on).
If the system is busy (overloaded) the Officers radio will beep and he will not be able to make his transmission.
If the officer is in a dead spot (say, a BATHROOM somewhere) the radio will beep and he will not be able to make his transmission either. (he will however be able to relieve himself)
If there are problems on the T1 line (which there normally is just about every day) then his transmission may not make it for rebroadcasting to any radio.
If there is a software glitch problem the radio transmission may not be accepted.
If there is a hardware problem with a piece of equipment this transmission may not be rebroadcasted.
If the transmission was meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) the signal may not be heard because the console is not manned.
If the transmission is meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) and the dispatcher is taking an incoming 911 call because there isn’t any call takers at their desks your call may not be answered or heard.
If the transmission is meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) and the dispatcher is busy rebooting the CAD system your call may not be answered or heard.
If the transmission is meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) and Selected Audio happens to be turned down too low the dispatcher may not hear your call.
PLUS there are about 20 more variables that I can think of that I would rather not post at this time.
So in a nutshell, if the electronic equipment is working and the dispatchers are at their consoles and there is a supervisor in the building and the telephone circuits are up and running and the repeater isn’t over crowded and there isn’t any storms in the area and the lug bolts on the Ford are tightened and you hair is combed and the wind is not blowing and your Big Mac isn’t cold and you have more than a half tank of gas and the moon is in it's new phase, and Norm stops drinking beer then you should have no problems with your transmission getting through.
TIPS
The tips have been flowing in and I truly appreciate all of them. I have to tell you that (I believe) the wife of someone at 911 is emailing me with some outrageous stories.
This person who is anonymous is telling me horror stories of things that are going on at the 911 Recreational Center.
Again, I do have calls into the Commissioner’s Office, Westmoreland County Emergency Management, and I even called Staley’s Communications and NO ONE WANTS TO TALK to the Boogy !
Of course I don’t tell anyone that a Boogy is calling… I’m much more creative. I tell them that I’m from the IRS-UC and want to know why they missed their audit appointment ! Might as well, they run when they hear my name... butt why ? Beats the poop out of me !
WHAT TAC
Again the fire departments are getting confused as to what talk group they are suppose to be on. When a TAC channel (Talkgroup) has been assigned to a fire, all fire departments and their radios are suppose to be switched to that TAC frequency.
There was a fire early this morning and one company (not mentioned) went down one TAC channel too far then went several TAC channels too far up and they still weren’t on the right one.
Finally at the end of the incident they cleared using the wrong TAC channel.
I have to be honest, as I always is, I doesn’t not know of a solution to this problem.
It COULD be a BIG problem, and I’ll explain why (you knew I would).
If a fireman would happen to put his or her portable on the wrong TAC Channel, and that fireman needs IMMEDIATE assistance or HELP, no one is going to hear those cries for HELP. ( I know 911 could hear them but I wouldn't bank on it )
It wasn’t this hard before, was it ? Just switch to OPERATIONS and you were there, period.
Anyhow Mr. Fire Chief, don’t you think that a MEETING might be worth calling to try and educate these people again on the right usage of the radios ? I understand there will be plenty of room in the class AND you will get to meet most of the Dispatchers there !
FINAL-OODLES
Some thoughts.
I have designed and built an 800 Mhz base antenna. This is not a Booger Joke !
The Antenna isn’t all that pretty and it certainly doesn’t look like anything you would buy at a store or order from a catalog because it’s home made but it sure does work !
It really doesn’t look all that bad but I don’t have a stand for it and… well as I said it looks like a carefully put together home project. Actually it doesn't need a stand as it seems to work good in any position.
I have been testing this antenna for well over a month AND have applied for a patent for it. I’m wondering how many people reading this might be interested in one.
The cost of the parts is minimal however the labor is silly ! The first one I built using paper and cardboard took me over a day after the paper design. The second one that I am using now and used for the patent is built using PVC pipe. The second one took me about 4 hours.
I am thinking about hand building a few… but I would like to know your thoughts. A photo is available by CLICKING HERE. Let me know your thoughts by CLICKING HERE. It's name as of right now is the FIREWORKS 800 ! (looks like a big firecracker)
The reason I built the antenna in the first place is because I got tired of listening to digi-crap, the 800 Mhz digital noise that you hear when your scanner isn’t receiving the whole control channel signal. Anyhow, this antenna that I designed has reduced that noise down to about two times a day if that from 5-20 times an hour.
Bigga Difference. No technical data available except for the fact that it is a passive antenna, no batteries or external power needed and it is terminated in a PL-259 connector (cheap adapter needed for scanner use). This is strictly an 800 Mhz antenna.
..next
As I mentioned, I answer all emails that come in and yesterday I received one from a Police Chief that was very interesting and very much appreciated. I also received one from a loyal reader in Ligonier… also very much appreciated.
I have received emails with questions about the system, the cops, antennas, differences between the Uniden and Radio Shack (GRE) Scanners, how to make a Moose Milk Milkshake and much more. All the questions are good and all are answered.
Also appreciated are all of the TIPS that come into my Command Center. They are all used when possible, in some cases I will not use a tip if I can’t find someone else to verify it. I still have a few more Tips that I need verified before they hit the BLAH-G. Keep watchin’. Send your Tips to the BLAH-G… news@k3sam.com
<-- or click there...
With the scanners alive
District 5's a man short
Waiting for Mark to arrive
But a dead deer on the road
And transmissions in code
Stopped Vinny and Mark
Cold cuts in the Park
HEY, I told you before that I that wasn’t a writer, now you know I’m not a poet either, and believe me I know it !
GOOD MORNING ! from the Booger Blah-ger.
This morning I’m going to touch on how the sound of a Cops voice gets from his month to your radio or scanner. Don’t worry, I won’t get too technical.
I’m doing this for the benefit of a few that have emailed me with this question and those that just don’t have anything better to do than read this old man’s blah-g.
Please note that this is good reading material AND it does contain some newer information well worth reading.
HOW A TRANSMISSION HAPPENS
When the Officer speaks, his voice is picked up by a microphone. From there the electronic signal from the microphone goes into a micro-chip that analyzes the audio and changes it into a digital signal. Then it is applied to the 800 Mhz frequency transmitter and sent out over the airwaves on Frequency A.
An antenna on a tower out yonder is listening for any signals and it sees that one and picks it up on it’s repeater receiver. It is then processed (who’s radio is it, what talk group does this audio belong to, audio level adjustments needed, etc..) and sent out to ALL of Westmoreland County’s 25 tower sites via Telephone T1 Lines.
The electronic computer controller at each of the 25 towers accepts the information from the T1 line and checks for transmission errors, then it is then rebroadcast on ALL 25 towers at the same time on Frequency B.
The delay time from the time the Officer Speaks until it comes out the speaker on any radio or scanner is approximately 1 second. System overloads can make the delay longer and can also add a bit of echo to the sound.
The radio or scanner then hears what the officer said as it is being rebroadcast on Frequency B (not the original frequency A that the officer started to talk on).
If the system is busy (overloaded) the Officers radio will beep and he will not be able to make his transmission.
If the officer is in a dead spot (say, a BATHROOM somewhere) the radio will beep and he will not be able to make his transmission either. (he will however be able to relieve himself)
If there are problems on the T1 line (which there normally is just about every day) then his transmission may not make it for rebroadcasting to any radio.
If there is a software glitch problem the radio transmission may not be accepted.
If there is a hardware problem with a piece of equipment this transmission may not be rebroadcasted.
If the transmission was meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) the signal may not be heard because the console is not manned.
If the transmission is meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) and the dispatcher is taking an incoming 911 call because there isn’t any call takers at their desks your call may not be answered or heard.
If the transmission is meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) and the dispatcher is busy rebooting the CAD system your call may not be answered or heard.
If the transmission is meant for the 911 Center (a dispatcher) and Selected Audio happens to be turned down too low the dispatcher may not hear your call.
PLUS there are about 20 more variables that I can think of that I would rather not post at this time.
So in a nutshell, if the electronic equipment is working and the dispatchers are at their consoles and there is a supervisor in the building and the telephone circuits are up and running and the repeater isn’t over crowded and there isn’t any storms in the area and the lug bolts on the Ford are tightened and you hair is combed and the wind is not blowing and your Big Mac isn’t cold and you have more than a half tank of gas and the moon is in it's new phase, and Norm stops drinking beer then you should have no problems with your transmission getting through.
TIPS
The tips have been flowing in and I truly appreciate all of them. I have to tell you that (I believe) the wife of someone at 911 is emailing me with some outrageous stories.
This person who is anonymous is telling me horror stories of things that are going on at the 911 Recreational Center.
Again, I do have calls into the Commissioner’s Office, Westmoreland County Emergency Management, and I even called Staley’s Communications and NO ONE WANTS TO TALK to the Boogy !
Of course I don’t tell anyone that a Boogy is calling… I’m much more creative. I tell them that I’m from the IRS-UC and want to know why they missed their audit appointment ! Might as well, they run when they hear my name... butt why ? Beats the poop out of me !
WHAT TAC
Again the fire departments are getting confused as to what talk group they are suppose to be on. When a TAC channel (Talkgroup) has been assigned to a fire, all fire departments and their radios are suppose to be switched to that TAC frequency.
There was a fire early this morning and one company (not mentioned) went down one TAC channel too far then went several TAC channels too far up and they still weren’t on the right one.
Finally at the end of the incident they cleared using the wrong TAC channel.
I have to be honest, as I always is, I doesn’t not know of a solution to this problem.
It COULD be a BIG problem, and I’ll explain why (you knew I would).
If a fireman would happen to put his or her portable on the wrong TAC Channel, and that fireman needs IMMEDIATE assistance or HELP, no one is going to hear those cries for HELP. ( I know 911 could hear them but I wouldn't bank on it )
It wasn’t this hard before, was it ? Just switch to OPERATIONS and you were there, period.
Anyhow Mr. Fire Chief, don’t you think that a MEETING might be worth calling to try and educate these people again on the right usage of the radios ? I understand there will be plenty of room in the class AND you will get to meet most of the Dispatchers there !
FINAL-OODLES
Some thoughts.
I have designed and built an 800 Mhz base antenna. This is not a Booger Joke !
The Antenna isn’t all that pretty and it certainly doesn’t look like anything you would buy at a store or order from a catalog because it’s home made but it sure does work !
It really doesn’t look all that bad but I don’t have a stand for it and… well as I said it looks like a carefully put together home project. Actually it doesn't need a stand as it seems to work good in any position.
I have been testing this antenna for well over a month AND have applied for a patent for it. I’m wondering how many people reading this might be interested in one.
The cost of the parts is minimal however the labor is silly ! The first one I built using paper and cardboard took me over a day after the paper design. The second one that I am using now and used for the patent is built using PVC pipe. The second one took me about 4 hours.
I am thinking about hand building a few… but I would like to know your thoughts. A photo is available by CLICKING HERE. Let me know your thoughts by CLICKING HERE. It's name as of right now is the FIREWORKS 800 ! (looks like a big firecracker)
The reason I built the antenna in the first place is because I got tired of listening to digi-crap, the 800 Mhz digital noise that you hear when your scanner isn’t receiving the whole control channel signal. Anyhow, this antenna that I designed has reduced that noise down to about two times a day if that from 5-20 times an hour.
Bigga Difference. No technical data available except for the fact that it is a passive antenna, no batteries or external power needed and it is terminated in a PL-259 connector (cheap adapter needed for scanner use). This is strictly an 800 Mhz antenna.
..next
As I mentioned, I answer all emails that come in and yesterday I received one from a Police Chief that was very interesting and very much appreciated. I also received one from a loyal reader in Ligonier… also very much appreciated.
I have received emails with questions about the system, the cops, antennas, differences between the Uniden and Radio Shack (GRE) Scanners, how to make a Moose Milk Milkshake and much more. All the questions are good and all are answered.
Also appreciated are all of the TIPS that come into my Command Center. They are all used when possible, in some cases I will not use a tip if I can’t find someone else to verify it. I still have a few more Tips that I need verified before they hit the BLAH-G. Keep watchin’. Send your Tips to the BLAH-G… news@k3sam.com
<-- or click there...
BREAKFASTOODLE:
A bowl of Alpha-Numeric Bits without the numbers 9 and 1 with sour grape juice, 7 Gun Buns made of High Cholesterol High Fat Low Fiber Great Tasting Less Filling Yeast Packed Dough from Lattanzio’s Bakery (special kicks mix), a Cherry Berry dipped in Booger Sugar, Minute Vice Rice Cooked for 60 Minutes, A One Call Pizza Ball, 10-4 Coffee Galore in a Hold Up Cup or FOP Tea on Me, and a doughnut for our Friends in Blue. Enjoy…
DECODED,
K3SAM
Your Link For Westmoreland County 800 Mega Hurtz Listening
Live WC Scanner Audio Feed Just For You From GMAN’S Website
Westmoreland County Frequency List
Back Issue of the Blah-g # 1
Back Issue of the Blah-g # 2
Listen to Live Audio Clips From our 911 Center and Those In The Field Including the HIT SONG “ Bad Boyz WC “ featuring our WC Cops and Dispatchers !
Made in the USA – WARNING, THE SURGEON GENERAL has concluded that Pregnant Women Reading this Blah-g May Give Birth To Comical, Crazy, and just plan Weird Babies. Read at your own risk !
