Tuesday, January 10, 2006
I have accomplished more in this last week than ...
As promised, here is annudder Blah-g.
This one is going to get just a little technical, and I apologize for that but what I have to write about is technical, soooo. While reading this you are going to have to keep two things in your mind at all times.
First, most of our Westmoreland County Emergency Radio System is composed of TELEPHONE LINES.
I’m sure you remember me saying this T1 line is down or that T1 line is down.
Basically a T1 line is a DEDICATED TELEPHONE LINE that goes from ONE POINT to ANOTHER.
That is the first thing to remember, Telephone Lines !
The digital audio and control signals from the 911 center goes to each tower site over these T1 telephone lines and then is broadcast all over the county. This system is NOT like the systems of yester-year where an operator (dispatcher) pressed a microphone button, the radio went into transmit mode and the signal was sent from an antenna connected to that radio to the cars out in the county or a tranmitter was keyed at a remote location like Bear Caves and the signal was sent out that way.
The second thing you have to remember is COMPUTER.
That’s it, now I shall continue.
In the last few days I had a chance to talk to many people. In fact I think I got more accomplished in those last few days than in the entire history of the Blah-g !
I received an email from the Verizon Technician who actually installed Westmoreland County’s 911 Emergency telephone lines. He stated that some of the information in my Jan 01 Blah-g “isn’t correct”. He said that the T1 line for the Ligonier area was not down on Jan 1. He also said he basically looked at the equipment for 911 for that date and “didn’t see any alarms” that would indicate 911 going down.
He did admit that he doesn’t understand how the 911 radio system works, only how the T1 and T3 lines are suppose to operate (a T3 line has 28 T1 lines inside of it).
I have to admit that I don’t understand the fiber optics phone line side of the system, so his email was exactly what I needed to fill a lot of VOIDS in my knowledge in our system’s operation.
Westmoreland County 911 has a T3 line fiber fed thru an Adtran switch, then it breaks down at the Greensburg Verizon Central Office into the T1 lines that I WRITE ABOUT. From there it goes to all the 26 tower sites via other vendors like Alltel, Laurel, etc… and of course Verizon.
I had written before that 911 had a T1 line, but indeed it has 28 of them, a T3 line.
The one thing that this Verizon Installer pointed out which is VERY DISTURBING is that if a Verizon Repairman (or a repairman for a number of other services) uses his test set to check the lines for any number of reasons, he can SHUT DOWN OUR 911 CENTER just by connecting the test set up to OUR lines !!!
With that information now known (which was new to me), the system can be taken down very easily.
If you are with another 911 Center, todays Blah-g should be very interesting to you. I would also like to hear from you, please email at news@k3sam.com.
HERE is the system we are now using for an EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM in description:
The first part of our system is our 911 CENTER where all voice and data information is converted to DIGITAL DATA (like the digital data you might find on a music CD or video DVD) by a COMPUTER.
That information is then sent out thru a T3 VERIZON DEDICATED PHONE LINE to the Greensburg CO (central office).
From there the information is broken into several T1 phone lines that go directly to OUR 26 Tower Sites where it is then split into TWO different modes of operation.
The DIGITAL VOICE is Converted to ANALOG VOICE and is now ready to be transmitted over the air.
The DIGITAL CONTROL DATA is then fed into a COMPUTER that tells the TRANSCEIVERS (radios) what frequency to use, what Talk Group to use, Console ID information, plus other information needed to transmit / receive radio communications.
IF THAT DATA IS INTERUPTED by a telephone repairman or the Phone Company’s test equipment, the COMPUTER at the SOURCE (911) and the COMPUTERS at ALL the 26 remote sites (TOWERS) become out of SYNC, or synchronization.
AT THAT POINT THE SYSTEM STOPS WORKING.
When that happens BOTH the Source and the Remote COMPUTERS attempt to get their Shite together and SYNC with each other again. That can take a minimum of a minute to a maximum of FOREVER where a radio technician is needed to repair the system.
THAT my friends answers quite a bit for this Blah-ger !!!
We have been having tower sites go down left and right, especially in the Ligonier Area. The down period might only last for a period of an hour or two, but they do go down. While those tower sites are DOWN... the Police, EMS and Firemen CANNOT TALK TO EACH OTHER, nor can they HEAR 911 ! I don’t think I have to explain that part. This also makes it look like there are more than the normal DEAD SPOTS !
From what I understand from MORE THAN ONE FIRE CHIEF, this system as I just described that WE ARE USING is not NFPA approved, NOR IS IT RECOMMENDED FOR USE BY FEMA and PEMA ! ( FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency and PEMA is the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency )
That comes to the second part of my Blah-g.
I have had conversations with the PEMA Director and the PEMA’s Electronic Consultant, BOTH DISAPPROVE of this system.
THAT WAS ANOTHER BREAK THRU FOR ME, HAVING BOTH AGREE !
Actually speaking to PEMA, for almost an hour by the way… and HEARING DIRECTLY FROM THEM that they do not like this system, NOR do they APPROVE it for Emergency Operations, backs up what I have been preaching all along.
THAT ALONE SHOULD TELL
COMMISSIONER
TOM
BALYA
THAT HE HAS PURCHAED A DOG !
Woof Woof !
Mr. Balya, or Commissioner Balya, or Thomas, or Sir Tom, or Tom Tom…. However you like to be addressed… YOU ARE PUTTING THE LIVES OF EACH OF OUR FIREFIGHTER IN DANAGER !
A COP MIGHT GET SHOT AT AND HE CAN'T CALL FOR HELP !!
SOMEONE MIGHT DIE IN AN AMBULANCE !!!
ALL BECAUSE OF A POORLY DESIGNED RADIO SYSTEM, GET RID OF THIS SYSTEM – or CYST-EM as I prefer to call it.
To sum up everything that I’ve done in the LAST YEAR:
1 – personally spoke to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) agent that came to Westmoreland County to inspect our 911 Emergency Radio System. HE was very upset with several characteristics of this system including the fact it is on 800 Mega Hurts and that all the TAC CHANNELS ARE GOING THRU THE REPEATERS AND NOT OPERATING SIMPLEX !
2 – personally spoke to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency’s Director who Disapproves of our system.
3 – personally spoke to the PEMA’s Head Electronics Advisor who agreed that this system SHOULD NOT be used for the transmission of emergency communications.
4 – personally spoke to a dozen or so Westmoreland County Fire Chiefs who agree that a new system is needed in the county BUT ALL AGREED THAT THIS SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS AND COULD PUT THE LIVES OF THEIR FIREMEN IN DANGER !
5 – personally spoke to a dozen or so Westmoreland County POLICE CHIEFS who love the idea of being able to talk to other police departments across this county BUT HATE ALL THE DEAD SPOTS WITHIN THE COUNTY, making this system VERY UNRELIABLED citing unsuccessful radio communications during police chases and undercover operations.
6 – personally spoke to more than two EMS Directors that think that the 155.160 (VHF) system was much more reliable. They fear for the lives of the patients that they transport.
7 – personally spoke to THREE other CHIEF RADIO ENGINEERS who agreed with my findings that USING AND APPROVING AN 800 Mhz RADIO SYSTEM FOR THIS COUNTY WAS AND IS ASININE.
8 – personally receive and answer HUNDREDS of emails from concerned Policemen, EMS paramedics and technicians, and Firefighters in Westmoreland County who are having problems or total lose of communications with this new system. This includes the head of those departments as in Chiefs and Directors.
NO ONE WANTS TO USE THEIR NAMES – EVERYONE WANTS TO BE ANONYMOUS.
This isn’t going to work if we want action done. Some of you are going to have to throw your Names in the Hat, sign a petition, write letters to Tom Balya, the COMMISSIONER who is in CHARGE OF DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT.
IMO, TOM BALYA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEMS AND ONLY HE CAN CORRECT HIS MISTAKE !
That is another DISTURBING FACT that I found out in all of my research, NOT EVEN Governor Edward G. Rendell can go over COMMISSIONER THOMAS BALYA’S HEAD. COMISSIONER BALYA has the final word.
Hell, I have spoken to Senator’s and Representatives and NONE of them can do a HOSTILE TAKEOVER of the County’s 911 system. Again, BALYA has the final word. Of course I'm speaking of a radio system and management change, not taking people hostage and demanding money, although let me entertain the thought for a few precious moments please...
In fact I was surprised to see that the only ELECTED REPRESENTIVE that even took interest in this Emergency Radio Problem was Senator Bob Regola.
When I contacted State Representative JOSEPH A. PETRARCA’s office I got a TOTAL RUN AROUND. He could not be reached, he would call me back, his office was not concerned… blah blah Blah-g !
I would have thought that PEMA might have been able to come into the county and evaluate the Emergency Radio Communications System AGAIN but they said that they “Know the System is BAD” but cannot get involved DUE TO POLITICS ! Again, only COMMISSIONER THOMAS BALYA can do anything, and HE WON’T.
I THINK IT IS TOTALLY ASININE that Commissioner Balya will not accept my phone calls. Every time I call I get his Chief of Staff, TED KOPUS. Talking with Mr. Ted was like talking to an ECHO MACHINE… “the system works fine, we have no complaints”, “the system works fine, we have no complaints” …. “the system..”
TOM BALYA IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL. TOM BALYA IS OBLIGATED TO SPEAK TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY. TOM BALYA WILL NOT TALK TO THIS BLAH-GER.
And in closing… IMO TOM BALYA is putting the LIVES of every Policeman, Medic and Firemen at HIGH RISK. That would also include every resident of Westmoreland County, we are all affected by the emergency services in one form or another. If they are slowed down by a poor radio system then we are slowed down in getting their emergency services.
I am very happy that at least this last year of writing the Blah-g wasn’t in vain. A Big Meeting is to be scheduled soon in Greensburg where I am hoping things WILL CHANGE.
I do not know Richard Matason or Mark D. Brammell personally however I know that they have lied !
THIS IS NOT GOOD. I honestly hope to see both of them replaced for the GOOD OF THE COUNTY.
I had mentioned that DAN STEVENS was going to replace Bob Ceroni soon who will be retiring, and I also thought that would be a VERY BAD APPOINTMENT. 911 and Westmoreland County have many good people that would be good for those positions… it seems that at least the 911 Management is listening a little bit to this BLAH-GER. It now appears that DAN will NOT get this appointment. Word has it that another acquaintance of mine will get that job.
In case you were wondering… our Current Westmoreland County Big Shots are…
DEPARTMENT / NAME OF STAFF MEMBER TITLE
Richard Matason - Director
Mark D. Brammell - Deputy Director
Saundra Singer - Executive Secretary
Communications
Joe Niedzalkoski - Chief of Communications
Pat Bauer - Supervisor
Glenn Cramer - Supervisor
Tony Matuszky - Supervisor
Ed Milliron - Supervisor
Clayton Murphy - Supervisor
Emergency Management
J. Robert Ceroni - Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator
Bill Fleming - Chief Training Officer, Clean/NCIC Administrator
Harley Gray - Hazardous Materials Planning Coordinator
Jeff Fait - Fire Safety Coordinator
William R. Wright - HAZMAT Chief
Gail Kunkle - Clerk Typist
Dave Wright - Police QA Supervisor
Mike Burke - Fire QA Supervisor
Sandy Smythe - EMS/EMD QA Supervisor
Dan Stevens - Addressing Coordinator
Deborah Baughman - Addressing and Mapping
Current Westmoreland County Hazmat Big Shots
Chief Officer List and Title/County ID#
Richard Matason, Director County 800
J. Robert Ceroni, Deputy Director County 801
William R Wright, Chief County 802
Harley Gray, HAZMAT Coordinator County 803
Mark D. Brammell, Assistant Chief County 807
Herman Sieber, Assistant Chief County 808
Richard Johnson, Assistant Chief County 809
Ken Bacha, Assistant Chief County 812
Bob Rhody, Assistant Chief County 813
Bill Hobaugh, Assistant Chief County 814
Chris Kondrich, Assistant Chief County 815
Bruce Davis, Assistant Chief County 816
Frank Lemon, Assistant Chief County 817
Station Officers / Station Office Name
Station 800 - Greensburg Captain Bill Wright Jr
Station 800 - Greensburg 1st Lieutenant Rich Zagar
Station 800 - Greensburg 2nd Lieutenant Brian Wright
Station 801 - New Kensington Captain Tom Hydock
Station 801 - New Kensington 1st Lieutenant Bernie Taylor
Station 801 - New Kensington 2nd Lieutenant Dan Aller
Administrative Officers / Office Name
President Dick Johnson
Vice-President Tom Tridico
Secretary-Treasurer Barry Banker
(note, some have changed since I first compiled this list... such as a new Supervisor)
I’m sure that those that work at 911 already know who will be getting Bob’s job but it would not be fair for me to announce the name of Bob’s replacement here on the Blah-g.
It will be common knowledge soon and I’m sure it will appear in the Tribune Review under “Positions Filled”.
IMO, Bob has done a good job during his tenure at 911 and I wish him luck with his retirement. He probably should have had Richard’s job in the first place.
That’s it… that’s a lot… and that I hope I didn’t hit you with too much technical crap at the beginning. But it is so important that people know that this Cyst-Emasculated Heap of Electronic Components that Motorola calls a trunked radio system is nothing more than junk, and our First Responders DESERVE BETTER !
Someone please tell Tom Balya that !
Decoded,
K3SAM
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disclaimer: This Blah-g is dedicated to a management change with-in the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety and more importantly, getting a new radio system for our first responders and nothing more. Within this Blah-g, the previous Blah-gs, and the Blah-gs to follow I have continuously and purposely picked on Commissioner Tom Balya, Director Richard Matason, Assistant Director Mark Brammell and Dan Stevens. I met Tom Balya in a bar when he was looking for votes, the other three I have never met.
I am not deliberately slandering or harassing any of those four men however I am in every way possible pointing out over and over again their lack of electronic knowledge, lack of system planning, lack of concern over installing the best radio system for our first responders, lack of communciation with this Blah-ger when all I want to do is help, lack of communications skills in general, lack of county leadership, lack of interoperability with this Blah-ger, and lack of lack... if there is such a thing. Gentlemen, I will continue until you admit the system flaws and your mistakes and begin to seriously correct this problem.
To Commissioner Balya, I am NOT out after you. I am out after what you stand for and what you CAN but won't do for the first responders. You stand for POWER and the fact that you can use that power for good, for a better radio system... but you don't. You stand firm on saying this system works fine when most everyone knows that just isn't so. Just think how much everyone would like you if you admitted your mistakes and corrected them. I would be pleased to help and you don't have to kiss anything.
What do I want in return ? A working communications system for our first responders approved by a "new commette of radio engineers", not some suits receiving a six figure salary. This time lets do it right.
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http://800.k3sam.com – official website of the WCDPS ( Westmoreland County’s Damn Piece’o Shite )
http://www.k3sam.com/800/AudioClips.html - latest audio clips
news@k3sam.com – comments / email me your company’s personnel list / inside info / do you still use your old frequencies ? / tips
