Monday, February 13, 2006
Challenge
I haven’t written in a few days so I thought I’d better throw in a few lines.
For those of you than aren’t familiar with this Blah-g, it is about the operations of the 911 Emergency Management equipment here in Westmoreland Co. Pennsylvania and lately it has sucked eggs. You would expect a lot more from a Motorola system however this system has changed my opinion of Motorola forever.
IMO, Motorola has gone from the front runner of excellent communications equipment to the front runner of a fast buck ‘n run cheap electronic corporation.
I also have formed the opinion that it is easier to scare and bribe people into buying their equipment than it is to let their equipment sell itself. I have had more than two officials tell me that Motorola, in their sales presentation, say that “if you pass up this newest radio line you will be killing your police and firemen”. THAT is the exact opposite of REAL LIFE whereas these new radios could, and have been proven to “CAUSE DEATH”.
Shame on Motorola ! What would Gomer say ?
Be that as it is, the Westmoreland County Commissioners were duped into purchasing this new Astro 25 system thinking it was good ( ha ha he he ) and it could possibly save lives ( he ho ha ha ). This system, which this Blah-ger has nicknamed “Cyst-Em” has introduced a new word into the communications field, DIGI-CRAP.
Being a digital mode transmission system, a good deal of the information received on any Motorola radio is garbled and hard to understand, thus digi-crap. It appears that the radios are too stupid to convert the information into real analog audio half the time making the users ask for a REPEAT of the last transmission.
Cyst-Em stands for:
Cyst – abnormal bodily sac, associated with CANCER
EM – Electronic Meningitis, associated with a DISEASE of the BRAIN
My theory is that EVERYONE who had the final say so in approving this Motorola Astro 25 system must feel like such Jerks and Numb-nuts ! That is why they REFUSE to acknowledge the problems.
When you have Police, EMS, and Fire Chiefs openly admit the problems and three County Commissioners, one Director and one Deputy Director that thinks the world spins on a axis of Astro, there must be a MASSIVE COVER UP !
Wouldn’t it be easier to admit the problems than to cover them up ? Maybe they thought they were getting an ASS-TRO-PLENTY-LIVE system and ended up with this ASTRO 25 ? You can see how easy it would be to confuse the tutu.
I must confess that the Westmoreland County Department of Emergency Management’s Director, Richard Matason HAS admitted within the last month that there are areas within the county that this new communications just will not work. Something that I have been saying all along and he has been saying that I’m crazy. So he lied before, right ? And I’m crazy, right ? At least I can live with being crazy…
Another way of looking at this is that if he is admitting to weak (DEAD) spots within the county, then this experienced Communication Engineer says that “This system is still in the test mode”. If that is the case, then this experienced Radio Maintenance Technician says that “More testing is needed and the system should not be in use yet as a PRIMARY source of emergency communications”. And IF that is the case, then this Resident of Westmoreland County says “Why is 911 Management and the County Commissioners putting my life in jeopardy by letting the police, EMS, and fire use an inferior communications system that is known to fail ?”
No wonder I get confused as to whom I am. Am I the Engineer, Radio Maintenance Man, or Tax Payer writing this Blah-g ? In most cases, all three.
Anyhow, in the news:
Ligonier is looking for an Emergency Management Coordinator. The actual article which appeared on line by the Tribune Review and sent to me by GMan is as follows.
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Emergency management coordinator sought
By The Tribune-Review
Friday, February 10, 2006
Ligonier Council is searching for a new emergency management coordinator.
"The position requires lots of time and work," said council President Dale Show during Thursday's council meeting.
Once selected by council, the coordinator will receive training and certification through Westmoreland County and the state Emergency Management. The governor will have to approve the candidate.
"The coordinator does not have to reside in the borough," Show said.
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Thanks to GMan for the clip.
I have to warn those that might be applying for this position. It is hard work, lots of classes to attend, very little credit will be given to you if any however lots of blame will be pointed at you should any problem occur, and it is NOT a paying job ( to my knowledge ). You do have a working budget to draw from but I don’t believe you have a weekly pay check… it’s a position.
Just about anyone can qualify and be approved. Just look who has the final say, the Governor ! What has Ed done for us lately besides hogging up free space in Pittsburgh for the World Champion Super Steelers Parade. I think things will be much better once Lynn Swann is elected, he is a person who cares and I know that from personal experiences with Lynn.
Next, you might have seen the WARNING NOTICE that I posted Saturday here on the Blah-g. It concerned the radio cyst-em and ambulance services.
Mutual Aid Ambulance Service in Greensburg is now using our system for partial EMS dispatching and of course 911 is dispatching all the other ambulances. They were both in DURESS, having problems copying their ambulances out in the field and the ambulances couldn’t copy the dispatchers.
I posted the WARNING after about the tenth time of an ambulance asking for a repeat of information. Five hours later they were still having problems. I have audio of the diseased cyst-em problems and it will be posted on my website soon. Most likely you will find the new audio clip on my website sometime Monday or early Tuesday.
At 4 AM on February 12 they were doing radio checks with Fire Company 46 in New Florence, which uses the same frequencies since this is, of course a Trunked Radio System (TRS).
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Next, the County Detectives have been active on 800 as well as the Westmoreland County Weights and Measurements Agency. Again, I thought this new system was suppose to be used for EMERGENCY USE.
I can see were the Detectives might find this system helpful and they could be dispatched to assist a police department if necessary, but Weights and Measurements ? If there was a bomb threat what would Weights and Measurements do, WEIGH THE BOMB ? Better yet they could Measure the Time it takes any Fire Department to respond to a fire due to poor communications !
I HAVE THE PERFECT FREQUENCY FOR WEIGHTS AND MEASUREMENTS.
26.965 Mhz
They can have that all to themselves. It just happens to be CB Channel 1. The radios only cost $29.95 each and if they get out of range of each other they can always call for Big Mama or Daddy Bug Breath to relay the information for them.
Get real folks. Putting Weights and Measurements, Domestic Relations, the Commissioners, County Park Maintenance, Courthouse Maintenance, the Roads Department, and other services like that on this 800 Mhz Cyst-em takes up SPACE. I will probably catch HELL for saying this, but Mutual Aid Ambulance Service SHOULD NOT BE USING THIS SYSTEM FOR PATIENT TRANSFERS.
It’s getting to be hours and hours of “Van 2, pick up…” and “Van 5, you have two patients at the Muckyduck High Rise to be taken to Doctor Horsefeathers at 11”. Another waste of space needed by this cyst-em for REAL calls. They can do those transfer calls on 155.715 like before. Emergency calls are different, DO NOT CONFUSE THE TWO.
On a trunked radio system, the system DEPENDS on having frequencies being available and OPEN for use. Since we are only using FIVE of our TEN frequencies… Firemen, EMS and the Police will receive a BUSY signal on their radios when all the frequencies are tied up due to Weights and Measurements or Domestic Relations calling one another, or Van transfers.
THIS IS NOT GOOD.
Why on Earth hasn’t a fireman or police officer complained to Richard Matason or Mark Brammell YET ? It can’t be that you are afraid, so why then ?
WHY MAKE ME DO ALL THE WORK WHEN THEY DON’T LISTEN TO ME ANYWAY. BESIDES, THEY WON’T GIVE ME A RADIO ! Maybe Sandy can sneak me one ?
I don’t know how Tom Balya can continue to go into work everyday with a smile on his face. He should be on the phone to Motorola screaming about getting the shaft ! If he won’t do it then Phil Light should, he’s a Commissioner too you know.
I have yet to call Tom Ceraso, the third of our three County Commissioners here in the county. Isn’t he lucky.
The BLAH-GER WESTMORELAND CHALLENGE !
They say things HAPPEN IN THREES. I have a challenge for the Westmoreland County Commissioners. I know they read the Blah-g so I’ll just post it here.
CHALLENGE:
I, the Blah-ger (to make it official I’ll even throw in my real name) Sam W. Jacobs hereby Challenge the Westmoreland County Commissioners to a TALK OUT.
Here is my challenge.
I am requesting a MEETING to discuss and “talk out” the operation of this system and it’s documented flaws. I want the commissioners to hear what I have to say IN PERSON, along with those that use this system daily and those residents in the county that depend on those that use it. Here is who I wish to be present at the meeting / talk out.
3 Westmoreland County Commissioners ( at least Tom Balya, others optional )
3 Fire Chiefs or Department Representatives ( at least line officers )
3 Police Chiefs or Department Representatives ( any officer who can represent the dept. )
3 EMS Directors or Department Representatives ( Director, chief, station head )
3 Representatives from the 911 Center ( any 3 Rich or Mark appoints, or themselves )
3 County Tax Payers from the Eastern side of Westmoreland County (East of Rt. 819)
3 County Tax Payers from the Western side of Westmoreland County (West of Rt. 819)
3 Business Owners of Westmoreland County ( from anywhere )
3 Representatives of Motorola ( sales, technical, road maintenance )
3 of me ( since I am a Licensed Chief Radio Engineer, Ex-Radio Maintenance and Tax Payer I will be there with myself and me )
THAT’S 28 PEOPLE, but since we need this to be covered by an outsider or two with some interest… The Tribune Review and KDKA will definitely be there with representatives, and WTAE and WPXI would be invited as well as the Post Gazette. Maybe I could convince Senator Bob Regola to stop by ?
I have no problem talking to a crowd nor do I HAVE A PROBLEM TALKING TO THE MEDIA. Do the Commissioners ? Does 911 Management ?
The agenda would be the Radio Equipment purchased by the Commissioners for the Westmoreland County Department of Emergency Management, and as a secondary topic we could discuss the OPERATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, such as free vehicles, free lunches, free clothing, free insurance, free donuts, free trips and vacations, free usage of county credit cards, free this and that and the other free things for the 911 Management.
BUT MOST IMPORTANT IS THE RADIO CYST-EM.
Here’s what I need people to do. If you would like to be involved in this meeting I need you to email me at news@k3sam.com. I need at least 3 people from each side of Route 819 to volunteer to be professional listeners and concerned citizens. Your part in this is up to you. Listen to the subjects carefully then ask me, the commissioners or 911 Management your questions if you have any. If nothing else you will get an understanding of how a system like this is suppose to work and why it doesn’t.
That also goes for the Fire, EMS and Police that will be there. I’m sure they will have questions too … email me if you wish to be part of this meeting / talk out – news@k3sam.com.
SO, THAT’s ALL THERE IS TUIT.
To get the CHALLENGE GOING, I first need an email from ALL THREE COMMISSIONERS stating that they accept the challenge. It is possible that this meeting can still take place if only one or two commissioners show up, however all three are preferred. Tom Balya MUST be there though.
Tom was and IS the Chairman of this most important 911 committee, that is why he must be at the talk out for any possible head way to be made.
I will make the decision of who will be selected to represent the first responders and tax payers unless Tom would like to get involved. Remember, only 3 from each category listed.
THE MEETING DATE will be announced once I get the needed people and hear from Tom. First Choice for a meeting place will be at the Westmoreland County Courthouse and I would leave it up to Tom to secure a room large enough for our little group. Alternate locations, should the courthouse not be available would be a social hall of one of the fire departments or FOE / Elks / Moose / Clubs in the Greensburg area. I am sure we would have no problems getting a host for this event.
Tom and the other Commissioners, I’ll be waiting on your response.
For the rest of you, I’ll be waiting for your emails should you wish to become a part of this historic even, then I’ll be contacting you via email concerning the date and time.
Remember, the 3 people from the East and 3 from the Western half of Westmoreland County can be anyone ! Housewives, plumbers, mechanics, retired old farts like me… anyone. Chiefs, assn’t chiefs, Assn’t Directors etc. on the professional level. On the 911 representation level it can be supervisors, dispatchers but of course I’d rather see Mark, Rich and Dan be there to DEFEND THEMSELVES.
news@k3sam.com is the starting point. LETS GET IT ON !
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News continues, as of 8:30 AM Sunday February 12, 2006 the 911 center is still missing a good many calls. Their receive audio is through the T3 line they have installed at the center, NOT over radio waves like you would think.
Well, they are radio waves picked up by a tower somewhere, then feed into TELEPHONE LINES piped into the 911 center. One of those TELEPHONE LINES might be down.
ALL services are affected now, not just the EMS talkgroups.
This might be hard to understand but for example it is possible for two police cars out in the field to hear each other just fine BUT the 911 center won’t be able to hear either one of them. It is also possible for 911 to hear just one of those cars and not the other.
That is some of the stuff I want to explain at the MEETING / TALK OUT.
911 had better contact the CONTRACTED FIX IT PEOPLE to get this under control or someone might say “This is Chief 2600, I’ve been in a wreck and need help immediately because I might go completely out of my mind” and then the chief will pass out and 911 will say “last station you were weak into this center, please repeat”.
Not being able to talk, no help comes to Chief 2600 and he goes completely out of his mind and goes to the repair center in the sky on the back of a pick-up truck.
See how this works ? If 911 can’t hear, they can’t do. Monkey see…
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From the EMAIL Canal… this just received !
NEW ELEMENT FOUND:
The recent hurricanes and gasoline issues are proof of the existence of a new chemical element. A major research institution has recently announced the discovery of the heaviest element yet known to science.
The new element has been named "Governmentium"; Governmentium (Gv) has one
neutron, 25 assistant neutrons, 88 deputy neutrons, and 198 assistant deputy neutrons, giving it an atomic mass of 312.
These 312 particles are held together by forces called morons, which are surrounded by vast quantities of lepton-like particles called peons.
Since Governmentium has no electrons, it is inert. However, it can be detected, because it impedes every reaction with which it comes into contact. A minute amount of Governmentium can cause a reaction that would normally take less than a second to take over four days to complete.
Governmentium has a normal half-life of 4 years; it does not decay, but instead undergoes a reorganization in which a portion of the assistant neutrons and deputy neutrons exchange places. In fact, Governmentium's mass will actually increase over time, since each reorganization will cause more morons to become neutrons, forming isodopes.
This characteristic of moron promotion leads some scientists to believe that Governmentium is formed whenever morons reach a critical concentration! .This hypothetical quantity is referred to as Critical Morass.
When catalyzed with money, Governmentium becomes Administratium- an element which radiates just as much energy as Governmentium since it has half as many peons but twice as many morons.
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Thanks for the email… so sad, so true.
Last item.
This NEW VAN that RICH is going to throw $250,000 Bizillion Dollars into, the one that is suppose to act as a mini-911 center and do this and do that, the new VAN that Mark and Rich will be getting by using HAZMAT FUNDS…
Can’t possibly work.
Why.
Because if it is going to act as a true 911 center on wheels it is going to need a direct connection into the FRAME WORK of this cyst-em for high speed data control and voice.
They aren’t going to do that over a cellular phone line, just not fast enough… so UNLESS THEY HAVE ORDERED A 200 MILE T3 PHONE LINE THAT WILL CONNECT THE VAN UP WITH THE VERIZON SWITCH, than the VAN is just going to be a portable radio with wheels that will cost a ton of BRAM-BUCKS or two tons of MATA-MONEY.
Wowzers !!!
Actually that’s not true. If we indeed buy that STUPID VAN that IS NOT NEEDED, we will be using TAX-PAYER-TOKENS, bought and paid for by YOUR MONEY that could go somewhere else like BACK TO HAZMAT ( originally their money – not Rich and Marks ! ) for their MUCH NEEDED RESCUE TRUCK !
Damn shame… just a damn shame. Shazzzzam !
DECODED,
K3SAM
http://800.k3sam.com – website
news@k3sam.com – tips / comments / inside info – blow my doors off ! Sign up email address for the “talk out”
