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Any chance that we could get an update or timeline on the status of the Snohomish County system. How are tests going, what agencies are next to go on line. If South County agencies are the first ones on the system why doesn't this include the Fire Departments. I have heard sporadic radio traffic on the SNOPAC Fire Tac-1 West talkgroup(592) but mostly Rural/Metro Ambulance to Everett Fire dispatch.

Thanks for any answers

Richard

Anyone know what talkgroup Everett Fire will be using? I can't find it located on the SnoCo talk group page. Is the plan that they are going to be dispatched with SnoPac. Thanks for the info.

Brian
Duvall, WA

They are using TG 592, which shows up on this web site as

592 TAC 1 WP TAC 1 - Sno Co Fire West response

It's been a few days since I've checked the Trunker program I'm running. It shows whether the fire/medic units are actually using the trunking radios or whether they're still using the VHF radios. I'll check it out in trunker. When they have the 800 mobile/portable radios, each radio broadcasts a unique 'serial number' (radio ID # like the talkgroup number), and Trunker shows this. When the trunking system is 'simulcasting' the VHF system, it shows only one radio ID number each times the mobile/portables transmit, and Trunker shows that. I may not be totally accurate in terminology but this is how I can tell from Trunker whether any agency is actually using the 800 meg radios or whether they are still on the older system.

Dennis, I think you're right, I didn't see any units on that group last night except for the cross-link ID. The radios were programmed (Trunker logged blocks of them getting checked out), so they're probably being installed and users trained.

One group of portables seems to be in the hands of some fire officers, using a tac channel to see how they work. Heard one doing checks from below deck on his ferry ride home - everybody was pleasantly surprised how well it worked.

Flash

I’m a reporter for The Herald in Everett and I’m working on an article about phase one of the changeover to the 800 megahertz system in Snohomish County. I’m looking for people who enjoy listening to the scanner who’d be willing to talk with me about new equipment you’ve purchased or changes you’ve made to ensure you’ll still be able to listen to fire and police traffic. If you’re interested, please e-mail me at schiffner@heraldnet.com.
We could also use some tips on getting our Uniden Bearcat portable scanners programmed to pick up 800 megahertz.
Thanks for your help,
Katherine Schiffner
Herald reporter

As of this weekend, most of the Fire apparatus dispatched by SNOCOM have been switched over to the 800 system. They are still simulcasting to VHF - it appears that the 154.010 frequency is being patched to SNOCOM TG TAC-21. I have not yet heard them use any other talkgroups for responses, and I dont' know if the 154.325 frequency (Fire 2) is patched to anything.

It also appears that some of the SNOCOM fire apparatus will maintain VHF radios in their rigs (likely for interopability with the SNOPAC fire districts).

The system still appears to be working well. I've heard good reports from the field on it's performance.

Brad.

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Whatever.....

One very big problem pops up at fire season - how do you communicate at large fires -- when one agency is on 800 mhz and others are NOT. After the Southern California wildfires - new plans were made. All will be keeping the older VHF radios as tactical and inter-ops communications tools. Patching from one band to another is possible - but costs money - which everyone dosn't have. Keep the old channels programmed into your scanner. There might even be a few more added. MTM

Right - hopefully, they will just keep the VHF stuff in the rigs. It's not going to cost them anything (except periodic maintenance). And, it will allow for instant VHF interoperability without any patching, plus an instant back-up system if 800 fails in some way.

Just makes sense...but, we'll see.

Brad.

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Whatever.....

Yes- Benton County kept a VHF repeater on 154.815, unless someone has heard differently ( no traffic on it though)which was the old Sheriff's-W Richland -Richland PD channel and the Sheriff's cars still sport a 5/8 wave VHF antenna. Richland-Kennewick and BC #1 FD's still simulcast/multicast? 800 mhz onto the old VHF dispatch 154.175. I think the rural areas for fire would prove difficult with handhelds--they had dead spots with VHF and 3 sites

Keeping the VHF Fire or Police channels -- applies to every where - not just the areas that have gone to 800 mhz. The first statewide plan took about 4 main VHF channels and were assigned in a chris-cross or checker board pattern - statewide. The basic system has been in place for years. This would allow for local agencies to deside their own direction inplanning new radio systems. But the basic VHF channels would remain - and used for inter-communications on a day to day basis.

It will be real nice when interoperability between the south county agencies becomes reality with the north king agencies.

I've been a little frustrated with the patch limitations and coordination.

Snocom Fire Tac 2 (154.325 mhz) has frequently been patched to the TAC 22 talkgroup (5456) in the past week. I don't know if this is a full time patch or if it is turned on for certain incidents and left off for others.