Re: Sno-pac trunking system

Posted by Spencer on November 21, 2000 at 12:50:34:

In Reply to: Re: Sno-pac trunking system posted by CraigH on November 16, 2000 at 20:39:17:

: : : : The problem is 800 mhz has to have alot of repeaters to be able
: : : : hear the radio's that are being used. Once the repeaters go down
: : : : the radio's are useless. They can not talk diretly to each other
: : : : even though they like you to believe diffrrent.
: : :

: : : OHMYGOD! Ya mean someone removed the simplex channels out of my Moto MTS2000?? Well, I guess I can always use the state ops channels...Oh wait, they're simplex too! Has anyone else found out about this yet??
: : : I'll be sure and tell my supervisor about this, just as soon as he gets done with that absentee ballot from Florida...

: : It's even simpler than that. Yes, 800MHz has quite a few shortcomings in the world of RF technology. However, if the
: : users of the system are willing to re-learn techniques to overcome them.

: : It is not uncommon here in Portland to hear the commander of an incident direct the crews in a building to "go to simplex" -- and guess what? It works!

: : It may be a pain in the rear to do it that way, but it does work.

: : And, on the subject of repeater failures, etc; even VHF and UHF repeaters can fail. What happens then?

: ***********

: Your'e right, there is nothing "evil" or wrong with an 800mhz system, PROVIDED IT IS ENGINEERED PROPERLY FROM THE INCEPTION. Problems do however crop up when corners are cut ($$$) or potential interuptions / interference to service are not considered in the design process. Topography and obstructions, (natural or man-made) MUST BE CONSIDERED WHENEVER THESE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED.

: The current (old) VHF Fire System has problems due to frequency overload and adjacent user interference makes the TAC channel useless at times. There are obvious safety issues with the current arrangement.

: Redundancy, adequate capacity, (or reserve) and failsafe circuits help overcome the shortcomings that are mentioned here. Sure, VHF has different propagation properties, but an 800mhz trunked system, (when engineered properly !) can offer so much more efficiency.

: Additional engineering and infrastructure will run the costs up but that must be made clear during the planning phase of these ideas. Lots of testing and adjustments should be done prior to the scheduled cut over date. To be "penny-wise-and-pound-foolish" is almost as bad as being complacent. Money doesn't fix everything, (but it can help). I am confident that this will not be the case here. A lot of thought has gone into this system and we have all witnessed the pitfalls of some of the first ones in Puget Sound that went on line earlier this past decade.

Craig, Brett and Joe are my heros!

-Spencer B.

Follow Ups:

Re: Sno-pac trunking system CraigH 20:51:33 11/21/100 (0)

Post a Followup

Name:

E-Mail:

Subject:

Comments:
: : : : : The problem is 800 mhz has to have alot of repeaters to be able : : : : : hear the radio's that are being used. Once the repeaters go down : : : : : the radio's are useless. They can not talk diretly to each other : : : : : even though they like you to believe diffrrent. : : : : <snip> : : : : OHMYGOD! Ya mean someone removed the simplex channels out of my Moto MTS2000?? Well, I guess I can always use the state ops channels...Oh wait, they're simplex too! Has anyone else found out about this yet?? : : : : I'll be sure and tell my supervisor about this, just as soon as he gets done with that absentee ballot from Florida... : : : It's even simpler than that. Yes, 800MHz has quite a few shortcomings in the world of RF technology. However, if the : : : users of the system are willing to re-learn techniques to overcome them. : : : It is not uncommon here in Portland to hear the commander of an incident direct the crews in a building to "go to simplex" -- and guess what? It works! : : : It may be a pain in the rear to do it that way, but it does work. : : : And, on the subject of repeater failures, etc; even VHF and UHF repeaters can fail. What happens then? : : *********** : : Your'e right, there is nothing "evil" or wrong with an 800mhz system, PROVIDED IT IS ENGINEERED PROPERLY FROM THE INCEPTION. Problems do however crop up when corners are cut ($$$) or potential interuptions / interference to service are not considered in the design process. Topography and obstructions, (natural or man-made) MUST BE CONSIDERED WHENEVER THESE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED. : : The current (old) VHF Fire System has problems due to frequency overload and adjacent user interference makes the TAC channel useless at times. There are obvious safety issues with the current arrangement. : : Redundancy, adequate capacity, (or reserve) and failsafe circuits help overcome the shortcomings that are mentioned here. Sure, VHF has different propagation properties, but an 800mhz trunked system, (when engineered properly !) can offer so much more efficiency. : : Additional engineering and infrastructure will run the costs up but that must be made clear during the planning phase of these ideas. Lots of testing and adjustments should be done prior to the scheduled cut over date. To be "penny-wise-and-pound-foolish" is almost as bad as being complacent. Money doesn't fix everything, (but it can help). I am confident that this will not be the case here. A lot of thought has gone into this system and we have all witnessed the pitfalls of some of the first ones in Puget Sound that went on line earlier this past decade. : Craig, Brett and Joe are my heros! : -Spencer B.

[ Follow Ups ] [ Post Followup ] [ INTERCEPT WWW BBS ]