Chris Ranck found an article which looks at one aspect of the upcoming digital radio changes coming to Chicago.
Chicago Has Few Techs, Wants Narrowband Waiver
The third-largest city in the United States has just 16 radio technicians to install and maintain all of its radio systems, and now the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking for public comment on Chicago’s request for 24 more months to narrowband its VHF and UHF radio systems. The FCC received the city’s waiver request (pdf) last May, and now wants input from others, “whose operations could be impacted by the grant of the waiver.” In its 31-page waiver request, Chicago officials noted the city’s size and population, number of visitors and its key commerce and industry role. The city employs 13,000 police officers, 4,500 firefighters and 650 paramedics to provide emergency services. The waiver request notes the various systems and narrowband upgrades the city has already performed: citywide police use a seven-site UHF system (14 new transmitters); “zone” police use a 13-site UHF system (26 new transmitters); and the fire department uses a 16-site system (32 new transmitters). The city has already purchased 15,000 new narrowband radios, the waiver states, and a T-band UHF narrowband network for the fire department is almost complete. “Yet, despite its considerable effort and significant investment to date, Chicago recognizes that it lacks the necessary manpower and resources to finalize the completion of the narrowbanding of all of its VHF/UHF facilities by January 1, 2013,” the waiver says. The city cites “numerous demands on its limited number of radio technicians and the additional burdens on the city’s budget and financial restraints” for not narrowbanding within the Jan. 1, 2013 deadline. Download (pdf) the FCC’s comment request here.
The article can be found HERE, and the full story HERE.
thanks Chris
#1 by chris r on October 6, 2012 - 8:01 PM
There are over 100 talkgroups for DUCOM starcom 21. Your best bet is to go on wwwradioreference.com and look under illinois and then under dupage county, look under ducom and hit the starcom 21 information, there you will find all the ducom starcom 21 talkgroups. also you can look them up on http://www.carmachicago under starcom 21. that’s the easiest way to find them.
#2 by Scott on October 6, 2012 - 5:05 PM
Thank you 571… that is what I figured would be happening. Do you have the DuCom fire talkgroups for Starcom? Thanks!
#3 by ffpm571 on October 6, 2012 - 3:14 PM
OK.. calm down everyone.. LWFD is still using Ducomm fire south. They are using the new APX7000XE radios that are both VHF and Starcom. The Ducomm VHF fire channels are crosspatched with a permanent 2 way patch so you can hear both the starcom Ducomm Fire south talkgroup and the VHF Fire south at the same time. Page outs will still be VHF and the day to day operations will be on starcom, but you will still be able to hear them on VHF. Firegrounds, Red, White and Blue remain unchanged.
#4 by Scott on October 6, 2012 - 10:43 AM
What is LIWD switching to? New radios, a NEW system? Are they staying on the VHF DUCOM FIRE SOUTH or going to Starcom? Kevin, further info please! Or just new radios and staying on their channel & freq?
#5 by Kevin Griffin on October 4, 2012 - 7:21 PM
I’m know that they are switching to the radios
#6 by chris r on October 4, 2012 - 8:02 AM
What is lisle woodrige switching too . Is it starcom 21 or to new radios. I know they will be simulcasted on 151.385 . please explain to what .
#7 by Kevin Griffin on October 3, 2012 - 7:24 PM
lwfd is switching as of friday