What do you think?

Several agencies have received their new portables and we want to hear how things are going! Comment on this post and let us know about your experiences with the new portables! Also feel free to comment on the exchange process, so other agencies know what to expect!

Thanks!

Progress Maps...

Fire/EMS/Other Map Key
-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed. A municipality will be considered completed when all services (not including law enforcement) that primarily serve municipality have been completed.)

-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process. A municipality can be changed to “In Process” if any service within that municipality is engaged in the exchange process.)

-Training Scheduled (Portable training dates have been scheduled and tentative dates for exchange are set.)

-Pending (Portable training exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)
*Not able to be reflected in the map: West Shore EMS portable exchange and mobile upgrades were completed.

Law Enforcement Map Key
-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed.)

-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process.)

-Training Scheduled (The training has been scheduled and tentative exchanged dates are set.)

-Pending (Portable training and exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)*The exchange process does no effect municipalities without color, as they do not have municipal police departments.

A look at the numbers as of 3/22/2010

Portable Radios Exchanged: 331 of 1,506

Mobile/VTAC Radios Reprogrammed: 113 of 883

Control Stations Reprogrammed: 20 of 61

Progress Maps

Fire/EMS/Other Map Key

-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed. A municipality will be considered completed when all services (not including law enforcement) that primarily serve municipality have been completed.)

-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process. A municipality can be changed to “In Process” if any service within that municipality is engaged in the exchange process.)

-Training Scheduled (Portable training dates have been scheduled and tentative dates for exchange are set.)

-Pending (Portable training exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)

*Not able to be reflected in the map: West Shore EMS portable exchange and mobile upgrades were completed.

Law Enforcement Map Key

-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed.)
-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process.)
-Training Scheduled (The training has been scheduled and tentative exchanged dates are set.)
-Pending (Portable training and exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)*The exchange process does no effect municipalities without color, as they do not have municipal police departments.

Emergency Button Focus Group

Cumberland County has created a focus group to look further into the use of the “Emergency Button” for Fire. This group is exploring the ramifications of the emergency button in an effort to develop SOG's for MAYDAY concerns. Check back to the blog for further updates on this issue as the focus group continues their work.

A look at the numbers...

Portable Radios Exchanged to Date:
295 of 1,506

Mobile/VTAC Radios Reprogrammed to Date:
116 of 883

Control Stations Reprogrammed to Date:
18 of 61

Keeping Pace...

DPS has been working diligently to get new portables into the hands of our responders in recent weeks. We hope to continue this rapid pace, as we are also working towards an FCC deadline for project completion. This pace can only be maintained through your help and cooperation. When your agency is contacted about scheduling training for your portables, it is important that you respond as soon as possible. It is our hope to have your training conducted within a two week time frame after contact is made, with the actual portable exchange occurring at your earliest convenience, following training.

If you do not respond to the HACC representatives in timely fashion to schedule your training, DPS may shift your agency to the end of the project schedule, as it is imperative that we stay on schedule with this project and do not want to delay the delivery of portables to other agencies. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and again encourage you to promptly respond when contacted for training.

Progress Report

TO DATE 295 PORTABLES HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED IN CUMBERLAND COUNTY!


Fire/EMS/Other Map Key
-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed. A municipality will be considered completed when all services (not including law enforcement) that primarily serve municipality have been completed.)

-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process. A municipality can be changed to “In Process” if any service within that municipality is engaged in the exchange process.)

-Training Scheduled (Portable training dates have been scheduled and tentative dates for exchange are set.)

-Pending (Portable training exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)
*Not able to be reflected in the map: West Shore EMS portable exchange was completed.

Law Enforcement Map Key
-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed.)

-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process.)

-Training Scheduled (The training has been scheduled and tentative exchanged dates are set.)

-Pending (Portable training and exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)*The exchange process does no effect municipalities without color, as they do not have municipal police departments.

What do you think?

Several agencies have received their new portables and we want to hear how things are going! Comment on this post and let us know about your experiences with the new portables! Also feel free to comment on the exchange process, so other agencies know what to expect!

Thanks!

Project Status

Fire/EMS/Other Map Key

-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed. A municipality will be considered completed when all services (not including law enforcement) that primarily serve municipality have been completed.)

-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process. A municipality can be changed to “In Process” if any service within that municipality is engaged in the exchange process.)
-Training Scheduled (Portable training dates have been scheduled and tentative dates for exchange are set.)
-Pending (Portable training exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)

Law Enforcement Map Key

-Completed (Portable exchange is complete and all installs and software upgrades have been completed.)
-In Process (Harris and DPS are actively engaged in the exchange process.)
-Scheduled (The training has been scheduled and tentative exchanged dates are set.)
-Pending (Portable training and exchange process has yet to begin. No department or agency is engaged in the exchange process.)
*The exchange process does no effect municipalities without color, as they do not have municipal police departments.

Dauphin County

As Dauphin County is transitioning to a new radio system, DPS has received several inquiries regarding the status of Cumberland unit’s ability to communicate with Dauphin County without buying another radio. Understanding this concern, DPS has been in contact with Dauphin County regarding this concern. Dauphin County has assured us that the current low band system in Dauphin will be used to patch into their new system for on scene operations.

DPS is working to address similar concerns in other counties as others are moving to new radio systems.

The Word of the Day is....Interoperability!!!!

A 25+ car pile up on the PA Turnpike last Friday was further complicated by whiteout conditions, drifting snow, and traffic back logs. One thing that was not a complicating factor, radio communications! As the incident progressed on Friday, DPS saw the need for direct communications between Command 47 and the multiple state agencies involved. Within a matter of minutes DPS was able to load a state Talk Group (Tac2) into the TG16 slot on a portable, making communications between Command 47, DMVA (Department of Military and Veterans Affairs), PennDOT and PEMA possible! Instant and simple interoperability!

Soon all portables and mobiles in the County will have Global 1, Global 2 and Commonwealth InterOps profiles in their radios, making this interoperability for major events readily available to all responders, as state agencies also possess these profiles! DPS is in the process of working on policy and procedure with The Commonwealth of PA to implement the three profiles in all Cumberland radios. A simple change in profile and you will be able to easily communicate with the state agencies you may be working with!

Cumberland County is the only county in the state that has the ability to directly communicate with the state like this! Other counties require special equipment or patches to do so.

What do you think?

Several agencies have received their new portables and we want to hear how things are going! Comment on this post and let us know about your experiences with the new portables! Also feel free to comment on the exchange process, so other agencies know what to expect!

Thanks!