Tonight, for the second time this week, the radio system master site
experienced a problem that put both the Delaware and the Dub/Wor sides of the
radio system into "Site Trunking".
Delaware County has been working closely with
Motorola since the problem was first discovered. A data switch in the system,
which has never experienced problems, had a card go bad, leaving a back up card
to run the system. Tonight, the back up card also started showing errors and
then went out of service as well. Motorola had already arranged for replacement
parts to be sent and they are due at Port Columbus tonight at 11pm. They will
immediately transport those parts to Delaware, program them and get them
installed ASAP.
"Site Trunking" is a condition where the radio system becomes two separate
trunked radio systems that operate independently. To the responders
(walkie/mobile users), they only thing different is they see a "Site Trunking"
indication letting them know they can't roam from one side of the system to the
other to get wide area coverage. The biggest issue is with the connection to the
dispatch consoles. The consoles cannot transmit or receive on the COIRS
talk-groups, they can't receive emergency banners and they cannot receive
push-to-talk ID. Dispatchers have to use back up radios (walkies or the
mobile/control stations hooked into the consoles) to communicate.
Until the replacement parts are installed, the system will remain in site
trunking. Dispatchers will need to use their back up radios to communicate with
field units. All units should stay on their normal talk-groups. There is no need
to move to other radio systems (MARCS or Columbus) unless additional problems
arise. Even in site trunking, all three towers on the DUB/WOR side are working
normally to provide the regular level of local radio coverage. We just lose
those added features of roaming, emergency banners and PTT-ID.
Technicians from Motorola will notify all of the dispatch centers when
the repairs are complete.
