On Mon, Apr 04, 2022 at 09:45:06PM +0000, John Doe wrote:

Bill,

Here is an unrestricted older briefing on FirstNet: http://telecom-digest.org/FirstNet/FirstNet_overview.pptx

Thanks for that: I put it on the T-D website.

Also interesting when State of Florida rebid their Public Safety radio network they required the radios to be LTE interoperable. In the
event of a hurricane that takes out their P25 infrastructure, or a
massive local need that exceeds bandwidth, they can switch radios over
to LTE (presumingly FirstNet)

Kudos to Florida: I just hope that the hurricane/flood/whatever
doesn't take down the FirstNet sites at the same time it's destroying
ordinary cell towers.

Having said that you don't see a lot of "walkie talkie" users on first
net. It's mostly cell phones, tablets, Mobile routers, EKGs, MDTs,
Liscense Plate readers, etc.

Whoa! Have mercy! I'm an analog tech in a digital world!
What are "EKGs?" What are "MDTs?"

FAA has put a few weather sensors on FirstNet (as TDM transport
becomes obsolete, and they don't need a 3 Mbps carrier Ethernet
circuit for ~200 bps of data).

At that rate, the Morse keys and sounders in the Gamewell boxes might still come in handy! ;-)

There is an app called Tango Tango that simulcasts Land Mobile Radio
over LTE- basically allows public safety command staff and volunteer firefighter to monitor a frequency without having to lug a radio
with them. They obviously advertise it's not safety critical, the
idea is when they respond they will switch over to a standard radio,
but they can maintain situational awareness or be contacted through
the app. I've played with it - and it appears to work well in either
use.

I'll take your word for it: I try to minimize the number of apps on my
"smart" phone, and I'm not young enough to be a First Responder
anyway.

Thanks for your help, insight, and the PowerPoint overview.

Bill

--
Bill Horne
Telecom Digest Moderator

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Bill,

Here is an unrestricted older briefing on FirstNet: http://telecom-digest.org/FirstNet/FirstNet_overview.pptx

Also interesting when State of Florida rebid their Public Safety radio
network they required the radios to be LTE interoperable. In the
event of a hurricane that takes out their P25 infrastructure, or a
massive local need that exceeds bandwidth, they can switch radios over
to LTE (presumingly FirstNet)

Having said that you don't see a lot of "walkie talkie" users on first
net. It's mostly cell phones, tablets, Mobile routers, EKGs, MDTs,
Liscense Plate readers, etc. FAA has put a few weather sensors on
first net (as TDM transport becomes obsolete, and they don't need a 3
Mbps carrier Ethernet circuit for 100 bps of data). There is an app
called Tango Tango that simulcasts Land Mobile Radio over LTE-
basically allows public safety command staff and volunteer firefighter
to monitor a frequency without having to lug a radio with them. They
obviously advertise it's not safety critical, the idea is when they
respond they will switch over to a standard radio, but they can
maintain situational awareness or be contacted through the app. I've
played with it- and it appears to work well in either use.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Mon, Apr 04, 2022 at 09:45:06PM +0000, John Doe wrote:

Bill,

Here is an unrestricted older briefing on FirstNet: http://telecom-digest.org/FirstNet/FirstNet_overview.pptx

Also interesting when State of Florida rebid their Public Safety radio network they required the radios to be LTE interoperable. In the
event of a hurricane that takes out their P25 infrastructure, or a
massive local need that exceeds bandwidth, they can switch radios over
to LTE (presumingly FirstNet)

Having said that you don't see a lot of "walkie talkie" users on first
net. It's mostly cell phones, tablets, Mobile routers, EKGs, MDTs,
Liscense Plate readers, etc. FAA has put a few weather sensors on
first net (as TDM transport becomes obsolete, and they don't need a 3
Mbps carrier Ethernet circuit for 100 bps of data). There is an app
called Tango Tango that simulcasts Land Mobile Radio over LTE-
basically allows public safety command staff and volunteer firefighter
to monitor a frequency without having to lug a radio with them. They obviously advertise it's not safety critical, the idea is when they
respond they will switch over to a standard radio, but they can
maintain situational awareness or be contacted through the app. I've
played with it- and it appears to work well in either use.

BTW on the GETS thing- It was fairly well described by NCS (National Communications System) before they became part of DHS, now its under
CISA. It's essentially a phone credit card. You dial a 10 digit
number starting with 710 (That has been discussed in the Digest a long
time ago- apparently the reserved NPA got a lot of people interested)
and then are given the opportunity to enter your PIN- once you
authenticate, you have priority routing over the switched
network. There are also 1-800 access number available. In the
previous decade it worked very well- you obviously have to have
dialtone first. The federal government pays for the system and
sponsors are sent bills for the usage. Users are government employees
(ranging from Wage Grade to Cabinet Officials), certain scientific and technical personnel, contractors, and critical infrastructure/industry
users sponsored by the state or federal government. You are
encouraged to test it annually. Now with call transport moving to
VoIP, and huge moves from POTS to VoIP and LTE, I'd think it is of
limited benefit now- But I don't really have much recent
knowledge. You could use it on top of Firstnet to ensure routing once
you get off the enhanced packet core.

WPS is a code you dial (*XXX) before each call to get your subscribed
cell phone priority service. Also run by CISA, and works across the
major carriers in the 50 states . With Verizon's first responder
network and FirstNet, I'd think it would mostly be useful for T Mobile
or local provider users. I know GCI in Alaska doesn't support it as
of 18 months ago. WPS has an internal priority unlike GETS.
Whitehouse at the top, [ordinary people] at the bottom.

There is an app, of course, that will do this dialing for you for
either system.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 4/4/22 6:59 PM, Telecom Digest Moderator wrote:

On Mon, Apr 04, 2022 at 09:45:06PM +0000, John Doe wrote:

|The federal government pays for the system and sponsors are sent
|bills for the usage. Users are government employees (ranging from
|Wage Grade to Cabinet Officials), certain scientific and technical
|personnel, contractors, and critical infrastructure/industry users
|sponsored by the state or federal government. You are encouraged to
|test it annually.

My memory was usage up to $X/month was free for the user; the (astute)
intent was to keep it (and the card holder) tested regularly.

| Also interesting when State of Florida rebid their Public Safety radio
| network they required the radios to be LTE interoperable. In the
| event of a hurricane that takes out their P25 infrastructure, or a
| massive local need that exceeds bandwidth, they can switch radios over
| to LTE (presumingly FirstNet)

Kudos to Florida: I just hope that the hurricane/flood/whatever
doesn't take down the FirstNet sites at the same time it's destroying ordinary cell towers.

I'd bet dollars to donuts that FirstNet cell sites are ordinary site and
vice versa. All it takes is software to put FN users at the head of the
line. Do note that for all the flagwaving and cheering by FirstNet
recipients, the FCC has not mandated backup power at cell sites.

Having said that you don't see a lot of "walkie talkie" users on first
net. It's mostly cell phones, tablets, Mobile routers, EKGs, MDTs,
Liscense Plate readers, etc.

Whoa! Have mercy! I'm an analog tech in a digital world!
What are "EKGs?" What are "MDTs?"

Electrocardiogram: What the TV ER docs/paramedics look at before using
the defibrillator.

Mobile Data Terminal is the computer in the cop car used to look up
your license plate before being arrested for having an air freshener
hanging from your mirror.

FAA has put a few weather sensors on FirstNet (as TDM transport
becomes obsolete, and they don't need a 3 Mbps carrier Ethernet
circuit for ~200 bps of data).

At that rate, the Morse keys and sounders in the Gamewell boxes might still come in handy! ;-)

And maybe more dependable....

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