ACT emergency radio network to undergo $15 million upgrade

[matthewn1983]

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-new ... h8r8x.html

Almost $15 million will fund a major upgrade of the ACT's emergency radio network over the next three years.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Joy Burch announced on Monday $14.728 million would be set aside in next week's budget for a revamp of the Territory Radio Network's repeater tower infrastructure and radio and terminal equipment.

The network enables the Emergency Services Agency's emergency call-taking, dispatches, responses and communications, including cross-border incidents with other emergency services.

Ms Burch said other ACT government agencies including ACTION Buses, Territory and Municipal Services, ACT Policing, ACT Health and Roads ACT also used the network.
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"This initiative is to ensure the territory's emergency services are able to remain at the forefront of responding to the needs of the Canberra community," Ms Burch said.
"The funding will be spent over the next three years to progress upgrades to [the network], which is used by the ACT ESA as the agency's primary communication method, particularly during emergency events. The [network] is also used by other government agencies."
The Territory Radio Network was introduced in 2004 with key pieces of infrastructure housed at a number of strategically located sites across the ACT, providing almost 100 per cent geographic coverage.
Operator consoles in the Emergency Services Agency's Fairbairn communications centre, radio handsets and vehicle-mounted radio sets communicate via the network.
The latest upgrade funding follows the funding of other key emergency services infrastructure in last year's budget, including the replacement of the network's microwave ring and an upgrade of the agency's computer aided dispatch system.

[Longreach]

Looks like phase 2 is coming to the territory.

[Wonky]

At the end of May a new freq was listed for each tower as well:

415.2125 (Mt Ginni)
415.3250 (One Tree Hill)
415.3000 (Isaacs Ridge)
415.3875 (Black Mtn)
414.7875 (Black Mtn)
415.3500 (Mt Tennent)

[Longreach]

HI all,
I'm surprised Mt Ainslie didn't end up with some more too. Its the main site for ESA HQ and on a busy day it quite often ends up full.
The upgrade will see a lot of XTL/S series radios finished up. From looking in their a few of their vehicles i saw a few 5K's with W5 heads on them.
Cheers
Matt

[citabria]

Where does it mention Phase 2?

[Scotty]

Is the TRN managed seperately to the NSWGRN? I always thought they were operated/managed by the same mob?

Regardless, other docs around suggest they are moving their data systems (MDT's, etc) from 3G onto the TRN. This upgrade may include that.

[system_tech]

The ACT TRN (actually ACT ESA) own their base stations, links etc. They work in concert with NSW GRN but have their own managment cell within ACT ESA.