Bigfella237 wrote:ivahri wrote:~
And lastly do you think that other agencies would jeopardize their crews? Or do you think the RFS is so visionary & caring for their staff that they recognize an issue that the others don't? I think the word for that is delusion... No, the answer is that they don't want to share- and they want ridiculous amounts of $$$ at the expense of other agencies so that they can keep doing it. Personally I'd prefer to keep the RFS as far away from the GRN as possible... because they can't be trusted to use it properly when they are on it. But then the state is broke & I hate seeing this agency (and NP&WS) get treated like a sacred cow while the rest suffer. My opinions only as always!
Cheers,
Richard
Hahaha... I've never yet met a townie that didn't hate the bushies... and vice-versa... although personally it's got me beat why in either case? (Something akin to the Hatfields and the McCoys me thinks...)
Anyway, two points:
1) The RFS would say you've got the $$$ thing backwards Richard, they claim it's too expensive to be on the GRN? Somebody do the math here... how much is it per radio per month times 4000 odd radios to have access to the GRN?
The answer to this problem is of course, don't charge anybody to use the GRN! I have never been able to see the point in one NSW government department paying another NSW government department for anything... THEY'RE ALL THE NSW GOVERNMENT! The only thing this effectively does is create thousands of jobs for bean-counters that in itself costs, you guessed it, the NSW government!
and
2) There are serious problems with expecting agencies who's primary areas of operation are way out in the middle of the bush to use a radio network that's based around the major highway system in country NSW.
Maybe it's just the country boy in me but if you've ever done any 4WDing you will know that as soon as you get off the beaten track, especially in amongst the coastal ranges, you can kiss sweet goodbye to any form of mainstream communication (with the obvious exception of satellite phones) and GRN reception is no exception. IMO, that is the main reason you will never get NPWS & RFS to commit 100% to the GRN, which BTW, is the same reason the NSW Police Force won't commit to it, the GRN simply cannot provide the coverage of a PMR network across the entirety of the state.
That's my 2c anyway...
Andrew
Andrew, forget adding NSWP to the picture, they are playing a different game. (i.e. my aerial is longer than yours in the locker room) etc. They have already cracked the kettle Don't believe me, got for a trip to a couple locations in sydney and watch how many radios affiliate with the network
you can guess who they all are by the location.
NPWS + RFS just need a kick in the arse, we are 1 govt, somebody needs to take control of the situation and thump the fist on the table and say bullshit when someone tries to produce crap. lets contract woolworths to do the negotiating, from what the media/talk says, they are the best in the business
Its called the GRN for a reason. ALL govt should be on there. spec it correctly, all major town councils should also have a part in it(either directly or via linking). i.e. a small town = 3 channel site for police and fire/ambo
My idea(get the guns out ivahri)
1 x Control center in sydney (Pol, Fire, Ambo) all on GRN.
2. RFS/SES/st john run by a separate command of the same status of those above located in the same building
3. All radios of EVERY agency able to state wide access analogue and digital p25 channels of the others.(i.e. lo es comm)
4. All links pointing back here to this location(plus the disaster site covertly placed somewhere else, even in the bush if need be)
5. All local councils on the net and anybody else on govt business
Run a separate "GRN" hire section(similar to now just relaxed). Council related groups spend massive amounts on hire gear, this could be pooled gear. I know of a council that spent $2410 on hire radios for less than one week for a youth event). just imagine they could actually talk with the 20+ police on foot around the venue. cost/life savings instantly
SA+NSW+VIC GRN are already linked, we have proved that several times in the past. users that require access could get granted it on a adhoc basis. i.e. in the furure you call a 1800 number or jump onto a talkgroup and request radio access to another zone you are going in, or if pre-approved, your GPS, flicks the radio over
My local council spent in excess of $139k on "radio equipment" last year. considering they are running tait VHF for garbage trucks I don't know what the hell they spent it on but I sure hope its a decked out comms bus.
Fed govt would strip all excess tax payers network $$ into one pool, spend it once. not all this incompatible gear. '' then sell the excess spectrum
Imagine the bus doing cityrail deployment over the weekend been able to talk directly to cityrail staff . Its a hole of business cost reduction(1 operator not needed)
Crazy, Crazy, p.s. ivahri would not agree to this as he would be out of a job
Just for a second think about this, all local, state, fed govt's no longer use their set frequencies(that mostly were not used at every 40% of cap anyway). they all worked on the 1 network. HUGE cost savings here, power to talk to IP link business, 1 link for sites etc etc.
radios that could be "sold" to another section when an upgrade is made (immediate cost saving for a perfect working radio going into a garbage truck)