STARRS - St Louis Area Regional Response System

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(Proper/Better formatting needed)

Old STARRS Reference info (to be moved to wiki)
http://www.stl-starrs.org/
http://www.ewgateway.org/pdffiles/maplibrary/SharedRR8X11MOM.pdf

http://www.stl-starrs.org/library/library.htm#prs

For additional information, see the wiki page: * STARRS - St Louis Area Regional Response System Wiki Page

From <http://74.125.95.104/search?q=cache:2_1D2JPOBVUJ:www.ewgateway.org/pdffiles/library/presentations/radiopresentation-feb08.ppt+%22st+charles+county%22+%22radio+system%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3&gl=us>

Powerpoint: <http://www.ewgateway.org/pdffiles/library/presentations/radiopresentation-feb08.ppt>

Communications Study February 2008

Purpose of the Study

Assess the radio systems in use and develop design recommendations

Develop cost estimates for a system implementation plan

Provide a roadmap to Interoperability

System Assessments

Study began November 2007

Interviews held with 34 constituent groups

Site inspections currently underway

Continued meetings with STARRS committees and staff

Interview Topics

Document the formal and informal institutional arrangements among public safety agencies

Detailed wide range of technical and operational issues

Define interoperability, range, coverage, performance and reliability

Summary of Current Systems

Conventional Systems (VHF and UHF)

Aged systems and equipment

Congestion and interference - Too many users, too many systems, not enough channels

FCC 2013 “Narrowbanding” Mandate

Wideband VHF

Franklin County

Jefferson County

St. Charles County – all but 2 municipalities

St. Louis County

Madison County – all but Sheriff's Office

Monroe County

800 MHz Systems

City of St. Louis

Metropolitan Police Department 2 site analog 800 MHz system

Upgrading to 3 site digital system including Fire Department

Lambert Airport 1 site 800 MHz analog system upgrading to a digital 2 site system

800 MHz Systems

Metro

Existing VHF/UHF and 11 site 800 MHz system upgrading to 21 site 800 MHz system

Moving VHF and UHF users to 800 MHz system

Madison County Sheriff’s Office on 800 MHz StarCom 21 Network

St. Clair County – 800 MHz system connected to StarCom 21 Network

Franklin County

Jefferson County

Lambert Airport

Madison County

Metro

Monroe County

St. Clair County

St. Charles County

City of St. Louis

St. Louis County

Mixture of systems throughout the region & within same county

In conventional systems, equipment is outdated, circa 1960’s

911 dispatch communications changing

Volume of users in conventional systems inhibits interoperability

Migration to 800MHz is underway

Regional users recognize the need to collaborate

Key Findings

In our region, we have a complex patchwork of conventional systems (VHF and UHF) and 800MHz

Interoperability issues Coverage problems & requirements System configuration (base equipment, mobiles, and portables) System performance and operational procedures

Current system reliability Existing service requirements Available engineering documentation pertaining to site plans, antenna layouts, and transmitter locations

Planned radio system upgrades 1960’s technology Regarding the FCC narrowbanding mandate: All regional VHF systems operate in wideband mode

No active local or regional narrowband plans Upgrades will alter existing system coverage Limited availability of parts Adds layers of complexity to interoperability Caused by both internal and external agencies Perpetuates dispatch and field retransmissions Overrides emergency and routine radio traffic Results in delayed communications

Regarding 911: Efficiency and effectiveness is impacted by radio congestion and interference Over 50% of 911 calls are from cell phones Significantly increases incoming 911 calls for a single incident Reduction in landline subscribers/911 calls Decreasing 911 revenues VoIP Internet 911 calls increasing

St. Louis Land Mobile Communications Study

February 2008 Purpose of the Study Assess the radio systems in use and develop design recommendations Develop cost estimates for a system implementation plan Provide a roadmap to Interoperability

System Assessments Study began November 2007 Interviews held with 34 constituent groups Site inspections currently underway Continued meetings with STARRS committees and staff

Interview Topics Document the formal and informal institutional arrangements among public safety agencies Detailed wide range of technical and operational issues Define interoperability, range, coverage, performance and reliability Summary of Current Systems Conventional Systems (VHF and UHF) Aged systems and equipment Congestion and interference - Too many users, too many systems, not enough channels

FCC 2013 “Narrowbanding” Mandate Wideband VHF Franklin County Jefferson County St. Charles County – all but 2 municipalities St. Louis County Madison County – all but Sheriff's Office Monroe County

800 MHz Systems City of St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department 2 site analog 800 MHz system Upgrading to 3 site digital system including Fire Department Lambert Airport 1 site 800 MHz analog system upgrading to a digital 2 site system

800 MHz Systems Metro Existing VHF/UHF and 11 site 800 MHz system upgrading to 21 site 800 MHz system Moving VHF and UHF users to 800 MHz system Madison County Sheriff’s Office on 800 MHz StarCom 21 Network St. Clair County – 800 MHz system connected to StarCom 21 Network

Key Findings Mixture of systems throughout the region & within same county In conventional systems, equipment is outdated, circa 1960’s 911 dispatch communications changing Volume of users in conventional systems inhibits interoperability Migration to 800MHz is underway Regional users recognize the need to collaborate