[FedCom] Laptop Computers, Access To Local Systems, Etc.

[Chris Parris]

>
> Have you seen any federal users deploying laptop computers out in  
> their vehicles?  I would think that for certain operations in some  
> agencies it might be rather handy to have a notebook computer with  
> the ability to access certain databases, car to car text messaging,  
> etc.

I have not seen any federal agencies cars with laptops installed in  
the same way police vehicles sometimes do. I have not seen any of the  
marked Federal Protective Service cars lately to see. However, I'm  
certain that some federal vehicles, particularly FEMA, have many  
computers working in them. I'm also certain that many agencies are  
doing SMS or text messages between Nextels...

>
> What agencies and in what areas are you seeing federal users  
> joining local/county/state users on existing radio networks?  For  
> example, we have a Veterans Administration Hospital in  
> Minneapolis.  They have their own VA Police, but disbanded their  
> fire department some time ago and contract with Saint Paul Fire and  
> Safety.  Since many local users are joing the ARMER network, which  
> is 800 mHz P-25 trunking, I could see where having VA Police on  
> ARMER be an advantage for coordination.  Right now they are on  
> their own 400 mHz conventional P-25 system.  I don't know if they  
> have the ability to access the ARMER system, but it could have its  
> advantages.  And if they have a law enforcement incident it might  
> be helpful for them to access the system to coordinate with  
> Minneapolis Police, Hennepin County Sheriff, Airport Police,  
> Minnesota State Patrol, etc.

Same in other areas too, Jim. In m home area of Portland, OR, the VA  
Medical Center has completely abandoned their VHF and UHF federal  
channels, and now use more than a few talk groups on the regional 800  
MHz public safety system. Other federal agencies also have talk  
groups assigned on this same system, but they are not using them as  
their primary means of communications.

>
> I did post something a few months back about the GRE PSR-500 and  
> forthcoming PSR-600 for federal monitoring.  I am curious if  
> anybody here is using a PSR-500 for federal monitoring and, if so,  
> how well it works out.

I haven't gotten mine yet, but I'm starting to get more and more  
federal logs with P-25 NAC information from listeners, so it appears  
somebody out there is using them for federal monitoring!

- Chris


  --
Chris Parris
Fed Files Columnist
Monitoring Times Magazine
chrisparris at monitoringtimes.com
http://www.monitoringtimes.com
http://mt-fedfiles.blogspot.com/