The 911 emergency system was out briefly Thursday morning as responders could not receive transmissions through regular channels in three southern Cayuga County towns.
“It was not a real major incident,” Denise Stayton, Cayuga County 911 administrator said. “A problem occurred in the channel cards of the microwave system. We could receive transmissions from the responders.” Stayton said the incident happened about 1 a.m. June 12. For a period of about 30 to 40 minutes the dispatch couldn't use the Frozen Ocean site, located on Owasco Lake in souther Cayuga County, to transmit to Summer Hill, Locke and Moravia areas.
Instead, the responders were contacted via cell phone from the Public Safety Building in Auburn, Stayton said.
The service has had issues with the 20-year-old 911 system before. Last year there was a problem with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office's base station in Cato which Stayton said they could not transmit to. That was a different problem. The 911 system has called on Finger Lakes Communication Co. Inc. to address problems with its system over the years, and they were also called to work on the channel cards Thursday to adjust the volume.
A Request For Proposal is in the works to replace the entire radio system. The RFP will allow a consultant to be hired and make recommendations to the Cayuga County Legislature. The project would then go to bid.
Stayton said that the estimated cost of replacing the radio system could fall between $250,000 and $500,000. The system covers all of Cayuga County.
Finger Lakes Communications, in business since 1957, serves Seneca, Cayuga, Wayne and Ontario counties as their primary radio maintenance provider for fire, sheriff, EMS and highway departments. It specializes in emergency response service, available 24 hours, seven days a week, with two-hour response service capabilities. Its technical staff averages 15 years experience in maintaining 911 systems.
Instead, the responders were contacted via cell phone from the Public Safety Building in Auburn, Stayton said.
The service has had issues with the 20-year-old 911 system before. Last year there was a problem with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office's base station in Cato which Stayton said they could not transmit to. That was a different problem. The 911 system has called on Finger Lakes Communication Co. Inc. to address problems with its system over the years, and they were also called to work on the channel cards Thursday to adjust the volume.
A Request For Proposal is in the works to replace the entire radio system. The RFP will allow a consultant to be hired and make recommendations to the Cayuga County Legislature. The project would then go to bid.
Stayton said that the estimated cost of replacing the radio system could fall between $250,000 and $500,000. The system covers all of Cayuga County.
Finger Lakes Communications, in business since 1957, serves Seneca, Cayuga, Wayne and Ontario counties as their primary radio maintenance provider for fire, sheriff, EMS and highway departments. It specializes in emergency response service, available 24 hours, seven days a week, with two-hour response service capabilities. Its technical staff averages 15 years experience in maintaining 911 systems.
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buk wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:36 PM:
"It was not a real major incident,” Denise Stayton, Cayuga County 911 administrator said. “A problem occurred in the channel cards of the microwave system. We could receive transmissions from the responders.” Stayton said the incident happened about 1 a.m. June 12. For a period of about 30 to 40 minutes the dispatch couldn't use the Frozen Ocean site, located on Owasco Lake in souther Cayuga County, to transmit to Summer Hill, Locke and Moravia areas."
WHEN YOU CANNOT HAVE A CONSTANT RELIABLE CONNECTION TO YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL IT IS A MAJOR INCIDENT.
THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SERIOUS INQUIRIES INTO HOW THE 911 CENTER IS BEING RUN, specifically with the Director and her assistant. "
buk wrote on Jun 14, 2008 9:33 PM:
1st) Cayuga County's radio system is woefully outdated, and is cobbed together using whatever parts the techs at Fingerlakes can scrouge up to keep the microwaves up.
2nd) The techs at Fingerlakes average 15 years experience between the two of them who are actually technicians. Make no mistake they know what they are doing and are very knowledgeable in the RF business.
3rd) It will take more than throwing taxpayer money at the problem to get it resolved....it starts with the County Legislature, the managemenet at the 911 center, and the EMO
4th) They dont have a 20 year old 911 system in place...they just bought new CAD equipment that is tempermental...the radio tower base station equipment is what is in the most need of replacing...some of that stuff is covered is vermin crap...especially at the lake tower site.
The public needs to take a good long look at what type of financial oversight will be in place before a 911 upgrade goes forward. The 911 system is a conglomeration of radio and telephone technologies that need to be properly integrated to achieve the proper level of coverage. More people need to start asking a lot of questions. They PSAP out on county house road is new...the cad equipment is new...the consoles are new.....it is the RADIO equipment that needs to updated..... "
givem20years wrote on Jun 14, 2008 6:51 AM:
It's more than 20 year old equipment that makes the system questionable.
Locally, any troubles have been discounted by the 911 administrator as
not serious.
The top three problems with our national 911 system is Protocol, Protocol, and Protocol.
Response times are worse now than every before. Agencies are unable to communicate
with each other. Lack of training is inherent. The fix is not going to cost $250,000 - $500,000, it's in the millions, but without proper training and major changes in the center itself, nothing will change. The next time there's a failure at the 911 center, see what the excuse is. It's always the same. Don't count on your 911 system to save you. "