RoIP Project is Completed !
I am pleased to announce that the RoIP project is completed. Performance of the system exceeds our expectations and provides us the flexibility and interoperability that we were so desperately seeking.
In completing the project we were able to vacate several tower sites, lessening the future financial impact on our members. On a regular basis we are seeing reduced connectivity costs as new providers come onto the scene and as bandwidths increasingly become more accessible and economical.
There were some challenges during the project; the project timeline was longer than expected and there were some issues with the radio systems planned redundancies but with the help of the systems engineering firm and our hard working contractor, those difficulties were overcome. Billing for the final cleanup and removal of antiquated equipment has not yet been received however, we are confident to report that final cost for the project will come in at or under Budget.
A big “Thank-you” goes out to Ken Trudel of Cartel Communication Systems Inc., of Edmonton Alberta and to Jamie McPhee of Vercomm Wireless Communications of Vermilion Alberta. Their professionalism and tenacity made everything possible.
The residents served by East Central 911 Call Answer Society, all the Emergency Departments, the Society’s Board of Directors, management and staff look forward to the benefits of a great radio system that will take us all into the foreseeable future.
Allan (Aj) Keller
Chief Admin Officer
East Central 911 Call Answer Society
May 19, 2011
I am pleased to announce that the RoIP project is completed. Performance of the system exceeds our expectations and provides us the flexibility and interoperability that we were so desperately seeking.
In completing the project we were able to vacate several tower sites, lessening the future financial impact on our members. On a regular basis we are seeing reduced connectivity costs as new providers come onto the scene and as bandwidths increasingly become more accessible and economical.
There were some challenges during the project; the project timeline was longer than expected and there were some issues with the radio systems planned redundancies but with the help of the systems engineering firm and our hard working contractor, those difficulties were overcome. Billing for the final cleanup and removal of antiquated equipment has not yet been received however, we are confident to report that final cost for the project will come in at or under Budget.
A big “Thank-you” goes out to Ken Trudel of Cartel Communication Systems Inc., of Edmonton Alberta and to Jamie McPhee of Vercomm Wireless Communications of Vermilion Alberta. Their professionalism and tenacity made everything possible.
The residents served by East Central 911 Call Answer Society, all the Emergency Departments, the Society’s Board of Directors, management and staff look forward to the benefits of a great radio system that will take us all into the foreseeable future.
Allan (Aj) Keller
Chief Admin Officer
East Central 911 Call Answer Society
May 19, 2011
Update on the New RoIP Radio system.
In January 2010, final approval was given for construction of the New Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) system that will serve East Central 911 Call Answer Society into the future. The system engineered by Cartel Communications of Edmonton is currently being built by Vercomm Wireless Communications of Vermilion Alberta, with an expected completion date in June 2010.
The Society’s Board of Directors, Administration and Dispatch staff are very excited at the opportunities and advanced capabilities provided for in the new system. The RoIP system will provide a stable link to all our emergency services radio systems. We are particularly excited that we will soon be able to facilitate communications between different departments involved in joint operations. “There will be communication between Fire Departments where there was none before.” Additionally we will be able to interface telephone Communications directly into the radio system.
The CAO reports that to date spending on the project is within budgetary parameters and that we are actually recognizing savings on costs budgeted to inter-connectivity. This is typical of the current internet environment where users have the ability to move larger amounts of data at cheaper and cheaper rates.
In preparation of the new system, East Central 911 has begun its Supportive Text Messaging Service (STMS). This is a “free of charge” add-on that advises all relevant participants of emergency events. The goal is to keep smaller departments officials and First Responders informed as to happenings in their response areas, i.e. a Fire Chief that has travelled anywhere outside of normal radio range (anywhere in North America) will be kept informed of happenings in his jurisdiction. He may then chose to telephone EC911 and will be linked directly into his radio system to ensure his department has the resources needed as events unfold.
Currently 23 of the 27 fire Departments subscribe to this service. Overwhelmingly, the response to the service has been positive.
May 28, 2010
In January 2010, final approval was given for construction of the New Radio over Internet Protocol (RoIP) system that will serve East Central 911 Call Answer Society into the future. The system engineered by Cartel Communications of Edmonton is currently being built by Vercomm Wireless Communications of Vermilion Alberta, with an expected completion date in June 2010.
The Society’s Board of Directors, Administration and Dispatch staff are very excited at the opportunities and advanced capabilities provided for in the new system. The RoIP system will provide a stable link to all our emergency services radio systems. We are particularly excited that we will soon be able to facilitate communications between different departments involved in joint operations. “There will be communication between Fire Departments where there was none before.” Additionally we will be able to interface telephone Communications directly into the radio system.
The CAO reports that to date spending on the project is within budgetary parameters and that we are actually recognizing savings on costs budgeted to inter-connectivity. This is typical of the current internet environment where users have the ability to move larger amounts of data at cheaper and cheaper rates.
In preparation of the new system, East Central 911 has begun its Supportive Text Messaging Service (STMS). This is a “free of charge” add-on that advises all relevant participants of emergency events. The goal is to keep smaller departments officials and First Responders informed as to happenings in their response areas, i.e. a Fire Chief that has travelled anywhere outside of normal radio range (anywhere in North America) will be kept informed of happenings in his jurisdiction. He may then chose to telephone EC911 and will be linked directly into his radio system to ensure his department has the resources needed as events unfold.
Currently 23 of the 27 fire Departments subscribe to this service. Overwhelmingly, the response to the service has been positive.
May 28, 2010
East Central 911 Looks to Build a New Communication System
The proposed new radio system came as the result of the need to build a new Radio tower. The capacity of the Fabyan (Husky) Tower which we currently are now located on is “maxed out.” The Fabyan tower is the fulcrum of EC911’s entire communication system. It is from this point that all/most of our communications are disseminated. Without the ability to add equipment to this tower we are limited in our ability to expand our radio network bringing on new customers. Additional space on the Fabyan tower is also required by our landlord.
This problem was first recognized in 2008 when concerns were expressed by Husky Oil. A big “Thank you” still goes out to Husky Oil who has provided use of the tower for “zero” cost the Society and the populations that the Society serves.
Unfortunately, our steady growth and technological advancements over the years including; the Microwave upgrade, the Page-Gate Alpha Numeric Paging system and Local Communications has inadvertently exercised the towers complete capacity and has further pushed aside our gracious Landlord and Neighbour…..Husky Oil.
After examining other options including the in-availability of other towers, the Society came to the conclusion that the best option was to build our own tower in the nearby vicinity. In fact, our 2009 Capital Budget directed significant funds towards the construction of such a tower. Plans were being considered to build another 300’ foot tower similar to the tower that the Society already owns and is located just north of Vermilion.
A cautious approach and further exploration identified a relatively new technology in Dispatch. “Radio over Internet Protocol” (RoIP) which now appears to be a much superior option when compared to the construction of a new tower and building onto our old technology. The Society’s Board of Directors has found this to be a very appropriate time to jump into the 21st century and take on a new Dispatch Technology.
Presently we dispatch to our membership through a comprehensive radio broadcast system utilizing Microwave, UHF and VHF systems. We will look to developing this new (RoIP) system as soon as late Q3 in 2009.
For our existing members and clients, this will not impact the way that their radio service works. The biggest change will come in the area of responsibility. The integrity of each municipality’s local radio system will now wholly become the responsibility of the jurisdiction it serves. For example the County of Vermilion River (CVR) has an extensive system that serves multiple services within the County; i.e. fire, municipal works etc. Under the RoIP system, we will only be responsible for bringing the signal to CVR’s radio system.
Why choose the RoIP system then?
We will be able to cut out towers used to move our signal from one point to the end user. Specifically that means that the Society will have no need to be located on, rent, or maintain; The Fabyan Tower, The Auburndale Tower, The Amisk Tower and the Nose Hill Tower. The monthly savings will be significant; Rent, Utilities costs and Maintenance will be reduced.
Furthermore, we can build an entire new RoIP system for less cost than the 1 (one) tower that we set out to build as the result of our concerns in 2008.
Our current radio’s and dispatch consoles are aging and at present very expensive to maintain. Under the new system, our existing dispatch consoles will be gone. Maintenance, upgrade and service capabilities come at significantly less cost than what we have seen in our current system.
We can rapidly and efficiently bring on new clients, municipalities, cities, towns, villages, …..anybody with an existing radio system. This can happen within a matter of only days and at minimal expansion cost estimated at $3000.00 per additional service. We do not need to jump our radio system from point to point. If we chose to do so, we could be dispatching in Australia in a matter of days. This is the future.
At the Spring General Meeting on June 18th 2009, the membership directed the aggressive pursuit of the RoIP option. To date we have found a vendor to build the system, we have consulted others who are already using this technology and we are prepared the move forward immediately following the Annual General Meeting in December 2009.
October 10, 2009
This problem was first recognized in 2008 when concerns were expressed by Husky Oil. A big “Thank you” still goes out to Husky Oil who has provided use of the tower for “zero” cost the Society and the populations that the Society serves.
Unfortunately, our steady growth and technological advancements over the years including; the Microwave upgrade, the Page-Gate Alpha Numeric Paging system and Local Communications has inadvertently exercised the towers complete capacity and has further pushed aside our gracious Landlord and Neighbour…..Husky Oil.
After examining other options including the in-availability of other towers, the Society came to the conclusion that the best option was to build our own tower in the nearby vicinity. In fact, our 2009 Capital Budget directed significant funds towards the construction of such a tower. Plans were being considered to build another 300’ foot tower similar to the tower that the Society already owns and is located just north of Vermilion.
A cautious approach and further exploration identified a relatively new technology in Dispatch. “Radio over Internet Protocol” (RoIP) which now appears to be a much superior option when compared to the construction of a new tower and building onto our old technology. The Society’s Board of Directors has found this to be a very appropriate time to jump into the 21st century and take on a new Dispatch Technology.
Presently we dispatch to our membership through a comprehensive radio broadcast system utilizing Microwave, UHF and VHF systems. We will look to developing this new (RoIP) system as soon as late Q3 in 2009.
For our existing members and clients, this will not impact the way that their radio service works. The biggest change will come in the area of responsibility. The integrity of each municipality’s local radio system will now wholly become the responsibility of the jurisdiction it serves. For example the County of Vermilion River (CVR) has an extensive system that serves multiple services within the County; i.e. fire, municipal works etc. Under the RoIP system, we will only be responsible for bringing the signal to CVR’s radio system.
Why choose the RoIP system then?
We will be able to cut out towers used to move our signal from one point to the end user. Specifically that means that the Society will have no need to be located on, rent, or maintain; The Fabyan Tower, The Auburndale Tower, The Amisk Tower and the Nose Hill Tower. The monthly savings will be significant; Rent, Utilities costs and Maintenance will be reduced.
Furthermore, we can build an entire new RoIP system for less cost than the 1 (one) tower that we set out to build as the result of our concerns in 2008.
Our current radio’s and dispatch consoles are aging and at present very expensive to maintain. Under the new system, our existing dispatch consoles will be gone. Maintenance, upgrade and service capabilities come at significantly less cost than what we have seen in our current system.
We can rapidly and efficiently bring on new clients, municipalities, cities, towns, villages, …..anybody with an existing radio system. This can happen within a matter of only days and at minimal expansion cost estimated at $3000.00 per additional service. We do not need to jump our radio system from point to point. If we chose to do so, we could be dispatching in Australia in a matter of days. This is the future.
At the Spring General Meeting on June 18th 2009, the membership directed the aggressive pursuit of the RoIP option. To date we have found a vendor to build the system, we have consulted others who are already using this technology and we are prepared the move forward immediately following the Annual General Meeting in December 2009.
October 10, 2009
