Ergon Energy Queensland

[Phil]

i may be wrong but based off what i am seeing with alot of link channels and a few emissions designations that are similar to a few trunking systems they may have there own dedicated trunking system. anyone else notice this

[Phil]

whilst looking i came across something from Zetron

Acom Communications System Goes Live at Australian Utility Company

Ergon Energy of Queensland, one of Australia’s largest electricity companies, recently partnered with Zetron to develop and implement a new, integrated, customised communications system for the utility.

The two companies created a solution that takes into account the needs and goals of a variety of system users as well as management. The result is an integrated, critical-communications system that has improved the centralisation, management and execution of communications throughout Ergon Energy’s vast operational area.

The challenges for Ergon Energy
Ergon Energy recently undertook a significant capital program to revamp the control systems that manage the electricity distribution network throughout regional Queensland. The program includes changes to the field communications network that controls and coordinates work on the electricity network.

As part of this effort, Ergon Energy decided to centralise its control functions into two main control centres–one located in Townsville, and the other located in Rockhampton. This included upgrading the existing field communications network to allow voice communications between each control centre and deployed field crews.

The solution
Zetron worked closely with Ergon Energy’s communications staff to design, configure and install the new communications system. The upgrade involved installing a six-site Zetron Acom Advanced Communications System within the control centres: one main centre each in Rockhampton and Townsville, and four regional centres in locations throughout Queensland.
The new system includes:

Network operator consoles
Voice switching equipment
Line interfaces for both radio and telephone services
Wide-area interfaces to support communications between sites

In addition to devising and deploying the new system, Zetron also provided all system documentation, factory-acceptance testing, and training for Ergon Energy operations and technical support staff.

Anatomy of a new communications system
Ergon Energy’s new communications system consists of an Acom system that utilizes Zetron’s Acom DS3 Switch (ADS) architecture. It supports up to 400 line interfaces and 90 console interfaces. The ADS provides a redundant connection to a DS3 backbone. E1 interface cards connect the switch to line and console modules, with up to six E1 connections for each ADS and no real practical limit on the number of ADS units.

Each of the Ergon Energy sites consists of multiple ADS units. These form a redundant switching backbone that connects interfaces for each site and includes dynamic, low-bandwidth intersite bearer interfaces that connect to at least two other sites.

These bearer interfaces allow operators at one site to access line interfaces or operators that terminate at any of the other sites. The bearers are configured to be used in a combination of "always-on" and "on-demand-only" services. This forms a mesh network that allows Ergon Energy to support a wide-area intersite communications system. It also provides multiple communications paths without incurring large intersite costs.

Line interface modules at each site are installed in matched pairs through a changeover unit. This provides fully redundant, hot-standby lines that interface with each of the field voice circuits for both radio and telephone. Line interfaces can be either entirely system wide or a combination of local-only and system-wide lines. The radio circuits are four-wire, E&M interfaces with full selective calling (SELCAL) encoding and decoding functionality.

Analogue telephony provides connections to local PSTN and OTN telephony circuits. The PABX circuits transmit over ISDN E1 links on which full Automatic Call Distribution functionality has been enabled. This includes Recorded Voice Announcement functionality and Interactive Voice Response.

The operator modules are located on redundant rings connected between two backbone switches. Windows®-based consoles with touch-screen monitors provide the software application that allows operators to control which audio sources are switched to the operator’s console position.

The current voice communications network provides coverage throughout the power distribution network. In areas where radio coverage is poor, communications are supplemented with satellite telephones. Mobile telephones throughout the business are used for non-operational communications and also provide a backup to the radio network.

Each control centre is designed to be able to control the entire electricity network if any of the other control centres becomes unusable for any reason. This means that each control centre must have access to all radio circuits.

The results for Ergon Energy
The collaboration between Ergon Energy and Zetron to design and deploy the new communications system has been a success. The new system is improving the coordination and efficiency of communications throughout Ergon Energy. In addition, the system supports the various needs of those who use it, including network operators, fault-analysis officers, schedulers, dispatchers and other staff associated with controlling field operations.

[Phil]

and also a Tender from Ergon

INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT AT MICROWAVE RADIO & FIBRE OPTIC SITES

Issued by Ergon Energy Corporation Limited
Invitation to Offer
Status: Closed
Number: 20100137T
Released: Wed, 13 Oct 2010 at 12:00AM Brisbane, Queensland
Closed: Wed, 24 Nov 2010 at 3:00PM Brisbane, Queensland
UNSPSC: Public Utilities and Public Sector Related Services - (100%)
Region/s: Cairns & Far North Queensland
Mount Isa & North West Region
The Central West
South West & Darling Downs
Townsville
Mackay Whitsunday Region
Rockhampton
Gladstone
Wide Bay Burnett
South East Queensland

Description

The scope of this Contract is to do everything required to install, test and commission microwave radio and optic fibre equipment at 214 sites throughout Queensland.
This includes but is not limited to the installation of Ergon Energy supplied radios, feeders, antennas, power supplies, multiservice platforms and switches at Ergon Energy and third party owned communication sites.
The work required for each site is detailed in the Installation Design document for that site, and can include:
Taking delivery of Ergon Energy supplied microwave radios, cubicles, coaxial cables and associated equipment at the nominated locations and transporting, installing and commissioning them at their respective sites;
Taking delivery of Ergon Energy supplied solid dish antennas, waveguides, dehydration equipment and other miscellaneous items at the nominated locations and transporting, assembling, installing and commissioning them at their respective sites;
Modifying and reinforcing existing steel lattice towers at third party owned sites;
Taking delivery of the Ergon Energy supplied pre-configured SDH multiservice equipment, Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) routers, Ethernet switches, management access system equipment and cubicles at the nominated locations and transporting, installing and commissioning them at their respective sites.
Taking delivery of Ergon Energy supplied DC power supply equipment and transporting, installing and commissioning them at their respective sites.
Connecting and functionally testing the remote control and monitoring of standby generators and other passive and/or environmental equipment.
Providing of any parts and equipment that is not identified in the Installation Designs as being supplied by Ergon Energy, and is required to complete the installation at each site.
Managing and co-ordinating outages with site owners (at both Ergon Energy and third party owned sites), at those sites where outages are necessary to enable the performance of the work.
Testing the complete installation at each site and for compliance with the requirements for communicating with adjacent sites and the network as a whole.
Preparing and submitting as-built drawings to the Superintendent.
Work not included in the scope of the Contract is as follows:

The supply and installation of equipment shelters, antenna support poles, steel lattice towers and masts, underground conduits, underground earthing and fencing.
The supply and installation of horizontal cable ladders between equipment shelters and the poles, towers and masts. Note: These cable ladders are provided with covers which the Contractor will have to remove and re-install after the installation of cables and waveguides.
The supply and commissioning of standby generators.
The connection of electricity to sites.
Any work specifically identified in the Installation Designs as being performed by others.

[Comint]

i may be wrong but based off what i am seeing with alot of link channels and a few emissions designations that are similar to a few trunking systems they may have there own dedicated trunking system. anyone else notice this

Be interested to see some of the emission designators and related Site details. From what I have seen, most of the above posts are about backbone links.

However.

There was a Request for Tender (or Expression of Interest), at about the same time, for a P 25 Network, which appears to have resulted in ACMA licencing some 88 VHF High Band frequencies (107 channels) at 23 Sites in South West Queensland, with an emission designator of 10K1F9W.

The Sites are:- Bony Mountain, Braeside, Broadmere, Bungadan, Chinchilla, Dulacca, Eidsvold West, Hannaford Hill, Ilsa Gorge, Jackson, Killarney, Kogan, Legume (NSW), Meandarra, Middle Ridge, Miles, Mt Domville, Mt Mowbullan, Mt Perseverance, Mt Stirling, Passchendaele, Tara, and Waggamba Homestead, although, so far, nothing has been heard on the frequencies.

It is unlikely the Network will ever reach into the Greater Brisbane Area, as some of the frequencies have also being assigned to Biscom, for their MPT1327 Network. (Yes, I know the Greater Brisbane Area is Energex, but the use of the frequencies by Biscom, impacts on how close to the Energex / Ergon Energy boundary that those frequencies can be used by Ergon Energy.)

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Comint

[Phil]

the closet site that i know of is Mt Perseverance which i can check as early as this week as i need to go to ipswich. i will put them into the scanner and see what i go to ipswich later this week

[Phil]

further to the post just thought i would have a look at the site
Emission Designator is 10K1F9W
RX TX
165.275 - 169.875
165.425 - 170.025
165.575 - 170.175
165.725 - 170.325
165.875 - 170.475
166.025 - 170.625

that a fair few standalone repeaters for one company hence my thinking it being a trunking system will just have to keep our ears out for this and see what happens to come out of it.

[Comint]

further to the post just thought i would have a look at the site
Emission Designator is 10K1F9W
RX TX
165.275 - 169.875
165.425 - 170.025
165.575 - 170.175
165.725 - 170.325
165.875 - 170.475
166.025 - 170.625

Emission Designator 10K1F9W is APCO P25.

The Low frequencies are the Repeater TX Frequencies.

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Comint

[Comint]

The attached 2 page PDF shows all the frequencies currently assigned to the Network.

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Comint

[rooster]

Thanks comint

[AIRMAN]

The attached 2 page PDF shows all the frequencies currently assigned to the Network.

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Comint

Are these frequencies analog voice?

[Comint]

Are these frequencies analog voice?

When they become active (sometime in the next 12 to 18 months), they will be digital, and probably encrypted.

The Request for Tender was only published in the latter part of last year, with the closing date for submissions, of 30 October 2010. The Tenders then had to be evaluated, and Contracts signed, which could have stretched well into this year. The frequencies were only assigned on May 02 this year.

Contracts of this size often have a 'lead time' of six to twelve months before the first equipment is delivered, and it could be a couple of years before the Network is fully functional.

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Comint

[Comint]

It seems a contract has finally been signed.

http://www.airwavesolutions.co.uk/newsh ... on-energy/

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Comint

[Phil]

there you have it sounds like Qld will have its very own P25 trunking system in the future. will have to wait a couple of months and see how they go.

[Phil]

it would appear that Ergon Energy are starting to licence frequencies across many many site throughout Queensland so it would appear that they are going to be rolling it out across queensland. will have to go for a drive towards toowoomba to find out if they have turned it on

[Comint]

it would appear that Ergon Energy are starting to licence frequencies across many many site throughout Queensland so it would appear that they are going to be rolling it out across queensland.

The Press Releases mention a Network of nearly 200 Sites.

will have to go for a drive towards toowoomba to find out if they have turned it on

Long way to go yet. They only started 'fit-out' of the Repeater Sites in mid December 2011. I don't believe they have even started on the vehicles yet.

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Comint

[Phil]

Good point I suppose I will wait for a bit longer. Bit odd that they have rolled out licensing when the tender was for south west and then the rest of Qld. Seems like they have counted there chickens before they have hatched.


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[Comint]

. . . Bit odd that they have rolled out licensing when the tender was for south west and then the rest of Qld. Seems like they have counted there chickens before they have hatched.

The Press Releases imply that the Contract was only signed in November 2011, but the first Block of frequencies were licensed in May 2011, the second Block in July, and the third Block in November.

Bear in mind that the frequencies are licensed to Ergon Energy, NOT to the Contractor, and the long-term goal is a Statewide Network, so it is best to get in early before someone else 'pinches' the frequencies, and complicates the frequency planning.

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Comint

[AIRMAN]

The big question is, will this system be unencrypted?

[Phil]

Only time will tell whether or not they will be encrypted I can see yes for security wise but no at the same time.


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[Comint]

The big question is, will this system be unencrypted?

An irrelevant question unless you have a Digital scanner.

And the question has been answered previously in this thread.

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Comint