C-Message Weighting Messaging System (408)-377-7441 14,400 V.32/V.42bis ======================================================================= B A S E L I N E N E W S - O C T O B E R 1 9 9 3 Alfred Deisner, Editor ======================================================================= "News about technology and technology policy" _____________ including an electronic digest of published reports _________ This Month: =========== - The California Highway Patrolman - 911 System Notes - Telephone jargon =========== SIGNALS OF INTEREST (MHZ) .4078 Unknown, BAUDOT 50wpm/170hz (encrypted?) .5300 AM sounds like "WNSA502", Oakland Coliseum (parking information) 1.0700 AM, KNX, CBS Affiliate, Los Angeles 1.1200 AM, KPNW, ABC Affiliate, Eugene, Oregon 1.6100 AM "KNIP553", Foothill College (parking information) 5.8700 "NMN" U.S. Coast Guard, Portsmouth, Virginia, CW w/5 figure groups. 5.9470 BBC World Service, AM 6.2735 "JNR" Japan, SITOR A, 100wpm/170Hz 6.320 "KPH" San Francisco with American Radio Assn. Free Press News SITOR B 100wpm/170hz. 6.337 "CBV" (CW) Playa Ancla Radio, Chile, ship-to-shore tfc. 6.344 "WLO" Mobile, Alabama SITOR B 100wpm/170hz. 6.7530 "VXA: Edmonton Military" Alberta, British Columbia, Canada, USB. 10.0510 "VFG" VOLMET Gander, Newfoundland, Canada, USB. 151.775 Hyatt San Jose, N. First near 101, (shuttle, concierge, maint.) 159.705 ABF Trucking, San Jose 454.075 MCI Airsignal, San Jose (paging) 464.600 America West Airlines, San Jose 467.875 Westward Construction & Consulting, (job site comms.) 482.5625 City of Cupertino, (city government operations) (Thanks to Michael DeHaan, who doesn't have a computer to call the system, for HF and lower frequencies) HIGHWAY PATROLMAN Remember the smell of steaming, wet pavement after a summer rain? Like the smell of the wet pavement, a lot of memories came back to us when we recently looked over a copy of THE CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROLMAN magazine. The periodical, published by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, is $15.00/year. There is gore galore as well. Pages of black-and-white photos of grinder- of-an-accident scenes. You'll see all sorts of compound fractures, corpses, and dismembered bodies. Every month, a series of interesting articles pertaining to law enforcement is included. Our favorite section is "Routine Stops": a series of stories about officers who make what they initially believe to be a routine traffic stop and usually ending with a twist. Many articles deal with operational information on the CHP. Past issues have included photos detailing CHP involvement in California disasters and railfan events. Subscription orders to: California Highway Patrolman, California Association of Highway Patrolmen, 2030 V Street, Sacramento, CA 95818. EAST PALO ALTO PD WILL ENCRYPT RADIOS The City of East Palo Alto plans to equip its police officers with encrypted radios according to a SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS article by Raoul J. Mowatt. A $506,000 grant from the Ethical Strategies Foundation in San Francisco means that police chief Burnham Matthews will have funds to make several needed improvements. The article sites the ability of drug dealers to "tune in" to the present radio system as reason for need of an encrypted one. The grant will also mean an undisclosed number of new patrol vehicles, an upgraded computer system, and equipping officers with Mace. A timetable for the upgrade was not given. Congratulations East Palo Alto! LOS ALTOS WANTS A MICROWAVE ...but not the kind with a "defrost" mode. The city would like to connect their console and voting equipment at the Police Station with their Police repeater on El Camino Hospital. The Police Department has wanted to install the link for years but the item has not yet been budgeted. SAN JOSE PD OFFICER TERMINATED While former San Jose Police officer Paul Benedetti was not convicted in a criminal court, the city civil service commission held that his termination was appropriate. According to a SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS article, Benedetti planted a bomb on his vehicle and then allegedly exploded it in order to frame drug a suspect. The officer claims that fellow officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration planted the device as a practical joke. Benedetti was not convicted and is therefore innocent of any criminal act. EDITORIAL: We are not "anti-police". In reading BASELINE NEWS, it's important to note that police officers, like people in other work, are all different. A few people make mistakes, step beyond ethical behavior, regulations or the law. We would like to believe that most officers go through their entire career doing ethical work that benefits the public. Some violate rules and get away with their transgressions while others are unjustly disciplined. We suggest to you that officers in most agencies largely follow the rules and the few who deviate from them taint the appearance of the (respectable) majority. This is true of any business. It's also important to consider that police are expected to make decisions on how to deal with a situation nearly instantly while these decisions may be scrutinized by commissions or superiors for months or years afterward. Most people with radios realize that police officers and dispatchers seldom get any recognition for their work except when a mistake occurs and they are called before the inquisition. Sometimes it's deserved and sometimes not. [End of editorial comment.] HOW MANY PEOPLE STAFF YOUR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY? As of the dates shown, the Santa Clara County municipal public safety agencies had the following numbers of people working for them (some special district agencies not included): FIRE (MARCH 15, 1992) AGENCY BADGED NON-BADGED PERSONNEL PERSONNEL TOTAL MALE FEMALE % FEMALE MALE FEMALE CAMPBELL 35 34 1 2.9 0 2 CENTRAL FIRE DIST 138 131 7 5.1 8 9 GILROY 26 24 2 7.7 3 4 LOS ALTOS FIRE DIST 29 26 3 10.3 2 3 MILPITAS 69 62 7 10.1 3 2 MORGAN HILL 24 24 0 0 0 2 MOUNTAIN VIEW 72 71 1 1.4 7 15 PALO ALTO 116 114 2 1.7 0 3 SAN JOSE 687 670 17 2.5 34 42 SANTA CLARA 173 168 5 2.9 1 6 SUNNYVALE 96 93 3 3.1 11 4 -------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---- TOTAL 1,465 1,417 48 3.3 69 92 POLICE (FEBRUARY 1992) AGENCY BADGED NON-BADGED PERSONNEL PERSONNEL TOTAL MALE FEMALE % FEMALE MALE FEMALE CAMPBELL 35 4 1 2.9 0 2 GILROY 42 39 3 7.7 2 2 LOS ALTOS 29 26 3 10.3 2 3 LOS GATOS 43 41 2 4.7 11 15 MILPITAS 75 65 10 13.3 10 21 MORGAN HILL 32 30 2 0 0 12 MOUNTAIN VIEW 84 81 3 3.6 10 23 PALO ALTO 93 75 18 15.5 26 45 SAN JOSE 1,218 1,133 85 6.6 83 350 SANTA CLARA 147 141 6 4.0 11 4 SHERIFF 410 348 62 15.1 25 109 SUNNYVALE 220 214 6 2.7 34 38 ------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ---- TOTAL 2,431 2,227 204 8.4 215 622 Source: Santa Clara County Grand Jury 911 TRUNKS You would think a 911 system would have a huge surge capacity to deal with peak call loads or idiots calling to ask if there was an earthquake. Like most emergency services, it is not efficient to staff or equip 911 systems for the maximum possible emergency. Systems operate with some compromise between efficiency and the ability to handle surges in demand for service. Answering points (PSAPs) have surprisingly few trunks. Suffice to say that most calls go through without trouble. Telephone company professionals set up and monitor call traffic on this system. Overloads are handled just like they are in your office telephone system: callers listen to ringing and wait in line in an automatic call distribution cue. In some cases, calls are rerouted to a backup location. 911 circuits have circular hunting: they ring in sequence. For example, say that a caller rings in on your agency's trunk 1. The next call will ring on trunk 2 -- even if it occurs the next day. The subsequent call will use the next higher trunk. Circular hunting is used so that 911 system users aren't surprised to find that half their trunks are defective when the first busy spell hits. How many trunks does your answering point (PSAP) have? Agency # of 911 trunks ----------------------------------------------------- Campbell Police 8 trunks CA. Dept. of Forestry (Morgan Hill) 2 trunks Central Fire Dist. Dispatch (County) 4 trunks County Communications 15 trunks Gilroy Communications 3 trunks Los Altos Communications 8 trunks Los Gatos Police 3 trunks Milpitas Communications 7 trunks Morgan Hill Communications 4 trunks Mountain View Communications 6 trunks Palo Alto Communications 9 trunks San Jose Fire 6 trunks San Jose Police 25 trunks San Jose State University 2 trunks Santa Clara County Ambulance Disp. 4 trunks Santa Clara Communications 6 trunks Saratoga Fire District 2 trunks Sunnyvale Dept. of Public Safety 7 trunks TURBINE TRIVIA The downtown Palo Alto Pacific Bell central office tests their Solar (brand) gas turbine generator on the first Wednesday of each month between 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. The turbine generates a couple hundred kilowatts of electrical power to run the switching equipment and air conditioning when commercial power fails. If you drop by for the test, you'll notice faint black smoke puffing from the stainless steel exhaust tube that dumps at roof level. You'll hear a rumble coming from the rear of the building. It sounds like they have a muffled jet aircraft APU running when the turbine is in operation. Tell us about generator tests in your area and we'll put 'em in BASELINE NEWS. HP 8921D: SERIOUS CELLULAR In a world where cheap, throw-away items are prevalent, the spectrum of Hewlett-Packard test equipment stands out because of its excellence. For example, consider the new 8921D dual mode Cell site tester. The test system includes capabilities to test AMPS and TDMA (digital cellular) Cell sites. In fact, the TDMA testing features include the ability to generate and demodulate a TDMA signal, measure error vectors and bit-error rates. The unit sells for $29,995.00. Hewlett-Packard, Test & Measurement Marketing, Mail Stop 54L-AF, P. O. Box 58059, Santa Clara, 95052-8059, (800) 452-4844 extension 7122. DRAWBRIDGE HISTORY SLIDE PROGRAM Drawbridge is a ghost town along the Southern Pacific railroad tracks near Alviso and between Fremont and Santa Clara. Learn about the history of the famous Bay Area ghost town at a slide show. The show is offered monthly at the Environmental Education Center of the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. The next one-hour presentation of the program is on Sunday, 31 October at 3 p.m. Reservations are NOT required. San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center, at the end of Grand Boulevard in Alviso. Information telephone: [Newark] (510) 792-4275. HOLLISTER NEWSPAPER CLAIMS THAT BIRDS SET GRASS FIRES An article in the 16 September issue of THE PINNACLE says that at least three San Benito County grass fires were caused by large birds. In separate incidents, two eagles and a duck contacted high voltage PG&E electric lines and were ignited. The birds fell into grass where they started grass fires. Several eagles (endangered species) have died after contacting energized electrical conductors. "Battalion Chief, Air Attack, Engine 17__, respond to a bird fire..." NATIONAL FIRE PREVENTION WEEK The sign in front of the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto reads, "Fire Prevention Week starts January 1, ends December 31." Nationally, however, National Fire Prevention Week extends from October 3rd to the 9th. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, (part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency,) the United States has a fire death rate twice the average of other industrialized nations. U.S.F.A. also says that senior citizens are more than twice as likely to be killed in a fire than the average population. San Jose Fire will be hosting activities at the San Jose Historical Museum. Contact the Fire Prevention Bureau at (408) 277-4656 to find out more. Nearly all fire departments will be offering fire prevention programs that include tours of facilities and information on equipment. Drop by and see them; ask questions. Don't forget to look over their radios while you're there. Ask them that "burning" question about a fire tactic or a phrase you hear them use on the radio but don't understand. Unlike law enforcement agencies, most fire agencies don't object to people with radios. RENTAL COMPANIES CHECK DMV RECORDS Rental car companies are having trouble with individuals who destroy their cars. Most important, they often aren't being paid for the damaged cars. Statistics have shown that high risk people include those who have tickets for driving under the influence, high point counts, citations for reckless driving, and suspended or revoked driver's licenses. Hertz and other rental companies, both in California and other states, will be checking driving records through Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) computers according to MOTORLAND magazine. Not all rental locations will be equipped with the ability to check driving records. The ability raises some privacy questions about who has access to your address and driving record. LINUX FREELY DISTRIBUTABLE UNIX OPERATING SYSTEM OFFERED Nascent Technology is offering the Unix(R)-compatible Linux operating system for Intel 386/486 processors on an ISO9660-format CD-ROM. The CD contains over 400 MB of source code for the operating system, binary files and documentation. A DOS install script, network printer support, X Window System (TM), SCSI disk and tape system support, a GNU C compiler and other features are included. The offer allows a 30-day unconditional money-back policy and a 1-year warranty on the CD. The price for this CD-ROM is $94.95 plus tax. Inquiries to: Nascent Technology, 811 Haverhill Drive, P.O. Box 60669, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-0669, (408) 737-9500, FAX (408) 241- 9390, email to nascent@netcom.com. REPORT ON CELLULAR MARKETPLACE Malarkey-Taylor Associates, Communications Consultants, are offering U.S. CELLULAR MARKETPLACE 1993, a publication detailing industry trends, news and statistics. A few notes from the report include: - The cellular industry, continued on a record pace through 1992 as it added approximately 3.5 million new users to bring the total number of subscribers to over 11 million. - TDMA [digital cellular] service has been installed by McCaw Cellular in Florida and over 5,000 subscribers currently use digital TDMA cellular telephones. - The industry added 2,500 new cell sites in 1992. The industry total is over 10,000 cell sites. - Motorola holds a 34 percent market share of total cellular system equipment sales. To order your copy, send US $975.00 to MTA-EMCI, Suite 325, 1130 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036-3915. Wish we could sell BASELINE NEWS for $1,000 a copy! MAIL BOMB WARNING Gallows humor is a part of many office settings in public safety and emergency medicine. Ever have someone in your office receive a package only to have a coworker ask, "is it ticking?" The threat may be greater than you think -- depending on where you work. In June, a geneticist at University of California, San Francisco lost three fingers on his right hand, suffered a broken arm and abdominal injuries after he received a package containing an explosive device. The same month a Yale professor suffered serious injuries to his right arm, one eye, and both hands when a package he was opening blew up. The FBI is calling the bombings part of a case they named "Unabom" according to an article by Andrea Taormina in U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE MAGAZINE. Professors and professionals in the airlines, biotechnology, and computer technology have been targeted by the perpetrator(s). The bomber is believed to be a white male, working alone. He marked items with the initials "FC" in some cases. The bombs appear every two to three years. Devices since 1985 have used an ammonium nitrate explosive. An article in the 30 June issue of the STANFORD DAILY details characteristics typical of these mail bombs: - wires protruding from package - oily stains on wrapping or unusual odor - restrictive markings such as "personal" and/or missing return address - sloppy writing or typing - incorrect title with name and/or excessive postage - addressed to job title only or wrong title with name - package or envelope rigid or bulky and/or lopsided - mailed from a foreign country - may make a buzzing, ticking, or sloshing sound - pressure or resistance evident when contents are first removed The FBI told U. THE NATIONAL COLLEGE MAGAZINE that they would not release further information because the investigation was ongoing. If you get a suspicious package, the DAILY recommends that you call the local police immediately. VOCABULARY BUILDER Julian Calendar: The calendar devised by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C., and based upon the assumption that the true length of the tropical year was exactly 365¬ mean solar days. The Julian calendar provided that the ¬ (one-fourth) day be absorbed by giving every fourth year one additional day; it made the year begin on January 1, a provision that was not universally followed even where other provisions of the calendar were followed; it was effective for the year 44 B.C., which was known as the "Year of Confusion" because, in order to bring the calendar into harmony with the seasons, two additional months were intercalated between November and December, giving it 14 months with a total of 445 days. SOURCE: Mitchell, Hugh C., "Definitions of Terms Used in Geodedic and Other Surveys," Special Publication Number 242, U.S. Department of Commerce, Coast and Geodedic Survey, 1948. THOUGHTS for October... ----------------------- "THINK." [IBM logo from the 1960s] "Since 1980, the U.S. prison population has doubled. Accompanying this increase has been a sharp rise in the cost of keeping these offenders in jail. ...a prison sentence ...may even increase the likelihood that [convicts] ...will commit crimes. This conclusion is supported by the fact that about half the offenders in one Arizona county and a third in another county were arrested within three years of sentencing." From: INTENSIVE PROBATION SUPERVISION: Crime-Control and Cost-Saving Effectiveness, United States General Accounting Office, (GAO/PEMD-93-23) "...fewer college students were able to find jobs this year than at any time since World War II." Ross Perot "[Santa Clara Valley Medical Center] ...emergency room visits rose from 38,000 in 1975 to 90,000 in 1991." Santa Clara County Grand Jury NOTE: The views expressed in the THOUGHTS feature are ALWAYS those of the respective authors and are chosen to provoke your thought/thinking. They do not necessarily represent the views of the Sysops. _____________________________________________________________________ Thanks to individuals who contributed information for Baseline News. _____________________________________________________________________ Baseline news is not affiliated with Bay Area Scanner Enthusiasts (BASE). Baseline News (C) Copyright 1993 C-Message Weighting Messaging System (408)-377-7441 1200/2400/9600/14400 baud. As long as you distribute this file in its entirety, (including this statement) it is okay to redistribute, print, or copy this file for any lawful purpose without other restrictions. (end)