Geekery

So, this year I didn't take notes at Communications Academy.  I took pictures of some of the slides, I'll either post the pics or the info that was on them.  Later.  For now, here are a couple of tidbits:

• In an effort to get public safety agencies off of the commercial wireless (cell phone) networks, the so-called "D-Block" is being re-purposed for that use.  (The is in the 700MHz range.)  Several states, counties, and cities--including Seattle--are signed up to begin work.  The plan, for now, is that fire, law enforcement, and EMS assets will have (to start) trunk mounted (and eventually handheld) units they can use to beam audio and video back to... Well, wherever.  The station.  The 911 Center.  The EOC.  They're going to use LTE, which stands for Long Term Evolution...
• ...And did you know that LTE cell phones do not use LTE for voice?  Your high speed, state-of-the-art smart phone uses the same old 3G (or earlier) network when you're using it as a plain old phone...
• From the same talk, NYC police cars have cameras in the light bars, which they use to scan license plates in real time to check on wants and warrants or outstanding citations...
• Washington State has an online tsunami evacuation map.  Only those areas highlighted in purple have routes and assembly areas shown.  So far as I can tell, these are the areas where there is a real danger of tsunami.  (Although unusual circumstances can lead to a tsunami in inland waters.)