Portable Radios

[ffemt8978]

I agree that 800 MHz isn't always the best way to go, especially if you're trying to cover a large area.

A few years ago, the state of South Dakota went to a statewide, digital trunked, VHF band (150 MHz) radio system that tied the entire state togehter. They were able to cover about 95% of the state with only thirty some towers. The advantage to this system is that the radios were still able to interface with the older, analog VHF systems (such as mutual aid) for those that didn't want to switch.

 

[MMiz]

I agree that 800 MHz isn't always the best way to go, especially if you're trying to cover a large area.

A few years ago, the state of South Dakota went to a statewide, digital trunked, VHF band (150 MHz) radio system that tied the entire state togehter. They were able to cover about 95% of the state with only thirty some towers. The advantage to this system is that the radios were still able to interface with the older, analog VHF systems (such as mutual aid) for those that didn't want to switch.

Not to mention that 800 MHz radios are expensive and you have limited options.

 

[Guardian]

what do you mean "limited options?"

 

[MMiz]

what do you mean "limited options?"

There are very few 800 Mhz radios compared to VHF and UHF options.

 

[Guardian]

There are very few 800 Mhz radios compared to VHF and UHF options.

Oh, ok..............

 

[fm_emt]

A few years ago, the state of South Dakota went to a statewide, digital trunked, VHF band (150 MHz) radio system that tied the entire state togehter. They were able to cover about 95% of the state with only thirty some towers. The advantage to this system is that the radios were still able to interface with the older, analog VHF systems (such as mutual aid) for those that didn't want to switch.

Do you have any more information on that? I'd be interested in reading about how they set all of that up. Sounds interesting!

 

[KEVD18]

i hate 800 radios. they suck, need far to much ewuipment, which needs far to much maintenence and they just dont work as well as other systems.

if i had my choice, id want a vhf band, repeat the hell out of it so i can get a signal in the radiology dept of the hosp, and give me an ht1000 to talk on. i'm a firm believer that the ht1000 is the besty radio moto has ever put out.

 

[MMiz]

I don't know of any other company around here that equips each employee with three radios. We have the 800 for our dispatch, the VHF for PD, and another 800 for med control. It's fun trying to arrange them on the belt so you don't look like a total whacker on a call.

 

[Jon]

Both employees carry 3 radios?

Wow.

I don't think you can wear 3 radios and NOT look like a total whacker.

 

[MMiz]

No, they can't afford to buy each employee three radios. It's per unit. We've be working on transitioning to a county-wide MA/COM system for years now. Our service refuses to invest more money into portables.

 

[Kendall]

Wow...

Hate to bring up a dead topic, but my service, in particular uses Vertex Standards, w/ no infrastructure whatsoever... We're a standby service, though, so we don't generally need a huge service area, but it's frustrating to have to call someone on a cell phone when the radio craps out.

Personally, I would like to see HT750's or HT1250's w/ a trunked system, with a couple repeaters in the city.

The city EMS uses an Ericsson dispatch/radio system w/ 2 dispatch channels and a few dozen 'update' channels. I don't know the best way to describe it - all responding units goes to a channel for all communication related to that call. (Mutual Aid Channels?)

Just my .02.

 

[FFEMT1764]

i'm a firm believer that the ht1000 is the besty radio moto has ever put out.

You should get yourself a Saber then, older but even more reliable than the ht1000, plus it makes a great weapon!