Calif - Benicia replacing police dispatch radio consoles

[Thunderbolt]

BENICIA, Calif. -- Poor sound quality, random crashes, annoying busy signals -- these are just a few of the problems plaguing police dispatch radio consoles installed just three years ago, city officials say.

Benicia replacing police dispatch radio consoles - Vallejo Times Herald

[northzone]

I think about 3 years ago Benicia police actually had a call.................

[ncarpenter]

"Among the many problems reported by Benicia dispatchers, officers and firefighters are intermittent radio transmissions, system crashes for reasons unknown to Smartlink, incompatibility with the city's backup system and busy signals when dispatchers answer radio traffic too fast, city officials say."

I'm sure there's more to this story that we aren't seeing. Education seems to be a continual 'miss' in most centers. As far as the busy signals when dispatchers answer too fast, is it possible they are actually keying before the other party has finished transmission? I know of a few dispatchers myself that have a bit of an anxiety problem and key the mic before the other party's transmission is complete, resulting in a system "bonk."

[kd7rto]

Originally Posted by ncarpenter

As far as the busy signals when dispatchers answer too fast, is it possible they are actually keying before the other party has finished transmission? I know of a few dispatchers myself that have a bit of an anxiety problem and key the mic before the other party's transmission is complete, resulting in a system "bonk."

While I don't know the specific APCO document which establishes this, I was under the impression that a dispatch console being able to transmit while a mobile is transmitting, either overriding the mobile or both voices being heard, was a requirement of a modern public safety system.

I'm sure we've all heard dispatchers talking over a mobile with a stuck mic, even on old conventional systems which are no longer compliant with current standards.