Des Moines, IA - Iowa Mobile Radio System

[Thunderbolt]

DES MOINES — The state of Iowa may have a requirement for a land mobile radio system. The state released a request for proposal (RFP) for a state-owned purchased system. The state plans to release a follow-up RFP for a leased option within the coming weeks.

http://govwin.com/govwin-match-alert...stem-dc/811984

[4006]

Another place drinking the 800, well 700 now, Kool-Aid...and a flat state to boot...and a state system that will probably be mostly mobile use.

[DickH]

Originally Posted by 4006

Another place drinking the 800, well 700 now, Kool-Aid...and a flat state to boot...and a state system that will probably be mostly mobile use.

You have to give those aggressive salesmen credit, not to mention the ill informed bureaucrats who eat up their hype.

[xmo]

"...not to mention the ill informed bureaucrats..."
-------------------------------------------------------------------

It's too bad they don't have the common sense to use the internet to get some expert advice from scanner listeners.

Or maybe, just maybe, they have engineers on staff who have been studying the field for years, that they have looked at the problems and successes of other statewide systems, that they have considered all the available frequency bands - including VHF - and decided that 700 is the way to go.

They just might have seen all the issues with noise at VHF degrading the operation of mobile units, with noise at sites degrading base station operation, with propagation anomalies such as ducting raising havoc with trunked radio systems, with miserable in-building coverage on VHF, with having to use obscenely expensive digital vehicular repeaters so that the troopers portables have full system functions such as emergency buttons, encryption capability, and user ID to dispatch.

Maybe they even considered that since Iowa has been on VHF for more than 40 years the locals may have most of the available frequencies already licensed - that the chances of obtaining enough frequencies for a statewide system build-out on any band other than 7/800 are somewhere between ZERO and never happening?

Maybe?

Naahh.... somebody should send them a link to RR.

[newsphotog]

Originally Posted by xmo

"...not to mention the ill informed bureaucrats..."
-------------------------------------------------------------------

It's too bad they don't have the common sense to use the internet to get some expert advice from scanner listeners.

Or maybe, just maybe, they have engineers on staff who have been studying the field for years, that they have looked at the problems and successes of other statewide systems, that they have considered all the available frequency bands - including VHF - and decided that 700 is the way to go.

They just might have seen all the issues with noise at VHF degrading the operation of mobile units, with noise at sites degrading base station operation, with propagation anomalies such as ducting raising havoc with trunked radio systems, with miserable in-building coverage on VHF, with having to use obscenely expensive digital vehicular repeaters so that the troopers portables have full system functions such as emergency buttons, encryption capability, and user ID to dispatch.

Maybe they even considered that since Iowa has been on VHF for more than 40 years the locals may have most of the available frequencies already licensed - that the chances of obtaining enough frequencies for a statewide system build-out on any band other than 7/800 are somewhere between ZERO and never happening?

Maybe?

Naahh.... somebody should send them a link to RR.

Finally, someone who actually has some sense.

Surprising as it may be, it's not really bureaucrats that are making these decisions on this project. This isn't a city council making these demands. Those that wrote this RFP actually have radio background.

Illinois made it work well with Starcom21. And Iowa isn't as flat as some may think.

[RedCorvetteGuy]

xmo---Most of your comments are invalid to say the least. I can't imagine professional communications engineers consulting the internet or scanner owners for input. Also, your comments point out the fact that you know nothing about radio system design. I have 32 years experience (now retired) with a majoy communications company and am very familiar with Missouri (new VHF/700-800) P25 trunked system, City of Kansas City Mo. New 700/800 P25 trunked system. Do you really think these enities would call you for advise?

[xmo]

Apparently those 32 years of experience failed to equip you with a functional sarcasm detector....

[RedCorvetteGuy]

xmo---Last transmission was garbled. Explain please.

[xmo]

It's OK dude, I figure you're so smitten by that new red C7 that you're not receiving clearly when it comes to radio issues!

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