Chattanooga/Hamilton Co. - Digital System In Use

[hcpholder]

I have been monitoring the new digital ID for Chattanooga/Hamilton Co. School Maintenance and Transportation today. Seems clear and loud.

 

[kf4lhp]

Reportedly, each bus has been fitted with a Motorola XTL2500 mobile radio.

It's noteworthy that the transportation contractor is now Durham; First Student lost the contract. I guess someone (HCDE, radio shop, who?) saw this as an opportunity to retire the VHF repeater (154.055) that had been around since before the merger of the city and county school systems.

 

[ButchGone]

Hamilton County Dept. of Education put a written requirement in the contract that Durham install 800MHz radios in all 189 buses, so that they will have the ability to use the 5 Disaster groups in the event buses are needed for mass evacuations, like a Sequoyah disaster.
BG..

 

[hcpholder]

Yea, I heard them testing the Desaster channels yesterday also (analog).

 

[firemedic2150]

Hold the phone here, I think we have a rule #1 violation that makes too much sense !!!
MMc.

 

[hcpholder]

Reportedly, each bus has been fitted with a Motorola XTL2500 mobile radio.

It's noteworthy that the transportation contractor is now Durham; First Student lost the contract. I guess someone (HCDE, radio shop, who?) saw this as an opportunity to retire the VHF repeater (154.055) that had been around since before the merger of the city and county school systems.

What about the "independent" contract drivers. Will they not have to use the old VHF repeater for their communication to the school system?

 

[ButchGone]

There are very few independent school bus drivers left, not sure if they bought a $2,500 radio to keep up wid' da Joneses. But the new digital radios sound good. FYI, I found the best digi setting on my 396 for the Chatt system is "Auto 9," but your mileage may vary.
BG..