Clemson Fire/EMS upgrading radios

[shajoe44]

This article was posted on WYFF 4 about Clemson Fire/EMS upgrading their radios.

'A lot of static': SC fire, EMS department undergoing upgrade to radios

There are many hills surrounding the Clemson University campus and city, but the chief said the hills and buildings are causing issues for their radios.

www.wyff4.com

 

[rescuecomm]

So Clemson University Fire/Police is adding simulcast sites to their branch of the PAL800 system? They want Clemson city to come to the University system? Clemson city just needs Kenwood VP8000 handheld radios that work on UHF Nexedge and P25 800mhz systems. Expensive but effective!

 

[KMG54]

So Clemson University Fire/Police is adding simulcast sites to their branch of the PAL800 system? They want Clemson city to come to the University system? Clemson city just needs Kenwood VP8000 handheld radios that work on UHF Nexedge and P25 800mhz systems. Expensive but effective!

Yep, wonder how big the government grant will be to enter the system?

 

[KMG54]

If communications are tough in Hilly and mountainous areas go back to low band works well out west. Just about spending money.

 

[brian]

As most local news articles go, it leaves one with more questions than answers.

As I understand, Clemson University Fire/EMS and Police are Palmetto 800 users. A new Palmetto 800 site in Clemson was added a couple of years ago. So I'd make the same assumption as above and assume that new "towers" (maybe actually on buildings?) will result in the Clemson site becoming a simulcast site.

The issue of interoperability between Clemson University (on Palmetto 800) and the rest of Pickens County and municipalities (will be on Fleettalk) remains an open question. Does anyone know if Clemson City Fire and Police will be primarily on Palmetto 800 or Fleettalk?

The article mentions hills as a challenge, but the fire chief mentions in-building coverage as being an issue. Either way, more sites is the typical solution. Where those sites are located will be interesting to see.

 

[rescuecomm]

I don't think there is a Clemson City FD, only Clemson City Police Department. The city contracts with the University for fire protection. I looked up the lat/lon for the Clemson PAL800 site and I was surprised to see that it's about 1 1/2 mile NE from the stadium. So they probably have some low coverage areas inside some of the dorms. I doubt Clemson City PD has more than a handful of patrolling officers, so getting a Kenwood that can do UHF Nexedge and P25 would fill their requirements.