Iredell Co EOC (ECOM) and Nextel

[jeffmulter]

Just curious whether the attachment describes a new addition to Iredell County's communications options, or whether I just hadn't noted mention of it previously in the various hobby and professional forums.

A video advertisement associating Iredell Co and Nextel was mentioned on the Firerad2 list on Yahoogroups, but the link did not appear to be operating correctly this morning:

http://www.getworkdonenow.com/index.html?pid=2&id9=Ad_2008Q2_NDC_Brand_Iredell_v2_300x250

 

[FireCop]

What in the world are they thinking?

Wow Jeff, I live in Iredell County and had not heard this was taking place. I wonder if the county (or select personnel ) got any kickbacks? Nextel makes it sound as if they can communicate throughout the whole county. I have my doubts!

 

[CCHLLM]

I know of a couple of other metro systems that have been doing this for a good while with city and county services personnel in non-emergency jobs having private and group Nextel access rather than placing them on the trunking systems, but this emergency services tactic in the Nextel business is news to me. I've often thought it would be a really good thing if Nextel would run the consumer BS PTT over to the Sprint side, expand the Nextel side, and put it back into the business and services market only.

Wonder if all these subscribers have priority over all the BS teenybopper and soccermommy traffic? If so, kudos. If not, "what in the world are they thinking?"

 

[FireCop]

I would concur wx4 that some governmental entities are using Nextel rather than the regular two way system. My agency even uses it for those non essential or protected radio traffic moments. It just seems to me Sprint has made some very good progress toward ruining the Nextel side of things.

If I recall correctly, the City of Wilson PD uses Nextel communication exclusively, rather than conventional two way radio. That may be something even beyond what Sprint/Nextel is pushing with the Iredell Co. example, which seems to be a companion or part time interface solution.

 

[CCHLLM]

I believe you're correct about Wilson city. I've heard that before. The systems I was referring to use both the Nextel and the 800 trunked radio. The Nextel is for the routine crap and keeps the channel loading down on the trunked system and provides them with a cell phone, too. That way they always have the main dispatch and working channels and don't have to deal with loading up the tac channels.

Nextel was a good thing until Sprint got their greedy mitts on it. Sprint has managed to screw up everything they've ever touched, and Nextel has been no exception. I never had a billing or service problem with Nextel until Sprint got involved, and then the world of push-to-talk went to hell in a handbasket. I can't count the number of times I've been within visual range of a known Nextel site and gotten a "No service" declaration at the same time I had full signal bars, or had phone and PTT calls in progress dropped with full signal bars showing.

Ain't love grand?

 

[jeffmulter]

>> If I recall correctly, the City of Wilson PD uses Nextel communication exclusively, rather than conventional two way radio. That may be something even beyond what Sprint/Nextel is pushing with the Iredell Co. example, which seems to be a companion or part time interface solution.

Nextel has been the City of Wilson Police Department's primary communication mode since 2002, although they still reportedly use their old conventional channel - 155.610 / 192.8 MHz. Dispatch multicasts on both Nextel and VHF, and the VHF radios are still in the patrol cars as back-up radios.

Nextel also added an extra tower site, and made enhancements to the two Nextel sites in the city (increased site capacity and priority access) prior to the city pd's move to Nextel.

Earlier this year, the City of Wilson sought out proposals for an 800-MHz trunked radio system. The request mentioned "public safety," but there was some speculation that Wilson might simply be looking to replace a old LTR system being used by its public works department.

 

[yardbird]

If most of these counties were smart, which most are not.

They would search out he benefits of the Viper system. I mean look at it the system maintenance is done by the State Highway Patrol and at no cost to the using agancies.

All the counties have to do is make application with the patrol and purchase the radios, then they are in business.

The last time I checked there was only 99 or 100 out of 238 Viper sites completed.

I think when the Viper System is completely built, you will see one of the best communication systems out there.

David