Just an FYI (from what I'm told as it was done after I left)...when NYCOMCO linked the 800 sites together, the dispatcher no longer selects which tower to talk on from that specifuc talkgroup. They actually took the multiple sites for the same talkgroup off the console screen. Now it's just 911 800, POLICE 800, SHERIFF 800, INTERSYSTEM 800, etc. The backbone will select all the towers automatically. Some do all (911 for example) and some do specific towers (Cornwall BASE 4 talkgroup comes off Beacon and Schunnemunk only). Also, the mobiles and portables are set to "wide area system scan" which should be option 06. So the radio will vote the closest tower and automatically switch. The user can still manually switch it, but doesn't have to as he/she drives throughout the county. Also, the sites are linked with one another, so a user answering on Beacon can be heard and talk to a user answering on Schunnemunk. So far, it's been working well.
When I worked there many moons ago, we had several sites for the same talkgroup...911 800 BCN, 911 800 GRM, 911 800 ARD, 911 800 SAM. We simulselected all the 800's and the closet VHF polling channel, whether it was Beacon, Graham, etc. No one could hear each other if they all answered on different sites. In other words, I poll a job in Blooming Grove (which has 3 zones and prior to Schunnemunk, 3 towers actually covered their town on 800) and I could have a unit answer me off Beacon 911, another on Sam 911 and another on Graham 911...then a SP unit on Graham VHF !
Currently, they still select the closet VHF polling site and the the one 800 talkgroup on the console.
Now Dutchess 911 for example, they dont even see the 800 side. All the VHF's are linked and simulcasted, so they select one box on the console and talk away and it comes over all towers. Field has one channel in their car and it comes over all towers. Then, a patch was put in for 800 users from the VHF to 800 and vice versa. Plus, the 800 sites are linked between one another. So a Fishkill unit on 800 Beacon can talk to a Poughkeepise unit on 800 Illinois who can talk to a SP unit on VHF. Only downfall, the Fishkill unit has to make sure his VHF radio is turned down or he/she will get some serious feedback when they key up.
If Orange County takes the same route and links.simulcasts the VHF...you'll see the 800 square disappear from the console and it will run in the background like Dutchess.