Brooks County Digital System
I side with JRayfield and ask ProCopper7005 the same question, "How do you know they have been duped?" Many agencies across our nation are opting to purchase and install MotoTRBO or NEXEDGE systems since they have to replace the majority, if not all, of their VHF or UHF equipment to meet the FCC's narrowband mandate. The cost of MotoTRBO and NEXEDGE equipment is very comparable in pricing to the equipment they have purchased in the past. Even if it were just a little more expensive, say a couple hundred dollars more per radio than what they were purchasing, the added features, such as text messaging, private or selective call capabilities, improved coverage in the narrowband digital mode, etc. are well worth the money spent. I realize many of us are upset that we can't monitor MotoTRBO and NEXEDGE systems, but I feel fairly confident one or more of the scanner manufacturers will have a scanner on the market soon that will allow users to hear MotoTRBO and or NEXEDGE. They will have to do this if they want to keep selling scanners because so many agencies are switching to these other forms of DMR technology. The taxpayers of these counties that have elected to go MotoTRBO and NEXEDGE instead of 700/800 MHz P25 should be proud to know the sheriff, police chief, fire chief, EMS director, EMA director, 9-1-1 director and or others who had a decision in this process have spent their tax dollars wisely and not bit off more than they can chew (or pay for in this case). Now what I would call duped is the county in rural Georgia with a population of less than 50,000 people and sheriff's office with less than 125 on staff that have been convinced to purchase 700/800 MHz P25 equipment and will also pay huge reoccurring costs for an annual maintenance agreement on their mobiles, portables, control stations and repeater sites. Now some will argue that MotoTRBO and NEXEDGE are not "public safety standards based radio systems", but based on the contents of these standards that I have read an analog conventional narrowband radio system doesn't meet these standards either and we sure have a whole lot of agencies across our nation that are or will be relying on these.....
