The cheap way to get wide area coverage was to use multiple repeaters with different PL's (in/out or both). This didn't necessarily solve any problems if someone way north was calling for help and the south repeater didn't have acceptable coverage in the north (hence multiple machines). The other issue (especially for law enforcement) is that multi-pl setups required channel changes - which isn't the most idea situations if you go cross-county then start running after people and trying to talk, change channels and catch the badguys all at the same time.
The frequency ObiJohn is referring served Cass County quite well until the current 800 MHz. "system" was put into place in order to make room on VHF for what is now the N-WIN system. 154.815 always provided adequate coverage, even in the most difficult areas (Union, Nehawka, etc.), because it was located on high ground, near the center of the county, and it had some power behind it. In fact, 154.815 has never been de-activated - Deputies still use it and 10-59's all go across it to this day. It is a good setup and always has been - far better than the 800 MHz. channels.
The _ideal_ system would've been to build multiple receive sites, especially for the difficult areas, link them using the microwave gear that they bought, and then use a voter to provide the desired coverage, even for portables. Officers leave their radios on ONE frequency - no fumbling around trying to figure out what tower to be on when you're chasing a suspect,
That's the technology side, but we all know that it's not just that simple, especially when the State OCIO's office is commanding you to leave a system you trust and take their money to build a system that fails to meet your expectations. Not the County's fault at all - it was something they had to do.
73
