Hancock County seeking bids for a new system
- Thread starter firemantom26
- Start date
Bethanylt241
Member
Anybody have any new updates to the Hancock County system or Weirton DMR? I know PD has switched and it doesn't sound the best. Heard they were having issues.
I still hear Hancock county sheriff on what system has been updated And agencies?
No new updates on the Hancock Co system. Last update I had was a 700 mhz trunked license issued for Hancock Co. So it may be some time, a year or more, before anything comes online with that.
I have asked Weirton Fireman and they have no clue when they will switch to the DMR system.
KC8ONR
Member
If I were a tax paying citizen of Hancock county I would be pissed that they are wasting tax payer money on a stand alone system. Maybe a concerned citizen should bring that up to the local news agancy and get some answers. Kinda like here in Belmont county. The majority of tax paying citizens probobly have no idea what a MARCS system is and don't realize how much money could have been saved if the county got on board with MARCS rather than spending tens of millions of dollars on a stand alone system that was not needed.
Very interesting.........
yes but the public is usually stupid and believe whatever is spoon fed to them.
The main reason that counties place their own system is they do not want to have to cede control to another controlling entity telling them what they can or can't do.
Just like Orange Man Bad?
djkmeissner
Member
I am curious, what happens if they don't file for construction or an extension within a year? Do they lose these frequencies? I saw on this license the FCC sent them a construction/coverage deadline reminder notice in July. Don't see anything that Hancock County responded on the license at least yet.
kf4lhp
Member
Correct, the frequencies for which a construction notification hasn't been filed will terminate off of the license.
I've filed a few extension requests, never had one rejected. As long as you can give a specific reason why the extension is needed, and point to specific steps already taken, no problems. Example - filed one where we were delayed due to a water tank site being rehabilitated and repainted by the owner, but could point out that we'd already purchased and taken delivery of all of the equipment. Got a six-month extension no questions asked. Probably shouldn't wait to the last minute to file one, either. Nothing wrong with being proactive.
djkmeissner
Member
That was what I was kind of wondering a there still has been no update. I am not sure Hancock County even knows what they are doing from what I have heard through the grapevine. Sounds like the OEM didn't even know they got approved for 700 mhz frequencies.
Plus, all departments would need new radios and I am sure all the volunteer companies and the cities can't afford all new radios. The original RPF did not seem to include radios.
djkmeissner
Member
Hancock County requested an extension until September 2028! Won't start testing until January 2028.
Unreal.
Let’s keep dragging our feet.
djkmeissner
Member
not sure why it is going to take two years to get mobile and portable radios. Unless they are thinking it will take the volunteer fire departments years to come up with funding if the county isn't going to pay for new radios. I have heard that the county won't be purchasing radios for the departments and each department will have to buy their own radios. Though, I am not sure how reliable that information is but the person talked to the OEM and that is what the OEM had said.
Supposedly some VFDs have also looked at other options to not move to the new county system and move to SIRN. Not sure how reliable that information is either. Though minutes from SIRN minutes in November 2022 seems to indicate someone was from the county was asking about it.
Supposedly some VFDs have also looked at other options to not move to the new county system and move to SIRN. Not sure how reliable that information is either. Though minutes from SIRN minutes in November 2022 seems to indicate someone was from the county was asking about it.
I dont know how the vfd will be able to move to something else if they are dispatched by the county. Basically they are at the mercy of what they want.
djkmeissner
Member
I am not sure how that would work either unless they get grants to upgrade all their legacy equipment from the state. I believe Justin Wolfe is the president of the volunteer fire association of the county and he asked for funding.
from the November 2022 minutes: "Discussed the Hancock County radio system proposed purchase and letters that were sent to County Commission. Justin Wolfe asked about using grant funds from ARPA to upgrade legacy systems for the VFD and the legacy county microwave; He was told to write it up and send it in for approval." Have not seen anything else about it or anyone from the VFD approaching commissioners about radios or the new system. Would be interesting to see what the SIRN team sent to the commissioners.
I have done a FOIA request to see if I can find out more information from the RPF and if anyone besides Lauttamus responded to the RFP. I am waiting to see if they are going to give me the information from my request.
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djkmeissner
Member
My FOIA request was approved and I was able to receive the bid packet for the radio system. Lauttamus as most probably expected was the only bidder for this project. There is no mention of new radios needed and mentions testing and acceptance of the new system with the NX-5000 series radios (which at least police have now). They presented three options to the county for the system which interesting enough each option says it is VHF (136-174 mhz) and no mention of 700 mhz. So not sure where the request for those 700 mhz licenses come in unless they did not have enough VHF ones to do what they intend? Weirton Fire already uses one of Oakland VFD frequencies (or was their frequency in the database before Weirton Fire went to DMR) for the operations channel.
The options were an 8 channel KAIROS DMR Tier II, 5 channel KAIROS DMR Tier II or a 5 channel TAIT DMR Tier II. The 5 channel TAIT was the most expensive option. It appears based on price of the winning bid, they selected the first option of an 8 channel KAIROS DMR Tier II system. Lauttamus mentioned in the bid that the DMR Tier II system is upgradeable in the future to DMR Tier III and P25.
The options were an 8 channel KAIROS DMR Tier II, 5 channel KAIROS DMR Tier II or a 5 channel TAIT DMR Tier II. The 5 channel TAIT was the most expensive option. It appears based on price of the winning bid, they selected the first option of an 8 channel KAIROS DMR Tier II system. Lauttamus mentioned in the bid that the DMR Tier II system is upgradeable in the future to DMR Tier III and P25.
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