Harris County

[AK4PY]

Why would a county knowingly put public safety users expecting portable radio coverage on a system designed for mobile coverage? Asking for a friend...

Money. They have never been able to afford it. Things are growing now, so maybe now they will put down the money. I just want the money to be spent wisely and not wasted (since it literally is my money). They have some pretty decent coverage right now from a historical standpoint. Chasing that slight improvement is going to be an expensive venture.

 

[KK4JUG]

Money. They have never been able to afford it.

Ten years ago, I would agree with you. Now, I think things have improved to the point where they can afford better than what they have. Maybe the state could turn loose of some of that surplus money that's burning a hole in their collective pockets.

 

[AK4PY]

Ten years ago, I would agree with you. Now, I think things have improved to the point where they can afford better than what they have. Maybe the state could turn loose of some of that surplus money that's burning a hole in their collective pockets.

Yes, if they can get some state or federal funding to support a new system, then that would be great. I just know that my property taxes are already getting out of hand and fear that chasing just a little more coverage is going to result in me paying a lot more.

 

[MTS2000des]

Money. They have never been able to afford it. Things are growing now, so maybe now they will put down the money. I just want the money to be spent wisely and not wasted (since it literally is my money). They have some pretty decent coverage right now from a historical standpoint. Chasing that slight improvement is going to be an expensive venture.

Join an existing P25 core. There is no reason to host/roll your own. Public safety needs public safety grade FNE, backhaul, and subscribers, not school bus radios cobbled together with a system designed for public works. Adding the additional RFSS and backhaul (not cellular based modems please) may cost, but you'll save $3-5 million on the core.

 

[KC8MZM]

The Harris County Board of Commissioners has awarded a bid to Williams Communication to build out a new P25 radio system that will replace the Tetra system: https://www.harriscountyga.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/mr240917.pdf

"...there are eight (8) tower sites within the County; that they were able to identify four additional tower sites (two towers are co-locates and two towers would be new builds at the Antioch Fire Station and the water tank on 315) that would provide additional coverage in areas where there are currently no signals; that new towers can be a revenue opportunity; that a new tower would be built at the Pine Mountain site to add to the height of the current pole plus there would be the two new towers;" [Are they referring to the water tank on 315 in Ellerslie or the one in Cataula? I'm guessing Ellerslie since the southeast corner of the county is a dead zone.]

"... coverage under the new system would be 95% and 97% at some levels;"

"...Williams has negotiated with L3 Harris for radios...the radios will support LTE as well;"

 

[AK4PY]

The Harris County Board of Commissioners has awarded a bid to Williams Communication to build out a new P25 radio system that will replace the Tetra system: https://www.harriscountyga.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/mr240917.pdf

"...there are eight (8) tower sites within the County; that they were able to identify four additional tower sites (two towers are co-locates and two towers would be new builds at the Antioch Fire Station and the water tank on 315) that would provide additional coverage in areas where there are currently no signals; that new towers can be a revenue opportunity; that a new tower would be built at the Pine Mountain site to add to the height of the current pole plus there would be the two new towers;" [Are they referring to the water tank on 315 in Ellerslie or the one in Cataula? I'm guessing Ellerslie since the southeast corner of the county is a dead zone.]

"... coverage under the new system would be 95% and 97% at some levels;"

"...Williams has negotiated with L3 Harris for radios...the radios will support LTE as well;"

Thanks for sharing this, neighbor. We live about three miles line-of-sight apart.

Hmm... I think they have a site in Ellerslie already? Maybe this is one further out to catch the shadows at the end of the county? Not sure, really.