AT&T is NOT about to lose a penny. Any linking takes away them as SOLE PROVIDER of FirstNet. Baddaboom, baddabing, its still just a money thing.
AT&T got the contract because they're the only ones who bid on it.
I had no idea there was so much angst about FirstNet but I can tell you, first-hand, that it's just another tool in the box, and it hasn't really changed how we operate on a daily basis. What we hope it WILL do is help keep our systems running when all these paranoid people panic and bring the public networks down. That's all it is.
in the UK, nobody has access to emergency radio, and the benefit to the user services is total privacy. it's secure and the bad guys don't know when they're being targeted and talked about. Our press and media have never been allowed to listen in, although many did when it was in the clear. Of course the hobbyists were cross, but nowadays the notion people can listen into the Police, Fire and Ambulance is simply gone. Even worse, we now have personal data rules that mean anyone who has personal data on another cannot communicate it. Nobody could pass a name and address in a way that others could listen in - it would be illegal. It's had no negative impact, and while appreciate that in the US, your rights are very different, it has to come eventually.
I have also wondered if the end game for FirstNet is Public Safety PTT. I remember seeing this LTE portable radio a while back and wondering if this was the direction things were going. In the UK I think all public safety nationwide is on a commercial system.
And Nextel had a lot more in common with traditional LMR than LTE does, but it still was not a great idea relying on a commercial service provider. In fact, iDEN was trunked radio technology, with Nextel operating a (mostly) nationwide TDMA system. Connecting to the PTSN to provide telephone service over the network was an afterthought; it was always about the DirectConnect PTT service first and foremost.Remember, there were a number of departments that were dumb enough to jump on Nextel when it came out. That didn't go well.
it was always about the DirectConnect PTT service first and foremost.
And then there is the State of AL and Southern Linc, which is iDEN 800 MHz..... Still being used by a few agencies as it is cheaper still than getting on the still growing AFRRN P25 system.... Not that bad a service, BUT so lacking in the true Public Safety communications needs... But thats life.My brother was on Nextel when it first started off, before they tried to make it a cellular telephone service. It worked pretty well and sounded pretty good. He had one of the R750 handsets.
And then there is the State of AL and Southern Linc, which is iDEN 800 MHz..... Still being used by a few agencies as it is cheaper still than getting on the still growing AFRRN P25 system.... Not that bad a service, BUT so lacking in the true Public Safety communications needs... But thats life.
No they still use iDEN for most sites. Some have transitioned to LTE, but most still run 20K0F7W , not 3M00W7WDid they not shut down iDEN and transition to LTE?
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A bit off topic but I'm still not quite sure about some of the basics of FirstNet
The area where I am in emergency services has poor AT&T service. Are they building new towers just for FirstNet or will AT&T poor areas be just as poor
They are also advertising FirstNet as specifically for emergency responders and their families. What type of access do the families have and is it any different then what the general public could get on Band 14?
We're very private when we need to be here. Lots of legislation exists to make sure what is secret, remains secret.
Incorrect. You do not have to change phone numbers.It apparent doesn't work well here in Mississippi, also you have to change your phone number which isn't in the cards for me.
Be Safe
Just your SIM cards if you already have LTE gear.. Unless you CHOOSE to get a new number and new gear.Incorrect. You do not have to change phone numbers.
Dt