Lancaster County PA Vote on new Radio System

[Tommahawk]

On August 1st, 2012 the County of Lancaster is expected to vote on the new radio system, which is a APCO 25 system, with the infrastructure supported by ARINC....... This system is unique in the aspect that multiple vendor radios may be used in the system. The vote is expected to be in favor of the new system....

On the heels of the terrible mess of Open Sky, I actually believe it might work this time around. Lets hope that Lancaster County proves this to be a very positive impact on the County and surrounding counties, as all of the surrounding counties should be able to patch into the system very easily.

Link: County radio up for vote - News

 

[CommJunkie]

Is this a T-Band system?

 

[NodrogCop]

Is this a T-Band system?

Yes it is.

 

[jhsands]

"and spent $13 on radio towers around the county to provide complete communications coverage."

Which I could spend just $13 on towers... that's like, what, 3' of 2" ?


And ARINC won the contact.... http://www.arinc.com/news/2012/08_01_12_arinc_wins_contract_upgrade.html

 

[One13Truck]

Did they vote on it?

 

[CommJunkie]

I'm sure this was already in the works long before the FCC changes came out, but won't LancCo just end up spending millions more when they have to vacate this band?

 

[kb2vxa]

Yeah, politics where the gummed up wheels grind ever so slowly, so slowly they're years behind. Don't tell them they're throwing money to the wind and spoil the lulz.

 

[brey1234]

Wow

Imagine that building a system that can use radios from MANY vendors....Something the users of Open Sky can't say

 

[Tommahawk]

Reference to being aware that they may have to vacate the "T-Band" Frequencies. Yes they are aware. Quite honestly with the switch to Narrow Band in the works they don't really have any other choice at this time. They were assigned what they were assigned and have to use it.

I believe a smart thing for public safety organizations to do in the meanwhile is to purchase dual band radios capable of supporting both the T-Band and Public Safety Frequencies in the 700mhz spectrum. That way when the switchover to yet another system comes it won't be so bad, but then again thats just my opinion and my opinion is worth $.02 ..... Radios aren't cheap I know but I believe in the long run this might be a money saving measure.

As far as TU-WAY communications is concerned, I have heard reports of fire companies being charged extra, above and beyond what the grants are actually buying. As most of you don't know, a grant was given to the fire departments in Lancaster County for the install of Mobile units (Tait), and the installer is TU-WAY Communications out of Bethlehem PA. They are listed as a COSTARS participant for Pennsylvania. As far as I know they will be the only radio communications installers for the TAIT radios, but they are not the only installers for other radios. A few complaints of questionable bills have been raised.

One person stated that they were charged $25.00 for a in-line fuse!! Talk about sticking it to the volunteers and town folks.... I won't quote any particular source as the place where I have seen the information is a private web forum of which I am a member.

 

[kb2vxa]

Oh that's quite reasonable, .50 for the part plus $24.50 diagnostic and labor fee, shipping and handling, then there's tax...........

 

[zerg901]

USA - 6 million different radio freqs - 6 million different emission and trunking types and groups - and then it is time to claim about the lack of interops - talk about "crying over spilt radios"

 

[jim202]

Reference to being aware that they may have to vacate the "T-Band" Frequencies. Yes they are aware.

This once again sounds like the radio vendor leading the public safety agency down the road to the sales force making a killing. Has the county even thought about bringing in someone from the outside to consult with? This is a bunch of money to be rolling the dice on the table with no clear guide from the FCC and Congress what the outcome is.

At this point, I would even be surprised if they could modify their license to use the new digital mode intended for the new system. No license mod means they can't even use the new radio equipment the radio vendor is waving in their face.

Not a good position for the county fathers to be in when the tax payers find out what they did. Here is a good time to dig in their heals and at least ask a bunch of questions to someone outside the radio vendor and county.

Might even be a good time for the county to even call the FCC to ask about modifying the radio license they currently have for the T band channels.

 

[Tommahawk]

Jim, I believe the point of why the went when they did was to acquire the T-Band frequencies. This was BEFORE the mandate to possibly vacate those frequencies. They were locked into it by that time, with the time constraints set forth by the FCC for narrowbanding requirements. It sucks, but they have to do it. If they would have not gone with the Open Scam system at first it might be a different story. They wasted so much time on that system and their time was up.

 

[iamhere300]

As far as I know they will be the only radio communications installers for the TAIT radios, but they are not the only installers for other radios. A few complaints of questionable bills have been raised.

One person stated that they were charged $25.00 for a in-line fuse!! Talk about sticking it to the volunteers and town folks.... I won't quote any particular source as the place where I have seen the information is a private web forum of which I am a member.

So, you are basing this on total hearsay. And posting it here. Sad.

Anyways, if you call my shop out, and we check and find a blown fuse, do a quick performance check, we are going to charge you a minimum charge, and for the fuse. $25.00 for something that should have been user checked is pretty good. If this is on a new install, a fuse holder, installation, and a fuse, that is a deal. Even without installation, sound pretty close to list price for decent stuff.

 

[iamhere300]

This once again sounds like the radio vendor leading the public safety agency down the road to the sales force making a killing. Has the county even thought about bringing in someone from the outside to consult with? This is a bunch of money to be rolling the dice on the table with no clear guide from the FCC and Congress what the outcome is.

At this point, I would even be surprised if they could modify their license to use the new digital mode intended for the new system. No license mod means they can't even use the new radio equipment the radio vendor is waving in their face.

Not a good position for the county fathers to be in when the tax payers find out what they did. Here is a good time to dig in their heals and at least ask a bunch of questions to someone outside the radio vendor and county.

Might even be a good time for the county to even call the FCC to ask about modifying the radio license they currently have for the T band channels.

More misinformation. The fact remains, the county will have 9+ years as a minimum on the new system, then the auction winner (or the government, depending on the terms of the auction) will have to pay to relocate them.

So they can go ahead, not even HAVE to narrowband, and move forward - then let the winner pay for what will essentialy be a NEW system in 9 years. It sounds like it makes a LOT of sense.

Lot of great information here,

https://www.enterprisewireless.org/sites/default/files/ewa_tband_questions_and_answers.pdf

 

[iamhere300]

I'm sure this was already in the works long before the FCC changes came out, but won't LancCo just end up spending millions more when they have to vacate this band?

Nope. Relocating costs will be covered by either the winning bidder, or the government.

 

[Tommahawk]

So, you are basing this on total hearsay. And posting it here. Sad.

Anyways, if you call my shop out, and we check and find a blown fuse, do a quick performance check, we are going to charge you a minimum charge, and for the fuse. $25.00 for something that should have been user checked is pretty good. If this is on a new install, a fuse holder, installation, and a fuse, that is a deal. Even without installation, sound pretty close to list price for decent stuff.

Iamhere300;

Since you are apparently misinformed, these billings are taking place as the radios are being installed. This is not a after install issue. It is during the actual installation when the radio techs installing the radios are blowing the fuses!

So as to your erroneous understanding of my posting I am sorry that you could not comprehend what I was stating. For that I apologize for you.

 

[Tommahawk]

More misinformation. The fact remains, the county will have 9+ years as a minimum on the new system, then the auction winner (or the government, depending on the terms of the auction) will have to pay to relocate them.

So they can go ahead, not even HAVE to narrowband, and move forward - then let the winner pay for what will essentialy be a NEW system in 9 years. It sounds like it makes a LOT of sense.

Lot of great information here,

https://www.enterprisewireless.org/sites/default/files/ewa_tband_questions_and_answers.pdf

Iamhere300;

The representations of the "We have heard" which is listed in the pdf which you have referred to makes me question if this information is factual. This information unless substantiated shouldn't even be posted. We are again, just assuming. EWA response to some of the questions makes me question whether they have thoroughly done their research.

 

[iamhere300]

Iamhere300;

The representations of the "We have heard" which is listed in the pdf which you have referred to makes me question if this information is factual. This information unless substantiated shouldn't even be posted. We are again, just assuming. EWA response to some of the questions makes me question whether they have thoroughly done their research.

LOL. You believe unsubstantiated claims about costs of fuses, yet you don't believe a leading industry trade association comprised of industry leaders?

Amazing.

 

[myspacebarisbroken]

Has anyone heard anything about the decision? To P25, or not P25, that is my question. lol.