Manitowoc County Awards Radio Communication System Contract

[wiradio]

On March 31, 2010 Manitowoc County, Wisconsin awarded a Radio Communication System Contract to Motorola for $6,382,487. The contract comes almost 7 months after the state originally released the solicitation in September of 2009. The vendors that had expressed interest in this project by attending the pre-proposal conference included Alcatel-Lucent, Bay Electronics, Baycom Inc, EADS, Federal Engineering Inc, Franks Radio, Grain Communications, Harris Corporation, Harris Stratex Networks, Leonard J. Koehnen & Assc Inc, Motorola, Nielson Communication, and Tait Radio Communications.
Cost was a large concern for this project, but more importantly, many of the proposals the County received couldn't meet the County's specifications.

Motorola will be tasked with engineering , furnishing, installing, and commissioning a primary P25 700/800 MHz trunked communications network; VHF overlay network, an interoperability network, control stations, and subsciber equipment.

 

[OpSec]

For 6 million? What's the catch?

 

[wiradio]

For 6 million? What's the catch?

This link explains some of it.

http://www.manitowoccounty.com/upload/29/Jnt Mtg PUBWK PUBSAF JDB Minutes 3-30-10.pdf

 

[wiradio]

Project Information

Manitowoc County Division of Emergency Services

 

[idontknow82]

Theres too much irresponsible spending in this city. Where is this money coming from!? Anyone know if it's still going to have open channels? Last time I asked it was going to be monitorable, but with the vendors involved I question if it will be monitorable.

 

[otrebla]

What's the deal with the local newspaper? A nearly $15 million project and the Herald Times Reporter ignores it.

 

[kb0uxv]

This should be the same system we use here in MN (known as ARMER) and you will be able to monitor it with an appropriate scanner - except for any talkgroups / users that use encryption.

I work for a county in MN and one of my jobs is administering our radio system - when our county upgraded to the Motorola P25 (version 7.7) it was about 6 million for infer structure and subscriber equipment. Generally, that price was for consulting fees, about 600 radios (XTS and XTL 2500s), two additional circuit based simulcast sites (total of 7 sites in our county), 5 position 7500 consoles, and a network administration terminal.

After Federal grants the total price was down to about 2 million, so I would guess that Manitowoc County (where I have family) will be similar.

Best regards, Go Vikings! Nate kb0uxv

 

[KC9AAH]

It's needed, but...

I think the system does need an upgrade, but why not just add more towers, so everyone can talk to everyone else. This county doesn't need a P25 digital system. We are building a new dispatch center, it's almost done. I think now would be the perfect time to upgrade the radio system, but FCC website shows nothing new as far as frequencies in the 700-800 MHz range.

 

[OpSec]

Because someone (/\/\?) had the county drink the 800 trunking kool-aid.

 

[otrebla]

Joint Dispatch Board minutes 7-7-10

http://www.manitowoccounty.com/upload/29/Joint Dispatch Board Minutes 7-7-10.pdf

 

[otrebla]

I think the system does need an upgrade, but why not just add more towers, so everyone can talk to everyone else. This county doesn't need a P25 digital system. We are building a new dispatch center, it's almost done. I think now would be the perfect time to upgrade the radio system, but FCC website shows nothing new as far as frequencies in the 700-800 MHz range.

Five 800 MHz frequencies have been allocated to Manitowoc County.

851.1375
851.6625
852.0500
852.3000
852.6875

Maybe these frequencies will be part of the trunking system.