New 800 MHz Trunked application pending for Ottawa County Ohio

[jpryor]

See pending file number 0003985979 from 10/02/2009 for the new 800 MHz Trunked application for Ottawa County Ohio:

http://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/ApplicationSearch/applMain.jsp?applID=5157198

This new application calls for five frequencies (867.0375, 867.3500, 867.5375, 867.9500, 868.3250) with analog emissions (20K0F3E) and three transmitter locations. This is an upgrade from their current 851 MHz (WNPO245) two transmitter / three receive site system. I'm sure the portable users in western Ottawa County will appreciate the upgrade of the western receive only site to a full transmit location. This third transmit location will supplement the transmit locations all ready in place at Oak Harbor and Marblehead.

Based on this evidence, it appears Ottawa County has elected to upgrade their current 800 MHz analog trunking system as their current solution (in place of implementing a new digital system, or building off the Lucas County digital system, or joining the Ohio MARCS system). I suspect the need to move to different frequencies was due to the 851 MHz frequencies already being really close to a handful of frequencies in use by systems in Southeast Michigan. This application also calls for 1000 mobile units which is up from the 461 mobile units listed on their older 851 MHz WNPO245 call sign, which could be an indication that Ottawa County is planning on having more users move to 800 MHz for full time operations.

Jeff

 

[SCPD]

Those will probably be rebanded before they go on the air???, I would think?

 

[ctpd845]

It's about time this is starting to move forward. Ottawa County ruled out MARCS a while ago, they were concerned about monthly fees. They also ruled out joining with Lucas County because county officals wanted total control of the system, they didn't want to "share".

The last I heard is that they were leaning towards a P25 system. Last month they had meetings with Motorola, Harris and Kenwood about what they could provide and of course how much $ it would cost them.

Also their ultimate goal was to get everybody in the county on board, which was proving to be difficult. The "middle" of the county was dead set on staying with their 460 conventional systems.

The addition of a third tower site on the west end of the county was the least they were going to do with the system if nothing else happened. The plan was to upgrade the receive only tower in Clay Center to a full service site.

I will try to talk to one of the guys that works for our radio service on Monday and see if I can find anything else out.

 

[stpd438]

It concerns me that if Ottawa County does intend on more users on the system, that 5 frequencies won't be enough. That is the frequency capacity of the current system, and it gets very bogged down when schools are in session, from 0700-0900 hours and 1430-1630 hours, due to all the bus traffic. If the "middle" of the county (current 460-mhz. users) were to switch to this system (which would take an act of God and Santa Claus), then more frequencies would definitely be needed to accomodate those new users, especially during the peak hours I mentioned.

As a former user of the system, I can say that this is a step in the right direction. At least I won't have to worry about my friends that still work in the western part of the county not being able to talk on their radios when they need to, because they're in "cc scan."

 

[Erlohs]

If the Clay Center site is upgraded to full service/transmit, what chance would there be that the range recieved by a scanner is improved? I now live at the Airport/475 area and very rarely can recieve on my scanner, with the 800 MHz antenna attached.

Thanks for the site/info Jeff

 

[ctpd845]

If the Clay Center site is upgraded to full service/transmit, what chance would there be that the range recieved by a scanner is improved? I now live at the Airport/475 area and very rarely can recieve on my scanner, with the 800 MHz antenna attached.

Thanks for the site/info Jeff

I wouldn't count on being able to listen to the Ottawa County system from that far out. Being that Clay Center is so close to the western end of the county they might be a using directional antenna setup. I'm sure they will not put enough power on that tower to go more then a few miles out of the county.

 

[mtindor]

License denied...

The Commission is not accepting applications for the requested channels as they are no longer available for Public Safety operations.

ULS Application - Public Safety Ntl Plan, 821-824/866-869 MHz, Trunked - 0003985979 - OTTAWA, COUNTY OF

I'm sure they'll resubmit.. will be interesting to see.

Mike

 

[jpryor]

Ha, that's pretty funny, I did think it was pretty odd they were asking for frequencies that were in the process of being rebranded.

 

[ctpd845]

So I was able to talk with a person "in the know" of what going on in Ottawa County. He told me that they have not made any decisions about the radio system yet. They have not even decided if they are going to keep the current EDACS system, or upgrade to P25. Just last week they had meetings with Motorola, Harris and Kenwood where they gave presentions and prices. Now they are waiting for a feasibility study to be completed with the recommendation of what to do. I was also told that as things stand right now there are at least a year away from starting whatever they decide to do.

I am confused as to why they would have even applied for a license when they don't even know what they are going to use.