Moral of the story, the only reason that there's a shortage of spectrum available is because it's not being utilized as efficiently as it could be.
I agree. 800 Mhz belongs in 800 Mhz terrain. VHF - High belongs in VHF terrain. If you need fifteen frequencies then please make the FCC request for Fifteen. But if you only need seven "sets" of frequencies, don't ask for Fifteen sets of frequencies and tie up allocations someone else can...or could have received. I am a witness, that from where I work : VHF- High is getting congested, and in some instances it should not occur.
An ajoining county - their Police uses VHF-High. The Officers in the jail....use UHF. Good sense and appropraition of radio use in my opinion. They only have the freqs that they need. Another ajoining county.....their radio system is the best around in my opinion. Someone "Up there" done it right. They have no dead spots and for about 50 - 60 miles around you can hear their broadcast loud and clear - both dispatch, mobiles and portables. Their radio system.....was money well spent.
I actually miss low band. I really miss it. It had few problems, it was clear to listen to, and it was real rare to have repeater issues. But the advantage of our transition to VHF-High was with all the "medical" calls we have, we have we don't have to have two radios - one for Fire and one for EMS ( .160 - .340 - .400 ).
One of the countys local departments had low band, but when they transmitted ( we all know what it is ) it was kicked out on VHF-High. They had the best of both worlds. Three freqs = 2 repeater and one simplex tac channel. They had their own radio system, not the county system, and it worked great. No frequency abuse, no band abuse.
My area left low band....and in my belief, we did not have to. But VHF - High at the time was the "new thing" so alas that is what occurred. We were supposed to go digital ( ?? 1993 , 1994 ??? ) but that never occurred. Study after study found that we did not need 800 Mhz here in the "Mountains" of Appalachia ( You think ) and it was....at the time...not compatable with communicating with any ajoining agency. Politicans and some Public Safety Folks wanted 800 Mhz, but it was written in black and white " You can go 800 Mhz, but you would be crazy to do it". Plus the terrain does not support 800 Mhz, let alone digital.
With "Some" money left over - the VHF - High backbone system was installed, mobiles, handhelds and other essentials were soon issued. VHF-High was favored by alot of us, and the "800 Mhz fanatics" soon "Jumped on board" and seen the error of their ways.
Everyone was in awe, and the only thing the handhelds were.....was that they were was the same radios.....but on a different band.
I don't dislike VHF - High. But of the two bands..... for where I am at - My druthers is for VHF - Low. I believe the UHF band is King of radio bands , although it lacks the terrific propagation of Low band. My opinion of UHF being the King of radio bands will get some criticism and arguments...but UHF has proven itself time and time again. And VHF- Low has been used by the Military for years - with great success as I have personally witnessed. I use to be able to talk for miles on VHF - Low , from a Chevy truck. Simplex to I might add. I use to set in my grandfathers chair and listen to his scanner on "Search Mode" and hear radio traffic as far away as California on "low band", and I am just a "Fer Piece " east of the Mississippi , and near the Ohio River.
Radio Skip - of a night - on low band - from California. I was in Awe. I logged it down in my log book...and if I am not mistaken....I still have it somewhere. I use to love just "Searchinig the bands" to see what I could pick up. Police - State Police - Industrial - Pagers. I logged them all. But back then ( early 90's ) it was hard to track down, or do a frequency search.
I need to find more time for the "scanning " hobby. I usually go camping ( although it has been some time - scanning and camping ) on top of a hill, and "search the bands", listen to MILAIR and relax. I take five or six beers ( three beers in one gallon "Glad bags" of ice - I usually take 2 bags x 3 beers a piece ), chewing tobacco and relax. Drink a six pack of beer and chew tobaaco over about six hours....or so, and just relax and enjoy myself by the campfire. Tent ( or lean-to ), Handgun, Backpack , Campfire, Chewing Tobacco and ect..ect ---> is my own personal "get-a-way" from the rat race.
I like "scanning" of a night as the radio signals are much more clearer and distinct. For those of you who do not know - radio signals travel farther of a night than of a day.
FF - Medic !!!