Plano Fire-Rescue (PFR) Motorola APX Radios

[RexBinary]

Hi all,

I received this information from the City of Plano email newsletter and thought it should be interesting enough to share here.

Motorola APX Radios
Plano Fire-Rescue (PFR) is using a state contract to purchase 32 Motorola APX 8000 portable and 22 APX 8500 mobile radios for Plano Fire-Rescue in the amount of $471,081. This is the fourth of a phased-in replacement of all PFR portable radios.

APX 8000 version is a portable multi-band radio and an upgrade from PFR's current single band radios (APX 6000 version). This allows PFR to communicate with cities on different radio frequencies than Plano. The built-in Bluetooth technology enables PFR to use a device that works through their Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) without needing the extended radio microphone.

The APX 8500 Motorola mobile radios are for new ambulances. Ambulance communication with dispatch, medical control and the receiving hospital relies on this purchase.

 

[FishScan]

Ill do the math. $8723.72 each. Who does Plano need to talk to that isnt on 7/800 P25?

 

[Motoballa]

Who does Plano need to talk to that isnt on 7/800 P25?

I don't even think they know.. Not even Troopers use 8000s (at least locally) and of all people I would've thought they would be ones with a legit need to have it.

 

[jasday]

I'm sure they are part of TIFMAS and EMTF which requires you to have the ability to talk on the VHF Interop channels according to the agreements.

 

[IAmSixNine]

Huge waste of money. Lack of coordination and information.
But hey now they got radios to talk to no body else. I mean may be Dallas Fire if the radios arrive before Dallas goes P25. Oh and thats assuming they are programmed properly.

 

[Echo4Thirty]

They may be ordering them in VHF/700/800 Config and omitting UHF (Or U/7/8 who knows). With the 7500 discontinued, its the only way to get anything other than single band from Motorola. The fire agencies around here seem to be doing just that.

 

[Stephen]

Plano FD travels all over the country assisting with brush fires and other natural disasters this is the reason that they ordered those portables. For those stating that they are uninformed, you might actually be the one who is not informed.

 

[jasday]

Plano FD travels all over the country assisting with brush fires and other natural disasters this is the reason that they ordered those portables. For those stating that they are uninformed, you might actually be the one who is not informed.

Couldn't agree more. Sometimes I bang my head reading some of these posts that the end users are too stupid to use the equipment.

 

[n5ims]

Plano FD travels all over the country assisting with brush fires and other natural disasters this is the reason that they ordered those portables. For those stating that they are uninformed, you might actually be the one who is not informed.

I agree 100%. For example, PFD responds as a mutual aid agency for DFR that's conventional UHF (for now and probably for at minimum for another year). If you listen to the DFR Dispatch channel (channel 1, 460.57500, sometimes called channel 0 or "Station"), you'll often hear them request a Plano medic to respond to accidents or emergencies in the North Dallas area (unit numbers 170 - 189, but just the station numbers are used on the Plano radio system).

 

[IAmSixNine]

Plano FD travels all over the country assisting with brush fires and other natural disasters this is the reason that they ordered those portables. For those stating that they are uninformed, you might actually be the one who is not informed.

So whats the point of all the VHF, UHF, and 7000/800 mutual aid channels in analog/digital and simplex/repeater that the state(s) have licensed. Why put the burden on every dept to have the most expensive radios that the majority of the features will not be used.
Plano for example - PAWMCo system used vast majority of the time. Will they use VHF? least likely. Will they use UHF (well somewhat likely with Dallas and then its only a few stations that are "likely" to use UHF). So your great example of Plano traveling all over the country assisting with brush fires is a perfect example of how OFTEN they will use all those extra features they are paying so much for.
There are other options and ways to do this with out maxing out motorolas profit. You are correct, I am not informed as to how often the plano fire dept travels across the country battling brush fires. Perhaps a cost analyses benefit is needed.

 

[jasday]

But why mix in more radios when you can have one that will do the job? As someone who managed our radios (public safety) for my agency, why would I go and buy two sets of radios, one for our local trunked system and one for deployed assets? Then when we get a deployment request or are sending resources mutual aid they have to grab extra radios that they are not familiar with, and have to now manipulate to get to the correct channel?

The state interop channels that you mentioned are also used Nation wide. When we deployed to Houston during Harvey, we only used the state interop channels. Those are used specifically so that any resource can go into any area in Texas and have comes with whoever they need to talk with.

When agencies sign mutual aid agreements with TIFMAS or the EMTF, they agree to have radios that are capable of communicating on VHF interop channels. It's literally in the agreement.

 

[Stephen]

Plano FD generally a couple times a year sends assets to help around the country with fires. A lot of that cost is reimbursed through FEMA or other federal programs, I am sure part of the new radios are as well. They often mutual aid probably on a weekly basis to help agencies to the north still on VHF. In addition FD personnel on scene will monitor LE channels before making scene so this can include all three bands. They have very qualified personnel making the radio decisions there I promise it was not a “ well this seems cool” or “let’s give Motorola more money” decision.

 

[billpritjr]

It is likely FEMA/Homeland Security grants will fund some or all of the purchase.

If our heroes need future-proof radio comm capability, lets give it to them. If one life is saved because of some "expensive radios" that is worth it.