Proposed radio tower in Bernardsville

[railtrailbiker]

County proposes new radio tower in Bernardsville

BERNARDSVILLE – Borough officials are hoping that a new radio tower proposed by Somerset County on Pill Hill Road will help resolve long-standing emergency communications problems in town.

www.newjerseyhills.com

 

[richee2000]

Its about time to make plans to get off Low Band. NIMBY continues to be a problem in places like Bernardsville. Thinking Somerset Co might need to rent space from Morris County to cover the northern part of Bernardsville.

 

[rr60]

Sometimes reporting can be missing details, in this case the article is pretty detailed.

Pill Hill is only a short distance from Bernard’s Police HQ and the County did have a site there. Never found paper for that. So perhaps now we can understand why that site got moved to 78/287.

The building out three new sites for one terrain challenged town while the present system in channel resource limited is a question. I have not heard a peep. On paper they proposed four sites for Bernardsville.

If present practice were to be followed, Law enforcement in Bernardsville would get coverage from 4 700 sites. Fire and EMS would not be permitted to utilize the new sites. Huh? Say it ain’t so please.

The 500 cell was abandoned by all LEO in Somerset County because of DTV Channel 19 interference the summer of 2022. Fire, EMS boxed on 500 MHZ only because of said lack of capacity on 700 cell.

Perhaps if Somerset is bonding for 3 new sites they will also fund new channel capacity of which they hold licenses for. Government sure moves slowly. Kudo’s Morris 🤣

 

[richee2000]

rr60, your data indicates : bernards twp site on collyer lane as "moved" . Does this mean the site has been moved, if so, to where? What site(s) now covers all of bernards ?

 

[rr60]

Old Stagecoach only had 500. I believe Collier was moved to Stagecoach this summer.

I suspect they could not ask for funding and tower and approvals for Pill Hill when Collyer is only 1.5 miles away.

When 500 usage was shut down for LEO it left coverage issues for Bridgewater and Bedminster. LEO would roam or affiliate to both 500/700 cells in the area.

By building Pill Hill Bernards gets back an area it lost and Bernardsville gets coverage it lost too.

The article talks about additional sites in Bernardsville. The NIMBY folks have been active in the past. The way things go in Somerset, the additional Bernardsville sites will likely never get built.

This was a cheap quick way to stick a finger the dam. All conjecture of course. So I am told. 🤣

 

[richee2000]

Old Stagecoach only had 500. I believe Collier was moved to Stagecoach this summer.

I suspect they could not ask for funding and tower and approvals for Pill Hill when Collyer is only 1.5 miles away.

When 500 usage was shut down for LEO it left coverage issues for Bridgewater and Bedminster. LEO would roam or affiliate to both 500/700 cells in the area.

By building Pill Hill Bernards gets back an area it lost and Bernardsville gets coverage it lost too.


The article talks about additional sites in Bernardsville. The NIMBY folks have been active in the past. The way things go in Somerset, the additional Bernardsville sites will likely never get built.

This was a cheap quick way to stick a finger the dam. All conjecture of course. So I am told. 🤣

I'm still thinking that Somerset county will most likely have to contract with Morris county to backfill locations in the North part of bernardsville.

 

[rr60]

And I don’t think that nor many other things will happen. Cows will fly first.

 

[KDD904]

Get out your helmets. The flying cows are a comin'. Stay tuned.....

 

[richee2000]

Get out your helmets. The flying cows are a comin'. Stay tuned.....

It's about time....🙄

 

[jaymatt1978]

I get a paywalll on the article

 

[FT752]

Get out your helmets. The flying cows are a comin'. Stay tuned.....

Yeah, it's in the works. The capacity that is supposed to come with it is going to be something. As always, only time will tell.

 

[rr60]

Day late and a dollar short. Tropo season starting. In fact this AM Comm’s pixelated and creating confusion at 6AM. DTV 19 (500-506 MHZ) television tropo in. At least LEO was moved to 700 from the RF mess of 500MHZ. It has been way too long since FCC repack. Kudo’s Morris👍.

 

[rr60]

Since everything Somerset is so secret, perhaps we can crowd source a few answers to the following questions.

1) The new proposed million dollar tower is less than 2 miles from an existing operating 700 cell. That cell is at Bernard’s PD monopole. Little difference in elevation. Is 2.0 miles closer to Bernardsville (Pill Hill) going to solve the many terrain issues there?

2) Whereas all Fire and EMS are presently relegated to interference prone 500MHZ is it likely this new tower will have a 500MHZ cell?

3) Is the million dollars better spent on expanding 700 cell channel capacity? Somerset has the licenses. There are seven sites and a new 700 cell should really be added to Rock Ave Greenbrook.

4) Is it likely this tower will be 700 cell only? This would do nothing for Bernardsville Fire and EMS, unless of course a migration is planned.

Will cows fly? 🐄

Bernardsville Builds on Public Safety - Inside Towers

Citing a concern for public safety communications, the Borough Council in Bernardsville, NJ voiced its support for Somerset County’s plan to build a taller and more robust cell tower. The […]

insidetowers.com

 

[richee2000]

" There are also larger plans afoot to set up a “three-site solution” by constructing an additional two towers."
I think this new tower is just the first part of the overall plan to allow in- building coverage throughout the town, which require 3 towers.
And, it would make sense to also have the UHF cell for FD/EMS

 

[rr60]

" There are also larger plans afoot to set up a “three-site solution” by constructing an additional two towers."
I think this new tower is just the first part of the overall plan to allow in- building coverage throughout the town, which require 3 towers.
And, it would make sense to also have the UHF cell for FD/EMS

Not sure about that “ UHF Cell for FD/ EMS”. That would be like throwing good money after bad. They were quoted about not having coverage. They would remain the same during band openings which occur frequently spring through fall. The expense of doing that at three sites in Bville would be hard to understand.

 

[richee2000]

Not sure about that “ UHF Cell for FD/ EMS”. That would be like throwing good money after bad. They were quoted about not having coverage. They would remain the same during band openings which occur frequently spring through fall. The expense of doing that at three sites in Bville would be hard to understand.

agreed, the 500 cell should be gone when additional 700 channels are in place, and EMS/FD can migrate there...but, I don't see a plan for that

 

[FT752]

agreed, the 500 cell should be gone when additional 700 channels are in place, and EMS/FD can migrate there...but, I don't see a plan for that

500 cells are not going away. 500 is staying for the low-hanging fruits like DPW, F&M, Events, etc. This has been referenced as the "Public Service" system. The "Public Safety" system on 700 will be getting bulked up with the million dollars to make it fit Fire/EMS/OEM and then some, as I eluded to capacity.