I guess with all the revenues from the oil and gas drilling, the County feels they can throw away money for a less than optimal system. I have tried to talk to some of the commissioners in the past, and had them understanding the problems they were getting into for a small county by going with the digital. Unfortunately, there is no one here who oversees the radio systems close enough to keep them in good operating condition. The current ESD system has had problems for over a year now, but no one has tried to get it repaired, all you hear from the units or dispatch, is your signal is weak. It's in the voter/reciever system that was never followed through with. Another instance of throwing money away, instead of getting the system fully operational, and keeping it that way. The S.O. has had problems in the past, and had to revert to the Analog system. Either they have it fixed, or are using cell phones... Which by the way, the cell service they used to have never worked very good either... Now, I wonder if the Motorola folks in Bryan are going to sell even more outdated equipment to Robertson County, take so long to implement it, the warranty runs out, and then tells them they have to pay for upgrades? That has happened in the past, and it seems we are prime targets for anyone selling a Bill of Goods that are no good. Am I upset? You got it, in one way or another, I am paying for their waste. The grants come from my tax money. The County budget comes from my taxes. The revenue money comes from taxing my well site... They FIre Departments in the County are volunteer. Most of them provide an HT for the members, but if a mobile is desrired, it is up to the member to purchase it. Some can, but many can't. As for the HT's, seems we have been buying and trading them for some time, trying to find something that works, or satifies everyone. Some are Kenwood, Icom, or Motorola. Again, more money tossed away, because all they see, is the "beauty" of a new radio, but have not fully researched it/them to see if they will do the task here. OK, I'm off the soap box.
Knightrider (Nearly 30 years in Public Safety, and more as Ham)