UHF's future in Texas?

[EAFrizzle]

A comment in the Austin thread has me wondering why there's been such an exodus of PS users from UHF in Texas in the past few decades. Are 700/800 MHz characteristics that much better than UHF for most uses? Or is it just a matter of consolidation and simplification to prep for a better statewide system in the future?

 

[nd5y]

Are 700/800 MHz characteristics that much better than UHF for most uses?

Generally no. UHF can be better in some cases and 700-900 MHz can be better in some cases.

The main reason is because public safety in a lot of places moved to trunked systems and there is not enough space for new trunked systems on UHF.
There are only a few frequencies on 453/458 and 460/465 MHz reserved for public safety.
769-775/799-805 MHz and 851-854/806-809 are public safety only with other frequencies availbe in 854-861/809-816 MHz section.