Saturday, January 15, 2000
New radios putting each part of county on same network
System not yet fully operational
BY DAN KLEPAL
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hamilton County's digital radio system is on the air.
The digital radios, which operate in the 800 megahertz frequency, have been installed in more than 160 firetrucks and ambulances throughout the county.
It's just a $5 million first step toward building a system that will link police, fire and ambulances in 40 municipalities.
The county has agreed to invest $30 million in building the infrastructure to support that system — with each municipality purchasing its own radios at about $5,000 apiece — and it should be up and running in about two years.
But this initial step is significant because it has allowed the county to maintain its license to operate in the digital frequency — something it was in jeopardy of losing if this initial investment wasn't made.
Without an 800-megahertz license from the Federal Communication Commission, the county would not be able to operate the new system at all.
“We were down to the final hour before we lost our license,” said Bill Hinkle, director of the county's Emergency Communication Center. “If that had happened, there would be no (digital) communication future for us.”
Two radio towers must be built before the limited system is fully operational. They will be finished in about two months.
The system is being used as a training tool now. But when it's in full operation, the limited system will cure many ills:
• Interagency communication. The new system will allow agencies to communicate during emergencies.
For example, the Green Township Fire Department could speak directly with the Colerain Township Fire Department and an ambulance service from Blue Ash. That can't happen now.
• Logjams. Communication will be unlimited because the computer brain that runs the system constantly scans for an open channel to send messages. The current system is often overloaded during emergencies.
• Penetration. Emergency personnel will be able to talk with one another no matter where they are. The system now is plagued with so-called “dead spots” which radio transmissions cannot penetrate. The system also has difficulty penetrating buildings. That won't be a problem with the new system.
Colerain Township Fire Chief Bruce Smith said the county has difficulty finding replacement parts for the 40-year-old “low band” system.
He said the old technology makes responding to emergencies dangerous.
“This initial system will provide some relief from overloaded frequences for our fire and EMS personnel,” Chief Smith said. “But the most important thing it does is make sure we don't lose those (digital) frequencies.”
Green Township Fire Chief Robert Weitzel agreed, adding that having the radios for two months before the towers are finished is a good learning process.
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