[Scan-DC] Open Sky Lower Eastern Shore

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 09:10:07 -0500

This is most likely just a patch system between the counties.  In today's
Salisbury Daily Times there is an article on Somerset counties new analog &
digital 800mhz that was just approved:

By Liz Holland
Somerset Herald 

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PRINCESS ANNE -- The Somerset County Commissioners have approved spending
nearly $3.6 million for a new public safety radio system that will improve
communications between police and fire departments. 

The new 800 megahertz system will allow police and fire departments to talk
to each other, rather than communicating through a 911 dispatcher. 

The system also will allow Somerset emergency services personnel to talk to
their counterparts in neighboring Wicomico and Worcester counties where
similar radio systems have already been installed. 

The goal is to have the system in place by fall so that it can be tested
before trees drop their leaves since they can sometimes interfere with radio
signals, said Jane Wargo of Macom, which was awarded the contract for the
radio. 

Police officers and firefighters should be able to use the new system on
their handheld radios by Thanksgiving, Wargo said. Units will be installed
in vehicles later. 

The new radio will be a combination analog and digital system, which is
capable of providing a more private channel for police agencies. 

The new system also will require a new microwave tower in Marion Station,
which will be funded through the state. The system also will transmit
through the Maryland State Police radio tower at the Princess Anne barrack. 

The county will pay for the radio system with a one-year construction loan
from Peninsula Bank at 3.12 percent interest. After that, it will be rolled
over to a term loan. 

The importance of agencies being able to communicate with each other became
evident during the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York,
according to Steve Marshall, the county's director of emergency services. 

In addition to the radio system, the County Commissioners also approved
spending $115,050 on new high-band VHF pagers for county firefighters, which
are more dependable than the pagers they are using now. 

Marshall said the county might be able to get a grant for the pagers through
the Department of Homeland Security. 

"I would hate to put $3.6 million into a new radio system and still have the
same problem with the pagers," he said. 

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 7:05 AM
To: Bob Crain
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Scan-DC] Open Sky Lower Eastern Shore

Could this really just be some form of a network interface system - similar
to MSP's MARNIS or the patches used by Balt Co's 800 system to 39.56?
Wondering if they are truly talking about a dedicated, digital 800 system
for the Lower Shore. The Mid & Upper Shore systems are currently served by
brand new or evolving communications systems - so they surely will not make
any jump.

<SNIP>