[Scan-DC] Baltimore Co planning digital

[Alan Henney]

>From Owings Mills Times via Ron Chalk...

Police, fire department eye new radio system


05/17/07
MARY T. ROBBINS
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Baltimore County will change to a digital communications system for
all first responders within three years, if a budget appropriation to
do so is approved later this month.

County Executive Jim Smith's proposed budget released April 16
contains $45 million to completely overhaul Baltimore County's
emergency communications system.

"This replacement will be digital and move our first responders into
the 21st century with state of the art communications technology so
they can respond to an emergency as quickly and efficiently as
possible," Smith said in his budget remarks.

The County Council is scheduled to vote on the final budget at a
meeting in council chambers May 24 at 10 a.m.

If the budget appropriation is approved, the county will move from its
current analog communications system to a digital system over the next
three years, replacing about 8,000 radio units, according to Lt.
Richard Muth, director of the county's Office of Emergency
Preparedness.

"None of the parts of the old system are even made any more," Muth
said. "It's harder and harder to get those things fixed."

The present system, Muth said, still works "extremely well," but
within five or six years "we will no longer be able to obtain that
effectiveness."

With a digital system, radios have a much clearer signal, he said.

"We hope to gain access to areas where we now sometimes have trouble,
such as with ships and with some topography," he said. "Just in the
same way as if you had an old TV and you go to digital TV, the picture
is much clearer, the radio waves with digital are much clearer."

Baltimore County is the only jurisdiction in the region not using a
digital communications system, Muth said.

"The bottom line is we really need to do it because the technology is
almost demanding that we do it," he said. "Everybody in the Baltimore
region is now digital, except for us."

First responders are able to talk to first responders in other
jurisdictions under the current system.

A digital radio system will provide a clearer signal to do so.

"It comes down to the safety of the users," Muth said. "We want them
to be able to talk to each other in the best way possible."

Some of the first responders are already operating with digital
radios, Muth said.

E-mail Mary T. Robbins at Mary T. Robbins at patuxent.com