[Scan-DC] Testing begins for Adams County's new 911 radio system

[Alan Henney]

The Evening Sun (Hanover, Pennsylvania)

September 11, 2015 Friday

Testing begins for Adams County's new 911 radio system

BYLINE: By Lillian Reed lreed at eveningsun.com @LillianEReed on Twitter

SECTION: NEWS

LENGTH: 496 words

A map of Adams County, checkered with more than 2,000 squares, hung on the wall inside of the Emergency Services Building on Thursday.

Contractors hired to test the county's new radio system perked up each time a voice rang out across the new system's frequencies. 

With every "loud and clear" response they issued, a little square on the map flickered from yellow to green.

Click here for more photos from this story.

Each square corresponds to a .25-square mile being tested for radio reception this week as part of the county's effort to test its new digital public safety communication system, said John Eline, director of Adams County Emergency Services, Thursday.

After more than three years of work to erect 19 radio towers around the county, being able to test the system is a significant moment for the county, Commissioner Randy Phiel said Wednesday.

The commissioners green-lighted the $25.5 million project in March 2012 and are planning to go live with the new system incrementally starting Oct. 20.

The old system and the new system will run parallel to each other until officials are confident that it can stand alone, Eline said.

Related: Adams County launches tests for 911 radio upgrade

All emergency medical services, as well as county police and fire departments, should be completely up and running by early December, barring any problems, he said. Several schools, nursing homes and other similar facilities will also be equipped with a radio by that time.

Since the 1990s, County officials have been talking about replacing the old system, which has not been upgraded since 1979, Eline said.

"It was reaching a point where technicians were buying parts on eBay because manufacturers no longer make the parts," he said. "I was told that if we don't do something soon, we run the risk of the whole system crashing."

Listen to the Adams County 911 scanner

The difference between the two systems was comparable to switching from analog to digital, Phiel said Wednesday.

Adams County hazmat coordinator Kim Frank sat in one of three trucks this week that were travelling systematically through towns and farm fields all over the county. Each one is making calls on the new radio back to the 911 center.

The old radio system emitted a few muffled reports in the background as Frank conducted test calls Thursday. A crisp "loud and clear" response came back over the channel to her, prompting her to head to the next location.

Starting Monday, Frank will begin testing in individual buildings, conducting as many as 20 calls from different spots at each location, she said.

If any one of the locations does not test at 95-percent radio reception, Motorolla, the company contracted to install the new system, is required to make those improvements, Eline said.

Phiel believes the new system is a necessary investment that will last another 25 to 35 years, he said.

"We do a lot of things but nothing that we do is more significant that the life safety health of residents," Phiel said.

GRAPHIC: Emergency dispatcher Jason Kopp logs a test from one of the grid areas on Friday. Kopp and consultants tested for radio reception this week as part of the county's effort to test its new digital public safety communication system,
Jason Kopp, left, a dispatcher for Adams County 911, and consultant Amish Patel watch their screens during a test for the county's new public safety radio system on Friday.

Consultant Charlie Hebel listens Friday to audio coming in from one of the teams testing sites for the county's new emergency radio system. The commissioners green-lighted the 25.5 million project in March 2012.
Consultant Brandon Eberhardt tests a site in New Oxford on Friday for the county's new public safety radio system. All emergency medical services, as well as county police and fire departments, should have their radios up and running by early December.