[ScanIndiana] Some work on Marion County Fire Data reception

[Ken Bandy]

New transmitters and receivers have helped solve communication problems for
a dozen area fire stations.


The Metropolitan Emergency Communications Agency found that 24 out of 70
fire stations had problems receiving fire-run data inside their station
bays.
These stations relied on information received on a computer inside the
station, printing out the information and then taking that information with
them on a run. 

Most of the stations are located on the outskirts of Marion County, farther
away from MECA's Willard Park tower that transmitted the fire run data. 

To solve the problem, MECA hired Motorola to install transmitters and
receivers for one dedicated fire channel at each of the towers located in
the four corners of Marion County. 

The "Four Corners" project cost approximately $273,000. Motorola also went
to every fire apparatus in Marion County to tune up their modems and to
program them to receive the new channel. 

Lawrence Fire Chief David Carlson said the changes have improved firefighter
safety.

"Before the Four Corners project, reception in parts of the Lawrence
community was less than 70 percent effective, especially with respect to the
mobile data terminals," Carlson said. "Now that the project is completed, we
are finding almost 100 percent coverage, making it safer for our community
and for our firefighters."