Walton commissioners approve radio system

Having a cell phone is great but it is not a majic bullet and suffers from many disadvantages to a radio system. Most cell phones require the use of cell towers that in emergency situations such as hurricans will not be available. The cell phones limited range and may areas that have no coverage is also a problem. Cell phones also have a hard time working in some buildings. Some of the same problems that are incountered with the new radio system. Other problems with cell phones is that the communications can be flooded with calls and disable the system completly. Cell phones have thier use but for emergency communications they have many problems. Most emergency personell have both a cell phone and a radio.

If they don't work very well, then why are we paying for them? Another waste of money.

Having a cell phone is great but it is not a majic bullet and suffers from many disadvantages to a radio system. Most cell phones require the use of cell towers that in emergency situations such as hurricans will not be available. The cell phones limited range and may areas that have no coverage is also a problem. Cell phones also have a hard time working in some buildings. Some of the same problems that are incountered with the new radio system. Other problems with cell phones is that the communications can be flooded with calls and disable the system completly. Cell phones have thier use but for emergency communications they have many problems. Most emergency personell have both a cell phone and a radio.

To an extent that is true. However Sprint/Nextel has many contracts with FEMA, Homeland Security, the military, FBI, etc. Those contracts were gained by the ability to give priority to law enforcement cell phones. I'm not sure about other companies as I've never worked for them. During situations like spring break phone calls made by LEO's and emergency personnel take precedence over consumer calls. In some instances "spots" on cell towers can be reserved for emergency personnel so they can always make phone calls. During an emergency (i.e. Katrina) Sprint/Nextel is contractually obligated to provide cell service and actually dropped portable satellite towers in New Orleans.

SWGB,
I agree that cell phones have thier place but how do sprint/nextel users for emergency response (Lets say Sheriff) talk to a group of Verizon users, and a group of ATT users to coordinate a response. Also how do the portable towers work withen say 5 hours of a hurricane passing when they are still sitting in a nice safe area waiting to be deployed while search and rescue has already begun. I agree that cell phones have thier use but they have limitations also.
That being said this does not address the issue of the current radio change over because some of the same problems exist with the new radio system. One of the major reasons to go to this system is so that one agency can commmunicate with another agency easily. According to the article South Walton Fire District has already adopted the system. The old radios are being phased out because of a federal law that requires the reduction in bandwidth so staying with what the Sheriff has is not an option.
This system may not be the best but what are the other options which will allow cross agency communication between state and local and meets the federal guidlines?

SWGB,
I agree that cell phones have thier place but how do sprint/nextel users for emergency response (Lets say Sheriff) talk to a group of Verizon users, and a group of ATT users to coordinate a response. Also how do the portable towers work withen say 5 hours of a hurricane passing when they are still sitting in a nice safe area waiting to be deployed while search and rescue has already begun. I agree that cell phones have thier use but they have limitations also.
That being said this does not address the issue of the current radio change over because some of the same problems exist with the new radio system. One of the major reasons to go to this system is so that one agency can commmunicate with another agency easily. According to the article South Walton Fire District has already adopted the system. The old radios are being phased out because of a federal law that requires the reduction in bandwidth so staying with what the Sheriff has is not an option.
This system may not be the best but what are the other options which will allow cross agency communication between state and local and meets the federal guidlines?

Ask Larry Ashley, he is getting a system that works for rverybody and is cheaper.

Yeah, excuse my sarcasm but the Sheriff of Okaloosa County is not a great source of information on disaster response, IMO. That county has had nothing but trouble with their county law enforcement. I feel sure that Sheriff Atkinson will research the whole situation, with input from all disaster responders, before any final decision is made. But then, I have more faith in him than you seem to have.

Yeah, excuse my sarcasm but the Sheriff of Okaloosa County is not a great source of information on disaster response, IMO. That county has had nothing but trouble with their county law enforcement. I feel sure that Sheriff Atkinson will research the whole situation, with input from all disaster responders, before any final decision is made. But then, I have more faith in him than you seem to have.

Apparently he ignored the input from our other responders who say the system does not work and is dangerous and followed the path begun by that noted disaster, Ralph Johnson. Larry Ashley may be alot of things, but at least he had enough sense to get off a dead horse and find one that is more efficient and cost effective.

Apparently he ignored the input from our other responders who say the system does not work and is dangerous and followed the path begun by that noted disaster, Ralph Johnson. Larry Ashley may be alot of things, but at least he had enough sense to get off a dead horse and find one that is more efficient and cost effective.

Oh look we saved 20% of the money, but it hasn't worked in a single disaster situation yet. :sarc:

Oh look we saved 20% of the money, but it hasn't worked in a single disaster situation yet. :sarc:

What we are buying apparently does not work and we are paying 20% more for it. And I don't think it has worked in a disaster either. If I am going to buy a non-working system, at least let me keep some money.

What we are buying apparently does not work and we are paying 20% more for it. And I don't think it has worked in a disaster either. If I am going to buy a non-working system, at least let me keep some money.

The last system I know of the out performed anything during a national emergency was the Nextel Direct Connect system. It was the only reliable communication system in New York city on 9/11.