Delaware fixing radio system

By D.L. Bonar, Staff writer

DOVER - Efforts to define what the problems with the state's new 800 MHz radio system.

Beginning a week ago, representatives of Motorola Radio, the Office of Information Services and the volunteer fire service in which tests are being conducted traveled to various sites to review the service capability.

Those tests are to continue periodically until a solution is in place.

"I think we are finally on the way to getting this shortfall solved," said Rep. Bruce C. Ennis, D-Smyrna. "With the inclusion of the fire service, Motorola will get a full view of the shortfalls being experienced."

Those who are using what was described as a "state of the art" communications system found there are certain areas of the state in which they do not operate.

Volunteer firefighters, some police agencies and other emergency services personnel reported a lack of full coverage of the system.

Earlier, officials from the Office of Information Services said they did not feel they got what they paid for when the Motorola Radio system was installed.

Motorola officials said the state got exactly what they ordered which was a system which guaranteed only 95 percent coverage in outside areas. In building coverage was not guaranteed, according to Motorola spokesmen.

The new radio system was hailed as the "end-all" of radio communications in regard to cross-communications between agencies during time of emergency.

Contents © 2008 by David Schoenberger