By KIM DOUGLASS
Staff reporter
09/07/99

A local test this weekend of a newly repaired emergency radio system in Rehoboth Beach proved successful.

But it remains to be seen whether the community can be tied into the statewide communication system.

Police and volunteer firefighters used their hand-held radios for the first time since a July 4 fiasco when the computer-dependent machines failed.

Rehoboth Beach is one of five areas around the state where emergency workers have had trouble sending and receiving messages with the $52 million 800-megahertz system that was turned on last year.

The town was the first to receive equipment designed to fix the problems. The installation of "intellirepeaters" there has allowed emergency workers to communicate better locally.

The town should get connected with the rest of the state later this week, assistant Fire Chief Chuck Snyder said.

"Once it’s hooked on line, we’ll see if it works totally," Snyder said. "And it should. So far, so good."

The volunteers have about 50 radios, and the Rehoboth Beach police have about 20, Snyder said

Last month, Gov. Tom Carper announced that system builder Motorola Inc. had agreed to repair service to the five troubled areas.

Anthony Farina, Carper’s spokesman, said the governor feels good about the improvements.

"Motorola has committed to fixing the remaining coverage areas, and the governor will hold Motorola to that commitment," he said.

Rehoboth Beach Fire Chief Jeff Blizzard said he is looking forward to the day it’s all finished.

"I feel they should have had the system up and running by now," he said.