Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110033
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: FINCASTLE LENGTH: Medium
The supervisors last month authorized an $11,395 consultant's report on how best to upgrade the county's current radio system. That report is expected to be given to the supervisors Tuesday at their May meeting.
The radio system, which uses two towers to beam its signal, was installed in the 1950s and lacks sufficient power to meet the county's growing needs, critics say.
Sheriff's deputies, emergency service workers and school bus drivers told a study team that the signal from the old system cannot reach parts of the county.
"It became apparent that it wasn't meeting our needs," said Lindy J. Tensor, the county's purchasing agent and member of the Radio Communications Team.
The study team is looking at building two transmission towers - one in the northern end of the county at Crawford's Mountain, and one at Read Mountain in the southern end.
The 12-member team, consisting of dispatchers, emergency service workers and administrators, started working on recommendations on how to improve the radio system last July.
The team hopes to pay for the improvements with state grant money and other state and local funds. A final figure on how much the system will cost is not available, Tenser said.
Tenser said RAM Communications Consultant Inc. of Richmond is looking into the possible use of microwave technology to improve the quality of transmissions.
Among problems cited in a survey of users were:
Background noise from other channels in the dispatch room.
Only one dispatch console for two or three dispatchers.
Interference caused by overlapping frequencies from outside the county.
The proposed system will replace the existing dispatch console with a new computer-based console that will have three operator positions and be expandable for future needs. The dispatch center receives and dispatches all emergency calls for the county's rescue squads and fire departments.
The team found that the county needed the improvements in its radio system to keep up with the pace of industrial and residential growth, particularly in the southern end of the county.
by CNB