emergency responder wireless pilot

[Bill V WA7NWP]

Cool.   I wonder if it links to this new bird that was just launched?

  http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/07/live-ariane-5-eca-launch-with-terrestar-1-satellite/

... and I was just going to mention 4800 baud with a Soundcard
system...     Seems a bit dated these days.

Bill


> Interesting.....
>
> -Scott
>
> http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/43196
>
> Published on NetworkWorld.com Community
> (http://www.networkworld.com/community)
>
> US sets final emergency responder wireless pilot
> By Layer 8
> Created Jul 1 2009 - 5:12pm
>
> Looking to help eliminate [1] the dangerous and inefficient hodgepodge of
> communication and network technology used by emergency response personnel,
> the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today said it had picked 14
> groups from across the country [2] to pilot an ambitious Multi-Band Radio
> project.
>
> In 2008, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate [3] awarded a $6.2
> million contract to Thales Communications to demonstrate the first-ever
> portable radio prototype that lets emergency responders-police,
> firefighters, emergency medical personnel and others-communicate with
> partner agencies, regardless of the radio band they operate on. This is the
> final pilot in a three-part test, DHS said.
>
> Currently radios only operate within a specific frequency band;
> subsequently, responders are often unable to communicate with other agencies
> and support units that operate in different radio frequencies.  Comparable
> in size and weight to existing portable radios with similar features,
> multi-band radio would provide users with much-improved incident
> communications capabilities, the DHS [4] stated.
>
> Thales Liberty multiband mobile radio received US Federal Communications
> Commission (FCC) certification in April. The Liberty radio is made in the
> U.S. and is the first multiband, software-defined LMR designed specifically
> for government agencies and first responders, the company [5] said.
>
> The MBR prototype [6] is capable of operating in the primary public safety
> bands between 136-174 megahertz (MHz) and 380-520 MHz as well as in the 700
> MHz and 800 MHz bands. Additionally, when authorized, the MBR is capable of
> operating on the Department of Defense bands in the 136-138 MHz and 380- 400
> MHz ranges as well two Federal Government bands: 162-174 MHz and 406.1-420
> MHz. This capability will for the first time let for Federal agencies
> interoperate with local, tribal, regional, and state counterparts, the DHS
> said. Carrying a price tag of $4,000-$6,000, the MBR is equal in form,
> factor, and cost to existing high-end portable radios, the DHS said.
>
> The 14 pilot organizations are:
>
> -2010 Olympic Security Committee (Blaine, Wash., and Vancouver, B.C. Canada)
>
> -Amtrak (Northeast Corridor)
>
> -Boise Fire Department (Boise, Idaho)
>
> -Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (Ottawa, ON Canada)
>
> -Customs and Border Patrol (Detroit)
>
> -Federal Emergency Management Agency (Multiple Locations)
>
> -Hawaii State Civil Defense (Honolulu)
>
> -Interagency Communication Interoperability System (Los Angeles County,
> Calif.)
>
> -Michigan Emergency Medical Services (Lower Peninsula Areas)
>
> -Murray State University (Southwest Kentucky)
>
> -Phoenix Police Department and Arizona Department of Emergency --Management
> Greater Phoenix and Yuma County)
>
> -Texas National Guard (Austin, Texas)
>
> -U.S. Marshals Service (Northeast Region)
>
> -Washington Metro Area Transit Authority Transit Police (District of
> Columbia)
>
> Each agency will conduct a minimum 30-day pilot in fall 2009.
>
>
> --
> -Scott Currie, NS7C-
> "The shortest distance between two points is
> for people who don't ride motorcycles!"
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