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It appears that the Federal IWN VHF Trunked system has run out of money. However - the system is still in operation in the Northwest and it appears that it will remain in operation. At least for now. No one can say -- what this will mean for the shared use of the IWN VHF system by the Washington State Patrol. The FCC has given more 700 mhz spectrum for use by Public Safety users -- for specific use as a nationwide broadband system. But to do so -- it is now taking back all "T-Band" Spectrum (TV channel 14 to 20) from 470 to 512 Mhz. This spectrum is now in use in the 13 largest Metro areas -- like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Franciso, Etc. Both New York-New Jersey and Los Angeles City and County areas use 4 of the 7 lower TV channels (24 Mhz) for most of those areas Public Safety radio systems. To re-locate these existing services would cost BILLIONS of tax dollars and would give the two largest Metro areas -- only ONE additional TV channel ( 6 Mhz ) within the 700 Mhz band. The new FCC Moto: Give a little -- take back everything else.

It will be interesting if the WSP does go on the IWN system. It seems that with the trend toward interconnectivity with other county and city law agencies that they would go with a system that would make that possible. If they go on IWN they will be even less capable of that since it it P25 and encrypted.

I have wondered if the state DNR system would be a possibility for WSP to use. It has a great statewide coverage and is already in place. It would be a lot cheaper to change over to that system rather than change to P25 and would be easy to communicate with other city, county and state agencies that don't have P25. Maybe it is too late and they have already started as some suspect. :roll:

Just a thought. Maybe the FCC has plans to take the VHF band and screw it up so that wouldn't work. :D

Great to hear from you Mike! Don't be a stranger on here. You always have a great deal to contribute. :bowdown:

_________________
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Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com