 There are a lot of people who have VHF-UHF programmable scanners and
listen to local emergency frequencies. The EMA operates a "Weather
Watch" frequency that is manned by staff from the time threatening
weather approaches until it is past.
The Logan EMA Weather Watch frequency has been changed from
155.730 to 155.7300.
Communications heard on this frequency are EMA staff taking
spotter and responder reports from the field, coordinating what is
being seen in the field with their Nexrad observations and
communications direct from National Weather Service personnel, all
while weather is happening in Logan County. Advance warnings are
issued by the minute for areas that may be affected by a storm.
"The Weather Watch program saves lives," Fulscher said. He
encourages citizens to listen to the EMA Weather Watch, but he was
clear to say that these frequencies are for the public to listen to
only.
A benefit that gains significance when there is urgency created
by weather or disaster and public safety is that the new frequencies
reduce the chances of "getting stepped on." That's when one user
broadcasts over another user and one message does not get heard.
Fulscher recalled occasions when this happened locally, including
one important time when a warning siren activation request was not
received.
While many citizens are listening on one-way radios, anyone with
a two-way radio is reminded that they are not invited to speak on
any of the licensed emergency frequencies. Only authorized personnel
are allowed. There are tracking devices to locate violators,
Fulscher said.
Three other local emergency frequencies have also been changed
this year as part of a move to enhanced narrow-banding:
-
Fire page out, 158.7600
-
Rural Fire Dispatch, 154.0925
-
Lincoln (city) Fire Department, 154.4450
Each of the frequency changes represents only the addition of one
number at the end, 0 or 5, creating four digits past the decimal
point. It was noted that older scanners may not be programmable to a
seventh digit. Just program the first six digits and the scanner
should work well.
The changeover to narrow banding in Logan County began two years
ago with the Lincoln Police Department and Logan County Sheriff's
Department.
Deputy Chief Mike Geriets reported in March of 2008 that the
Lincoln Police Department had just finished installation in the last
squad car, and officers were using new Icom portable radios that an
EMA grant helped provide. The sheriff's department did the same. The
radios were working out very well, he said.
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Fulscher said the new frequencies not only allow more time to
talk when it is important, but there has been an added big benefit.
The range of transmissions with the new hand-held radios has dramatically increased. While
there were plenty of "dead zones" previously, now "one deputy can talk to
another deputy anywhere in the county with the push of a button," he
said. This improvement increases expedience and safety in the field.
The 2008 FCC ruling requires public safety and
industrial-business land mobile radios operating in the 150-174
megahertz and 421-512 megahertz bands to go to narrower bands.
"Narrow-banding" the VHF and UHF spectrum increases efficiency.
The process requires purchasing new equipment in most cases,
which is costly. Not counting law enforcement, there are 250
firefighters and 16 fire departments in the county. Hundreds of
thousands of dollars have been spent on for portable radios at
$400-$700, car radios at $1,000 per vehicle; the base radio
installed at the station in 2007 cost over $650,000. The estimated
total project cost was over $1 million. "Some grants helped,"
Fulscher said.
The reason behind the frequency changes is cluttered airwaves.
There are more wireless, radio and pager communications today than
ever before. Increasing the frequencies allows more users in the
same range.
While the unfunded mandate allows until Jan. 1, 2013, to make
changes, most of Logan County is already compliant. This year, the
remaining work is being done with public works departments.
While there is no fee involved, reapplication must be made to
register the new numbers with the FCC. If caught, delinquent users
face fines and fees, but there should be none in Logan County.
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