[FedCom] Interoperability Hamppers Agencies

[Milspec390 at aol.com]

Brilliant, Ken. Simplicity. As you say, many states/towns have - had? - 
'Intercity' V/UHF PD/FD mutual aid freqs. Many a high speed chase and rescue 
coordinated on these.

 "Interoperability" crisis is as you say, blather from press nitwits shilling 
for bureaucrats whose 'solution' to every problem is blow more money on 
baffling unreliable systems.

 How many of us know people in agencies at all levels who say new digi-trunk 
stuff ok until crisis, then it fails? Many keep old systems at ready, 
recommend others do likewise.

  Hurricane Charley, summer '04, Charlotte County, FL, first systems failed? 
You guessed it, 800 digi-trunks. Had even a few lo/hi band bases been 
retained, life would have been much easier first several days after storm.

  As you note with clarity, how much could it possibly cost for concerned 
agencies to purchase some V/UHF portables and bases for 'interoperability'?

  Cruise ship passengers carry FRS/GMRS portables, particularly when 
travelling in groups. Of late, also using V/UHF Itinerant freq & Marine VHF handhelds. 
Amazing how citizens develop economical reliable simple 'interoperability 
solutions'.

                                                                         =Z.=
Paul Vincent Zecchino
Manasimplex Key, FL
BT