In Reply to: Re: I-COM infrastructure improvements posted by Brad on October 19, 2000 at 12:01:43:
Currently, 154.430 is the primary dispatch / operation channel on Whidbey and 154.295 is the freq. for Camano. There is some simulcasting for medical calls with the HEAR freq. for Whidbey Gen. Hosp. units (PL 156.7hz) & also some paging on the .430 (C/S) for Stanwood Ambulance / Fire (mutual aid). Most of Island Co. Fire is 100hz PL, (Central & South Whidbey, & Camano) Only Oak Harbor and vicinity is 110.9hz PL. I am not aware of 154.145 ??? The countywide TAC is 154.175 w/ (100hz & 110.9hz). In 1997 I-COM "went live" after three different (separate) dispatch agencies merged. More operational consolidation and upgrades (as noted below) are planned. Watch the FCC (WTB) web site for licenses when / if they are approved.
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: That's a lot of good information. I have in-laws that live up on the island, and I like to listen to them off and on.
: Do you know how they are currently using their three licensed fire frequencies? I believe I hear most of the voice dispatches for the main island on 154.430 (tone 110.9) - but I'm not sure how they use the 154.145 or 154.295. Is Camano Island dispatched by I-Com on one of these, and is one used for a TAC channel? And, are they using 110.9PL on their TX on all transmitters/apparatus (would like to tone guard those as well on my end).
: Thanks, Brad.
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: : I-COM (Island Co. Dispatch) is undergoing some VHF & UHF enhancements countywide. Tower sites will be: Camano Island (ATT tower), Race Road (new proposed tower on Whidey), Cultus Bay Road (existing tower on Whidbey), and the existing Oak Harbor site. NEW (additional) freqs. all around for both Fire & L.E., but some of that is still in the licensing stage yet, with microwave & wireline interties, voting receivers, and the strong possibility of a VHF fire TAC repeater ? "Preliminary" plans call for a single (fire / EMS) dispatch freq. with multiple TACS. L.E. would have some additional TAC/DATA channels as well. OHPD was slated to move off of the 453.900 (Burligton City) freq. and onto the ICSO channel(s) as well ?
: : An upgrade to 800mhz was not considered because of the enormous cost that would be involved building enough towers to engineer the system correctly (to overcome the topography issues). Also, not a lot of 800mhz freqs. (only 3) were dedicated for Island Co. originally.
: : Although some freqs. have already been obtained, and a lot of the hardware is in place, this is not final yet, and is not expected to come on line until next year.
: : FYI