technology New Radio System Keeps County Safe by: Kenneth W. Steere, Williams Communications, Project Management Director
B
ay County’s new emergency communication radio system, also known as the “800MHZ system” went substantially live at the end of July, greatly improving the
county’s emergency responders’ ability to communicate vital infor-
mation quickly and effectively. The new system is an Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Project 25 (P25) compliant 800MHz digital linear simulcast trunked reliable radio network. This network is capable of meeting current and future operational communication needs for the county’s first responders. The new system is comprised of nine radio frequency (RF) sites (tower, shelter, generator), two network switching centers, five dispatch centers, and more than 1,800 subscriber radios (portable, mobile and control stations). This new system will allow Bay County to transition away from proprietary solutions and provide the county with greater choice and selection in emerging radio technologies that are in full compliance with the APCO P25 industry-recognized open standards. While the total cost for the project was $13 million, the expense ultimately represents a savings to the county by leveraging existing tower infrastructure and radio communication facilities where possible. Additionally, the new communications network’s infrastructure and design provides for greater reliability and hardening to better withstand natural and environmental hazards such as tropical storms, flooding, hurricanes, and domestic or other threats.
erability is the real-time ability to communicate with others, on demand, regardless of frequency band or manufacturer platform. Bay County’s new radio system solves this challenge and allows field users and dispatchers to interoperate with not only surrounding agencies but also with other first responders when necessary. The new radio system is designed to be reliable with no single point of failure. The nine-site, highly redundant design employs a Distributed Control Point technology that virtualizes the site control function to allow multiple sites the ability to perform this function, further hardening the system against a single point of failure. The two Network Switching Center management functions are geographically separated and high availability; the system uses a fault-tolerant IP network and a loop-protected (hot stand by) microwave subsystem. Prior to the implementation of the new system, Bay County used an E911 system and a 12-channel analog, trunked SmartNet II 800MHz trunked radio system installed in 2000. This system consisted of four multiple towers and shelters, containing base stations and repeaters located at various sites throughout the county. Dispatch services are handled by various agencies. The new system expands the four existing available infrastructure sites and adds two sites via co-location and three new tower sites for the new P25 800 MHz digital simulcast trunked radio network: SITE NAME
ANTENNA HEIGHT
Bay County recognizes and has invested in a public safety radio
Existing RF Tower
SITE TYPE
9th St
Tx 240’ / Rx 255’
network that will provide coverage reliability and clearly under-
Existing RF Tower
FHP
Tx 425‘ / Rx 447’
stood audio quality delivered to first responders throughout their
Existing RF Tower
Bennett
Tx 450’ / Rx 464’
various working environments. (See coverage propagation map
Existing RF Tower
Beach Central
Tx 280’ / Rx 300’
on page 21)
Added RF Tower
EOC (co-location)
Tx 230’ / Rx 260’
The new radio system provides Bay County with a solution that
Added RF Tower
Steelfield (co-location)
Tx 257’ / Rx 305’
meets the needs of the county’s public safety personnel today
Built RF Tower
Beach East
Tx 186’ / Rx 190’
and well into the future. It is focused on coverage, reliability and
Built RF Tower
Beach West
Tx 240’ / Rx 260’
security. The approach maintains the current Bay County coverage
Built RF Tower
Mexico Beach
Tx 246’ / Rx 256’
footprint provided by the four original sites and enhances the coverage in critical areas with the addition of five strategically placed sites. These critical coverage areas were identified by current high traffic areas and projected growth identified in the Bay-Walton Sector Plan. Daily interoperability between Bay County’s first responders and other adjacent municipal/county agencies is necessary. Interop-
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BAY BIZ / WINTER 2022
Bay County planned for several tiers of portable and mobile radio units for use by the various public safety and non-public safety agencies. All devices provide clear, reliable, and secure communications with proven interoperability. Public safety agencies have the highest-tiered devices capable of voice encryption, telephone interconnect calling, private call, GPS location, status messaging
