City of Des Moines, IA, leads interoperable communications with Tait

The City of Des Moines, IA, formally accepts a critical communications solution from Tait Communications that will give radio users the freedom to roam throughout the city and access multiple networks without changing radios.

Houston, TX: Tuesday, 26 November 2013

The City of Des Moines, IA, has formally accepted a critical communications solution from Tait Communications, which gives radio users the freedom to roam throughout the city and access multiple networks without changing radios.

来自TAIT的地铁互操作性通信系统（MICS）结合了三种不同的频段，允许波尔克县的所有公共安全机构接入与现有无线电系统兼容的一个集中式系统。

Public safety agencies in the area operate UHF and VHF frequencies, in addition to two proprietary 800 MHz networks. The MICS links these frequencies together for agency interoperability, and allows each agency to retain their investment in their current communications infrastructure.

Arnold Porath, City of Des Moines Planning and Budgeting Director, says: "The success of the project can be attributed to a collaborative effort between first responders, law enforcement, fire personnel, communications directors, emergency management, locally elected officials, and communications technicians throughout central Iowa, as well as the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division of the Iowa Department of Public Defense."

Tait Communications Americas President, Victor Agnellini, says the City of Des Moines is a leader in interoperability and sets the benchmark for how public safety organizations should develop a communications solution that benefits its users and the community.

“我们为Des Moines的城市感到骄傲成为这个解决方案的一部分。许多人努力有一个可互操作的解决方案，但由于各种原因并不成功。祝贺这座城市与多个供应商合作开发解决方案使生活更轻松，更好地为其无线电用户更好，同时也通过重用其当前设备的大部分设备来利益城市的纳税人。“

Project background

Public Safety agencies in the Des Moines area operate on VHF and UHF frequencies, one privately owned 800 MHz trunking system, and one commercial 800 MHz system. Tait Communications' project creates an interoperability network by linking together the FCC-designated interoperable frequencies in the VHF, UHF and 800 MHz bands. This allows each agency to retain their investment in their current communications infrastructure.

The combining of the three different frequency bands allows all public safety agencies in the Polk County area to access one centralized communication system compatible with their existing radio system.

The project utilizes four UHF, four VHF and four 800 MHz interoperability channels to establish four interagency channels for public safety use. Two of these channels will be allocated as fixed-point systems to provide mobile service to the larger area, and another channel will be used as a calling channel.

The other two channels will be incorporated into several portable cross-band repeaters, which will be transported in various police and fire command vehicles for use at location-specific events where multiple agencies are involved but coverage requirements are limited.

This project will greatly increase the voice radio interoperability of police, fire and emergency medical services in the Des Moines MSA, and improve service to the community.