Only a small percentage of problems with digital trunked radio systems are reported by the news media, however there are a sufficient number of stories to establish reasonable doubt as to the veracity of these systems. In fact, there is a clear pattern that would cause a reasonable and prudent person to entertain a strong and honest suspicion as to the suitability of this technology for mission-critical public safety radio communication.
How widespread are these problems? I would like to hear your story if you are a first responder and rely on a digital trunked radio system for essential communication. Click here to send me e-mail.
In some cases, public-safety executives issue gag orders that bar employees and contractors from discussing system shortcomings. Employees face disciplinary action for talking about the communications systems that they rely on for personal safety. Sometimes it’s best to call the baby ugly.
Your e-mail and periodic Internet searches have revealed numerous stories about digital trunked radio system problems. Here are links to a some of the stories.
- State of New York notice of default to M/A-Com on $2B digital trunked radio system (08/29/2008)
- Kanawha County WV - Digital radio outage (08/28/2008)
- Charleston WV - 5 hour outage latest problem with digital radios (08/27/2008)
- P25 Task Group to Investigate Fireground Noise Issues Mission Critical Comm (08/18/2008)
- Jefferson County W. Virginia - Police chiefs report problems with digital radios (07/28/08)
- New York State’s $2 billion emergency comm system in jeopardy (07/28/08)
- Link to TV news video of Philadelphia Police statement of no confidence in Motorola digital trunked radio system (07/23/08)
- Philadephia digital trunked radio system fails again (PDF) (07/23/08)
- West Virginia -State to look at digital radio problems (07/28/08)
- Charleston West Virginia police report problems with digital radios (07/23/2008)
- Link to TV news video about Indianapolis FOP threatening to sue over digital radio issues (07/15/08)
- Indianapolis FOP threatens to sue over digital radio problems (07/15/08)
- Charleston West Virginal concerns about digital trunked radio (07/10/2008)
- Link to TV news video about more radio and telephone problems with the Indianapolis comm center and digital trunked radio system - 07/09/2008
- Motorola P25 problems in Indiana (2008)
- Indianapolis firefighters, police union decry move to new radio system (2008)
- MECA - Fire chiefs question new digital radio system (2008)
- Problems with digital radios when background noise is present (2008)
- IAFC and NIST tests confirm problems with digital radios (2008)
- Marion County Indiana fire chiefs won’t use new digital trunked radio system (2008)
- Orlando Florida firefighters refuse to use digital trunked radio system (2008)
- Colerain Ohio - Radio problems during fatal fire (2008)
- Indianapolis firefighters say new digital radio system is flawed (2008)
- Philadelphia needs multi-million dollar radio system upgrades (2008)
- Philadelphia - Police radio system fails (2008)
- Philadelphia Fire - We buried guys because of faulty radios (2008)
- Lancaster County PA stops digital radio project (2008)
- KGO-TV follow-up story on San Mateo County digital trunked radio problems (2008) (video)
- San Mateo County Sheriff’s Deputy comments on digital trunked radio problems (2008) (PDF)
- KGO-TV news story on San Mateo County and Redwood City Police Dept digital trunked radio problems (2008) (video)
- ABC7 news report on Redwood City Police Department problems with San Mateo County digital trunked radio system (2008) (PDF)
- Erie County NY pulls out of statewide digital radio network (2008)
- Reliability of $2.1B statewide communications system in doubt (2008)
- Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! I’m trapped inside. (2008)
- Lansing MI problems with EDACS-Provoice (2008)
- New Miami Beach Police Radios May Be The Problem (2008)
- Boise Fire Says No to 700 MHz Digital Radios (2007)
- Anonymous police department walks away from digital trunked radio (2007)
- Canadian CREST system would cost millions to fix (2007)
- Miami Beach police forgo new radio system for old (2007)
- Battle Creek Michigan police grievance over trunked radio (2007)
- Philadelphia firefighters want faulty radio system fixed (2006)
- Sacramento Fire Chief says digital radios put lives at risk (2006)
- Aurora Colorado trunked radio problems (2005)
- San Mateo County’s digital radio network taken offline (2005)
- San Mateo County’s multi-million dollar failure (2005)
- Philadelphia digital trunked radio system failure (2004)
- Radio Silence - FDNY (2003)
- FDNY Union Chief calls for digital radio replacement (2002)
Click here to learn about the real difference between digital and analog.




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