Even so, wouldn't SLSA fall under the tier 1 category anyway? Last I heard, DMR radios weren't up to public safety standards, especially if you're gonna use 'em on a salt-sprayed sandy beach... that's half the reason why they're so much cheaper!news wrote:I say run 2 x networks. 1x P25 encrypted network for public safety Tier 1 agencies, then run a second DMR Network for all non public safety Tier 2 agencies.
A month or so ago we had a Cessna ditch into the ocean about a kilometre off-shore, for which SLSA were the primary responders (including a LifeSaver chopper) but the entire operation was a complete shambles because nobody could communicate with the crews at the crash site.
The cops were trying to get the helo to goto ESO 10 on the GRN, the ambos were asking for them to goto STATE1 (and I'm not sure why FRNSW was even called) but nobody managed to get contact with them at all until they returned to the airport to refuel and one of the cops drove down there to talk to them in person!
A year ago the LifeSaver chopper would've been able to talk direct on the analog police channel.
Now I know SLSA isn't an "agency" as such but as an ESO my 2c says they should be on the GRN, even if some of my tax dollars has to go toward helping them get there (better spent there than sending a dozen pollies on a "fact-finding tour" of Hawaii anyway).
Andrew