Missouri
has built a statewide public safety interoperable communications system, known
as the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN). MOSWIN is a
network of communications towers, base stations and communications software.
The project is providing the infrastructure that will provide interoperable
communications throughout the state to both state public safety agencies and
any local jurisdictions that wish to use the system for their interoperable
communications. The system meets a Federal Communications Commission mandate
that all public safety agencies in the U.S. operate only in a “narrowband” mode
after Jan. 1, 2013.
The
Statewide Interoperability Network serves two primary functions:
· Providing internal communications capabilities for
state agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Department of
Natural Resources and State Emergency Management Agency.
· Providing a statewide interoperability platform and
access for local agencies to achieve interoperable communications with local,
state, regional and federal agencies.
The
network operates five channels per site in the “trunked” radio mode and
utilizes predominantly VHF High Band public safety spectrum (150 MHz)
consisting of 75 radio sites statewide.
Starting
on 8/15/2013 the Bates County Sheriff’s Office has started using the MOSWIN
system. The yearlong project required
the Sheriff’s Office to upgrade the entire radio system to digital radios. Each patrol vehicle in the fleet required new
radios and each Deputy received a new portable radio to carry.
“Prior to
utilizing the MOSWIN radio system the Bates County Sheriff’s Office has always
struggled with radio coverage throughout the County. It is a danger to the citizens and the
Deputies that work for our County to not have a reliable radio system,” says
Sheriff Anderson. “In 2009, when I took
office I began working on our radio system problems. We began in 2010 with new radio console in
the Communication room.
Then we
conducted studies of our radio coverage, just to find out that being the 6th
largest county in the State of Missouri hindered our ability to have radio
coverage without investing $250,000 to $500,000. This cost would have been to place four
additional antennas strategically throughout the county and upgrade the current
mobile and portable radios.”
During the
last four years citizens that had knowledge of the radio problems had offered
to allow the county to install the needed antennas on their property. Sheriff Anderson says, “By utilizing the
MOSWIN system, which includes the utilizing State of Missouri’s antennas, Bates
County has saved money on the cost of the antennas, installation, maintenance
and future upgrades. The our total project cost was $92,000 saving our local
tax payers anywhere from $160,000 to $400,000”
“Going
digital on the MOSWIN system was a no brainer.
The average age of our current radios were about 10 years old or
older. We were in the need to upgrade
our mobile and portable radios to be compliant with new regulations, so we
purchased the digital radios. Last year
we received 4 radios on a MOSWIN Grant through the State of Missouri and this
year we are receiving 2 additional radios through the same grant. These two grants alone saved us an additional
$30,000.” says Anderson.
