US Sets Up Emergency Multi-Band Radio Project 130
Posted
by
samzenpus
from the switch-it-to-channel-danger dept.
from the switch-it-to-channel-danger dept.
coondoggie writes "Looking to help eliminate the dangerous and inefficient hodgepodge of communication and network technology used by emergency response personnel, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today said it had picked 14 groups from across the country to pilot an ambitious Multi-Band Radio project.
In 2008, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate awarded a $6.2 million contract to Thales Communications to demonstrate the first-ever portable radio prototype that lets emergency responders — police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and others — communicate with partner agencies, regardless of the radio band they operate on."
Really? (Score:5, Funny)
Hey while they're at it... (Score:5, Funny)
Why don't they add in an analogue television signal?
BTM
Re:Amateur Radio (Score:4, Funny)
You're just still pissed because you cant pass your license exam.
Re:Check with amateur operators (Score:5, Funny)
I've never used a spectrum analyser, so I'm going to assume it's because they drop verbs from transmissions.
Re:Hey while they're at it... (Score:3, Funny)
They sent radios to CANADA?! (Score:3, Funny)
"Radios were sent to -Canadian Interoperability Technology Interest Group (Ottawa, ON Canada)"
Dear god. What are we going to do when we go to war with those french speaking queen loving northerners?! They will even be able to listen in on the Department of Defense frequencies! They will know our every move!
I demand that only DEFECTIVE radios are sent to Canada.
For maximum effect, I recommend that the radios only receive communications in the form of a poor impression of a Canadian accent- notably every word should be "Ay?"
(This post was a joke)
Prototype Demonstration (Score:4, Funny)
Policeman: So, what is this thing we have here?
Engineer: It's a dual-band radio! See - here on one side of it, you have the normal frequency that you use as a policeman. And.. (flips device around) here you have the frequency used by the firemen! We spent $400,000 of tax dollars to develop this!
Policeman: So let me get this straight: I have two radios in one device!? It's bigger than my normal radio...
Engineer: Yes, that's it! Now you are no longer encumbered with just police communication!
Policeman: But it's like twice as big as my normal radio...
Engineer: Yes, but think about the convenience! Now you can communicate with the other departments!
Policeman: Departments? With an "s"?
Engineer: Well, if you want to talk with another department, like say....
Policeman: Medical?
Engineer: ... yeah - medical - you would need one of these! (pulls out even bigger box)
Policeman: This one is like three times the size of my normal radio! How much weight do you want me to carry around?
Engineer: Yes, but look at the quality! Each radio has its own independent volume and frequency knob! You can customize it to work the way that you want to!
Policeman: And, let's say I want to include the Highway patrol...?
Engineer: Got that too. Here's the four-band radio...
Policeman: BUT THIS IS EVEN BIGGER?!?! This is like four times the size of my normal radio...
Engineer: And each band has it's own volume knob, battery compartment...
Policeman: Say, you didn't just get four normal radios and tape them together, did you?
Engineer: Of course not! These radios are made to exacting standards -
Policeman: Yes you did! I'm peeling them apart now!
Engineer: Turns and runs while policeman chases him, throwing radio parts at him...