Digital radio communications comes to North East Texas

East Texas public safety agencies are starting to make the switch from old wideband analog VFH to the new narrowband which is mandated by the FCC by 2013.  A few agencies have taken advantages to homeland security grants for new digital radio communications.

So far Red River County Sheriff's Department, Atlanta Police Department, Greenville Police Department, ETMC EMS, Smith County agencies, and the City of Tyler,  and City of Longview have implemented P25 digital sytems.  Red River County Sheriff, Atlanta PD, and Greenville PD are using P25 VHF conventional channels for dispatch.   ETMC EMS, Smith County, and City of Tyler, & City of Longview are using a P25 Type I digital trunked radio system (TxWARN or Texas Wide Area Radio Network)

Several NE Texas agencies have modified their existing license for the new narrowband requirement, but many have also added the digital (P25) emissions to their existing license so expect more to come.