Firefighters Complain About Radio Coverage

Orlando (Fla.) firefighters say their new 800 MHz trunked radio system has problems, notably how the digital radio system processes background sounds, which reduces the intelligibility of radio transmissions. According to firefighters. the $6.8 million radio system, which uses digital encrypted transmissions, processes engine noise, alarm bells and other ambient sounds in such a way as to make a voice transmission more difficult to understand. Firefighters have been using their older analog channels in some cases, to better hear transmissions. Read more here. Also watch this WISH-TV report that includes clips from tests made on the radio network.