Upgrade of fire radios praised

D.C. firefighters say a $35 million upgrade of their communications system finally has eliminated gaps in coverage that they had experienced since the department switched to Motorola 800-megahertz digital radios in 2001.

The latest phase of the project, which improved signal reception for fire and emergency medical crews in Metro trains and tunnels, was completed March 31 and announced Wednesday by Mayor Anthony A. Williams.

The $4 million cost of that phase of the project was divided between the District and Metro.

The digital radio system was activated in January 2001 at a cost of $5.3 million. Firefighters criticized the system for failing in emergencies — causing them, in many cases, to depend on their personal cell phones for communication while battling blazes.

After the District was awarded a $46 million federal grant in February 2002, the Office of the Chief Technology Officer began a 19-month upgrade of the radio system, adding more antennas and vehicle repeater systems to boost signal strength above ground. That phase of the upgrade was completed on schedule in September.

In the six months since it was completed, fire officials say they have “absolutely no complaints” about the way the system has performed.

“We’ve looked and looked and looked. The only places we truly have communications problems are some of the Federal Triangle buildings — and that’s by design,” said James Martin, the fire department’s assistant chief of operations. “It works as prescribed. It’s truly a great system.”

Chief Martin said an electrical fire in a Metro train tunnel March 18 gave fire officials an early indication of the system’s capability underground. He said the system had not been fully tested, but radio signals were clear.

The new system operates at the public-safety industry standard level at which speech is understandable with only minor distortion, rarely requiring that messages be repeated.

Linda Argo, chief of staff for Chief Technology Officer Suzanne Peck, said the final phase will be to make police radios interoperable with the emergency communications system to take advantage of the enhancements in Metro tunnels and trains. She said that phase will be completed by early summer.

“We have gotten only positive feedback on the work that’s been done,” she said.

Deputy Chief William Fitzgerald said when the system was brought online in 2001, it was a “total catastrophe.”

He said since the new system was put online, firefighters have been urged to file written complaints if they find dead spots in the radio coverage, but that “almost none” have been filed.

“It’s come a long way since its inception three years ago,” he said. “It’s really much, much safer from our perspective.”