Округ Сонома, штат Калифориния, США

The customer

In Sonoma County, California, 400 staff from three law enforcement agencies were operating a TaitNet QS2 Simulcast system. When the Russia River basin in Sonoma Country flooded during a storm, local emergency services urgently required additional channel capacity for their radio communications.

Situation

At the time of the flood, the County’s new Tait QS2 Simulcast system still had to be commissioned, but the first of five channel conversions was completed.

The law enforcement agencies were so confident after the build-out of the first Quasi-Sync 2 channel that they encouraged the Sheriff’s employees to begin using that channel in emergencies, even before the official acceptance of the system.

Response

The five channel system has now been expanded from seven to eight sites.

Sonoma County chose TaitNet QS2’s high simulcast performance that significantly reduces maintenance. TaitNet QS2 uses high-stability oscillators to maintain very stable transmitter frequency, unlike traditional simulcast frequencies that drift over time so regular maintenance is required at each site to avoid distorted audio signals where coverage overlaps.

TaitNet QS2 digital signal processing-based Line Equalizer Modules route audio to each transmitter, analyses the characteristics of a neighbouring transmitter and automatically adapts its own signals to match.

The County also chose the system because it was modular, simple to install and because it was able to interface with microwave or radio frequency audio paths or telecommunications lines.

Outcome

The County has been able to keep their existing radio infrastructure and fleet radios, significantly reducing the cost of the upgrade. TaitNet QS2 System Control equipment, Line Equalizer Modules and Frequency Reference Modules were overlaid on the County’s existing radio communications network (base stations and antennae).