When will Fire and EMS transition to the OpenSky 800 MHz radio system?
No firm date has been decided yet. Key software known as Release 6 (R6) to support the transition and provide increased functionality was anticipated for delivery in early 2Q2006. Additional system improvements some of which were derived from Cumberland Countys live use of the new radio system by the police was incorporated into the release. This delayed delivery of the release until November 2006. Police were loaded with R6 prior to the holiday season and Fire and EMS started loading R6 in January 2007 when a bug was discovered in the mobile and VTAC code. Loading was suspended when the bug was discovered. A new release of code has been developed and is undergoing testing. A new schedule to load the corrected code will be announced following testing. Following the loading of R6 across the entire fleet a second phase of testing will occur prior to any announcement of a transition date. Four slot voice communications will be enabled on selected sites and tested during this period. Four
