This is the government at work for you. The old system has worked just fine for probably over 50 years. The FCC now mandates narrow-band for govermental agencies. Could have been a simple software conversion on the current radios and system. The audio quility would have been slightly degraded, but still perfectly good. But no; we the taxpayers just forked out almost two million dollars for a system that does not work reliably! As an amateaur radio operator myself; I understand the importance of emergency communications, and it is vital of our police and fire personal. With that being said the old saying of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I think certainly applies here. But when the government looks at the taxpayer as an endless money pit, this is what happens. I say go back to the old analog system, count your losses and learn your lesson for the future!

Dave Sleeter is a nice guy...BUT...is it a coincidence that just after going online with digital he retired as director of the 911 center and moved out of state?

I don't believe in coincidences...DO YOU?

Milwaukee has had nothing but problems with Open Sky. Good luck working out the bugs.

There was no immediate need to rush into Digital (or also called P-25) They should have insured the narrow banding ( which IS required) worked smoothly, as in dead spots and then phased in the P-25 channel by channel also insuring the first one worked before moving to the next.
It seems like the radio techs are working on one of the big three channels every day ( Fire, JPD, and Sheriff) sometimes working over several shifts...
Why is it that I can hear Dane County's Sheriff's channel better and with less problems than Rock's ( and I'm much closer to the Rock transmitters)?? They've narrow banded (if my info is correct) and they're looking to go to an 800mhz trunk system...Made by the same folks who made Milwaukee's troubled system.

cheaper isnt always better!