R97-02 ACCEPTING BID - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. _ - . < POLICE DEPARTMENT Memorandum No. 96-91 TO: Honorable Mayor Terry M. Howley and City Council Members FROM: James L. Williams, Jr., City Manager Michael L. Mowen, Chief of Police SUBJECT: Expansion of City's Existing Microwave Communication System REFERENCES: 1. Attached memorandum from Segno Communications, Inc., dated December 16, 1996. � � • PURPOSE: This memorandum is provided to secure council acceptance of the necessary costs related directly to the expansion of the City's e�sting microwave communication system. BACKGROUND: The City of Decatur's existing radio communications system utilizes two � modem terminal cards at both the Law Enforcement Center and the antenna located at the i Municipal Services Center. At each of these sites, one of the cards enables the location to I transmit voice signals and the other enables the location to receive the signals. With the addition of the Mobile Data Computers in City vehicles, the additional capability of transmitting and receiving data signals is necessary for each of these two sites. This requires the purchase of four additional modem terminal cards (two for each site), as well as a duplexer expansion which will allow for transmission of the data signals to the existing antenna. The purchase of the duplexer expansion saves the City the cost of buying a new antenna, separate duplexer expansion equipment and the costs associated with installation. � There are three distinct advantages to expanding the existing microwave communications system at this time: 1. We expect the City's current radio system to be in service for years to come, despite the fact that new communications technology is developing daily. Often times as the newer models become available on the market, parts for existing systems become difficult to procure. If the City acts now, the danger of not being able to obtain the parts necessary for expansion in the future is eliminated. 2. Since Segno Communications, Inc. is currently working on our communications system in preparation for the Mobile Data Computers, there are no additional labor costs associated with the expansion. This saves the considerable expense of labor costs incurred should the City wait until a later time to expand the system.