The Perryville Police has gone digital.
The Police Department has been added to the Missouri Statewide Interoperability Network (MOSWIN) for its radio capabilities. Perryville went to the digital frequencies approximately two weeks ago.
“The frequencies are crystal clear,” Perryville Assistant Police Chief Bill Jones said. “The second reason is that it doesn’t matter where we are, we can reach back to the station. It used to be that if we were out by the interstate it would be tough to talk back to the station.”
MOSWIN is a network of communications towers, base stations and communications software. The project is providing the infrastructure that will provide interoperable communications throughout the state to both state public safety agencies and any local jurisdictions that wish to use the system for their interoperable communications.
The Statewide Interoperability Network serves two primary functions
Providing internal communications capabilities for state agencies, including the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Department of Natural Resources and State Emergency Management Agency.
Providing a statewide interoperability platform and access for local agencies to achieve interoperable communications with local, state, regional and federal agencies.
The network operates five channels per site in the “trunked” radio mode and utilizes predominantly VHF High Band public safety spectrum (150 MHz) consisting of 75 radio sites statewide.
Before the move, the Perryville Police was on the traditional VHF, or Legacy VHF, band. Jones described the change in scanners and frequency to the change in technology when it comes to televisions.
“The old TVs were analog and they were all snowy,” Jones said. “The digital TVs and signals are crisp and clear. It’s the same thing with radio traffic. The VHF is analog, while the digital is crystal clear. The only difference is that with digital is that you either have it or you don’t. There is no static that you could sort of hear something through.”
MOSWIN is a common thing that most departments are going to in the very near future and is costing the department minimally.
“At the present time it is not costing anything at all,” Jones said. “It’s a state run system. The radios aren’t cheap, but nothing is. The system itself is good and financed by the state. How long that will last is anybody’s guess.”
Jones noted that communications is key, especially with the police department.
“Being able to communicate is probably the most important thing with the police department,” Jones said. “That’s why we made the move. It’s important that one officer is able to talk with another.”
