CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

 Two guys came down my driveway this afternoon (McCue was one of them) "measuring the performance" of the new communications system. It's on the air, and their testing consists of a sophmoric "can you hear me now" protocol. Recall we had to look at countless coverage maps demonstrating a very specific level of signal strength and told that any alternatives did not meet those very critical levels of signal strength. So here they are now driving the system just like the Verizon Guy. This method of system performance is unacceptable in any cellular hearing process (numerous case law decisions) and I never accept such in any application I review. The system should be measured by scanning receivers coupled to computers logging thousands of data points, the points then reduced to coverage pixels on a base map.....just like the nonsence we saw at the hearings. So if, as the song goes "Is that all there is?" then they will have no problem with 95% or maybe 98%. The vendor will be off the hook.

Recall, after the 175 foot monopole was built and I put the FD and Police on top, we also did such drive tests with hand helds and identified coverage and non coverage areas. At that time, as there was no 1.5 MM contract for a new system, the sophmoric method was pretty good, and the FD was pleased....better than they ever had. Wonder what this system will sound like in 5 years? I know, we'll need a digital system with more sites.

I'm afraid, no matter how it goes from now on the the court, the deed is done and it is probably irreversible.

Sorry for all the good news.