Over recent decades, there has been an increasing quid pro quo relationship between government and large corporations. Actually it goes back much farther than that with partnerships between government and private enterprise to accomplish banking, essential manufacturing, communications, power, and transportation monopolies. More recently,organized labor has become a major part of this alliance, but that is a whole other subject.
When government/corporate relationships develop, we are generally told that an immediate need to stop doing what we were doing and immediately start doing something different is required as a result of advanced technology. Sometimes this is a good thing. Sometimes, it is a bad thing, and sometimes, it is difficult to make a determination. Such is the case with VHF versus 800 MHz communications. For over a decade (actually closer to two decades), we have been told that 800 MHz, and more recently 700 MHz, is "better" than VHF. No one ever quite got around to the specifics of why it was better. It just was/is.....
Then along came Jay Jacobsmeyer, a consulting engineer with advanced degrees and over 25 years experience in radio-frequency engineering. In the November 2009 issue of Urgent Communications magazine, an article by Mr. Jacobsmeyer was published which challenged the established conclusions of 800 MHz superiority. We think you might benefit from his comments, especially the comparisons in Table 2 and the last two paragraphs. You can read Mr. Jacobsmeyers comments on line at http://urgentcomm.com/networks_and_systems/mag/vhf-vs-800-mhz-200911/.
If you are deliberating on whether to move up to the 700/800 MHz band or simply improve what you already have, we think you will benefit by reading Mr. Jacobsmeyers article. In the event you have some concerns about being compatible with the "new technology" while still using VHF or UHF, you may want to check out our own comments at www.info4u.us/InterOpPlan.pdf.
The main thing to remember when someone tells you that you have no other options is that you DO always have other options beginning with the first one of rejecting the comments of the one telling you that is their way or the highway. There is always more than one way and we might just be able to help you decide the right way to go! Give us a call at 205.854.2611 for an assist - any time, 24/7.
