New Emergency Communications System Coming to Stoneham

The town is aiming to have a new emergency communications system in place by the end of June, according to Head Civilian Dispatcher David Luciano.

At the May 2011 Town Meeting, Stoneham voters approved spending approxmately $800,000 for the communications system, according to Luciano. The funds cover the costs to renovate the dispatch center, including new electronics and console furniture, as the existing furniture is not compatible with the new electronics), new infrastructure for both the police and systems and an expansion of the DPW’s system using existed equipment, he added.

Recently, the 80-foot-tall communications tower was erected near the station and . 

"The tower was necessary for the placement of microwave dishes to receive radio signals being sent back to control equipment installed at the police station from the remote receiver sites," wrote Luciano in an email to Stoneham Patch. "It also houses the antennas for the receivers located at the police station."

By setting up the antenna at the police station, Luciano said it's the "best placement for line of sight microwave transmissions between the remote receiver sites and the infrastructure installed was at the police station."

Ideally, the town would like to have the communication system installed and fully operational before the end of the June, according to Luciano. However, there is still much to be done before the project is completed.

"The new transmitters and receivers sites need to be brought on-line along with the installation/issue of new compliant portable and mobile radios, existing FCC compliant radios will also need to be reprogrammed," wrote Luciano. "Many old radios will not comply with FCC regulations and the new system's capabilities, as well as having reached their life expectancy. Many are over 20 years old including the main infrastructure at the police station, with limited availability for spare parts, which is refurbished equipment."

Some of the features of the new communications system includes "narrow band transmission capable to comply with FCC regulations effective (Dec. 31). Digital transmission and encryption capable, allowing for more secure communications," Luciano wrote.

"The town’s residents will benefit by their emergency departments having new state-of-the-art equipment, less maintenance costs and more reliability," wrote the dispatcher. "Two additional remote receiver sites, which allows for more reliable communications, eliminating existing dead spots. Additionally back-up transmitters will provide redundancy that we do not currently have."