New Radio System Nearing Completion

A new radio communications tower near Beacon, Iowa.

August 30th, 2022

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Around Mahaska County, residents have spotted new communications towers popping up. Three of those new towers are part of a new radio system that will help public officials, like law enforcement, fire, and more, stay in contact with each other.

Oskaloosa News caught up with Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem about the new system and the process for switching from the old one.

“The system is virtually done,” Van Renterghem explained. After that, there will be a stage of final adjustments, and testing of the new system will begin in early September, as the hope is to test with as much foliage on the trees as possible.

“If the testing goes well, then I think we’re gonna go live with the system in early October,” Van Renterghem added.

The new radio system was necessitated by the narrowbanding mandate of the old radio frequencies by the Federal Communications Commission.

That narrowbanding of the frequencies used by fire responders made communications difficult and, at times, unreliable.

Van Renterghem recounted a medical incident in which the patient had suffered from oxygen deprivation. When oxygen was restored, the patient was combative, and Van Renterghem could not contact additional help because others couldn’t hear the radio.

He finally got help when the paramedics arrived, their radio was able to be heard, and additional help was dispatched. “That’s the type of thing we worry about not having any radio communications. I hate to say it, but my guys and I are getting used to not having any communications out there,” said Van Renterghem.

“Being able to contact additional help is something area first responders are looking forward to,” said Van Renterghem.

The new radio system will also allow first responders traveling outside the county to stay in better contact, as the system has nearly statewide reach. So a first responder with just a portable in Des Moines may still hear and communicate with other first responders in Mahaska County over their radio.

The new system will also allow for better communications with other agencies like the Iowa State Patrol or federal agencies “when we’re working in conjunction with them much better than we do now,” explained Van Renterghem.

A new paging system is also on the horizon that is compatible with the new radio system. The new paging system will benefit the area’s fire and paramedics at the volunteer departments around the county by helping them stay in better contact.

https://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/docs/clearinghouse/guidelines/Narrowbanding_Booklet.pdf