Tait Communications selected by Grant County Public Utility District (PUD) to install a Tier 3 DMR Network.

The new TaitNet 8-site, 800MHz, Tier 3 DMR network will replace and consolidate the two existing end-of-life analog networks Grant PUD currently utilizes for voice communications between its staff. The solution will also provide workers with enhanced digital voice communications.

Geographically, Grant PUD is the fourth largest county in Washington State. It serves nearly 85,000 residents within 2,777 square miles.
Warren Miller, Telecommunications Manager for Grant PUD, says capacity issues with the current end-of-life radio networks are a driver for seeking out and investing in trunked digital radio network.

“Grant PUD provides rates for electric service that are among the lowest in the nation. We believe that it is important that an investment in a new communications solution is cost-effective, yet still supports a safe working environment. We will use the network to improve voice capacity and want a system that will last 20 years.”

Steve Cragg, President, Tait Americas says, “We are very pleased to continue our presence in the Pacific Northwest with this long-term partnership with Grant PUD.”

Tait Communications is separately implementing a US$9 million trunked P25 Phase 2 upgradable digital radio network at Grant County’s Multi-Agency Communications Center (MACC), in addition to large trunked radio networks in Seattle and Portland.

“DMR provides utilities with cost-effective access to digital voice communications, in addition to features specifically developed to complement worker safety procedures and operational efficiency. It is the natural progression for many organizations facing challenges deploying new business applications on end-of-life analog radio communications equipment.”

Tait Communications is the first vendor to be awarded a DMR Tier 3 interoperability certificate by the DMR Association following formal standardized testing of the Tait network infrastructure.

Tait DMR Tier 3 supports the deployment of cutting edge business applications that will provide real time intelligence and control of remote workers and assets to drive future improvements in efficiency.

The solution will include 300 Tait TP9300 DMR portable radios and 300 Tait TM9300 DMR mobile radios for use by staff.
Tait is a supplier of trunked radio networks to several of the United States’ largest electric utilities. The company is a long-time advocate of open-standards technology and its DMR solution is no exception.

Tait DMR is built on the proven MPT 1327 trunking architecture and designed to be fully compliant with the Digital Mobile Radio open standards defined by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

Source: Sfgate