Berlin Police Experiences Challenges with Availability of TETRA Network
According to the German Police union, Police officers in Berlin are frequently lacking of reception of the digital TETRA network. A spokesman says that there are too few base stations and the devices seems to be too weak.
According to German publication: www.heise.de, the German Police Union (GdP) has sounded the alarm clock because of experienced difficulties with the digital TETRA radio network in Berlin. Whether in buildings, in subway stations, in tunnels or underground garages - police officials repeatedly complained about problems with the radio network.
Insufficient base stations
The 'dead spots', according to GdP board member Stephan Kelm, are caused especially by an insufficient number of base stations. According to Kelm, the calculations to provide sufficient base stations was not properly done because of the structural conditions had been completely ignored. In the Berlin metropolitan area there are currently less than 50 sites, while in Vienna (a much smaller city) there are more than twice the number of sites installed.
The GdP also refers to radio problems at certain locations that offers a good communication infrastructure. Larger buildings or large groups of persons could apparently weaken the strong radio waves.
The hand-held radios should be operated with a maximum of one watt transmit power according to Berliner Morgenpost because of health reasons.
