Avtec and GSC update 911 technology

The Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center in Virginia has had its dispatch console technology updated by Avtec and GCS Electronics and Communications.

Previously, the centre used Orbacom TDM-150 dispatch consoles connected to a Motorola ASTRO Conventional radio system, which had become obsolete. This meant that parts and support were increasingly difficult to find.

“We were looking for a system that was non-proprietary, and would function well with other radio systems,” said Martinsville-Henry County Emergency 911 Center Director J R Powell.

“Because our 911 centre is a joint centre between multiple jurisdictions, there are many different radio systems involved. We needed a console system that would play well with a variety of radio networks without having to reinvent the wheel. It needed to be affordable too.”

By adopting Avtec’s new Radio over Internet Protocol Module (RIC-M), the proprietary ASTRO Conventional v.24 protocol is converted into a standard IP interface. The RIC-M enables seamless communication between the existing ASTRO radio system and Avtec’s pure IP Scout console. Connecting to an IP-based console like Scout creates the opportunity for enhanced dispatching capabilities and the possibility to interface to virtually any other type of radio system.

To finance the console replacement, Martinsville-Henry County 911 is using GCS’s Console Systems as a Service program which bundles the equipment lease with implementation, training and ongoing support services into one monthly payment.

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