Jun 28, 2002 12:00 PM

Chester County, Pa., wants to add five channels to each of its Multi-Net II simulcast radio communications system’s 17 tower sites, and it has contracted the E. F. Johnson Company for the job. Multi-Net II is a proprietary system made by Johnson and designed with features for the public safety market, including an emergency system access switch, the ability to set priority levels, priority queuing and the ability to operate in the conventional mode if the need arises.

The county’s 800 MHz system serves 120 agencies. Chester County is 30 miles west of Philadelphia. It borders Delaware and Maryland. The radio system is operated by the county’s Department of Emergency Services, which answers about 900 calls to 9-1-1 per day.

Headed by Director Edward J. Atkins, the DES provides emergency services communications; hazardous materials response; disaster planning; fire, rescue, and emergency medical services training; fire marshal investigations; and public educational programs. It administers Superfund matters involving cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites that qualify for federal funding.

Dave Hattey, Johnson’s president and general manager, said, "With this expansion, Chester County will have the needed channel capacity for additional units on the network. It is gratifying to see all the agencies dispatched by the county 9-1-1 center operating on the integrated communication system."

Johnson has its headquarters in Waseca, Minn. The company is a subsidiary of EFJ, Lincoln, Neb.

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