[EAS] [BC] What's the point of LP-1s anymore?

[Bill Ruck]

Off subject but I see where Mike is going.

For a while I was working with Alpine County Sheriff's Office on what 
was called the "Mid-Sierra Radio Network" project.  The plan was to 
interconnect Alpine County and surrounding counties with microwave 
links so they could easily talk to each other.  Small counties depend 
on mutual aid.  For example, the cash cow for Alpine County is Bear 
Valley Ski Resort but in winter that can be a several hour drive from 
the county seat in Markleeville.  So if something happens in Bear 
Valley Alpine County depends on help from Calaveras County.  And 
there is an infamous bar on Highway 88 just outside of Kirkwood that 
depending on which side of the parking lot the bar fight starts is in 
either Alpine County, Calaveras County, or Amador County!

The problem was that to develop a new microwave mountain top relay 
site is expensive.  Most appropriate sites have no utility power so 
they have to be either generator or solar power.  When an individual 
site development cost exceeds the entire county's yearly budget that 
is a problem.  It was a great idea but not affordable.

There are parts of Highway 88 in Alpine County that not only has no 
cell service but no CHP low band radio coverage.  The steep terrain 
and narrow valleys makes satellite phones unreliable.

My experience with smaller counties has taught me that the United 
States is not like San Francisco or Sacramento or Los Angeles.  Or 
Chicago, New York, or Dallas.  Most of the country is more like Alpine County.

When the volunteer fire department has bake sales and pancake 
breakfasts to raise cash to purchase necessary fire equipment you 
will recognize the problem.

Those of us that live in "big" cities need to recognize that the 
rural areas have the same needs but nowhere near the same 
budget.  The real advantage of a clear channel LP-1 is that the 
delivery infrastructure is free.

You have probably heard the phrase "Champagne tastes and beer 
budget".  That is optimistic.  Try "They don't have the money to pay 
attention".

Bill Ruck
Curmudgeon
San Francisco