TALL POLES: Once you start noticing those tall telephone poles,
it seems like they’re everywhere.

A few weeks ago, a reader pointed out one of these exceptionally
high poles along Route 46 in McKean County, asking about their
construction throughout the region. Once you pay attention, you’ll
see they’re located every few miles along stretches of highway.

What was the function of these poles which are about twice the
normal height and appear to have some apparatus attached at the
top?

Before we begin our explanation, an apology. These technological
matters are really not our forte but, still, we will pass along the
information and hope our readers can make sense of it.

Brad Mangel, a retired Penelec employee, reports that the poles
are part of the high-band state radio system (all state government
radios are on high-band widths).

The state partnered with the utility companies to share their
bandwidths and, in turn, the utilities installed the poles and
repeaters with the state to provide maintenance, we’re told.

Fleshing out our information was Scott Logue of St. Marys, a
long-time ham radio operator.

The poles, he said, are part of an 800-megahertz, statewide
system primarily for the Pennsylvania State Police.

It will be (and, in fact, is already in operation in some
locations) a premier digital communication system for text and
computer, voice and data.

The tall poles are a substitute for sites which cannot always be
purchased or even leased. In fact, some parts of the 800-MHz system
will make use of antennas or towers already in place but the tall
poles will allow complete coverage even in difficult areas.

When troopers begin losing their radio signal, Scott explained,
they can drive their

cruisers right to these poles which are all located along the
highway and, thus, maintain communication.

Some of the system is already up in running, Scott said,
including some offices of the statewide Emergency Management
Agency.

On Feb. 21, 2009, all broadcast channels will be required to go
digital.

One result of all this, of course, is that state police scanners
will no longer work for the old-fashioned (non-digital)
communication once the 800 system goes online.

Most state police communications are already on frequencies not
available to the general public, of course, so this will simple
make it even more restricted – at least until modifications in the
technology become available.