New Tait TM8115 mobile radios and a TaitNet QS Simulcast system will soon be found thriving in the extreme temperatures and harsh, dusty desert conditions of Cochise County in Arizona.

The 10,300 square kilometre county, which shares a 130km border with Mexico, faces significant security issues on a daily basis as illegal immigrants make their way from Mexico across the border into the United States.

This ongoing security concern, and the large size of the county, means reliable communications are critical for the county sheriff's department. Officers throughout the county need to be in constant radio contact with each other and the sheriff's office, and need a dependable radio communications system that won't let them down in any situation.

The two-site conventional radio system that Cochise County authorities had used for some 25 years was unreliable at times and had patchy coverage. There were dead spots in canyons and valleys throughout the county, which was potentially dangerous for officers attending incidents in these areas.

However reliable, efficient communications will soon be a reality for Cochise County. It has purchased a TaitNet QS Simulcast system, which provides the saturation coverage to ensure all police officers are instantly available on the same channel. About 120 officers and support staff will use the system.

TaitNet QS Simulcast broadcasts simultaneously from several transmitters on the same frequency, and unlike traditional simulcast systems, it can be easily and inexpensively maintained. The system for Cochise County is set to be in use by March next year, and Robert Sorrels, analyst to the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, says it will vastly improve communications.

"When we were investigating a new radio system for the county, the three key things for us were range, reliability and price. TaitNet QS Simulcast provided exactly what we needed, and Doug Chapman at Tait North America did a superb job in helping to solve our communications problems," Mr Sorrels says.

Cochise County purchased the TaitNet QS Simulcast system through Tait North America dealer Durham Communications, and has also purchased 175 TM8115 mobile radios for use by the county's highway department.

Highway workers travel long distances across the county to carry out road maintenance and operations, and need rugged and durable mobile radios that can withstand the extreme temperatures and dusty, harsh conditions.

The TM8115 was just the ticket, Mr Sorrels says. The radio's improved duty cycle means it is able to transmit for a longer period of time in extreme temperatures, while still maintaining its high performance. In the height of summer, temperatures in Cochise County can soar to 50°C, and truck cabs can often heat up to 65°C.

"Before purchasing the TM8115 radios we checked the specifications very carefully to ensure the radio could perform how we wanted it to. We discovered that this Tait radio was definitely the best qualified for the job," Mr Sorrels says.

The radios are to be installed in the truck fleet by March next year.