West Virginia Division of Natural Resources installs state’s first wide-area digital system

Using money from its Hunting and Fishing License Fund, the State of West Virginia is now operating a statewide, wide-area digital network for its Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

The $2 million wide-area ASTRO® digital system is the first such system in the state. The DNR purchased the system last autumn from Motorola, which has just finished the installation stage.

As soon as the final programming database is completed, the mobile units will be installed in all vehicles and the system will go into full operation. The new VHF system allows field officers to communicate to existing state and local public safety agencies that are also using VHF systems.

The new system, which replaces an older low-band system, includes 28 tower sites, six dispatch locations at each of the division’s headquarters, XTS 5000™ and ASTRO® Spectra mobile and portable two-way radios, and Motorola’s new Command STAR™ lite consoles with control stations.

“West Virginia’s conservation officers are looking forward to using the new system,” said Lt. Col. William B. Daniel, DNR Charleston, W.V.

”The Division plans to add an additional base station in Elkins and two repeater stations in the Northern Panhandle area of West Virginia. This should give us the coverage that we have needed for many years.”

“In my more than 25 years of service with the Division of Natural Resources, this may be the best piece of equipment ever issued to our officers,” said DNR Lt. Charles W. Schollar, W.V. DNR, Beckley. “We have been on the system for about six weeks now and compared to the old low band system, the new Motorola high band system is tremendous.”