Fayette County EMA Upgrades Emergency Radio System with Cost-Saving Tech Switch

CONNERSVILLE — Fayette County first responders will soon have expanded radio communication capabilities following a decision by the Fayette County Board of Commissioners to switch software providers for the county’s mobile radio network.

During their regular meeting, Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Wade Walling presented a proposal to transition the county’s phone-to-800MHz radio application from its current vendor, Tango Tango, to Motorola WAVE Push-to-Talk.

While the software allows emergency personnel to turn their smartphones into functional 800MHz radios capable of communicating directly with county dispatch, the driving factor for the switch came down to capacity and cost difference.

“Right now, I’m paying $2,995 for 10 people with Tango Tango,” Walling told the Commissioners. “Motorola came in at $2,800, and that covers up to 180 licenses. It’s cheaper, and we get significantly more benefit out of it for the whole county.”

Under the new Motorola agreement, the county will be able to distribute radio application licenses across all local fire departments, EMA personnel, and Fayette County Sheriff’s Department road deputies. The app operates over cellular LTE networks and local Wi-Fi, providing critical backup communication inside buildings or remote dead zones where standard radio signals struggle.

“If deputies or firefighters have an emergency and don’t have a handheld radio on them, they can communicate directly with dispatch or other departments right through their phone,” Walling added.

The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the contract transition.

In other department updates, Walling noted that proofing is underway for updated county wall maps and vehicle sets, and that contractors are finalizing recent Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) facility inspection reports for board review.