METCAD Systems

METCAD is migrating from thirteen county-wide radio communications networks which support public safety communications for member police and fire agencies, to a new Motorola Digital 800 MHZ Digital Astro system known as MDICE.   For more information, please click HERE.   The vast majority of the radio equipment in service today is MOTOROLA Two-Way Communications Equipment. These radio networks operate from nine transmitter sites strategically located throughout the county. Each of these radio frequencies is available to all Telecommunicators on duty at any of our six dispatch consoles.

The nine dispatch consoles are comprised of Motorola Centrcomm Gold Elite electronics and Watson furniture.  These state of the art consoles feature fully adjustable work surfaces from sitting to standing positions and personal comfort systems allowing some temperature control and individual lighting adjustment.  All radio controls are now contained in a PC based system.  This replaced the old button and LED console system used in the old center.

9-1-1 service is provided via Motorola Centralink 9-1-1 telephones.  Among the many features of the 9-1-1 telephone system is our subscription to the AT&T Language Line.

Nearly all of the law enforcement vehicles in the county are equipped with Mobile Data Computers (MDC's) operated on the State of Illinois owned "Illinois Wireless Information Network" or IWIN.  This system utilized Cellular Data to connect police cars and fire trucks to our dispatch computer system. Police Officers utilize the MDC's to run computer checks on things such as drivers licenses, vehicle license plates, wanted persons, guns and other articles, etc. Officers can also communicate between the dispatcher and each other to keep communications confidential. In addition, unlike normal voice communications via radio, communications are possible between agencies which may be located in different parts of the state via the MDC's.

As mentioned, METCAD upgraded the 9-1-1 service from basic type III to Enhanced 9-1-1 on March 5, 1996. The upgrade replaced a Plant Equipment telephone system with a Motorola Communications, Inc. Centralink 9-1-1 telephone system. This system serves both the dispatch and administrative offices.

We migrated to our third-generation Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system on November 14, 1999.  Tiburon, Inc. is the vendor of the new system.  The new software is much more user-friendly and intuitive.  This system assists Telecommunicators in dispatching and tracking emergency and non-emergency calls for service. 

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