San Diego County–Imperial County Regional Communication…

The San Diego County–Imperial County Regional Communications System, known locally as the RCS, provides wireless 800 MHz voice (radio) and data communications—on separate networks—to over 200 local, county, state, and federal public safety and public service agencies in San Diego County, California, and Imperial County, California. The day-to-day operations are managed by the Wireless Services Division of the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.

The RCS voice network is a Project 25 Phase II 800 MHz trunked, simulcast system. It currently is mixed Phase I and Phase II digital communications and digital encryption capable. Shortly, it will be full Phase II TDMA modulation.

The RCS data network is provided to the County of San Diego Sheriffs Department only, and uses the Motorola 700 MHz conventional High Performance Data system. It provides wireless data access to computerized applications, such as computer-aided dispatch (CAD), automated law enforcement databases, and unit messaging.

History

Timeline of notable events

December 8, 1992 − San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the RCS business plan
March 7, 1995 − Governing bodies signed the Participating Agency Agreement
March 5, 1996 − San Diego County Board authorized contract with Motorola & financing of remaining RCS components
December 1996 − Construction of 43 radio repeater sites began
May 1998 − Participating agencies began using the RCS
December 1999 − San Diego County portion of the project completed
March 5, 2001 − Santana High School shooting
March 22, 2001 − Granite Hills High School shooting
October 25, 2003 − Cedar Fire and Paradise Fire
June, 2017 − FCC mandated 800MHz re-banding begins on the RCS, with the Northeast Cell being the first.