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. June 2, 2025 – San Diego Police Department and other agencies that utilize the RCS for police dispatch and communication switch to fully encrypted traffic
Member agencies
Counties San Diego Imperial
Cities
San Diego County Carlsbad Chula Vista Coronado Del Mar El Cajon Encinitas Escondido Imperial Beach La Mesa Lemon Grove National City Port of San Diego Poway Oceanside San Marcos Santee Solana Beach Vista
Imperial County Brawley Calexico Calipatria El Centro Holtville Imperial Westmorland
See also Motorola Trunked Radio Trunked radio system
References
San Diego County-Imperial County Regional Communications System Overview Radio Reference
External links San Diego County-Imperial County Regional Communications System San Diego County Sheriff's Office San Diego County Sheriff's Office Wireless Services Division San Diego County Sheriff's Office Communications Center
