The Washington State Patrol's antiquated radio system is undergoing a long-awaited overhaul this summer. But some troopers wonder whether the upgrade will help.
Patrol leaders say they've been working on the problem for years.
It added that almost all other Western states surveyed had better radio systems. With the ideal system, a trooper's call for help would come through loud and clear to a dispatcher miles away. But Washington's rough terrain blocks the weak radio signal transmitted by low-power portable radios. Repeater towers on high ground can help boost the signal. But they have limitations, and can be blocked by a tunnel or a more powerful radio operating nearby.