An amateur radio club in New Mexico has become the beneficiary of a statewide transition by first responders to a new digital microwave communications system on 700 MHz.

In Socorro County. officials have transferred the use of their older mobile VHF communications trailer to the Socorro Amateur Radio Association. The association had been borrowing the trailer for quite some time for members' use during Field Day at the San Antonio Fire Station as well as for the group's emergency operations. One of the members, Alfred Braun AC5BX, told Newsline in a phone call that the county's action now means that the hams will have fulltime access to the trailer and will be able to use and maintain everything in good working condition for the next four or five years.

Meanwhile, New Mexico's Department of Information Technology continues reducing its reliance on analogue VHF, bringing first responders throughout the state onto what they consider to be a more secure digital trunking network.