Fairbanks

[timglu]

Looking to buy a new scanner but don't know much about digital so I was going to have the folks at scannermaster set it up initially

was looking at getting a GRE PRS-500 or 600

after asking a few questions they told me

"I believe that entire system is encrypted and thus no scanner will work with it. Maybe you can check and confirm first."

can someone help me please - - would love to listen to the happenings around town, etc and thought this would be a fun hobby

regards
tim

[kikito]

In the Fairbanks area, it's mostly Eielson AFB communications that are encrypted. everything else, the better stuff around the Borough is in digital/clear. All Fire depts., PDs and Troopers are still "listenable". So in other words, every time the annoying garble of encrypted comms pops up in your radio, just lock it out. Eventually, you'll be left with only the monitor-able stuff and clear audio.

[timglu]

Thanks very much for the quick reply

Sounds like there is still good listening out there then - I look forward to purchasing my scanner

Do you have any idea if the ems, ast, fire, etc will be going encrypted in the future?


Again - thanks very much for the help

Tim

[kikito]

Originally Posted by timglu

Do you have any idea if the ems, ast, fire, etc will be going encrypted in the future?

If anyone from civilian Public Safety goes encrypted, it's probably the Troopers since they seem to have the capability already. I doubt Fire/EMS would go encrypted but who knows..... stranger and bigger non-sense happens every day.....

[timglu]

Too true

Thanks so much for your help - I look forward to receiving my scanner

[Glacierwolf]

Nothing in the Fairbanks area is encrypted with the exception of some very few and unusual military comms from Ft Wainwright and Eielson AFB. Nothing you want to hear anyway. However, both base's military police and fire depts are in the clear.

You will need a trunked scanner since nearly all the state agencies went to ALMRS (Alaska Land Mobile Radio System) in 2006.

That, and allot of the Fairbanks area business communications - taxi, oil delivery, florists - are on a commecial LTR trunked system operated at Birch Hill and another on Ester Dome. Some will use one, some will hit both. You will have no problems listening with a trunked scanner.

There are also some interesting state agencies operating an old defunct piece of crap Granger system to relay voice and radio traffic all over the Interior. If you live in the right place, or have a decent roof/outdoor antenna this can be very interesting listening during fire season. They think the system can not be listened in on, and, it can........ they get colorful.

If you discover an active frequency and want to know who it is, or, need to know the frequency of someone in particular for Fairbanks/Delta/Tok/ and up North - email me.

One of the issues with encryption - and why should not worry about people using it - it just doesn't have the power a clear voice has - it always sounds like somone has turned the volume down. This can be a real problem for police and emergency personnel working in a hilly area like the Fairbanks North Star Borough. It works good over water, places with multiple repeaters, and flat areas like in Kansas - not a good idea in Alaska.

The other issue with encryption is dissemination of the code key(s). Getting everyone to 'code up' their radios on time is like herding cats. When EOA (encryption over air) military technology becomes affordable for small government and state agencies to afford adding this to their trunked systems - it will put a stake in the heart of the typical scanner as we know it. This could take 20-30 years for the technology to become sophisticated enough to deploy and not have a 12 year old kid with the latest computer hack.

Feel free to email me any questions. If I don't have the answer.......I know the people who will.

[timglu]

Glacier -

Thanks for the reply!

I will be buying my scanner in the next month or so and was looking at getting a GRE PRS-500 or 600

are these decent for the application? What do you prefer?

I used to carry a frequency hoppin radio in the army so am familiar with the very basics - but these look an order of magniture different - should I have the ppl I buy it from program the info in?

final question - do you prefer a handheld or a base station?

Thanks again for your help! I would have emailed you directly but had no idea how to do that on this site

regards
tim