Windsor Police Upgrading radios

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FoeHammer

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been in the works for a while , question is will it be full encryption,....
given the fact that they have had issues with misuse of the system & been caught by listeners id say thats probably where theyre going....

http://www.itincanada.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2032&Itemid=49

(& if you dont wanna check the link)

Windsor Police May Issue The BlackBerry
Written by IT in Canada Editor
Wednesday, 24 September 2008



The Windsor Police Service is considering issuing BlackBerry smartphones to help its officers in the fight against crime. As Craig Pearson reports in the Windsor Star, Mayor Eddie Francis has asked Windsor police Chief Gary Smith to put together a business case to determine whether use of the hand-held communication devices makes sense financially and practically for on-duty officers.



As Windsor police Insp. Gerry Pocock explained at the Versadex police technology conference running this week in Windsor, criminals have access to high-tech devices and officers of the law cannot be disadvantaged in their communications network. The BlackBerry, for example could provide an officer on the street or in a police vehicle with immediate, critical information from the Police Information Data Centre, while an undercover officer would have the ability to communicate securely with headquarters.



The Windsor force is currently changing from an analog radio system to a secure digital one, and is considering the introduction of other technology improvements, such as:

providing cruisers with global positioning systems and automatic vehicle location devices; equipping cars with e-ticketing equipment, so that officers can print tickets at roadside; and upgrading the in-car mobile data system, which started in 1999.

Craig Pearson. (The Windsor Star: September 23, 2008). Windsor police may use BlackBerrys to catch
crooks.

heres another article pretty much says the same thing , sounds like the intent is to keep public from listening ,....aw well the encryption train rolls on I suppose , anybody wanna buy some radios?....

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/story.html?id=cdf448b7-32f3-497f-bafd-77f424e21675
 
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FoeHammer

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nope not at all , public servants on the taxpayers radio system should be able to conduct all the questionable activity they want under a cloak of secrecy , without fear of any oversight into what they may be up to , what a great country....
Oh btw thanks to all the jerks who couldn't keep a low profile about what they hear,...which very likely influenced this...hope you enjoy your new paperweight that used to be able to pick up public service...
 

Forts

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Well..... talks had been underway for quite a while for Windsor to upgrade their system and it had long been rumored the system would digital. The events on YouTube though are just the type of thing that lets system admins go to their boss and say "See! This is why we need encryption!" I had heard at one point they were entertaining the idea of a full P25 system, or at least something that would give them better interop with Detroit on the MPSCS system.
 

VA3QRM

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city of windsor radio system info from person who knows

To all concerned citizens,In 2005 as System Manager of the Corporate
Radio System I was asked to be part of a committee to evaluate the
feasability of migrating the city Communications System to a New 800
Mhz Digital Multisite Simulcast trunking Platform. for three main reasons:

Firstly,We were advised in September 2004 by Motorola that
certain components of our System had reached their life expectancy and
would no longer be supported.


Secondly, Police required a better form of Encryption.

Thirdly, Due to coverage issues in the South of the City it
was decided that a new System should be investigated.

In the fall of 2005,Lapp-Hancock Consulting were hired to do a
needs analysis of the Current Communications System and along with the
Radio Committee make a recommendation on a new system. After months of
extensive research and investigation the findings of the Consultants
and the radio committee was that the City should make plans to migrate
the current system to a Digital Multisite Simulcast version.

Shortly thereafter the City Submitted a Request for
Proposal.Bell Fleetnet's Response was a one page non-compliant
proposal.I might add that Bell Fleetnet only leases their products to
it's Customers.Would the city want to be involved in another MFP
situation? The city would also have no control of the System as far as
programming of units for Talkgroups and Fleets.Sorry, I cannot
answer why Bell showed little or no interest in such a
System.Motorola's response was a 2 1/2 in. binder itemizing line by
line response to a very detailed specification..

As far as problems with Digital Systems in Boise, Idaho and
Orlando,Florida I am not aware of them. I do know there are many
Motorola Digital System thruout the U.S. and in Canada.When I travel
to Orlando I know that Police and Fire are using a Motorola 800 mhz
Astro P-25 Digital System.City of Detroit installed a $30M. Digital
System just before the Superbowl that works very well, in fact the
system has coverage all the way to the edge of Leamington.As with any
new System there are always problems during roll-out,but I have
complete confidence in Motorola being a world class provider of
Communications equipment will deliver a System as specified.

I have spent the last 37 years working in the Communications
Industry in Southwestern Ontario in various capacities such as
service,sales and management for Motorola and its authorized dealers
and have been with the City the last 13 years.If I have not answered
your questions please feel free to contact me and I will do my best
to answer your questions.

Sorry,the Radio Committee and I cannot take responsibility for
what this System costs only our findings from a technical point of view.



Ed Bondy
Sr. Electronic Technician
Windsor Fire and Rescue

Only time will tell and when "ENC" is displayed on my 396 I'll know the encryption question is answered. Just thankful my home's tax assessment has dropped for when the $10 million bill for the new system is added to my taxes.
 
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Forts

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As the above post shows, the upgrade process began long before the YouTube fiasco. If they proceed with a Motorola Digital system AND they implement encryption, I can't say it would be a surprise. Hopefully if that is the case, only PD go encrypted while fire and other users stay in the clear. If you look at other border communities (Sarnia, Leamington (kinda) and Niagra come to mind) they have all gone to encrypted systems. Better border security? Maybe. But it makes you wonder why the huge American cities on the other side of the river/lake aren't encrypted.
 

tusker305

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Oh well, not to worry you will still be able to monitor Windsor Airport and the nightly drama at the casino. That is until Captain Fantastic does something else stupid. It is sad that a good hobby must fly below the radar all the time. One day somebody doing something stupid, goverment money, and motorola marketing will turn this hobby into a smoking hole in the ground.
 

exkalibur

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I don't see why everyone freaks out about encryption. From an officer point of view, it is another tool for them.

As a member of the public, you have no more 'right' to listen than anyone else. The only reason we've been able to thus far is because the technology allows it. Technology changes. Deal with it.
 

Muxlow

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Can always have the OPP option to listen to. Im in London.. LPS cant hear them at all. OPP is the only thing iv got really.
 

FoeHammer

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exkalibur

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Who's to say you can't use your own encryption? Most of the things you do electronically when it comes to banking are already encrypted.

There's a difference between encrypting a phone call or a financial transaction and encrypting life-critical tactical communications between ETF members while in a potiential explosive environment.
 

FoeHammer

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Im not opposing ex , I have no prob with encrypt of sensitive talk groups ...just the blanket total encrypt
& yes may things are allready encrypted that we use , but we have seen time & time again the poor control & abuse of our personal data , for example I once had to transfer some mutual funds by phone , I noticed the accent & asked where the person on the other line , who was transferring my funds ,..was it was packistan...all my account info is in the hands of a 3rd party company in a foreign country on behalf of my bank? that doesnt seem secure nor was I aware of it ,.then there's things like the patriot act which allows monitoring without warant or reasonable suspicion ,.......& many other things
too long to go into.. (this is cute....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UNvEUrnDKI)
but thats another story...
Im not gonna fight about it , or veer that far off the thread
the intent was to post the latest news of wpds radio upgrade to inform scanner users
& look for anyone with more info
Anyway Im all for safety of emergency services & enc where appropriate
 
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