Life after encryption> Windsor Police

woody_46 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-21-2009, 07:10 PM

My intitial anger over the changeover has gone. If encryption helps them catch drug dealers, and the criminal element, I'm all for it. Being a border city to the U.S. might also come into play at some point. Most of us enjoy the hobby, and don't abuse what we hear. It's mostly license, and indentity checks anyways. MDT's took most of the voice traffic already.

It used to be the FCC stated airwaves were the public domain, but I guess that changed. Life goes on, although it ruins the scanning hobby, I think encryption may become the norm.

mciupa · #2 (**permalink**) 05-21-2009, 08:08 PM

To tell you the truth, when I visited Windsor in the past I never listened much to WPS because Detroit always had so much more going on.

How about the OPP ? Around the GTA, they are non-stop talk.

I see there are around ten trunked systems for the Windsor area in the database, I suppose you could check out the action on them too.

You want to see a big kerfuffle, wait until the big E happens in Toronto.

TIZ6 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-21-2009, 08:19 PM

I won't kid myself and say I'm not a bit disappointed about this encryption thing, but... it's not really impacting my enjoyment of scanning a whole lot. If anything it's allowed me to expand my monitoring interests into other areas I've always wanted to explore but was constantly distracted from by scanning WPS.

exkalibur · #4 (**permalink**) 05-21-2009, 08:46 PM

I don't think there's going to be much "kerfuffle" when Toronto goes. You'll have your usual mix. People complaining that their new scanner doesn't work, you'll have people complaining that they have a right to listen, you'll have the media crying foul (or at least one media person anyway) and you'll have your tow trucks complaining they can't hear for accidents (which is technically illegal anyway).

h4waii · #5 (**permalink**) 05-21-2009, 09:19 PM

I've heard dispatchers call out for tows or cranes in the area to attend an accident. Thought it was quite odd.

pathalogical · #6 (**permalink**) 05-22-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h4waii

I've heard dispatchers call out for tows or cranes in the area to attend an accident. Thought it was quite odd.

That is true. They know there's people out there listening. Calls for the "first available tow" is quite common. That's when ten tows show up for one one car !!! That usually prompts another voice out for "there's enough tows on scene". Why ? It gets rid of the accident scene or stalled car in a live lane much quicker so that there is less traffic tie up (unless it's some horrific/fatal accident) so that the rest of the common folks spend less time b & c about why there is such a traffic jam.

FoeHammer · #7 (**permalink**) 05-22-2009, 09:19 PM

I am dissapointed & don't think its right ,but what can you do , I have listened to wpd since I was about 12 there are things of interest though ,
like Air , mil air , & marine band ,..that's where im focusing now I made a few antennas & dug up some older radios to see what I could pick up , the pics are in this thread http://www.radioreference.com/forums...ml#post1076956
interesting to tinker around with but I will miss the pd....

hawkeye32 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 03:24 AM

well at least for the moment we can still hear fire dispatch :-)

woody_46 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hawkeye32

well at least for the moment we can still hear fire dispatch :-)

Yep, so far, so good.

I notice the City Tac to contact police is on a digital talkgroup, in the clear. That's about it for emergency services.

Foehammer, nice job on the homebrews.

moonbounce · #10 (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 09:32 AM

What I find funny is when the local PD ask for the publics help to solve one of their investigations. If we could
hear them we might be able to provide lots of help.
I have called the police more than once( pre digital days) to give them information on a crime as it was dispatched. But when we can't hear them ya can't help them.
Maybe we should start a thread were we could post instances when we when we helped the police after they were dispatched to a call that we heard on the scanner.
I'll start right here.
I had just got home turned the radio on to hear the dispatcher broadcast an alarm at a pharmacy right across the road from my house. I looked out my front door at the pharmacy and saw a guy moving around inside. I call the police and told them, gave them a description on the guy what he was wearing and the kind of car he was driving his direction of travel. Next thing I saw was two cruiser flying buy the house light and sirens going right in the same direction I told them. It was pretty exciting to say the least, that is seeing a B&E in progress, but I guess those days are gone.

woody_46 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-23-2009, 12:56 PM

Good post, and points, Moonbounce. Cool, on helping out the Police!

I don't have a story like yours. I'm sure there are many, many times us hobbyists have helped out. Let's face it if you hear something going on in your area you'll watch.

What made me angry was the reason they issued for going encrypted. "people were complaining about their name going out over the air" or the officer "I heard my call from somebody's garage".

Fact is the OPP, and thousands of forces are still in the clear for checks.

Why not encrypt just the sensitive channels like drug busts, and surveillance?

Oh well, no more help from the public.

FoeHammer · #12 (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 12:40 PM

I have ranted & about the issue before & basically been demonized for it ,..there are ways to meet the privacy issue & still have public oversight by not being fully encrypted ,...but its the trend now everyones doing it I would predict that sooner or later everything would be encrypted , but I'm telling you , power corrupts ,..& when those in positions of power are able to operate in secrecy & especially convince you its for your own good you are headed down a slippery slope ....
Its all little pieces of something bigger we gradually lose...The free exchange of information of the internet is on the agenda as well..
Canadian ISPs Undermine Net Neutrality

Bell Canada has nearly unlimited power to monitor web traffic

You wonder how long we will sit in the boiling water before we will realize we are being cooked.

exkalibur · #13 (**permalink**) 05-24-2009, 06:31 PM

Dude, put it in perspective. A relativly small police service has gone encrypted and you're making it seem like the second coming.

Really...

Top_Dog · #14 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exkalibur

Dude, put it in perspective. A relativly small police service has gone encrypted and you're making it seem like the second coming.

Really...

It may not mean much to you but it's where I live, work and play. I have been a scanner hobbyist for at least 35 years!! It is a HUGE loss to me

If anyone knows how I can receive this (Windsor Police) then please advise !!

Thanks!!

rdale · #15 (**permalink**) 06-04-2009, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top_Dog

If anyone knows how I can receive this (Windsor Police) then please advise !!

Only one method exists, so no need to ask for any other way. Won't happen now nor never.

woody_46 · #16 (**permalink**) 06-10-2009, 03:39 PM

Just an update. There is some testing today on the Windsor P25 system. TG 45 Digital in the clear (so far).

I'm not sure why police don't go just digital on non sensitive communications. Most casual listeners would not bother getting a $500 digital scanner, and it would keep us hardcore hobbyists happy.

FoeHammer · #17 (**permalink**) 06-10-2009, 07:32 PM

They said the reason for going fully enc was ,among other things , because they were getting complaints from the public that they could hear personal information about themselves over the airwaves ,So in other worrds the scanner listening public demanded they go encrypted to protect thier privacy....the whole argument seems weak to me , but whatever

hawkeye32 · #18 (**permalink**) 06-11-2009, 01:29 PM

well for the most part anyways for any "major" action, we can still pick up fire and ems, really listening to police it was just mostly plate and name comebacks,maybe the odd call of a break-in..besides for the moment it is quite interesting to hear cupe guys on the LTR..

squeakfour · #19 (**permalink**) 06-14-2009, 06:43 PM

Encripting, they have enought channels that if they need confidental info to be transmitted, go on the encripted channel, other wise for general police radio traffic should not be encripted, we should know what is going on,example they were on the look out for so and so we could also keep a watch out for them.

squeakfour · #20 (**permalink**) 06-18-2009, 04:35 AM

I think once this all settles down,they will give you something to listen to,only something big has to happen that nobody finds out about till a long time later will they change it. Also if they don't give the public something to listen to , some in the public will get it another way.