Going "dark" in one county

[brey1234]

Everything to be encrypted!

The Fish Wrap - Polk County moves to new system for public safety radio communication

[KB1UAM]

it may not be encrypted. it is just MOTOTRBO which can be monitored using the dsd software available le on this website. mototrbo does have the option to encrypt however.

[rapidcharger]

That is the funniest article I've ever read on a radio system migration.

"Lacey said the alternative was to move to a moto turbo digitalized trunking system. He said it is similar to an 800 system because it is a trunking system, but operates like a 400 system.

Trunking is when a large number of users share a small number of communication paths. It can include both telephones and VHF radios used by emergency crews."


Glad they're going to be "turbo digitalized 400 system" for a cost savings, disappointed they are going to be concealing their activities with encryption. If they're truly the good guys, it makes me wonder what they have to hide. Maybe they just don't want to be on broadcastify.

[northscan23]

If it is a motobro system that they are going to use then you can monitor it with the proper computer software. But if they use the encryption, you are out of luck. Unless of course, you somehow got your hands on the descrambling equipmement which would cost thousands of dollar(and by the way it is illegal to descramble encryption anyways). Just not worth it. The best solution is to talk to the local lawmakers and media and see if they can urge the law enforcement to come up with a compromise so that the public can still be informed of major incidents

[MTS2000des]

it is encrypted, using the "enhanced privacy" option (equivalent to ADP in Astro 25). Seen it with my own two eyes.

So forget trying to monitor with DSD or anything.

You can add them to the list of metro agencies that have said NO THANK YOU to being involuntarily streamed/recorded by third parties without their consent, hence the encryption option being enabled per the request of PC 911.

[MTTARadioMgr]

Regardless of whether or not a city or county is using a proprietary system, proprietary encryption (i.e. ADP) or completely encrypting every talkgroup in their system, they think they are doing the right thing by blocking out the public's ability to monitor the radio traffic of law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services, etc. in their county, but they are not considering the impact this has on the public safety agencies in adjacent jurisdictions and beyond.

Over the years, it has and continues to be the habit of some law enforcement, fire and emergency management personnel to monitor the radio traffic of other agencies during severe weather, during a major incident in the other jurisdiction or even during routine operations to get the early jump on something major taking place, i.e. vehicle pursuit, big fire, etc. The agency I work for has for years monitored the activities of Douglas County Fire, Douglas County S.O., Paulding County Fire and Paulding County S.O. during severe weather to better help us prepare for damaging winds, severe cloud to ground lightning, etc. because Douglas County and or Paulding County usually get hit before we do. Having the ability to hear their radio traffic has given us the abiltiy to alert our personnel, both on duty and on call/standby early when they are reporting trees down, buildings collapsing, etc. I think having this ability over the years has given us an edge on improving our response to these types of incidents, but if an agency moves to a proprietary system or features it will eliminate our ability to have this extra jump.

I wish agencies would at least adopt a non-encrypt policy on main dispatch talkgroups/channels if they are using P25 or if using a proprietary radio system like MotoTRBO would agree to simulcast their main dispatch talkgroups over a VHF channel or website. This would allow us to maintain the edge we have always had and might even be better prepared to respond to them in a mutual aid situation when they need us.

[MTS2000des]

Originally Posted by MTTARadioMgr

I wish agencies would at least adopt a non-encrypt policy on main dispatch talkgroups/channels if they are using P25 or if using a proprietary radio system like MotoTRBO would agree to simulcast their main dispatch talkgroups over a VHF channel or website. This would allow us to maintain the edge we have always had and might even be better prepared to respond to them in a mutual aid situation when they need us.

The problem with this is it is clear many agencies do NOT want their radio traffic streamed to the internet and recorded by third parties. I am sure you are aware this is becoming a hot topic. Where I work, it sure is.

The recent decision by RadioReference to release their recordings of the Newtown police response to the horrible tragedy earlier this month, drove home how many people ARE listening. In the past, scanners have always been utilized by media, private citizens and other first responders IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY for mostly lawful purposes. The occasional "bad guy" would get caught trying to outrun Johnny Law and have a Bearcat in his vehicle, but otherwise the audience was limited.

This has all changed with the proliferation of smartphone apps. Alot more people are tuning in, furthermore, the recording of the traffic is what does not sit well with risk managers. Sure, it may be legal, but there are ethical issues at play, and when an LODD death or MCI does occur, those who are involved want to (and rightfully so) protect those involved and the identity of those affected. When people make the IMO poor decision to make public such recordings without the consent of those involved, they are doing the scanner community a huge disservice. They are also throwing gasoline on the fire that fuels that click of the mouse that enables encryption on the new digital systems and lock all of us out.

Does it affect interoperability? To a degree...but I am sure you can get access to whatever your agency needs.