Cape Girardeau Co. SO - Odd Signal

wb0wao · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 01:57 AM

I just heard on the Cape County Sheriff's frequency a digital signal. There was a digital signal and then the patrol unit came back in the clear and called dispatch and said that he did not copy. Then the digital signal repeated, but this time it was longer. Cape County is normally an open analog voice channel - this is the first time that I have heard this AFAIK. I wonder if they are starting to use some type of encryption or do they have digital capability? Does anyone have any additional details or is in range to monitor the frequency to confirm what they are using?

Dennis

GunnerTHB · #2 (**permalink**) 11-04-2009, 04:40 PM

The dispatcher had probably switched to tactical. Cape county uses the same channel for encrypted and non-encrypted messages.

wb0wao · #3 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 08:11 AM

Thanks for the info - I wonder what type of system they are using for encryption?

Dennis

soncorn · #4 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 08:38 AM

Was the "digital" you were hearing just static, or did it sound more like the teacher in the peanuts cartoon show?

wb0wao · #5 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 08:56 AM

It wasn't voice inversion, but a digital-type signal that started out with a "burst" and then what sounds like a digital signal. I am not 100% sure that it is "encryption", but maybe some type of digital scheme like MotoTRBO or something like that being used as a low-level attempt at privacy. I am down near Paducah this week and have been monitoring the Paducah public safety system and there are encrypted talk-groups down here and the signal is nothing like what I heard on the Cape SO frequency.

Dennis