Regarding SSO Encryption
Two weeks ago,I sent SSO an email regarding the issue and asked for them to call or email me. Several days later I got a knock on the door. He left a business card. It was a Detective from their Intelligence Section. He was interested in how I listen and what I can hear. He was very nice... he said we would be seeing more encryption in the future.So i tried to explain a bit about how their current radio system works.
I made some very good points... I totally understand their need for privacy and suggested using the encryptiion on an as needed basis. But turning it on for the entire system would be a bad idea. Most people with scanners are here providing extra eves on the ground for every BOLO, Hit and run drivers, stolen cars, etc. We're not out committing burglaries or stealing cars.
Also sent him a screenshot showing that with the sheer amount of traffic on the system, To any criminal a scanner is pretty useless even without encryption since it is often jumping channels and its pretty much impossible to monitor everything (Unless you are a hard core radio geek
) He said he didn't mind me & my cats listening "Just want to be sure you don't go showing up at any crime scenes" I laughed and replied "Thats funny because I actually use the scanner to avoid them!"
Right after I hung up there was a long enc transmission on C8,,, lol. At the end he seemed to understand my points. Only C8 (thats where he was) and E10 are almost always encrypted.
Yesterday D7 was all encrypted except one. He said his radio was broken and he couldn't hear anyone else. Even after he got it fixed last night , today still all units are in the clear on D7. I hope they take my advice. Or else they might as well drop the "O" from "SSO" We have a right to now what goes on in our community in real time, without being filtered by the news. That said, I understand sometimes they need privacy.
-Justin N2UJZ
PS I've also heard a lot of units switching from encrypted channel to A1 dispatch. The dispatcher says "Tour scramble is on. You'll have to turn it off and 10-9 your last" Then they forget to turn it back on on going back to the tac/ ops channel (Maybe what you heard was on of those times)