A "funny" quote

[realgeo]

While listening to the Plattsmouth PD on their new 800MHz. channel over the weekend, I heard a really funny quote from one of the Officers.

One unit was talking to the Dispatcher, asking whether or not Dispatch had made contact with a party that the Officer had identified over PBX. The PBX method of communication was apparently used, as the Officer didn't want the public to hear the information over the scanner.

After the conversation between the Dispatcher and Officer was over, a second Officer came on and said, "You can use the radio for that now - their scanners don't work any more."

Knowing what we communications enthusiasts know, I just about fell out of my chair after hearing this! Just because they're now on 800MHz., the Officer had made the assumption that people could no longer listen to their communications!

It's always interesting to understand how people think about their communcations systems! Of course, people with scanners that used to listen to 155.4900, probably had "simple" scanners that most likely don't cover the 800MHz. band, to say nothing of P25 or other "new age" formats.

Now, when Plattsmouth PD's radios start operating with that little "circle with a slash" on their LCD's, THEN their communcations will be truly unlistenable!

73's

 

[obijohn]

That is a great insite into how the average LEO thinks George. It never ceases to amaze me how many people have $79.00 scanners and have listened to them for many years.

I know several people in their 80's that never miss a day without listening to them.

I have been approached by a number of people that told me-HEY! the cops have disappeared on the radio. what happened?

You can imagine what their reaction is when they are told that they will have to buy a new radio.

 

[Mr_Observer]

Ø

But untill they learn to use it..... Its all open and clear!

That is all.

MR_O

 

[Allan_Love_Jr]

These damn cops are to tight lipped about everything now a days. Oink oink.

 

[wb0qqk]

You guys are probably too young to remember when OPD transitioned from
VHF to UHF back in 1970-71. The escutcheon on their Motorola Motran
control heads contained the trademark "Private Line."

Many thought that by flipping the toggle to "on" they were actually encrypting
their transmissions. Funny !!

BTW BNSFrailfan, the term "oink oink" in reference to "those damn cops" went
out in the '60's. Get some new material. In the same vein, the next time you
need one of "those damn cops," why don't you call a gang member instead?

 

[realgeo]

You guys are probably too young to remember when OPD transitioned from
VHF to UHF back in 1970-71. The escutcheon on their Motorola Motran
control heads contained the trademark "Private Line."

Many thought that by flipping the toggle to "on" they were actually encrypting
their transmissions. Funny !!

How funny, indeed! If I recall correctly, I think some of the older Motrac control heads had that same terminology on them, as well as "Transistor Line" to promote the fact that they were no longer using tubes in the final output section!

I am, indeed, too young to know about the 70-71 transition from VHF to UHF. As I recall it, OPD's UHF "bandplan" was quite extensive, using many channels and a well-designed voting receiver system.

Did the move to UHF actually "simplify" what was implemented in the VHF system?

Moving to UHF obviously introduced some coverage gaps that the VHF system probably didn't have. I suppose the reaction to that move is pretty similar to what that when the UHF to 800MHz. trunking was completed.

BTW BNSFrailfan, the term "oink oink" in reference to "those damn cops" went out in the '60's. Get some new material. In the same vein, the next time you
need one of "those damn cops," why don't you call a gang member instead?

I couldn't agree with you more, Frank! I, for one, appreciate the service that you and other Law Enforcement Officers provide to us. You do a sometimes thankless job and do it with professionalism and integrity.

73's and have a GREAT day!

 

[NeFire242]

You'd be amazed at how many of those PPD guys thought no one was listening to their low-band that they liked to use as their own talk-around.

 

[obijohn]

You'd be amazed at how many of those PPD guys thought no one was listening to their low-band that they liked to use as their own talk-around.

Those days have unfortunately come to an end. The low band radios have been removed from the PPD cars.

P.S. Where have you been for the last 6 weeks NEFIRE242? Busy summer?

 

[Don_Burke]

Some of them are convinced that the phone patch function on the 800MHz system is private. They believe that because they can not hear each other, no one else can.

It can get pretty interesting.

 

[wb0qqk]

I am, indeed, too young to know about the 70-71 transition from VHF to
UHF. As I recall it, OPD's UHF "bandplan" was quite extensive, using many channels and a
well-designed voting receiver system.
Did the move to UHF actually "simplify" what was implemented in the VHF system?
Moving to UHF obviously introduced some coverage gaps that the VHF system probably
didn't have. I suppose the reaction to that move is pretty similar to what that when the
UHF to 800MHz. trunking was completed.

Well, Omaha was a much smaller city back when the UHF system was first implemented
and you're right, it was quite extensive so far as 1970 public safety systems were
concerned.

Prior to the move from VHF to UHF, OPD used one repeater frequency for every marked
Uniform Field Bureau car in the city. The Traffic Unit used a simplex frequency as did the
Detective Bureau.

The UHF system employed satellite voter receivers scattered throughout the area, but the
seven main repeaters/transmitters were all located at 41st and Pierce. The two cruiser
channels were north of Dodge Street and south of Dodge Street. That's where they stayed
until the late 80's when OPD latched on the old Lincoln PD frequencies after their migration
to 800 mHz.

The added frequencies allowed the city to be divided to the east and west with 72nd Street
being the dividing line which established four patrol sectors. Instead of following Sarpy's
lead in 1995 and transitioning to 800 mHz, Omaha stayed on UHF and moved the cruiser
district repeaters closer to the areas where the cars and portables were working.

The UHF system worked very well for over 30 years, but it had a lot of interoperability
issues since surrounding agencies were on VHF high and low band. However, when OPD
was on UHF, it was a lot easier for Bellevue, Council Bluffs and Carter Lake to
communicate with them. With the 800 upgrade, Bellevue and Sarpy can talk with OPD and
Douglas County agencies, but our counterparts in Iowa are left out in the cold for now.

Someday soon, hopefully; everybody in the Metro area will be able to have seamless communications.

 

[realgeo]

Well, Omaha was a much smaller city back when the UHF system was first implemented
and you're right, it was quite extensive so far as 1970 public safety systems were
concerned.

Prior to the move from VHF to UHF, OPD used one repeater frequency for every marked
Uniform Field Bureau car in the city. The Traffic Unit used a simplex frequency as did the
Detective Bureau.

The UHF system employed satellite voter receivers scattered throughout the area, but the
seven main repeaters/transmitters were all located at 41st and Pierce. The two cruiser
channels were north of Dodge Street and south of Dodge Street. That's where they stayed
until the late 80's when OPD latched on the old Lincoln PD frequencies after their migration
to 800 mHz.

The added frequencies allowed the city to be divided to the east and west with 72nd Street
being the dividing line which established four patrol sectors. Instead of following Sarpy's
lead in 1995 and transitioning to 800 mHz, Omaha stayed on UHF and moved the cruiser
district repeaters closer to the areas where the cars and portables were working.

The UHF system worked very well for over 30 years, but it had a lot of interoperability
issues since surrounding agencies were on VHF high and low band. However, when OPD
was on UHF, it was a lot easier for Bellevue, Council Bluffs and Carter Lake to
communicate with them. With the 800 upgrade, Bellevue and Sarpy can talk with OPD and
Douglas County agencies, but our counterparts in Iowa are left out in the cold for now.

Someday soon, hopefully; everybody in the Metro area will be able to have seamless communications.

Howdy, Frank!

Very, very interesting! Thanks for sharing the information on how the Omaha communications system has changed over the years. It's really interesting to see how things change, and how the communcations system changed to accomodate the expansion of the city.

You're definitely right about how the size of Omaha has increased in the last 30+ years. It's going to be quite difficult to distinguish where Omaha ends and Douglas County begins.

The part about Omaha latching onto LPD's old frequencies was fascinating, too! I had no idea that Lincoln had moved to 800 MHz. that early on.

Fremont PD is currently running on either 2 or 3 460.xxxx channels - I suspect that that was done to promote communications between Fremont and Omaha, if the need ever arose.

Your point about Omaha / CB / Carter Lake being able to talk on UHF is very good. Of course, now that Omaha / DC is running on the 800 MHz. system, communication with any Iowa agency has to be accomplished via patches or other methods, such as "translators" or band repeaters.

For a few years now, the rumor has been that Pottawatamie County is seeking funding to build a 7-site simulcast P25 trunking system that will tie-in to the Omaha / DC / WC system. If one looks at Pott County's FCC application materials, you can find the Motorola-generated site map, which is interesting to say the least. However, as of late, it would seem that any forward momentum has slowed to a slow crawl.

Looking at the FCC's ULS site, it would seem that the 800MHz. channels that Pott. county licensed have been transferred to Nextel, presumably to support the rebanding that's going on.

Again, Frank, thanks for the very good history! It's neat to know things that explain how things operate today.

73's de KC0HYI