Anyone know when the BPD will go digital?

[StoliRaz]

Just curious, does anyone know when the Boston Police will switch from analog to digital? It's not really a question of if, but when, since it's the growing trend (unfortunately, IMO).

 

[LPD7]

No one knows really, it really just happens, there is no set date for Public Safety to switch. Lexington PD, near boston made the switch a few months ago

 

[garys]

I'm told that there are no current plans to go digital by any Boston public safety agency.

 

[studgeman]

Gary is correct there are no current plans. It would take a massive infrastructure overhaul to make that switch and there are no funds, let alone a desire for that. There are a few other operational details, like the mixing of audio from several recievers and dispatchers that can't be done in the current generation of P25 equipement.

 

[StoliRaz]

That's what I was hoping to hear!

You guys just made my day, thank you! Looks like I don't need a $500 digital scanner just yet afterall...which is good since my PRO-433 isn't that old. I know Lexington PD and the Boston University PD have gone to digital. I mainly scan the Boston Police/Fire as well as Boston EMS and the MBTA, so I can survive without them (Lexington is out of my range anyway).

Anyone else scan the MBTA red line (470.412)? I used to get a TON of activity on that freq 5-10 years ago. Now I hardly get anything, and a couple weeks ago got what sounded to be police activity. Strange...do the MBTA police now use that freq? Here on RR it says in 2004 the T was working on a new 800MHz trunked system and it was uncertain that if it would be digital or analog. I assume it's analog?

 

[ecps92]

Gary, correct me, but if I recall there is NO REQUIREMENT [except federal agencies] to go to P-25, only be P25 compatible. correct?

I'm told that there are no current plans to go digital by any Boston public safety agency.

 

[garys]

Gary, correct me, but if I recall there is NO REQUIREMENT [except federal agencies] to go to P-25, only be P25 compatible. correct?

Actually I think that all radios made after 1996 have to be narrow band capable, but I don't know if they have to be digital capable.

As to the MBTA radio system, no one who will talk knows if or when it will actually be finished.

Gary

 

[zerg901]

On 14 Jan 2008, I was getting the Red Line loud and clear on 470.4125R. I was hearing units and trains in Cambridge, downtown, and Fields Corner. I monitor from Arlington. Peter Sz

 

[StoliRaz]

Wierd. I stopped my scanner at 470.412 for a while this afternoon and got absolutely nothing...

Zerg? Do you play starcraft? I both love and hate that computer game. I swear the computer cheats half of the time..

 

[zerg901]

StoliRaz - I was hearing the Red Line on 470.4125R this morning. They apparently are not too busy on the radio - even during the rush hour.

I dont play starcraft. I was 'Zerg' in High School long before there was a starcraft.

Peter Szerlag

 

[StoliRaz]

Yes, I tuned in this morning for a bit and did get some activity on it. A train in Quincy Center and another at JFK. There is certainly less traffic on that freq though compared to when I got my first scanner ten years ago. Back then, that freq was crawling with communications. I could follow a train from Alewife to Braintree/Ashmont and vice versa. That's why I was wondering if they added a freq or their new system was being used. Oh well.

 

[zerg901]

I bet that the trackside signalling system for the Red Line has been upgraded in the last 10 years, thereby putting less of a load on the voice radio system. Peter Sz