Is Sacramento going to go encrypted?

[sacscan]

A friend of mine heard from a Sac PD officer that they will be encrypting their signal next year. Last year I heard a Sac Sheriff deputy tell another friend that SSD will go encrypted also. Does anyone know if this is true? Maybe they are confusing "digital" with "encrypted"?

 

[califzeph]

Most Sacramento SO's I talk to think that their signals are already "secure". When they went to trunked system, the deputies all thought that the civilians would no longer be able to monitor them. That's why they are so open and frank on their detective talk groups.
I suspect that they will go digital, since the current Sheriff has a thing about spending money on all the latest technology.

 

[nhp9943]

Most beat cops are clueless to what is going on with their radio systems. Unless you hear this directly from the people who make those decisions I would not bet on it. Keep in mind that to encrypt a system 100% requires avery radio both mobiles and portables to have an encryption capable radio. Can be costly and quite a project. That is why most comms that are encrypted usually are with the detective/narcs. I would bet patrol division would remain open. That said I will admit I have seen some stranger things happen in my career in radio.

 

[kma371]

Motorola XTS 5000 radios are currently being field tested by Sac Sheriff, which are capable of Type I, III, and IV encryption. This radio also supports Advanced Digital Privacy (ADP) software encryption. I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and say they will go encrypted sooner or later.

http://www.motorola.com/governmenta...gationpath=id_803i/id_1388i/id_2354i/id_1670i

 

[RolnCode3]

Supposedly (my boss has been known to be less than truthful), when the switch is made to the digital system (over a period of time), the new system will include several encrypted talkgroups. There is NO plan to encrypt dispatch channels at this time (supposedly). There are SO many agencies that use these channels, the cost would be astronomical.

Expect SED, some of the detectives, and probably some tac channels for patrol, to be encrypted. Not full-time use, but selective use, when needed.

BTW-Metro Fire has been running around with some of the XTS 5000s for several months now.

I do not know what City plans to do with their system.

 

[Sac916]

"Talk" about going encrypted, is just that at this point. Talk.

Here are the facts

Our radio system will be re-banding over the next 18+ months

We just upgraded our dispatch radio consoles to a newer version. CentraCom Elite Gold
We are in fact field testing Motorola XTS 5000. I played with one, and it did not
have any "special" features, aside from having more selectable channels.
These radios have the ability for APCO25 / digital / encrypted etc etc etc
Lighter, smaller and better battery life are the things we care about.

The current radio system has the ability to have encrypted radio transmissions. There are very very few of these radios out there. I have used them and the quality of sound is fair at best.

Our department utilizes Nextel at great lengths.

Rumors and discussions

Yes there is random talk about a APCO 25 Digital system. The time frame is very vague.
Don't expect anything anytime soon. Years.

Observations and opinions.

Bill is right on target.
"Expect SED, some of the detectives, and probably some tac channels for patrol, to be encrypted. Not full-time use, but selective use, when needed."

I've heard/read that there will be a "few" private channels available. But I don't expect them to be used often. Nextel is the keyword.

Inter-Operatbility is a HUGE topic at this time. I HIGHLY doubt that the department will do anything to further isolate ourselves ( radio communication wise ). Especially in light of heavy media exposure to the failures of radio communications with the hurricanes. Yes Digital does create a barrier, but the positives appear to outweigh he negatives. We are using old technology and old equipment.

Our department is going through some massive changes in the next 18 months. Elk Grove PD and Citrus Heights PD will be removing themselves from contract status, this includes dispatch services.
Budgetary concerns will come into play, funding will be reviewed, budgets will change.

I wouldn't worry about APCO / digital for quite a while. Scanner technology is pretty fast paced these days.

BTW
Anthony
SSD dispatcher for the last 10 years

 

[sacscan]

Thanks for the replies. I'm glad I don't have to plan on buying a Pro-96 or BCD396T anytime soon .

 

[kma371]

Anthony,

Since Elk Grove and Citrus Heights will be discontinuing their contract with the County, do you know if they will still be on the Sac Co trunked system? If they will stay on the system...any talk of what their talk groups might be? Also, will the Sheriff's Office still keep four Dispatch channels?

Bill

 

[RolnCode3]

Haven't heard anything, but I bet they'll move the districts around. Probably something like this:

Channel 1: D-1 & D-4
Channel 2: D-2, D-5, RCPD
Channel 3: D-6 & D-8

Geographically 2 channels would make the most sense (D-2 on channel 1, D-5, RCPD on same channels as 6 & 8), but that'd be an overwhelming amount of traffic on any one channel.

I'd also bet they'll still be on the SRRCS for the mutual aid/interagency cooperation aspect...Probably cheapest way if they want trunked.

 

[Sac916]

Channel Re-Alingment

I have no doubt that the channel arrangement will morph into something different.
The districts are based on crime stats, population, and geography.

2 channel ops

Channel One: Dist 1,2 and 4
Channel Three: Dist 5, RCPD, 6 & 8

3 channel ops

Channel One: Dist 1 and 4
Channel Two: Dist 2, 5 and RCPD
Channel Three: Dist 6 and 8

It'll be very complicated. I know they are working on it, but things change overnight.

There are some strong politics still involved. In the last 10 years, dispatchers didn't have a role in the development of Station Houses, districts or channel arrangements.

Sheesh, when CHPD became a city, we didn't have their polices/procedure/call signs until nearly the day of.

I certainly hope that EGPD and CHPD stick with SCRRCS. SPD's portion of the radio system doesn't fair to well once you hit Rancho Cordova, they barely work in CHPD's area.

Food for thought.

CHPD leases from Roseville PD's system.
Two 100,000+ populations back to back.

EGPD leases from Elk Grove Unified School District's radio system. (EGUSD)
If EGPD does end up getting dispatched by SPD, I'm sure they would be on the City side
of the SCRRCS.

There has been a lot of talk, rumor and discussion within SSD about ifs ands and buts.
I'll believe it when I "hear" it.

Whatever the results are, I'm sure radio traffic will be heavy and plentiful. The county guys get driven crazy by the chatty city guys. Perhaps they'll have their own channel to use to the fullest extent.

Finally,

Here are my OPINIONS about CHPD and EGPD leaving.

More power too them. They want to be a REAL city, this is something that they must do.

I strongly feel that CHPD will not make it. It is very very expensive to run a police department. The Citrus Hgts tax base isn't growing that much, nor will it increase quickly without raising misc property taxes. CHPD is landlocked and the ability to dramatically increase revenue is quite limited. Well, unless they turn Sunrise Mall into a giant International Amusement park! I have talked to a lot of people who feel that CHPD will not make it, not provide the service they have had for years, and will return to SSD.

EGPD will be fine. They have lots of room to grow. Lots of room to build. Lots of potential for money. I strongly feel that Elk Grove will become the next District 6 with pockets of nice homes. The crime there is increasing, and quickly. I see homes that are 2 years old getting a cop on their street nearly every day. Often times because it's a feeding ground for the South Sacramento population where crime is at the highest. Bad guys can't get that $1,000.00 car stereo system or Pick up full of tools from Stockton Blvd. They're gonna travel a few minutes down the road, straight into Elk Grove.

Plus traffic is crazy. There are so many fatal and serious accidents, hopefully that slows down as the traffic slows down from gridlock.

 

[RolnCode3]

Whatever the results are, I'm sure radio traffic will be heavy and plentiful. The county guys get driven crazy by the chatty city guys. Perhaps they'll have their own channel to use to the fullest extent.

Do you mean Sac City, or contract city guys? The City PD guys talk ALL THE TIME! Just a product of how they do business.

Having their own channels would work (Folsom does it), as long as they're willing to pay for the dispatchers.

Also, EG USD is a Mot Type I system...do you think they'd regress and get on that? Especially since SRRCS is going digital and advancing?

 

[Sac916]

Do you mean Sac City, or contract city guys? The City PD guys talk ALL THE TIME! Just a product of how they do business.

Having their own channels would work (Folsom does it), as long as they're willing to pay for the dispatchers.

Also, EG USD is a Mot Type I system...do you think they'd regress and get on that? Especially since SRRCS is going digital and advancing?

Well city guys ...all of them ! HA! SPD , EGPD and RCPD .... lots of chatter!

RE: The EGUSD, who knows. Saving money changes a lot of minds and opinions.

Who knowsssss