State of Delaware P25 Phase 2 (2025) Transition and observations

[jblackst]

... and if the old and new systems are meant to reuse frequencies (like I observed at the 01-17 Hockessin site), I bet they won't leave the old one OTA very long

 

[Audiodave1]

I am not hearing a CC on 853.2125 on the "old" NCC Simul system.

Anyone else?

 

[h8tdigitalradio]

Hello,

Site is OFFTA. UniTrunker does not show CCh 853.2125 in use yet as a VC on P25 Phase II System.

 

[tvboy08721]

There was a story today on WBOC about the new radio system if anyone was interested.

Delaware Completes $63M Radio System Upgrade for First Responders

Delaware has completed a sweeping overhaul of its statewide radio system, marking the end of its decades-old 800 MHz network and the beginning of a fully modern, IP-based communications platform

www.wboc.com

 

[coopermj]

There was a story today on WBOC about the new radio system if anyone was interested.

Delaware Completes $63M Radio System Upgrade for First Responders

Delaware has completed a sweeping overhaul of its statewide radio system, marking the end of its decades-old 800 MHz network and the beginning of a fully modern, IP-based communications platform

www.wboc.com

State of Delaware announced on their website at 12 noon today. Essentially the same article/pictures:

Delaware Completes Major Radio System Modernization - State of Delaware News

The Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security's Division of Communications completed a major milestone in statewide communications infrastructure by decommissioning its legacy 800 MHz radio system on September 22, 2025. The achievement caps an eight-year, $63 million modernization...

news.delaware.gov

 

[policefreak]

So is Wilmington FD on their own site of the TRS? No more crossover on the TAC channel on the New Castle site?

 

[h8tdigitalradio]

Hello,

FYI, the CCh from NCCo Site has switched to 853.2125 MHz. 851.4875, 852.2375 and 852.7125 are now part of VCh rotation. Wilmington's Site as of now is simulcasting TGs other than City of Wilmington TGs.

WFD is still using N-TAC5. N-TAC5 does not affiliate to Wilmington's Site.

 

[policefreak]

Thank you for the info.

 

[Hbright]

DIVCOMM said the new system includes the integration of AES, but, last I checked, the encryption is still DES. Is that still the case?

 

[magiclightman]

I’m believe AES will be implemented down the road, they kept with DES to make the initial cutover easier. During the first few months there was some issues with interop between the dispatch consoles and systems around the encryption keys which is why PD was using IOP and MA TGs

 

[maus92]

851.3625, 852.350, and 852.8375 are now getting channel grants on the Sussex P25 site, although those channels are still getting channel grants on/from the SmartZone system as well. These are the three remaining non-control channel frequencies provisioned on the SmartZone site. The SmartX controller will allow this, and is a sign that the shutdown of the SmartZone site is nigh.

 

[maus92]

And as I just checked after writing the above, the new control channel for the P25 site in Sussex is 853.5875, and the SmartZone site appears to be off the air. Looks like the last channel grant on the SmartZone system was logged on Monday at 13:43.

 

[jblackst]

Any word on the Hockessin site? I did some recon in July but both P25 and SmartZone were running together at the time. I don't anticipate being back up there before the end of the year.

 

[Audiodave1]

I had it on my to-do list today, but power washing the siding was bestowed on me.

I'll get there this week. it's only :15 to RX range.

 

[Audiodave1]

Any word on the Hockessin site? I did some recon in July but both P25 and SmartZone were running together at the time. I don't anticipate being back up there before the end of the year.

I can confirm Hockessin is now a simulcast site.