GTA Phase II P25 switchover

[vabiro]

When Toronto moved from their old trunking system to their current Phase II P25 police started off in the clear , simulcasting on both new and old. As they completed the switch-out of each division they turned on encryption on the TG.

While fire and EMS swiched to the system, they were digital and unencrypted (for now).

York region, north of Toronto, switched all fire and police to their new system. Police are completely encrypted, but fire only encrypts frequencies other than dispatch (which is the most important/interesting stuff). EMS in the region is on fleetnet, and in the clear.

Durham, to the east of Toronto, encrypts all police and fire.

There seems to be as many ways to do the switchover as there are services, and it isn't always up to the organisation. As I understand it, rumour has it that the fire services were not happy about being encrypted, for a variety of reasons, but because the police service ran the radio system, they overruled them.

 

[Forts]

It was interesting too that York Fire switched from ADP to AES, no doubt for 'interop' with YRP (heard thru the grapevine that YRP pushed this really hard for some reason). Seemed strange enough at the time that all fire was encrypted to begin with, then up the ante even more by upgrading to AES. Thankfully FD being encrypted seems to only be popular around that area (York/Durham/Hamilton) and not down my way (although it remains to be seen what will happen with the new KW system when it fires up). Windsor has a couple encrypted groups as well but they aren't primary operations stuff by any means.

 

[exkalibur]

(heard thru the grapevine that YRP pushed this really hard for some reason).

Well when you have people running around selling radios key'ed for them...

 

[Forts]

I'd heard those rumours... never knew if they had any truth to them.

 

[polkaroo]

York Fire switched from ADP to AES, no doubt for 'interop' with YRP (heard thru the grapevine that YRP pushed this really hard for some reason).

It would be curious to know whether the radios originally came purchased with AES or whether the flash was added in later. Because for the latter option, significant funds would have to have been allocated to purchase the option for all radios. Funds that could've been better spent elsewhere.

But if you're able to get a tax receipt for a $1.2million "elevated chrome cow..."

 

[Gymbag]

Thankfully FD being encrypted seems to only be popular around that area (York/Durham/Hamilton) and not down my way (although it remains to be seen what will happen with the new KW system when it fires up). Windsor has a couple encrypted groups as well but they aren't primary operations stuff by any means.

Hey Forts, only a matter of time and Woodstock Fire will be encrypted. It's a for sure thing just waiting for the switch to happen.