They could, the UPD car just needed to switch channels. Training issue? Practicality issue? You be the judge
For sure. The guys on the street are semi-aware of the interoperability channels, certainly not yet well versed enough to use them in an unfolding event. This goes for just about any agency on the new system right now.
Also, I think there has been some confusion about my previous statements - I'm not talking about poor audio quality/degradation on the new P25 system. I referencing the old, CONVENTIONAL VHF high band system, specifically MRD and OC fire control. These are conventional. RX is 155.4300 for law and 154.3700 for fire that I listen to on my crystal-controlled Bearcat Electra IV. Hasn't changed in decades, even with the advent of the "new" P25 system they still haven't changed, the only thing that's changed is this "simulcast upgrade" which lately, seems to be degrading reception of the old, conventional VHF high band repeated frequencies. Prior to this, changes in PL and narrowbanding didn't appreciably change reception at all when using an old scanner. Oneida County's conventional VHF system has been pretty damn good for decades and even after narrowbanding and PL changes, it was still pretty damn good. The simulcast whatever-they-did is when real degradation in quality started, and even then it wasn't immediately after, it took awhile.
I'm told it's a well known issue that Motorola is allegedly "working on" - I'm just looking for insights if anyone hears anything as to progress in resolving the unknown issue.
It (the simulcast modification) was working very well for a few months but lately, audio on both MRD and county fire is intermittently choppy and covered by a weird electrical static. It comes and goes but never goes away completely. Seems to shift around between the CONVENTIONAL tower sites, which are Steuben, Kirkland, MCI (Cassville), & Florence, and is the same and present whether you're listening on a two-way radio or a scanner.