Anne Arundel, Md.

[Reggie1951]

Just wondering if anyone knows if Anne Arundel's new digital system will be using new talkgroup ranges when they do go compleatly digitall?

Reggie1951

 

[wadeless28]

Dont know for sure, but I bet they do. I think it will be a switch-over at 0700 the morning of, using the same switch-over procedure just like they did when they went to the new system.

 

[troymail]

I don't think there's any reason to switch
to new talk groups... there are several
sheriff and PD unit occasionally using
digital I-call capabilities.... I believe the
Narc units are also digital because they
are encrypted and I've been told that this
system only has "digital" encryption.

I suspect when the changeover occurs, the
system will be able to handle analog and
digital (cell phones do it today on the same
system).

 

[Llwellyn]

Thread Hijack

Thread Hijack:

Oh my! You're alive, Troy! :shock: :lol: 8)
Haven't seen you around in quite a while.

[/hijack]

I also think that the talkgroups will not need to change. As far as I know, it's simply a matter of the system controller enabling digital mode for each talkgroup. There's still a chance that some of them could remain analog; the system is operating with a 3600 baud control channel as does Baltimore City even though they are entirely digital.

Also, I believe that all the necessary equipment is in place with the exception of the new towers (thus, new repeater (or whatever you call 'em)) so I can't see them spending any additional money either to make massive changes to the system (billable hours, baby!).

 

[troymail]

Yes it's been awhile... thought I'd jump back in
and see what I've been missing... I was really
watching during the AA County transition to the
new system but that has settled down (for now).


Re the whole digital thing - I have ID 740824 programmed
into my BC-296 with a label of "Digital User" --- I actually
forgot I did this -- anyway, on the drive home today,
I heard this and another radio come up in digital (I-call
I believe)....

I'd really like to find a way to watch (via my BC-296)
for digital conversations... Right now, I just watch for
this one radio .. the only other thing I have to determine
digital usage is Trunker...

 

[Llwellyn]

You could always do what I do, and keep the digital stuff programmed without having a digital card...

You know in a hurry if something's digital. For the record, the Unidens that are card-upgradeable can track anything with a 3600 baud control channel even if you can't hear the audio.

I've got Baltimore City and Howard County programmed but locked out, and I can actually track them without the card. You get the talkgroup ID and it tracks it from frequency to frequency, you just get short bursts of data instead of voice...

I think trunker would be the cheaper option though

 

[bear105]

Re the whole digital thing - I have ID 740824 programmed
into my BC-296 with a label of "Digital User" --- I actually
forgot I did this -- anyway, on the drive home today,
I heard this and another radio come up in digital (I-call
I believe)....

Yes...I believe these 7xxxxx talkgroups are all I-Calls. At least in Howard Co they always end up that way.

 

[TinEar]

Hey Troy...good to see you back. I remember when we discussed that digital I-Call conversation one night. If memory serves, the other end was 740821. I was just sitting here about to program Talk Group 700000 into my Uniden 785 to see if it does what it says it should. With that TG number you are supposed to be able to hear ANY 7XXXXX I-Call. We shall see. Maybe I'm the last person with a Uniden to get the word on that.

 

[troymail]

Tinear - yeah - that's what it's supposed to do.... I don't
leave it active for long as the sheriff's lile to use it alot
and I'm not all that interested in what they have to
say.

I need a way to track digital usage/activation and plug
those radio IDs in... It's INCREDIBLY obvious (at least
on my 296) when a digital conversation starts -- it "booms"
in comparison to the analog conversations -- unfortunately,
it's still pretty "garbled" (again, at least on my 296).