Another NEXEDGE Agency....

[RayAir]

So you can just program a radio to listen to any nexedge system? You sure about that?

If you are monitoring a trunked system then it will be harder to do, but if it is conventional NXDN and it is not encrypted then yes, all you need is the proper radio (one capable of NXDN).

You can do this for non-encrypted AEGIS, VSELP, Pro Voice,TRBO, NXDN, Astro, etc.
Not hard to do, just costly.

I do know however, that this method would not work for M/A-Com Open Sky, since all radios on that system must be authenticated OTA before information is sent to it. Open Sky also runs end-to-end 192-bit encryption.

I would hate to go out and buy a NXDN radio only to find out encryption is in use. Here is the only sample of NXDN I could find. This is what normal NXDN sounds like on a scanner:
http://www.kb9ukd.com/digital/nxdn_raw_625.mp3

Maybe as a starting point, use this sample and if what you're hearing is different, possibly assume that encryption is in use.
It would probably be best if some scanner club pooled the money for one radio and programming software to test if the system is clear or secure.

 

[vfr510]

Nexedge in Versailles, KY.

Apparently Woodford County will be making the switch to NEXEDGE sometime in the near future.... New portables are in place, supposedly this is to be a conventional system... more as I can get it!

Steve, All,
Versailles police and Versailles Fire-Rescue have changed to and are using Nexedge system,
interoperability only works when all concerned have the same system.
It sucks I tell you, audio still sounds like muffled, mechanical crap.
73, tnx,
Chico

 

[trashman43]

The Versailles P.D. NXDN system actually sounds very good, compared to the Anderson County S.O. NXDN system

Steve, All,
Versailles police and Versailles Fire-Rescue have changed to and are using Nexedge system,
interoperability only works when all concerned have the same system.
It sucks I tell you, audio still sounds like muffled, mechanical crap.
73, tnx,
Chico

 

[unitcharlie]

Thanx Chico....
I hated to hear VFD go! Has anyone had the chance to really test the NXDN in a fire situation, even a burn box, to see how it sounds in SCBA? Would rather have the test at a real fire so the stress level is up and the breathing is hard, etc... Santa, if you are listening, I would love to find an NX200 with accessories in my stocking next Friday morning!

 

[stevelton]

If you would like to buy a NXDN capable VHF or UHF radio, I could direct you to a very helpful radio shop. Cost isnt much more than a 996xt.
I am hoping my county goes NXDN soon, but I dont see it happening.
Steven

 

[ShawnCowden]

i am interested in this radio shop would u care to email me info. shawncowden@gmail.com thanks

 

[davidp124]

Looks like Logan Co is next for NEXEDGE (see below - taken from Bowling Green Daily News 01/13/2009)

Logan purchases new radio system

By ROBYN L. MINOR, The Daily News
Wednesday, January 13, 2010 11:31 AM CST
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Logan Fiscal Court is moving ahead with building a new radio system for emergency personnel.

The county signed a purchase agreement Tuesday for $526,000 with Kenwood for a digital NEXEDGE radio system.

“It is going to take eight to nine months to build the system,” Judge-Executive Logan Chick said.

The purchase includes 77 radios, 911 center equipment and a tower.

The new radios won’t replace all those used in the current system.

“I think right now we have 450 radios in the county,” Chick said. “That is just a staggering number and is too many for the system. I think they have the same problem in Warren County. At $800 apiece, that would be a lot of radios to replace.”

Chick said Auburn and Adairville volunteer fire departments already have received grants to buy radios not included in this contract.

“And I think there will be an opportunity ... to apply for more grant funding through Homeland Security,” Chick said. “If that doesn’t pan out, we may have to revisit the number of radios.”

The purchase is being paid for with a $70,000 grant and county reserve funds.

 

[unitcharlie]

Darn, another one bites the dust! Thanx for the heads-up David!

 

[stevelton]

I could have done that build out for so much less!
Oh well.
Steven
Any KY ham clubs that would like to upgrade their HAM repeater to mix mode, analog/NXDN IDAS digital?
There is a ham club in mid-illinois that has put one on their 440 ham repeater, not heard how they like it. But I am thinking about putting one up on one of my towers in Southern IL, and networking them together.
How cool would that be. A state wide Ham repeater system. Each club would have their own repeater. It would work analog as it always did, and then anyone who had a NXDN radio, could get a talk group for their local club. Go any where in the state, and just leave your radio on your talk group, and the radio will follow the system. That would be neat.
Steven

 

[SlGlNT]

Call Mobile Inc (New TRS in Fayette County; This will include frequencies currently being used by Bluegrass Towing.)
WNQS854 – Muhlenberg County School Board
WPRF734 - Jennings Communications (Trigg County)

 

[SlGlNT]

Mortons Gap Fire Department in Hopkins County has a license pending for NXDN.
WQLF922 - RadioLand, Inc. (Louisville)

 

[KD4YGG]

I can't believe all the public safety agencies switching over to this format in Kentucky.
Some radio shop is stimulating the economy.

I would have thought last year's event at about this time would have brought up interoperability concerns. State police on UHF P-25 conventional, KY EMA/NG on VHF P-25 conventional, KDOT on VHF analog conventional, and a mixture of VHF/UHF on analog and (now) going toward NXDN digital.

Although I grew up in Kentucky, I'm so glad I now live in a state that utilizes a standardized 800Mhz statewide trunked system. Although not every county agency uses it, all state agencies here in Hoosierland utilize the same system - and every county has at least SOME access to it.

Yes, we are running out of radio ID's (not talkgroups) - but the system works.

And I won't even step over to the other soapbox about not being to monitor the system unless you buy an actual radio. I know of several public safety officers (including some on this board) who have absolutely no way to contact other agencies except via 911 on a cellphone. AMAZING!!!

 

[davidp124]

I am monitoring, what I believe to be the Warren County School Transportation Dept (school bus) here in Bowling Green using NEXEDGE on their assigned frequency of 461.450mhz. I have not noticed any change on the FCC web site as far as emission codes etc. If so, NEXEDGE has infiltrated Warren County. Any input?

David

 

[unitcharlie]

I am monitoring, what I believe to be the Warren County School Transportation Dept (school bus) here in Bowling Green using NEXEDGE on their assigned frequency of 461.450mhz.

David, you are correct, there is no indication in the FCC data that they have switched to narrowband much less NXDN... this might help identify which protocol they are using... these are from the really awesome w2sjw.com radio sounds web site.... Here is NXDN... a lot of agencies are also switching to Mototrbo because it meets the 2013 narrowband standard and is relatively inexpensive....

I can't believe all the public safety agencies switching over to this format in Kentucky.
Some radio shop is stimulating the economy.

Hi John, sorry it took me so long to respond... I share your concerns on a number of levels with the almost cancerous switch to non P-25 digital formats for public safety... My primary concern, as yours, has been the lack of interoperability... The P-25 standard was dropped soon after the current administration came to power in Frankfort (no, I am not making a connection between the two events, just using that as the rough time when I was informed of the change) and shortly after NXDN spread like a bad case of dysentary across the COmmonwealth... some agencies thought it would be cool that "scannerland" could no longer monitor, others saw an inexpensive way to become narrowband compliant.... With every new agency I have let my favorite scanner maker know that there is another system out there... While snooping around recently I came across a letter to The Kentucky Wireless Interoperability Executive Committee from the Chairman; Public Safety Working Group... dated 30 Oct 2009. If I read this letter correctly it seems they, too, are concerned about this:

"After a great deal of discussion, the group unanimously voted to ask the KWIEC to officially endorse P-25 as a communications standard for all public safety agencies in the commonwealth (sic) at its next scheduled meeting in December"

I have not heard what they did at their December meeting, hopefully that answer will come after this is posted..... No matter, it seems they want to re-establish a modicum of sanity in the public safety ranks anyway:

"The group further recommends that the KWIEC formally requests that all funding agencies in the state limit or eliminate their future funding of all non P-25 projects. Even though the KWIEC cannot compel local agencies to purchase P-25 equipment, the lack of funding for non P-25 projects should effectively limit further deployment of stovepipe systems. For state agencies, the KWIEC can simply make it a requirement going forward."

 

[davidp124]

Thanks for the info Steve. I will go to your link and take a look at it. Gonna do more snoopin.

David

 

[unitcharlie]

I am hoping some people in FFT have come to their senses about this.... as John pointed out it almost seems like the Ice Storms a year ago happened before radio.... plz, keep us posted on what you find...

 

[SlGlNT]

WNQN246 - London Radio Service, Inc (Laurel & Clay Counties)

 

[unitcharlie]

Steve Tracy, who attended the December KWIEC meeting, tells me that the vote has been put off until the February meeting.... Thanx for the info Steve!

 

[radiofan1]

As you're ranting about "interoperability", I'll post this from the site's founder---

blantonl said;

"Yea, I agree.

I always get a kick out of how "If we get everyone on the same system interop will be perfect"

Yea right.

Interop is 95% political boundary teardown and 5% technology.

Even more funny are the systems that are deployed with 25 Interop channels. WTF? __________________"


Lindsay C. Blanton III
President - RadioReference.com LLC
Facebook: RadioReference | Twitter: @RadioReference

 

[N_Jay]

As you're ranting about "interoperability", I'll post this from the site's founder---

blantonl said;

"Yea, I agree.

I always get a kick out of how "If we get everyone on the same system interop will be perfect"

Yea right.

Interop is 95% political boundary teardown and 5% technology.

Even more funny are the systems that are deployed with 25 Interop channels. WTF? __________________"

But if you put up a technology block (the 5%) then you make the other 95% twice as hard to fix.