JoeyC
Senior Member
He didn't say anything about private citizens conversations.
Dakota91 gave a common sense perspective, whereas many on this forum want conspiracy theories.
Another NEXEDGE Agency....
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He didn't say anything about private citizens conversations.
Dakota91 gave a common sense perspective, whereas many on this forum want conspiracy theories.
JoeyC
Senior Member
If you are going to quote someone, don't pick and choose words out of a sentence to attempt to change its meaning. I was not aware that most private citizens are utilizing in-car computer communications.
To clarify what I said earlier, what I meant was that there seems to be an expectation that all public safety radio communications should be broadcast in the clear and monitored, but there is no expectation of the public having a similar right to monitor the same voice or data communications when it takes place over landlines, computer networks, or in-car computers. The only reason we can monitor radio communications is because public safety radio has been around since the 1930's and was used as a convenience and until recently the technology hasn't changed much in all that time.
With the systems being fielded today, encryption is a low-cost option that has little effect on the voice quality. No one really wants anyone to listen to their communications with others but until recently radio users simply had to accept it since they had no simple means of stopping it. Now they do and people are getting upset about the loss of their ability to listen to these conversations. Although the majority of scanner users are honest citizens that listen for their own enjoyment, the police and Homeland Security know that there are many others that monitor police communications for criminal or terrorist purposes (although probably in the minority and limited to major cities).
The fact that all cell phones today use encryption was driven by the fact that early cells were analog and could be easily monitored with an off-the-shelf scanner. Laws were passed to require scanner manufacturers to disable the cellular bands, but people figured out how to modify scanners to re-enable those bands. Today, scanners can't be modified and even if they could they wouldn't hear anything since the radio signal between the cell phone and tower are encrypted. This gives all cell phone users the piece of mind knowing they can have private conversations and conduct financial transactions knowing that someone else isn't listening to the conversation. All public safety agencies will eventually want the same level of confidence that their radio communications are just as secure as their landlines and cell phones.
In an ideal world once encryption is enabled the local government agency would permit trusted citizens to be a part of the system in a listen-only mode so they would know that only trusted individuals could hear the communications, but we know that isn't going to happen. Accept the fact that that this has been a fun hobby for many years and may continue for many people for a few more years, but eventually the technology and desire for privacy is going to one day bring an end to this hobby. Encryption isn't a conspiracy by the police to shut out the citizens, but rather a way for the police to talk on the radio knowing that only the people they trust and depend on can hear what they're saying. If you ever attend trade shows or conventions that focus on any type of communications, the phrases you will see and hear most often are "end-to-end encryption" and "privacy" - it's what the buyers want and the manufacturers and sellers are simply giving them what they ask for while making a nice profit in the process.
With the systems being fielded today, encryption is a low-cost option that has little effect on the voice quality. No one really wants anyone to listen to their communications with others but until recently radio users simply had to accept it since they had no simple means of stopping it. Now they do and people are getting upset about the loss of their ability to listen to these conversations. Although the majority of scanner users are honest citizens that listen for their own enjoyment, the police and Homeland Security know that there are many others that monitor police communications for criminal or terrorist purposes (although probably in the minority and limited to major cities).
The fact that all cell phones today use encryption was driven by the fact that early cells were analog and could be easily monitored with an off-the-shelf scanner. Laws were passed to require scanner manufacturers to disable the cellular bands, but people figured out how to modify scanners to re-enable those bands. Today, scanners can't be modified and even if they could they wouldn't hear anything since the radio signal between the cell phone and tower are encrypted. This gives all cell phone users the piece of mind knowing they can have private conversations and conduct financial transactions knowing that someone else isn't listening to the conversation. All public safety agencies will eventually want the same level of confidence that their radio communications are just as secure as their landlines and cell phones.
In an ideal world once encryption is enabled the local government agency would permit trusted citizens to be a part of the system in a listen-only mode so they would know that only trusted individuals could hear the communications, but we know that isn't going to happen. Accept the fact that that this has been a fun hobby for many years and may continue for many people for a few more years, but eventually the technology and desire for privacy is going to one day bring an end to this hobby. Encryption isn't a conspiracy by the police to shut out the citizens, but rather a way for the police to talk on the radio knowing that only the people they trust and depend on can hear what they're saying. If you ever attend trade shows or conventions that focus on any type of communications, the phrases you will see and hear most often are "end-to-end encryption" and "privacy" - it's what the buyers want and the manufacturers and sellers are simply giving them what they ask for while making a nice profit in the process.
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To get back on the topic of "Another Nexede Agency in KY"
From Central KY I am picking up very weak NXDN traffic on
155.565, unit #'s in 1200 and 1300's
155.730
155.745
Does anyone have any idea who is using NXDN on these frequencies? Or, can anyone pinpoinit a better location for any of these?
From Central KY I am picking up very weak NXDN traffic on
155.565, unit #'s in 1200 and 1300's
155.730
155.745
Does anyone have any idea who is using NXDN on these frequencies? Or, can anyone pinpoinit a better location for any of these?
Nexede Agency
I'm hearing that the Barren County Constables are now NXDN. All i get now is digital traffic on 151.3925. Also 452.0500 with the Edmonton Fire Department.
Can you confirm?
I'm hearing that the Barren County Constables are now NXDN. All i get now is digital traffic on 151.3925. Also 452.0500 with the Edmonton Fire Department.
Can you confirm?
n1das
Member
NXDN's built-in basic encryption is a 16-bit system with 32768 possible keys, numbered from 0 (off) to 32767. A key value of 0 is "OFF" for normal clear mode. Icom's iDAS and Kenwood's NEXEDGE have the same encryption. I have successfully used encryption between a Kenwood NEXEDGE radio and an Icom iDAS radio in 6.25kHz NXDN conventional mode.
NXDN's built-in basic encryption comes standard. AES and DES encryption are available as options for those who need more secure encryption.
Icom's iDAS and Kenwood's NEXEDGE are compatible in 6.25k mode only on conventional systems. The trunking formats is where they differ and are incompatible. It might be possible to monitor them with a NXDN radio by listening as conventional channels (dunno, none around me in the greater Boston MA area yet to try). Icom also doesn't have a 12.5k NXDN mode like Kenwood does. If agencies that have gone NEXEDGE are using 6.25k NXDN on conventional systems, you should be able to monitor them on an Icom iDAS radio too. If they're using encryption, then you're obviously SOL whether you've got an Icom or a Kenwood radio.
In the postings of agencies that have gone NEXEDGE, it might be worthwhile to list what type of NXDN (12.5k or 6.25k) is being used. The LOUD machine gunning of 12.5k NXDN will be easy to tell apart from the soft muffled sound of 6.25k NXDN. The FCC licenses for these systems will list the emission designators and that should give a clue. IIRC, a 12.5k NXDN channel uses 8.00kHz of occupied bandwidth and a 6.25k NXDN channel uses 4.00kHz of occupied BW. If 12.5k NXDN is being used, it's a Kenwood-only system. If 6.25k NXDN is being used, it could be a Kenwood or Icom system and there's a chance you can listen (if not enc'd) on an Icom iDAS radio.
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Montgomery County SO and Mt Sterling Police are using NEXEDGE ON 155.31 & 154.71.
Add them to the list
Add them to the list
st126
Member
Versailles is in the process of installing a Multicast IP network now for better countywide coverage.
I think 155.730 is prestonsburg ky city police..I get a full scale on the s-meter and they are also using 155.085..
unitcharlie
a Kentucky DB Admin...
It seems that Frankfort/Franklin County and Scott County Fire will soon join the ranks of NXDN.....
KR4BD
Member
Charlie...
What are you hearing about Lexington PD's future? Time is running out on them with their VHF Analog system...
unitcharlie
a Kentucky DB Admin...
They have NFM freqs for all of their current system.... they can stay analog so long as they are narrow band.... thank heavens!
Lexington paid lots of money for someone to tell them to spend lots more money.
http://www.lexingtonky.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=16246
http://www.lexingtonky.gov/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=16246
BTW, Frankfort/Franklin Co will be going NXDN by the end of the year. Soory!
The PD and SO will go first, then City Fire and EMS. Later on County Fire may also.
In short, all of the main dispatch channels of interest for law and emergency services will be NXDN. The public works and others will be changed over to 12.5k (narrowband) deviation analog. The system will resemble a multi site configuration when done.
I don’t have any other details.
The PD and SO will go first, then City Fire and EMS. Later on County Fire may also.
In short, all of the main dispatch channels of interest for law and emergency services will be NXDN. The public works and others will be changed over to 12.5k (narrowband) deviation analog. The system will resemble a multi site configuration when done.
I don’t have any other details.
KG4EMJ
Member
I noticed that Anderson County just got a $35,000 grant to purchase "radios" for all local agencies. That sounds like they are just upgrading user equipment, and NOT the radio system...correct?
My delimma is that I just bought a $450 scanner, and with all these counties going NXDN I'm wondering if it's even worth keeping it. Maybe the inevitable is just around the corner and I should take the scanner back to the store for a refund?
My delimma is that I just bought a $450 scanner, and with all these counties going NXDN I'm wondering if it's even worth keeping it. Maybe the inevitable is just around the corner and I should take the scanner back to the store for a refund?
Andyssonopie
Member
I don't know if they are going NXDN or not, but the city police have upgraded there radios so they now can talk to the county police which are NXDN. I'm friends with one of the local dispatchers when I get a chance to see him I'll ask him what he knows. They had a meeting a couple of weeks ago with all city employes about a new radio system but I couldn't really find out what they were told, it kinda of lead me to think they had not done there narrow banding yet that I think is required by sometime in 2012. So as far as retuning your scanner who knows, it's just a gamble.
KG4EMJ
Member
Yes that would be great if you could find out anything. In the RR database, all the city police/fire/ems is listed as simply "FM" and like you, I don't think they have gone to the FCC mandated narrow band stuff yet. I can still pick them up on my 12 year old scanner. So.. my assumption is that sometime in the next 12 months, Lawrenceburg city is going to go to some type of alternative system...and if they do NXDN like the SO did, then I'll be out of luck.
Any info. you could share would be appreciated.
ShawnCowden
Member
Laurel County Rescue Squad now on the digital mode and Corbin PD also London PD and I do think Williamsburg PD is also
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