Austin PD

[Wes]

Managed to look at an APD radio this weekend. The Talk-14 talk group that we're seeing used for incidents on the highways is actually called "APD Jon" There's no Jon sector per-se, but that's what they call the freeway channel. The Downtown Ranger TG is actually called "APD DTR."

It looks as if the SR talk groups have been renamed "Metro". The radio had Metro talk groups 1 - 10 in it. And since street response has been replaced by Metro Tac, that makes sense.

There's also another talk group we might want to look for. It's called "APD AirK9." Seems to be used for the helicopter unit and K9.

 

[NC5267]

Heading up to Austin for about a week reprogramming the Austin system, how are the Talk channels assigned? Does each patrol sector have a talk channel assigned? Also are the Metro talk groups used a lot?

 

[Wes]

Patrol radio traffic is done on the sector talk group. Metro talk groups are hit or miss, depending on if there's an operation going on.

 

[NC5267]

Thanks, haven't been up there in awhile. The Talk channels that are in the database I think they are Talk 1-44 or something how are those used? For example does the Adam sector use Talk 1 for talk around traffic, Baker sector Talk 2 etc.. Like here in San Antonio each patrol channel has an "open" or talk channel assigned to each patrol channel. Or are they just randomly assigned.

 

[Russell]

What model radios do they have?

 

[Wes]

From seeing some actual APD radio equipment, I'm more and more skeptical of the "talk" channels actually existing. At least not currently.

 

[Russell]

From seeing some actual APD radio equipment, I'm more and more skeptical of the "talk" channels actually existing. At least not currently.

I tend to agree. Those look more like "spares" than actual talk channels.

 

[NC5267]

Thanks for all the info. Are they using the new APX radios yet?

 

[W5ESS]

No APX mainstream yet. Mostly XTS5000s.