Berks County - Proposed 700/800mhz Digital Trunked Radio System

[HM1529]

Ben, I am not much into the scanner/monitoring thing myself so I am not sure how to access the database you referenced. However, if you have this information in a common format like Excel or something and want to email it to me I will give you the clear rundown on what is in/out, up/down.

bgottschall@countyofberks.com

Previously I had provided someone the data on the new system with TG IDs, names, uses and such. I think his page name was Chauffer or something like that. I am not sure if that ever made it into your resources.

Brian, yes, the other database admin you provided the info for the new system to did share it with me and we worked to get that new system info into the database. What I am looking for from folks now is confirmation on continuing use of the various local frequencies many of the police/fire/ems units in the county are licensed on.

This is the page I was updating:
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2246

On it, there is a link to the database page for the trunked system which I believe is all correct and up to date.

I forget that there are people on the forums who do not use the database much, per se. And, also, people who utilize the database often for scanner programming and even radio programming sometimes but who do not use the forums.

 

[bgottschallberks]

Brian, I was going to mention a simular situation as cavmedic just mentioned. Berks came into lehigh county to help with a two alarm fire yesterday and berks and lehigh counties could not converse directly with each other. Comms had to go through the dispatchers and it proviided a fair amount of confusion and wasted time having to do communications that way. Im thinking mutual aid is ok if both counties radios have the same frequencies and analoge channels but I gather the new berks system radios do not have this?

With respect to units coming into Berks from Lehigh or Montgomery (or any county for that matter), there is a learning curve all the way around, and at the same time we are also having some technical issues with our centralized patching that Motorola is working on. Particularly in Lehigh, there are a number of Berks Fire Chiefs who have been doing great outreach to their mutual aid partners. It will work out.

I cannot speak to the process for Berks units going to Lehigh as that is outside of our purview. Comms out of county are a matter for discussion among the involved companies and that other county. Our interoperability overlays are licensed in Berks County.

 

[bgottschallberks]

Brian, yes, the other database admin you provided the info for the new system to did share it with me and we worked to get that new system info into the database. What I am looking for from folks now is confirmation on continuing use of the various local frequencies many of the police/fire/ems units in the county are licensed on.

This is the page I was updating:
https://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?ctid=2246

On it, there is a link to the database page for the trunked system which I believe is all correct and up to date.

I forget that there are people on the forums who do not use the database much, per se. And, also, people who utilize the database often for scanner programming and even radio programming sometimes but who do not use the forums.

I will look at this and see what I can get back to you. There is a lot of info there.

 

[SOSBaseStation]

Here is a crazy thought.

We always see items like this..

Exeter Ambulance Association pitches annual $55 fee

Perhaps Berks County can sell subscriptions to the encrypted airways for us listeners. This way Berks can know who is listening, get some revenue from our hobby and make (at least) me happy.

 

[cypherstream]

Here is a crazy thought.

We always see items like this..

Exeter Ambulance Association pitches annual $55 fee

Perhaps Berks County can sell subscriptions to the encrypted airways for us listeners. This way Berks can know who is listening, get some revenue from our hobby and make (at least) me happy.

That's a great idea but how would they get the keys in your scanners? That has to be securely done because what's stopping you from publishing them on the Internet? Sure they could get you a radio but that's going to cost a whole lot, and could they prevent it from being able to key up and talk? If so could they secure it enough where it cannot be modified to extract the private keys or bypass the transmission locks put in place?

 

[SOSBaseStation]

That's a great idea but how would they get the keys in your scanners? That has to be securely done because what's stopping you from publishing them on the Internet? Sure they could get you a radio but that's going to cost a whole lot, and could they prevent it from being able to key up and talk? If so could they secure it enough where it cannot be modified to extract the private keys or bypass the transmission locks put in place?

I am sure Uniden could come up with something for users - if they had a way to make money. Maybe a firmware upgrade for current scanners with a letter from Berks giving the OK for an upgrade?

Publishing an AES decryption code means nothing, unless the other person has a way of receiving it. I am sure that someone who wants to show their boss that they found a way to tap a new revenue stream then things would happen.

Just wishful thinking. But it's always about the money.

 

[cypherstream]

I see what your saying and I love the idea. I guess Uniden and or others would have to work together to developing a secure standard way to get a receive only radio into the systems. In theory I would see it as something like satellite radio where it has an ESN and that is given to the county and they authorize / address the radio over the air. Once your subscription is up and if you don't renew, again just like any Cable or Satellite service, the equipment is hit with a de provisioning code and no longer can tune in the encrypted broadcasts.

So of course this could be technically possible as we already do this with a variety of Technology we use every single day of our lives. Cable and satellite TV / Radio, cell phones, mobile hotspots, cable modems, etc. The challenge is going to be a standard interoperability between all manufactures and the time and investment in money for such a niche product. Also the collaboration and cooperation from multiple communities to make this worthwhile for scanner manufactures to develop.

 

[mlmummert]

Folks, the purpose of encryption is so that people CAN'T listen to the radio communications in real time. You can forget ever listening to encrypted communications. It's not gonna happen.

 

[balibago]

It's about freedom

Free people with the will to do so have shown a remarkable ability to defeat such things as communism,fascism, control freak politicians, encryption hopefully will be the next. But we will have to summon the WILL to do so.

 

[balibago]

This will never be done on the legitimate marketplace but like the freedom to use marijuana by an ongoing and endless battle to break the chains of oppression. Remember the same politicians who sponsored this ECPA are the same garbage who are ruining this country. All laws are not equal people, basic laws of civilization such as those against theft, arson, murder we should obey. But against "unauthorized interception of encrypted communications" I ain't that law abiding ha.

 

[cavmedic]

The good news is that all is not lost for those with older scanners. There is a xband repeater for one of the County Fire Talk groups on 151.475 with a PL of 156.7

It does seem to be mostly Muhlenberg area fire companies.

The audio from the County side, even on the new radios does sound like they are talking with a mouth full of cotton balls though.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

Was in Berks County for a bit yesterday and was able to pick up some VHF high activity on a few fire channels. 154.310 / 173.8 was one of the channels I picked up activity on (wasn't able to determine what it was). This is listed as Berks County Fire Zone 4 F1 in the database and marked deprecated. It is still in use in some capacity. Since I don't know what the usage is I won't be able to make a DB submission.

Also picked up a pager simulcast on 154.415 / D155. Heard a dispatch in Tulpohocken Township for a cardiac arrest patient now breathing but unconscious. Wasn't able to determine anything else to see what it was simulcasting.

I picked up another pager simulcast on 154.340 / 136.5 which mentioned using Ops 1. I'll look at the DB for both channels to figure out what they may be simulcasting and submit to the DB if able to figure out.

 

[cavmedic]

Was in Berks County for a bit yesterday and was able to pick up some VHF high activity on a few fire channels. 154.310 / 173.8 was one of the channels I picked up activity on (wasn't able to determine what it was). This is listed as Berks County Fire Zone 4 F1 in the database and marked deprecated. It is still in use in some capacity. Since I don't know what the usage is I won't be able to make a DB submission.

Also picked up a pager simulcast on 154.415 / D155. Heard a dispatch in Tulpohocken Township for a cardiac arrest patient now breathing but unconscious. Wasn't able to determine anything else to see what it was simulcasting.

I picked up another pager simulcast on 154.310 / 136.5 which mentioned using Ops 1. I'll look at the DB for both channels to figure out what they may be simulcasting and submit to the DB if able to figure out.

154.310 / 173.8 used to be the western portion of Berks fire dispatch/ operations. I have not heard anything over there since they went to the new system.

Not sure about the 154.415 , but just entered it and camping to see if I can pick up anything .

As for the 154.310 / 136.5 , not sure , but " ops1" is typically what they switch to for a fire ground operation. I suspect it will be similar to what we do here in Montco, instead of switching to a simplex tac channel ( which makes more sense than using a talk group, via the "network") but will talk around their butts to receive at their elbow , they also
do it for the incident to be recorded and have more than 1/4 mile coverage. 700/ 800 simplex blows in this terrain.

 

[Septa3371CSX1]

154.310 / 173.8 used to be the western portion of Berks fire dispatch/ operations. I have not heard anything over there since they went to the new system.

Not sure about the 154.415 , but just entered it and camping to see if I can pick up anything .

As for the 154.310 / 136.5 , not sure , but " ops1" is typically what they switch to for a fire ground operation. I suspect it will be similar to what we do here in Montco, instead of switching to a simplex tac channel ( which makes more sense than using a talk group, via the "network") but will talk around their butts to receive at their elbow , they also
do it for the incident to be recorded and have more than 1/4 mile coverage. 700/ 800 simplex blows in this terrain.

Just edited my post - 154.310/136.5 should have been 154.340/136.5. I typed in the wrong number there.

Looking at the DB, I see 154.415 in there but with 136.5 PL for Fleetwood FC crossband. I was along 61, 73, and 662 yesterday in the Leesport area when I heard these frequencies.

 

[One13Truck]

Just edited my post - 154.310/136.5 should have been 154.340/136.5. I typed in the wrong number there.

Looking at the DB, I see 154.415 in there but with 136.5 PL for Fleetwood FC crossband. I was along 61, 73, and 662 yesterday in the Leesport area when I heard these frequencies.

Might have been Northampton County you were hearing. I know they USED to use 154.340 with the 136.5PL but I'm not sure if they still do.

 

[cypherstream]

I'm picking up fire talk on 151.475 and the guy just said to switch to ops 1 please. The voice sounds very digitized so its clearly repeating the voice after it passes through the new radio system.

 

[sibbley]

Might have been Northampton County you were hearing. I know they USED to use 154.340 with the 136.5PL but I'm not sure if they still do.

Correct, 154.3400 PL 136.5 is Northampton County South Dispatch. Should only be hearing tones and dispatches.

 

[djshadowxm81]

XBand Repeaters

As far as I know 151.475, That is Crossbanding Berks Fire B on Seyfert Hill above cumru area. I also was made aware fleetwood should have a crossband up aswell for Berks Fire B as Mount Penn shadows the Seyfert Hill machine. As for Berks Fire A, I am only aware of two repeaters that have come online last week I spoke to someone about it on the phone earlier, Shoemakersvile should be repeating Fire A on 156.1275 and Shillington on 154.235. I am unaware at this time of any other zone 4 repeaters. If anyone knows anything further please let us know.

 

[Steveradio]

just received a text alert from the chief for next week all those with portable/mobile radios must bring next week for Berks Co reprogramming, we run mutual aid for Berks and still have the old Kenwood lowband portable sitting at the station which we use for our public works to get us.

Curious to see what they put in our radios, will update when possible..

 

[bgottschallberks]

just received a text alert from the chief for next week all those with portable/mobile radios must bring next week for Berks Co reprogramming, we run mutual aid for Berks and still have the old Kenwood lowband portable sitting at the station which we use for our public works to get us.

Curious to see what they put in our radios, will update when possible..

What agency/county are you with?