Birmingham PD going enc.?

[bob-the-scanner-man]

Heard from a BPD officer today that they were told that BPD will be encrypting their dispatch channels next week. Anyone else heard about this?

I'm afraid Jefferson County will wind up like Tuscaloosa County before too long where nothing at all can be monitored.

 

[dave911]

Yes... I was about to buy the SDS200, but I’m not now. Sad day.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

Well, that's pretty disappointing. Can't have the people knowing what's going on I guess. Glad I never upgraded from my Pro-96's.

I'm really interested in why the sudden change. They've had encrypted tactical channels for a few years now with the dispatch channels open. I see no issues with that kind of setup because it allows for transparency while still allowing for privacy for sensitive situations/operations. It will only be a matter of time before the rest of the county follows suit as well. Pretty soon we'll be just like Tuscaloosa where even the fire department is encrypted.

 

[chill30240]

While I hate the move to E, post #123 on this link here and while very blunt and to the point explains it very well. https://forums.radioreference.com/t...concerns-first-amendment-expert.383982/page-7

Bare in mind this was posted in response to freedom of speech being violated by encryption. This thread had gotten way off in the weeds.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

Oh trust me, I understand "why" a department would want encryption. That being said, I don't understand the motivation for this particular department to suddenly decide to enable full-time encryption. For the past few years they've had encrypted tactical channels and clear dispatch channels. If something sensitive is going on, like a hostage situation or a task force/drug unit operation, they'd use the encrypted channels and the routine stuff would go out on the dispatch channels. Seems like a happy middle ground of officer safety and transparency in my opinion.

I don't understand the "freedom of speech" argument but I will say that accountability and transparency should be encouraged and when this kind of thing comes up people should absolutely reach out to their elected officials about it(for all the good that does).

 

[chill30240]

I totally agree with you on that. Soon everything worth listening to will be gone. I'm orginally from Opelika and remember back in the day when OPD, APD and the AU Campus Police all shared the sheriff's repeater. The two fire departments were separate but I had a Bearcat 3 and got the whole country with 4 crystals. Times have changed.

 

[BHAMalan]

At 1131am, a broadcast went out on Birmingham South, instructing to go to another channel, that "this channel is not working"

 

[Jtolar]

At 1131am, a broadcast went out on Birmingham South, instructing to go to another channel, that "this channel is not working"

I can confirm that since 11:39 AM this morning that no BPD-EAST has been going out and there are at least 2 new encrypted talk groups on the Huffman tower. I also noticed the other day that Centerpoint Fire is now off the JC 800 system and is on the AFRN system.

What I find strange is about a year ago some of my feeds were bumped because Birmingham PD was doing an official feed for all precincts but that lasted about 2 months and then it stopped. Now they go completely encrypted... Come on, leave dispatch open, I always felt the same @bob-the-scanner-man about leaving some channels open. Especially with the level of trust at an all time low this just fosters that mistrust.

 

[Jtolar]

As I was just typing that at 2:41 pm BPD-East is back on JC 800 unencrypted. Not sure how much longer but it is right now. This morning I have also observed BPD Jail 4 on AFRN on the Huffman tower (enc and un enc.).

 

[allend]

The wave for LE encryption has been going on for years now. The goal nationwide over time is to encrypt everything like it or not. Now the wave of encrypting the fire departments is in the beginning phase. It's all a master plan. Anybody can argue all they want over it good or bad. But its happening nationwide and there is nothing nobody can do about it except keep their old scanners and don't buy new ones and waste their money. It seems like all of these small and medium and large size departments are all on board with it. It seems like more and more news popping up on these forums from all over the nation with more and more encryption when you would of never thought it could happen and it is at this point.

 

[Jtolar]

This does make me rethink the purchase of an AirSpy I was planning... I guess that money will just go to a new tattoo!

 

[TomServo]

Frankly, I'm surprised Birmingham stayed in the clear this long. Down here in Baldwin County it seems like it's slim pickings as far as public safety goes. I had used DSD+ and an SDR to do some light monitoring but things were mostly encrypted. I had a bit of a back door with the NXDN system that Foley, Robertsdale and Daphne share, since it simulcast the sheriff. But now all that is encrypted. Or at least it was the last time I checked. I think even FD is enc. now.

If I'm not mistaken, Escambia County FL is all encrypted now, after leaving the dispatch channels clear for a while after going digital. Dunno about Mobile City/County or Pensacola city, but it wouldn't surprise me if they're all locked down, too.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

While I can get my radio "fix" in other ways(ham and SWL), I will definitely miss being able to know what's going on around me without having to rely on the news to report on it, if they even do. @allend I agree, I've seen this coming for a few years now, just glad I was able to enjoy the last few years of this hobby while it lasted

I've been staying in Tuscaloosa the past few weeks for a job and there is nothing there that can be monitored. All LE and EMS/Fire are encrypted full-time across all channels according to the DB, so I haven't even bothered with trying to monitor there.

 

[Jtolar]

It will suck, I actually have JCSO Ch. 1 tied into my security cameras to record the audio with my camera's. Also in the area I am in isn't the best so I like listening to see where those gun shots I just heard came from.

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

It will suck, I actually have JCSO Ch. 1 tied into my security cameras to record the audio with my camera's. Also in the area I am in isn't the best so I like listening to see where those gun shots I just heard came from.

Well I'm hoping JCSO won't encrypt too but I guess that's anyone's guess. After all, there's a new sheriff in town.

I'm hoping that the fire departments will still be in the clear. Even if you can't monitor law enforcement, most major events also involve EMS/Fire so you still at least have a decent idea of what's going on even if you can't monitor the police. Unfortunately you won't hear any of the routine police calls which will suck.

 

[Jtolar]

After all, there's a new sheriff in town.

Don't get me started.... The only thing he has going for him in my book is he is keeping the former sheriff's school resource officers (and actually hiring them instead of contracting).

"We are going to change the law! what? I can't actually change laws? I have to actually enforce the laws we have?" - Sorry, not trying to get political just not a fan.

On the other hand, if it does happen hopefully like you said EMS will be remain open and I can just stream the Centerpoint Fire and BFD to my camera's so I know why the trucks are going by the house. I am on a main road shared by Centerpoint and BFD.

 

[BHAMalan]

Well I'm hoping JCSO won't encrypt too but I guess that's anyone's guess. After all, there's a new sheriff in town.

You had to go and say “JCSO” and jinx it. lol I’m not too upset about the BPD but I keep up with JCSO, as my wife is a deputy. And I work in Hoover and have always enjoyed listening to HPD.
Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[dave911]

A patrol officer told me the new Chief killed the live stream and wanted them to be encrypted.

 

[medic9351301]

yes its confirmed by several media contacts i have that bpd is encrypted .
as of right now the so remains in the clear as well as all fire with hueytown fire beinig encrp.
sad day for birmingham pd .

 

[bob-the-scanner-man]

yes its confirmed by several media contacts i have that bpd is encrypted .
as of right now the so remains in the clear as well as all fire with hueytown fire beinig encrp.
sad day for birmingham pd .

How is the media handling the switch? I know a lot of the local news outlets have scanners in their trucks. Have they been offered a chance to get a non transmitting radio like other cities have done in other states?

A patrol officer told me the new Chief killed the live stream and wanted them to be encrypted.

Which to me says quite a lot about his attitude towards the public and I'll leave it at that.