Boston Fire Radio System Upgrades

[Citywide173]

Sorry I had spell thing on on the digital side it side dist 1 _10 alert channels are wncrpyred but someone got ut stright he side they use uhf but if crosses over 1-4 is clear but all other alerting chsnnel.on digia site is exrpyted.makes no sense do they use all alerts channels are just ones us what im asking

OK, still very hard to understand. Channels 1-4 are main dispatch, fireground, secondary fireground and tertiary fireground/fire alarm construction. All of these channels are currently analog and IN THE CLEAR (read NOT encrypted.) This is where almost all two-way traffic currently takes place. Channel 5 is two-tone paging and is used for station alerting-there is NO two-way communication on this channel, only one-way paging/voice announcement FOR ALL DISTRICTS and STATIONS using voice allocution-this channel is also analog and IN THE CLEAR.

As said above, if you have channels 1-5, you pretty much hear everything. I don't know if the district repeaters (they are not district "alerting" channels) are up and running, but as of right now there isn't much, if any, traffic on those frequencies. Just because a frequency is licensed and listed for use, remember that could be a FUTURE use.

Wherever you got your information is wrong. The people who have tried to answer your question/assertions are all local to Boston, some posts in this thread were even made by the guy in charge of the BFD's radio system, yet you still attempt to claim that your information is more reliable than those of us that are listening to the system (and have been for decades) as we are answering you.

 

[frankie811]

OK, still very hard to understand. Channels 1-4 are main dispatch, fireground, secondary fireground and tertiary fireground/fire alarm construction. All of these channels are currently analog and IN THE CLEAR (read NOT encrypted.) This is where almost all two-way traffic currently takes place. Channel 5 is two-tone paging and is used for station alerting-there is NO two-way communication on this channel, only one-way paging/voice announcement FOR ALL DISTRICTS and STATIONS using voice allocution-this channel is also analog and IN THE CLEAR.

As said above, if you have channels 1-5, you pretty much hear everything. I don't know if the district repeaters (they are not district "alerting" channels) are up and running, but as of right now there isn't much, if any, traffic on those frequencies. Just because a frequency is licensed and listed for use, remember that could be a FUTURE use.

Wherever you got your information is wrong. The people who have tried to answer your question/assertions are all local to Boston, some posts in this thread were even made by the guy in charge of the BFD's radio system, yet you still attempt to claim that your information is more reliable than those of us that are listening to the system (and have been for decades) as we are answering you.

I haven't listened to BFD in yrs, but I was wondering if they still use the 453mhz (453.650?) frequency that I could receive here in RI.

 

[ecps92]

well since that is the Ch.05 we have mentioned, - yes it is in use.

Reception in RI ?? Depends
Where, what antenna, any hills in the way etc

Only you will know if you can RX them in RI

I haven't listened to BFD in yrs, but I was wondering if they still use the 453mhz (453.650?) frequency that I could receive here in RI.

 

[frankie811]

well since that is the Ch.05 we have mentioned, - yes it is in use.

Reception in RI ?? Depends
Where, what antenna, any hills in the way etc

Only you will know if you can RX them in RI

You read my post wrong. I said I haven't listened to the BFD in yrs & that I have in the past received the 453 freq. I could receive that channel much better than the 483 ones. Are Boston public safety agencies looking to move into a trunking system?

 

[W7FDX]

You read my post wrong. I said I haven't listened to the BFD in yrs & that I have in the past received the 453 freq. I could receive that channel much better than the 483 ones. Are Boston public safety agencies looking to move into a trunking system?

I don't see them doing that any time soon.

 

[ecps92]

Per direct posts from those within the BFD - NO, however they do have access to the trunk for "Certain" functions
yet, Dispatch/Fireground remain UHF T Conventional and they plan to remain that way.

BPD will move to P25 but Conventional
BEMS will move to P25 but Conventional

The days of an agency needing a Flame Thrower (extremely High Power) are long gone) of a signal, that is what mutual aid frequencies are for.

You read my post wrong. I said I haven't listened to the BFD in yrs & that I have in the past received the 453 freq. I could receive that channel much better than the 483 ones. Are Boston public safety agencies looking to move into a trunking system?

 

[BFD-S5]

You read my post wrong. I said I haven't listened to the BFD in yrs & that I have in the past received the 453 freq. I could receive that channel much better than the 483 ones. Are Boston public safety agencies looking to move into a trunking system?

No

 

[garys]

This is my understanding from speaking with other Boston public safety people I know.

The city has allocated a significant amount of money to upgrade radio systems.

Boston PD is moving to P25 on their existing UHF frequencies.
Boston EMS will have P25 capability, but I have no definitive word on whether they will move or just use the new equipment to address issues in the "west zone."
BFD will upgrade, however stay analog for operations because the people in charge feel that is the best way to ensure the safety of fire fighters.
There will be a new P25 trunk system for non public safety agencies in the city.

As time goes on, most of my established contacts are retiring so my information sources are decreasing. Which just means that I am not 100% sure of some of this information. Also a change of Mayors may result in changes to what was previously planned.

 

[nikronzo]

No

Joe, are BFD's channels 1-4 going to eventually upgrade to a newer voting system than the spectra-tac infrastructure right now? BFD sounds great from central MA even, but just wondering considering the age of the existing systems in place.

 

[BFD-S5]

Joe, are BFD's channels 1-4 going to eventually upgrade to a newer voting system than the spectra-tac infrastructure right now? BFD sounds great from central MA even, but just wondering considering the age of the existing systems in place.

The new comparator will be mixed mode to support the accountability system. Channels 1-6 will be firegrounds and 7 will be dispatch audio.

 

[spencerwww]

Per direct posts from those within the BFD - NO, however they do have access to the trunk for "Certain" functions
yet, Dispatch/Fireground remain UHF T Conventional and they plan to remain that way.

BPD will move to P25 but Conventional
BEMS will move to P25 but Conventional

The days of an agency needing a Flame Thrower (extremely High Power) are long gone) of a signal, that is what mutual aid frequencies are for.

Will it be encrypted or open

 

[W1KNE]

Will it be encrypted or open

BPD is still up in the air. There is a lot of speculation, including from people in the know. The answer will be determined when they switch and not a moment sooner.

 

[EastCoastSunrise]

Sorry I had spell thing on on the digital side it side dist 1 _10 alert channels are wncrpyred but someone got ut stright he side they use uhf but if crosses over 1-4 is clear but all other alerting chsnnel.on digia site is exrpyted.makes no sense do they use all alerts channels are just ones us what im asking

OK, still very hard to understand. Channels 1-4 are main dispatch, fireground, secondary fireground and tertiary fireground/fire alarm construction. All of these channels are currently analog and IN THE CLEAR (read NOT encrypted.) This is where almost all two-way traffic currently takes place. Channel 5 is two-tone paging and is used for station alerting-there is NO two-way communication on this channel, only one-way paging/voice announcement FOR ALL DISTRICTS and STATIONS using voice allocution-this channel is also analog and IN THE CLEAR.

As said above, if you have channels 1-5, you pretty much hear everything. I don't know if the district repeaters (they are not district "alerting" channels) are up and running, but as of right now there isn't much, if any, traffic on those frequencies. Just because a frequency is licensed and listed for use, remember that could be a FUTURE use.

Wherever you got your information is wrong. The people who have tried to answer your question/assertions are all local to Boston, some posts in this thread were even made by the guy in charge of the BFD's radio system, yet you still attempt to claim that your information is more reliable than those of us that are listening to the system (and have been for decades) as we are answering you.

I think I know what he is talking about, I assume that you are talking about the district's 1-10 alerting channels on CoMIRS which are encrypted as far as I know. I've seen them light up and then I remember to lock them out once I see them but I do see them light up. So I think I get at what he is talking about. But ch.'s 1-5 are in the clear and that's all you really need to program. The cross patches light up for me after but I find it is usually channel 1 that is consistently patched, but channel 2 is not always patched over even when in use.

 

[BFD-S5]

I think I know what he is talking about, I assume that you are talking about the district's 1-10 alerting channels on CoMIRS which are encrypted as far as I know. I've seen them light up and then I remember to lock them out once I see them but I do see them light up. So I think I get at what he is talking about. But ch.'s 1-5 are in the clear and that's all you really need to program. The cross patches light up for me after but I find it is usually channel 1 that is consistently patched, but channel 2 is not always patched over even when in use.

Channels 1-4 have full time patches to the trunk

 

[spencerwww]

I think I know what he is talking about, I assume that you are talking about the district's 1-10 alerting channels on CoMIRS which are encrypted as far as I know. I've seen them light up and then I remember to lock them out once I see them but I do see them light up. So I think I get at what he is talking about. But ch.'s 1-5 are in the clear and that's all you really need to program. The cross patches light up for me after but I find it is usually channel 1 that is consistently patched, but channel 2 is not always patched over even when in use.

Yea that's it are they regualre alert channels for county are they dispatch ckr channels and why would leave channels open and leave ops open makes not sense inwas trying understand that

 

[ecps92]

first we are ONLY talking about the City of Boston - nothing to do with any County dispatch etc.

Please spell carefully, as it is almost impossible to piece together anything you are attempting to say.

Yea that's it are they regualre alert channels for county are they dispatch ckr channels and why would leave channels open and leave ops open makes not sense inwas trying understand that

 

[W1KNE]

makes not sense inwas trying understand that

What you type makes not sense either....

 

[spencerwww]

What you type makes not sense either....

What saying is that digital and the uhf cross patches so thats why inwas trying puece alert as tmwhat last person side she understood why would they encrypt dispatch is that the county or something i that wha mt inwas referring to im visting so i.kmow theybuse uhf in city going to digital but will they go on them encrypted tags are uhf digital

 

[spencerwww]

What saying is that digital and the uhf cross patches so thats why inwas trying puece alert as tmwhat last person side she understood why would they encrypt dispatch is that the county or something i that wha mt inwas referring to im visting so i.kmow theybuse uhf in city going to digital but will they go on them encrypted tags are uhf digital

Inwas wondering will they use the encrypted alert on digital system basically and wjay are encrypted channels used for in nut shell

 

[cg]

Without knowing if you are trying to use Google Translate from another language or you are using talk to text into your phone or you have difficulties with written English but what you are posting makes little sense. Please reread and edit your posts before hitting the "Post Reply". Folks are willing to help but can get frustrated when a post makes no sense.