BPD portables

[Firefox10]

Saw in Boston today some plain cloths officers and higher ranks using APX 7000's. I knew the SOPS unit had them, but all the detectives on this sting had them too. Saw a couple plaincloths moving fast trying to change channels with it on their belt and a couple pull them off and were looking at the top to change their channels. Had mine in my backpack with my earbud and didn't hear any chat until the op started, then when they all got to channel 2 "A" heard them. Oh ya, they all had UHF antennas, either long and brass had stubbies. Presume they could of been on a direct channel?
Any ideas?

 

[StoliRaz]

Did you get the frequency that you heard them on? In the clear or encryption?

 

[ecps92]

Did you get the frequency that you heard them on? In the clear or encryption?

Channel 2 aka Area A is still Analog with a DPL and in the RRDB

Suffolk County, Massachusetts (MA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (MA)

www.radioreference.com

Boston has not migrated to P25 yet, this is still in the works tho

 

[Firefox10]

I didn't hear them on the radio, I saw them talking on their radios before switching to A, and heard nothing over my radio. Was odd when switching over, saw them all just turning their channel knob. Didn't seem to change zones? Unless they have it programmed in zone 1 as 16

 

[StoliRaz]

then when they all got to channel 2 "A" heard them.

I took this as heard them over your scanner, hence the confusion.

Channel 2 aka Area A is still Analog with a DPL and in the RRDB

Suffolk County, Massachusetts (MA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Suffolk County, Massachusetts (MA)

www.radioreference.com

Boston has not migrated to P25 yet, this is still in the works tho

Oh I know, I was taking about before they switched to 2A if he was able to get any hits on close call or anything like that. I was thinking they might have been on channel 9 as it's a detective channel that seems to see a fair amount of use.

 

[cja1987]

Was not aware BPD had any APX 7000s, if they are, they are obviously older and have had them for a while as 7000 has been replaced by the 8000 in the multi band world. I know transit PD uses them.

They have *just* in the last few weeks started to field new APX 6000 UHF to replace the many XTS models you still see out there, or did until recently.

Hopefully this is not the shot that starts the big E discussion with BPD but its probably coming... I held a brand new just issued BPD APX 6000 last week and I'm sad to report that the digital zone *shows* 100% encryption all channels. They also have literally hundreds of direct channels that are labeled for schools, not sure purpose. Codeplug was password protected. I also got my hands on a training document that talks about alot of the "special operations" zones being enabled and disabled remotely by the radio shop. This also lends to the fact that it *could* be possible that all digital channels show ENC *right now* but it might not stay that way entirely. Not fully familiar with radio management type software at the shop level but my understanding is it can be strapped and unstrapped for E remotely.

Trying not to spread false rumors or hope but I also heard just this week from a very good source who works with Boston that the district channels will be in the clear. My eyes told me different in looking at the radio myself though. All channels, to include the district channels had the AES logo in top left as circled. Yes I know about the secure/clear switch. I had it on clear but the encrypted logo remained ie strapped ENC. The only way I could see district channels clear rumor being true is if they can quickly provision them back to clear over the air, they likely can is my understanding.

Don't shoot messenger/hopefully what I've heard about district channels possibly staying clear is true and they just strap and unstrap it remotely. I have, unfortunately, heard full E from good sources as well as "district channels staying clear" from good sources. My lying eyes are leaning pessimistic though...

 

[steve9570]

Still can catch some drug control work on Ch 9 460.075 makes for interesting listening.
Good thing some of these bone heads dont have the smarts to monitor.

 

[cja1987]

Can catch it all for now. Hearing around June maybe for P25 cutover.

We are not 100 sure whats going to happen at that point. Would not call myself a complete insider but I'm in close contact with reputable sources who say both 100% E as well as "lots of E but district channels planned clear". The literally just issued 20 days ago BPD portable I held had EVERYTHING in the digital zone strapped AES ENC. So I lean pessimistic, unfortunately.

The only thing that gives me a little hope is the fact that the system is seemingly set up for over the air provisioning of alot of things to include the enablement and disablement of certain spec ops zones on a per subscriber basis. If they plan to routinely enable and disable things over the air, its possible that they could easily unstrap channels 1-6 for clear. I can say right now, they are strapped E though and that does not give me a good feeling notwithstanding what a radio dealer that works with many entities in Boston and has a direct line to the BPD radio shop told me; he insisted "district channels clear and I just sold [so and so] x amount of radios specifically for monitoring BPD and they have no ENC algos". One of those time will tell things but Id lean ENC.

 

[StoliRaz]

Still can catch some drug control work on Ch 9 460.075 makes for interesting listening.
Good thing some of these bone heads dont have the smarts to monitor.

MSP SOPS channels as well. Once both agencies go digital I wouldn't be surprised if this action will be encrypted so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

 

[W1KNE]

Still can catch some drug control work on Ch 9 460.075 makes for interesting listening.
Good thing some of these bone heads dont have the smarts to monitor.

And that activity while "fun" to listen to, absolutely, 100% should be fully encrypted.

 

[garys]

They, and the MSP detectives, are very good about not specifying specific addresses over the air. I know Boston pretty well and even then can't figure out where they are talking about. Also, they have at least one P25 encrypted channel which is used for warrant service.

And that activity while "fun" to listen to, absolutely, 100% should be fully encrypted.

 

[steve9570]

And that activity while "fun" to listen to, absolutely, 100% should be fully encrypted.

As a retired detective from that unit I know those conversations should be E but
in the real world we had to use what channel was open. We do have E channels to use for real important info. But for basic eye watch Ch 9 worked. I do miss Nextel LOL

 

[Citywide173]

I hear the traffic on 9 as I sit at my desk daily. I like to think I know the city as well as Gary and I can't pinpoint the locations regularyly either. They do a very good job of keeping it generic.