Bridgeport PD and FD

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JimTailor

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I saw a reference elsewhere on the internet today to a plan for Bridgeport PD to go encrypted soon. Sometime back on this forum there was also discussion about a new system for the fire department. Does anyone have any hard, updated info on either of these systems? Bridgeport is in such a financial hole right now (what's new!) that I would think there would have to be some other funding source available before they could realistically look at something like this.
 

JimTailor

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Bridgeport PD & FD

I read it on one of the Yahoo groups. Didn't necessarily take it for gospel! But I am curious if anyone else has heard anything similar. If Bridgeport were to go encrypted things would become pretty quiet around here.
 

N1SQB

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Change is coming for Bridgeport....

Well!
I was at a press conference at the site of the new EOC with Scott Appleby, Joe Lieberman, and mayor Finch a couple of months ago. It was announced that Bridgeport was officialy named as a federaly recognized high risk,high need city. I'm sure I am not using the exact terminology but it amounts to the same thing. This makes Bridgeport eligible for federal dinero, mula,money!.....There has been "serious" talk of conbining the communications of police fire ems in the city. Trunking was mentioned as a possibility. I believe Scott Appleby, the Director of Emerg.Mgmt., the main man behind this , has people looking into what would be the best way to do that. I have not personaly heard Scrambling yet but who knows,it could happen. If local money is not a problem, then it could happen. If I hear anything I will post it on here!

Manny
 

JimTailor

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Bridgeport PD

Since we're talking about Bridgeport, all the communications system changes can be expected to happen right after the Congress St. and Pleasue Beach bridges have been replaced, the CarTech property is fully developed with crowds of people strolling along the harbor on a Sunday afternoon and there's a casino built in Remington Park. In other words, don't run out just yet to purchase a new scanner.
 

joetnymedic

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Manny,
What I heard through various sources was the they were combining everything and going to a digital system for all. PD would have the abiltiy for encryption, but nothing was said about full time. I also heard June/July for rollout. But then again, nothing is etched in stone so we're gonna have to see what really happens when everything is said and done. PD's present system is great as far as I know but the FD's system leaves much to be desired.

Joe
 

N1SQB

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Pretty much what I heard Joe!. Scott Appleby is very resourceful. I believe things will happen a lot sooner than most people think.You have to see the inside of that new EOC. When completed it will be one of the most techologicaly advanced systems of its kind in the northeast region. PD comms are ok right now, so is EMS. The ones in serious need for reliable communication is the Fire Dept. You are 100% correct Joe! I dont know that Digital is the best way to go given the different terrain and altitudes of the city but who knows. The federal funds are there,great! go for it! It will be interesting.

Manny
 

joetnymedic

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oh digital is not the way to go with all of the problems it has. i just did a post this am in the general section in regards to the post about radio failure out there. we all know stamford has issues, waterbury has issues. in the beginning nhfd had issues before the relays and i'm sure there will be more. while not a psychic, if bpt goes digital, i see problems on the horizion and yes, i know wtby isn't digital, just another flawed system. imho i just can't seeing taking a chance with any public safety personnels lives with systems that just don't work. i don't care if the blame is on the manufacturer or the beancounters, it should not take someone getting hurt or god forbid killed before a proper communications system is in place. just my .02

joe
 

N1SQB

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I agree!

Trunking I can undertand!
Throwing out that crap system the Fire Dept. has is a welcome change. I can undertand Interop. Especialy since FD rolls as first responders to medical calls at times. No problem. But given how active each service is on their own, I cant see taking a chance on digital with all 3 ,Im sorry. Its a disaster waiting to happen. They get hit from all directions with calls, Trains, Ferry boat,State buses, courts,not to mention that they are also responsible for that mess they call Sikorski airport that belongs to Bpt. but is in Stratford. Thank God for mutual aid agreements. I dont know! I hope its trunking but not digital.

Manny
 

dkostrey

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800 Mhz is not the way to go either. For example Shelton PD. Not a week goes by where you don't hear radio repair doing something to their system. They're rumored to go to 460 Mhz trunked for the whole town.
 

JimTailor

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Shelton PD

I'm in Trumbull near PD headquarters, have an antenna on the roof and have never heard Shelton PD. I am probably just below line-of-sight to Shelton and I know a few fators can play into this but I've always wondered how well Shelton cars on the road can hear dispatch especially if they are just a little out of the city limits. Dangerous.
 

N1SQB

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Shelton Can't Hear Shelton!

Its just that bad!
Sometimes even the cars cant hear each oher, in town! They should have NEVER been placed on 800 mhz. With the kind of terrain,hill issues that exist in Shelton, a good 150.XXX MHZ system would have been better with plenty of reflectors, repeaters in town. Talk about Trumbull, they were no better off for a while either. They could not reach HQ from anywhere inside the mall areas for a while. Thats only a half mile down the street !It wasnt until they reached a deal with the mall owners to allow a repeater and a few antennas on the roof of some stores that coverage improved. Thats 800 for you.

Manny
 

Napalm

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I'm on the border between Trumbull and Bridgeport here, and BPT comes in a lot better than Trumbull.

By the way, does anyone know how good the radioshack is in Trumbull?

I'm on vacation over here [I'm a tourist] :) :)
 

JimTailor

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Trumbull Radio Shack

There are three in Trumbull. One at the Westfield Mall, one in Trumbull center on White Plains Road and another at the Hawley Lane Mall. Really don't visit any of them very often but if you're on the Trumbull/Bridgeport line, they're only a short distance away.
 

izzyj4

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Shelton's PD frequency reception depends on which way the wind blows and if your not in the valley, you ain't gonna hear it well.
 

Cskib32087

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Bridgeport

FD will be moving dispatch to 154.8225 digital. Fireground will be analog low power using the current freqs they have. PD will be digital encrypted 24/7/365. Its a federal grant, they have to spend it and prove the system working by end of this year. A few days ago a const company was at city hall looking at the site for the new tower for PD & FD going there.
About 4 Months ago I got comms on 155.625 near city hall, first it was analog can you hear me now, then P25 can you hear me now then P25 Enc ???? im assuming can you hear me now.
 

N1SQB

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I Dont get it!

OK, Im going to ask!
Why the heck does the FD have to go digital for? What is the NEED to go digital?. Second, why cant the PD do digital with their current frequency? I thought the idea was to get PD/FD/EMS all under the same system?
Well,there goes the good monitoring from bridgeport.

Manny
 

Cskib32087

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Digital provides better audio, better building penatration, more range ect. also with digital you can send video data and more on the same channels. Way more options with digital.
The PD will be using the 154.725 & 155.430 allong with a few new channels. As for encryption thats up to them if they want it.
 

N1SQB

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Ok Then!
So its NOT written in stone yet that they will be fully encrypted? HMM! I have to disagree with the point that digital brings better audio and more building signal penetration. Justy look at the problems that the CSP has even with their dozens of towers. The audio is NOT always the greatest, there are still dead spots everywhere, and the laptops or MDTs fail so much its pathetic. Unless you fill the entire town with towers, you will not get the greatest range. I will say that this will be digital on a VHF frequency as opposed to 800 MHZ. So who knows, it may work out. Im just not ready to say that digital is better than a well configured analog system. Take stratford Police and Fire for instance.
150/460 MHZ analog on both and they have the best audio I have ever heard. No drop outs, no sounding digital when out of range or fading of any kind,no penetration issues. Stratford Fire is clear as a bell. Milford fire is another one. Analog and VERY clear. So Im not so sure "digital" is the BEST way to go. However, because it is not town money but Federal, someone felt the need to go this route. We will see!.

Manny
 

Cskib32087

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I would start looking for the stone in bridgeport...Its been written....just not cleaned off yet the federal grants have experation dates..Bridgeports is before the end of this year...so you have about 6 months left to listen to them...LOL...
As for digital listen to a system designed to work, not state PD. Maybe wilton fire (PD is encryped) .... Woodbury FD works great.
Go ask a stratford cop how they think they system works. He wont be as fast to say it works great.
 
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