CHP Orders Project 25 Radios?

[Thunderbolt]

I read this press release from EFJohnson, where the CHP has ordered $3.7 million in Project 25 compliant radios. Are they thinking about going to P25 on VHF-Low band? This would be a first.

73s

Ron

 

[Grog]

I don't think EFJ even makes any low band equipment.

Aren't they thinking of 700mhz for future use? Maybe they are going to use 700mhz vehicular repeaters tied to low band and also to have 800mhz abilities with other agencies? Press releases aren't know for having any real information, are they? :lol:

 

[MtnBiker2005]

From SoCalScan.

CHP has a request into the California Legislature for a multi-year,
multi-hundred-million dollar project to rebuild their existing VHF-Lo
infrastructure statewide, but moving the vehicular repeater operations
to the new 700 MHz band when it becomes available in 2008-2009.

Hopefully, in procuring their new 700 MHz portable radios, they will
include the 800 MHz band, and would continue to partner with local
systems for interoperability. Of course, this moves away from
interoperability in the non-800 MHz areas of the state (which is the
majority of the rural areas).
Don
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/socalscan/message/52520

 

[ScannerDude244]

Does 700mhz in conventional mode have to be p25?

 

[Markb]

I believe that's the deal. Everything on 700 will be P25...........

 

[trooperdude]

Does 700mhz in conventional mode have to be p25?

No, but to get grant money they have to be P25 capable.

I believe Kenwood won the bid for the new Low Band radios.

 

[jlanfn]

Maybe they are going to use 700mhz vehicular repeaters tied to low band and also to have 800mhz abilities with other agencies?

That is consistent with what I have heard or read elsewhere. From the EF Johnson website, each radio will have 700 and 800 MHz capability. According to what I have heard CHP will use the 800 MHz for interoperability with local agencies.

 

[clanusb]

I believe Kenwood won the bid for the new Low Band radios.

remember... the lowest bidder made your equipment.

 

[trooperdude]

remember... the lowest bidder made your equipment.

OR in this case the only viable commercial low band radio manufacturer left.

 

[WayneH]

OR in this case the only viable commercial low band radio manufacturer left.

I thought M/A Com still makes the Orion or its successor?

 

[zz0468]

Motorola is still making low band mobiles. I guess the low band Micor base station is history, though.

 

[trooperdude]

Motorola is still making low band mobiles. I guess the low band Micor base station is history, though.

CalFire went to all Kenwood mobiles.

Economics of scale I guess.

CHP hasn't used Motorola for decades.

Even their mountain top base station radios are a hodge-podge of equipment.

 

[northzone]

Does 700mhz in conventional mode have to be p25?

Yes, the plan that is currently approved states there will be no analog in the 700 band

 

[Duster]

CalFire went to all Kenwood mobiles.

The Kenwoods seem to be holding up very well. I can't speak for the handhelds or the smaller mobiles, but the TK-*90 series (we use 790's), are very robust and handle being beaten up in the engines.

 

[DPD1]

How does this factor into the other report, that they want to start using UHF repeater systems in urban areas? The 700 radios would be like the in car 150 MHz repeaters now, but maybe also work in new repeater systems in the cities?

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[Grog]

How does this factor into the other report, that they want to start using UHF repeater systems in urban areas? The 700 radios would be like the in car 150 MHz repeaters now, but maybe also work in new repeater systems in the cities?

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

Yeah, the new radios are 700/800 (all 700 P25 radios will be 800 as well) so they will be able to use any compatable local systems that they have permission to use as well as the ITAC 800 freqs.

 

[smokeybehr]

How does this factor into the other report, that they want to start using UHF repeater systems in urban areas? The 700 radios would be like the in car 150 MHz repeaters now, but maybe also work in new repeater systems in the cities?

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

They do have the repeaters that were left over from the State Police that have been borrowed by other state LE agencies. I've heard CHP LB dispatch being rebroadcast on the UHF channels in a couple of different areas.

 

[DPD1]

They do have the repeaters that were left over from the State Police that have been borrowed by other state LE agencies. I've heard CHP LB dispatch being rebroadcast on the UHF channels in a couple of different areas.

Those I've heard as well... I thought I read that they wanted to start switching to some new fancy system in urban areas, basically replacing the low band. Maybe that was just one of the ideas floating around.

Dave
www.DPDProductions.com
Antennas & Accessories for the RF Professional & Radio Hobbyist

 

[OpSec]

How does this factor into the other report, that they want to start using UHF repeater systems in urban areas? The 700 radios would be like the in car 150 MHz repeaters now, but maybe also work in new repeater systems in the cities?

Might that explain the UHF 1/4w on the roof of a recently up-fitted 2008 CVPI that I saw a couple weeks ago...? There was not a UHF radio in the console, just the GE Rangr and a scanner, like typical.

 

[obijohn]

Motorola is still making low band mobiles. I guess the low band Micor base station is history, though.

Parts for the micors finally dried up around 1999. For those of us that still maintain this "classic" gear,
ebay is the best source of parts/boards for me.

It is actually now cheaper to board-level repair lightning damage!