Communication station: Digital revolution invades the Menomonie Police Department

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MENOMONIE, Wis. -- With all the TV promos heralding the news, most people are very aware of the transition to digital television in 2009 — ushering in big changes in signal type, quality and even reception hardware required for the average viewer.

The digital revolution is not confined only to TV, however, as is evidenced by the new communication system recently adopted by the Menomonie Police Department (MPD). The new digital technology now provides local law enforcement with new tools and greater efficiency.

http://www.dunnconnect.com/articles/2008/08/18/news/news03.txt

 

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The new system provides much more effective voice communication that can be transmitted in the clear, but can also be encrypted at will, based on the sensitivity of the situation encountered. What it means is that the citizen who monitors emergency traffic on an analog scanner at home will need a new digital scanner — and even that will not guarantee reception of encrypted traffic.


There we go, in the clear with the possibility of going encrypted for sensitive situations. Everyone happy.