Does Ham operate on police band?

[ffexpCP]

So now answer this. You have been given the task of showing the new guy in the department around for his first couple shifts. You make a traffic stop and get in a confrontation with the occupants. The new guy runs back to your patrol car with the D700 in it and while picking up the mike bumps the V/M button. He calls till he is blue in the face but no one hears his report that you are being assaulted by four angry drunks. How is that going to help you get home to your family?

Would never happen, I only have a portable. No radios in the car.

Becides, this can happen just as easily on a department radio.

My dispatcher has one freq. If my radio goes to talk around or any other channel, the same thing will happen.

At least the ham rig will transmit.

 

[SLWilson]

Other Agencies Freqs

It wasn't a question about legality. It was a question if it was techincally capable....A police officer doesn't get in trouble for operating on other police frequencies.... There would be no need to "DECLARE AN EMERENCY" to operate on my own department's frequencies or that of a county sheriff if I was making a simple traffic stop...I also highly doubt the FCC would give two cents into the fact that an officer is utilizing a ham radio in the interest of officer safety especially in his/her performances duties as said officer but hey I could be wrong....

That isn't TOTALLY CORRECT....Unless your agency has a Mutual Aid Agreement in effect, just because you are a police officer in another jurisdiction doesn't "allow" you to USE their radio frequencies. Am I saying that DOESN'T happen? No, I'm not. To be COMPLETELY legal, though the WRITTEN agreement must be in effect.

Steve/KB8FAR?Gallia Co 911 Ctr...

 

[bigbluemsp]

All the police departments in our area will allow other departments use of their channel and frequencies.

 

[RRgumshoe]

Jhooten you say you are a police officer yet you make a blanketed statement

And cops wonder why they have an image problem.

and THEN you would argue with ffexpCP a fellow police officer stating he is in the wrong. It's an officer safety issue and I can't believe you would attack him for it.

I'm not making assumptions. Read the thread a little more. Where was anyone attempting to be above the law.

I just think some people can take things a little too far and gets upset easily over it. You should never attack someone for trying to do what's best. Yea it's not right but sometimes you need to do things that might not be right at the moment. If I was in his shoes or any officers shoes that had a similar situation. I would rather be judge by the FCC then have my friends and family visit my funeral.

I'm sorry if I upset anyone or offended anyone. It's not my objective to hurt anyone's feelings. I'm just trying to get people to realize that they may need to relax and let things go once in awhile. There is no REAL threat/harm in what ffexpCP is doing and that is to come home in one piece.

RRgumshoe,

You make a lot of ASSumptions about the people here, newbie. After you have been here awhile and get to know the people you may realize that they are trying to help you. And if you had taken the time to search you would have found this question has been ask about a billion times and the answer is always the same, yes the radio can be made to do it but it is not leagal and ham radios are not as user friendly to the non radio user as a radio with limited controls like a proper Part 90 cetrified unit.

So now answer this. You have been given the task of showing the new guy in the department around for his first couple shifts. You make a traffic stop and get in a confrontation with the occupants. The new guy runs back to your patrol car with the D700 in it and while picking up the mike bumps the V/M button. He calls till he is blue in the face but no one hears his report that you are being assaulted by four angry drunks. How is that going to help you get home to your family?

So there are no FCC radio police patrol units. All it will take is for you to bust/cite/pi$$ off the wrong person, who knows radios and communcations law, and for him to start dropping paper on you and making calls to the FCC and your life and that of the chief will become quite miserable.

Perhaps a little background may help you understand a few things.
11 years US Army communications
3.5 years Reserve police officer
2 years reserve EMT
3.5 years Fulltime police officer
16 years Correctional officer/electronics tech/telecommunications specialist for FBOP.

 

[RRgumshoe]

I can't tell you how many times I hear officers/deputies transmit on the wrong frequency. Who cares...opps sorry guys my mistake. What harm was really done? That is the point. There is no harm, you are not putting people lives at risk by using the wrong equipement or wrong channel.

So now answer this. You have been given the task of showing the new guy in the department around for his first couple shifts. You make a traffic stop and get in a confrontation with the occupants. The new guy runs back to your patrol car with the D700 in it and while picking up the mike bumps the V/M button. He calls till he is blue in the face but no one hears his report that you are being assaulted by four angry drunks. How is that going to help you get home to your family?

Would never happen, I only have a portable. No radios in the car.

Becides, this can happen just as easily on a department radio.

My dispatcher has one freq. If my radio goes to talk around or any other channel, the same thing will happen.

At least the ham rig will transmit.

 

[RRgumshoe]

That isn't TOTALLY CORRECT....Unless your agency has a Mutual Aid Agreement in effect, just because you are a police officer in another jurisdiction doesn't "allow" you to USE their radio frequencies. Am I saying that DOESN'T happen? No, I'm not. To be COMPLETELY legal, though the WRITTEN agreement must be in effect.

Steve/KB8FAR?Gallia Co 911 Ctr...

I agree, Your right those agreements should be in effect which they are as BigBlueMSP stated. But you know as well as I do that if an officer is in trouble, nobody is going to make a fuss about it. That's just my point.

I'm actually buying a UHF radio because I agree with their point on the ham equipment not being right and I could see where it would cause interference. I guess I'm just upset that some people would think so narrow minded over an officer safety issue. I agree I can get hot headed over things as well.

By the way, thanks for being a dispatcher....it's a rough fustrating job that I wouldn't want. I always apperciate the dispatchers I go through

 

[N_Jay]

I love how people think getting grants are that simple. They are almost not worth even attempting.

LOL,

More excellent attitude!!:evil: :evil:

 

[N_Jay]

I can't believe the crap that some people believe.
You can't get grants, Waaaa!
Its too much work! Waaaa!
It does not matter, cause the chief says its OK, Waaaa!

Maybe you need to learn how to get grants, maybe you need to learn a little about the license that someone in your city/county, agency SIGNED under penalty of perjury?

Geeez, I think I have answered most of the questions fairly clearly.

Sorry if the answer you want is "Sure. go do what you want!" and you don't get it.
Hey, that is not always the RIGHT answer!!

 

[jhooten]

I can't tell you how many times I hear officers/deputies transmit on the wrong frequency. Who cares...opps sorry guys my mistake. What harm was really done? That is the point. There is no harm, you are not putting people lives at risk by using the wrong equipement or wrong channel.

Changing the channels on a fixed programmed, twist the channel knob radio is one thing. Chances are the channel you go to is a valid channel where someone in the public safety world will hear you. Bumping the vfo or changing to memory channel programmed a seldom monitored non PS frequency is something totally different. You just cant seem to grasp the fact that you are, by your own choice of the wrong tool for the job, putting your and other officers life, health and possibly financial security at risk.

And I ain't buying this crap about ham gear being more robust and will fail less often then commercial equipment. I've punted an Motorola down the road running to and incident and picked it up and it worked fine. I've had the belt clip on a ham handy break, the radio fall to the sand from my waist height, and the radio broke into pieces. I've transmitted on a ham mobile with the antenna against a tree branch and blew the transmitter. Transmitted on the motorola with the antenna grounded to a steel beam and no damage.

With my but on the line I ain't going to be toten no modified ham rig. You pays your money and you takes your chances.

I forgot to add to the list
GROL
Amateur Extra.

Do what you gotta to. I pray noone has to pay the price when the wrong choice is made.

 

[bigbluemsp]

Hooten stick to the Texas area.. We aint in Texas..

Grants aren't easy to get even if you are good at writing them. Not all grants are given to half the departments that apply for them. Those that say writing grants is easy and that you can get them has NEVER wrote a grant.

 

[RRgumshoe]

Once again....where did anyone say their Chief/Supervisor/LT said it's okay. I don't remember anyone posting that??

It's not the work involved in getting the grants, it's the fact that 9 times out of 10 you won't get approved. You think the Feds are just going to throw money at us?? LOL

I can't believe the crap that some people believe.
You can't get grants, Waaaa!
Its too much work! Waaaa!
It does not matter, cause the chief says its OK, Waaaa!

Maybe you need to learn how to get grants, maybe you need to learn a little about the license that someone in your city/county, agency SIGNED under penalty of perjury?

Geeez, I think I have answered most of the questions fairly clearly.

Sorry if the answer you want is "Sure. go do what you want!" and you don't get it.
Hey, that is not always the RIGHT answer!!

 

[N_Jay]

Hooten stick to the Texas area.. We aint in Texas..

Grants aren't easy to get even if you are good at writing them. Not all grants are given to half the departments that apply for them. Those that say writing grants is easy and that you can get them has NEVER wrote a grant.

NO ONE SAID THEY WERE EASY! (Does anyone still read WORDS, or just make up what they want iot to say?)

Its part of teh job, you want funds, you write grants applications.

(In other words, "Stop b!tching, and get to work!)

 

[N_Jay]

Once again....where did anyone say their Chief/Supervisor/LT said it's okay. I don't remember anyone posting that??

Sorry, it is just one of the many common EXCUSES people toss into these arguments.
Along with:
1) We're too poor
2) They are too expansive
3) I need dual band
4) It's OK, I'm a ham
5) Everything I do is an "emergency"
6) Additional BS!!!

It's not the work involved in getting the grants, it's the fact that 9 times out of 10 you won't get approved. You think the Feds are just going to throw money at us?? LOL

if you are getting 1 out of 10, you are doing a great job. :twisted:
So apply for 20!

I guess you should never follow up on a tip, because I doubt 1 out of 10 pans out?:roll:
I guess you should never follow up on a 911 hang-up because I doubt 1 out of 10 is a real emergency?:roll:

 

[bigbluemsp]

NO ONE SAID THEY WERE EASY! (Does anyone still read WORDS, or just make up what they want iot to say?)

Its part of teh job, you want funds, you write grants applications.

(In other words, "Stop b!tching, and get to work!)

You're just the King of your own world now arent you?


TIME FOR A LOCK.....

 

[N_Jay]

You're just the King of your own world now arent you?


TIME FOR A LOCK.....

LOL, great answer.:roll: :roll:

Night all!:twisted:

 

[N_Jay]

N_Jay you are quite the character. The only person on a power trip is you. I asked a SIMPLE repeat SIMPLE question and you need to go flex your "RADIO GEEK" mastermind. . . .

Gumshoe, go back and read your question and my answer.

Then check out my other posts.

They are mostly answers to the people who would have you believe that my original answer is not correct.

I think it is great that you intend to make the right decision.
I also STRONGLY believe that individual officers should help their departments write grant applications. (Its not easy and its not a slam dunk, but it is a start)
There are also ways around the matching funds requirements (sometimes).

I am sorry if I get a bit pissed at people who like to tell people its OK to ignore the law.

In my opinion, they push that answer as way to make themselves fell less outside the law.

 

[jhooten]

Hooten stick to the Texas area.. We aint in Texas..

Sorry, not everyone can live in heaven.

 

[RRgumshoe]

It's alright because I obviously get overheated myself.....I think the job made me that way


It's just a difference in opinion. I do see your point and the others, but at the same time I see ffexpCP point. I also didn't realize how many issues could be caused by using improper equipement until you all pointed it out.

I did find some UHF radios at a decent price. I just wish I could find a cheaper solution to dual band due to the limited room available in our patrol units. I have a VHF radio already in place, so I guess I can go with mobile unit for UHF and get a prep for the 800mhz band when I need it.

Either way I'm sure my department will eventually pull through and find the budget somewhere, my boss is great to work for and realizes what we are dealing with out there. I was just hoping to find a quick cheap fix until then.

 

[RRgumshoe]

Texas Women......

Sorry, not everyone can live in heaven.

 

[bigbluemsp]

Sorry, not everyone can live in heaven.

Hardly Heaven but we do have a HELL in the state. lol