Wow, a lot has changed since I was scanning ALSO on a regualar scanner. Looking at getting back into the hobby and thinking the SDS100 is the one to get. If everything goes encrypted then even the SCS100 will be dead?
Hi, Depending on where you live, ALSO, some police agencies are encrypted, but not the Sheriff's dispatch and Oakland and none of the Fire Dispatch. You can look at East Bay Regional Communications System (EBRCS) Trunking System, Various, California. any of the modes that ends with E is encrypted,
Many agencies, including Fremont, Newark and Union City have had their mobile, portable and dispatch radios encrypted. I don't know when the switch over will be or if other agencies are going encrypted as well, but keep this in mind before spending $$$ on a new scanner. Also...CHP likely to move to CRIS encrypted system in the Bay Area within the next few years, from what I have read.
Regarding encryption, I found the following on the Operations Committee Agenda for the February 7th meeting:
"8. East Bay Regional Communications System Authority Updates • Encryption Timeline and Implementation Plan"
Was anyone at the meeting or does anyone have a copy of the "timeline" for encryption? Thanks in advance.
"8. East Bay Regional Communications System Authority Updates • Encryption Timeline and Implementation Plan"
Was anyone at the meeting or does anyone have a copy of the "timeline" for encryption? Thanks in advance.
Well then, for the price of the SDS100 and the looming of encryption I think I'll hold off for now and see what happens. Thanks for all the replys.
Well crap, I bought a SDS100. Used in excellent condition with an extra battery and charger, SMA to BNC adapter and a diamond 77 antenna for $400, couldn't pass it up. NBeen playing with the EBRCS stuff and man, this is a lot of radio compaired to my old BC245T I used to use.
Eng74
Member
The SDS is great for the EBRCS. It is my go to when I am I. The Bay Area for EBRCS and the SCVRS.
Can anyone identify TG 6050? Someone reported hearing OFD Engines 6 and 8 talking to Con Fire dispatch. Maybe an announcement TG, or some kind of patch?
Anyone recording EBRCS last night TG 6054 and TG 5557 from April 1 2330 to April 2 0130 please save the recordings and PM me if possible. I normally capture this but my SDR setup was off because I was modifying my cooling setup and didn't want the radios to overheat.
Thanks in advance
Also I will try to ID 6050 this week
Thanks in advance
Also I will try to ID 6050 this week
So talking about encryption, UCPD is planning to move encrypted. However, came across this in regards to Berkeley PD/FD which was approved by council in 2021:
“The attached motion would establish a written policy that all City public safety radio
transmissions unrelated to Special Response Team operations and transmissions
related to Criminal Justice Information (CJI) and Personally Identifiable Information
(PII) in connection with the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System
(CLETS) and pursuant to California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) Information
Bulletin No. 20-09-CJIS, shall be unencrypted and thereby transmittable to the news
media and public through scanners or other relevant technology.”
https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/defaul...e Agreement with Motorola - Supp Harrison.pdf
“The attached motion would establish a written policy that all City public safety radio
transmissions unrelated to Special Response Team operations and transmissions
related to Criminal Justice Information (CJI) and Personally Identifiable Information
(PII) in connection with the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System
(CLETS) and pursuant to California Department of Justice (CA DOJ) Information
Bulletin No. 20-09-CJIS, shall be unencrypted and thereby transmittable to the news
media and public through scanners or other relevant technology.”
https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/defaul...e Agreement with Motorola - Supp Harrison.pdf
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This is an excellent move. As I've said in other posts, PII should not be broadcast over any LMR radio channels be it encrypted or not. It's virtually impossible to keep everyone from overhearing the PII so the only true way to comply with the DOJ memo is to not broadcast it at all. With today's technology there are many other ways to pass PII than over the air.
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If I am reading this right - Berkeley (The city, not UCB PD) will not go encrypted? Aside from Records, CID, and what is not Tac 2 (but was tac5).Only in Berkeley...
According to their own city council. Correct.
I am following up with them to confirm.
For the TAC 5 point; it’s now correctly labeled as TAC 2 but sometimes referred to by units as channel 5. That will be their special response team channel mainly for tactical incidents.
Thanks, I've updated the DB to reflect this.
From today's EBRCSA meeting agenda:
https://www.ebrcsa.org/sites/ebrcsa...rs Meetings/2025/053025 BOD Agenda Packet.pdf
"The radio shops installed the encryption keys on the consoles in early 2024 and anticipate completing the installation of the encryption keys on the subscriber units in August 2025. Once the encryption keys are installed, the EBRCSA will activate encryption system-wide and those without an authorized key will no longer be able to hear radio traffic on the newly encrypted channels. Staff anticipates that all law enforcement agencies will have purchased encryption keys by July 2025 allowing system-wide encryption to occur in August or September 2025.
Understandably, the loss of publicly broadcasted radio traffic will be a cause for concern for some community members including the media, radio scanner aficionados, amongst others. Encrypted radio traffic not only complies with CA DOJ requirement by providing security of CJI and PII, it also provides for security of law enforcement operations and enhances the safety of field personnel. Fire Department radio traffic will not be encrypted at this time."
They also are implementing an encryption policy within EBRCSA where they ask that agencies:
"Develop a communications plan related to encryption prior to August 2025 to inform the community of the change from open to encrypted radio communications • Develop policies for the release of information to the public and media, including:
o Timely release of information after incidents, consistent with investigative needs and privacy laws.
o Designated media channels or briefings.
o Use of online platforms to disseminate information."
Ultimately I have a feeling we will loose all agencies but Berkeley PD.
https://www.ebrcsa.org/sites/ebrcsa...rs Meetings/2025/053025 BOD Agenda Packet.pdf
"The radio shops installed the encryption keys on the consoles in early 2024 and anticipate completing the installation of the encryption keys on the subscriber units in August 2025. Once the encryption keys are installed, the EBRCSA will activate encryption system-wide and those without an authorized key will no longer be able to hear radio traffic on the newly encrypted channels. Staff anticipates that all law enforcement agencies will have purchased encryption keys by July 2025 allowing system-wide encryption to occur in August or September 2025.
Understandably, the loss of publicly broadcasted radio traffic will be a cause for concern for some community members including the media, radio scanner aficionados, amongst others. Encrypted radio traffic not only complies with CA DOJ requirement by providing security of CJI and PII, it also provides for security of law enforcement operations and enhances the safety of field personnel. Fire Department radio traffic will not be encrypted at this time."
They also are implementing an encryption policy within EBRCSA where they ask that agencies:
"Develop a communications plan related to encryption prior to August 2025 to inform the community of the change from open to encrypted radio communications • Develop policies for the release of information to the public and media, including:
o Timely release of information after incidents, consistent with investigative needs and privacy laws.
o Designated media channels or briefings.
o Use of online platforms to disseminate information."
Ultimately I have a feeling we will loose all agencies but Berkeley PD.
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As I've mentioned before, encryption alone is not compliant with the CA DOJ requirements nor PII requirements as someone with an encrypted radio can still intercept the information (again, think person within earshot of a radio, employee with a radio who is not authorized to access the information, ride along, firefighters, paramedics, etc.) the only way to be fully compliant is to not broadcast the information over an LMR radio at all. Also most PII requirements have exceptions for emergency situations.
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What a department could do is setup a separate channel other than a primary channel, or a primary channel with a clear and encrypted option, to pass the DOJ/PII information. Doing that would prevent anyone who is not on the encrypted channel/option from hearing the information that's not intended for them. Of course this still doesn't absolutely prevent an unauthorized person from intercepting the information but would require them to take active steps to intercept the information and that could be dealt with via legal and/or administrative punishment.
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I see the meeting is open to the public and has a public comment section, so how many effected people (like those on here) have stepped up and made a public comment about this issue?
Elk Grove PD, Roseville PD, and Sacramento County SO do this in my region, a separate encrypted records channel, and it seems to work just fine.
These agencies are big enough that they have more than one dispatcher on duty at a time, so at least one dispatcher staffs the records channel while doing other duties.
You could also have it be that all dispatchers in the room, except the main channel dispatcher, keeps the records channel turned up, and any of those dispatchers who aren’t actively handling a phone call can handle the records traffic.
The main dispatch channels remain in the clear, officers are told to go to records if needing to run PII, or they run it themselves on their MDT.
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