Encrypted Digital Frequencies

[michaelmaxim]

I live in Prince William County, VA and one of the local fire chiefs told me that they use a digital system and the its encrypted for the Occoquan, Woodbridge, Lorton fire dept... Does that mean that it's a waste of money to purchase a nice digital scanner to try to pick up anything that is going on in the area? I'm a newbie to the entire scanning/am radio hobby so forgive me for not knowing everything!

 

[j0nnyb1aze]

Yes and no.

If it is indeed encrypted, then it would be a waste of money. However according to the DB only a few law talkgroups are encrypted. You should have no trouble listening to them if the database is correct.

Prince William County Trunking System, Prince William, Virginia - Scanner Frequencies

 

[thewenk]

I live in Prince William County, VA and one of the local fire chiefs told me that they use a digital system and the its encrypted for the Occoquan, Woodbridge, Lorton fire dept... Does that mean that it's a waste of money to purchase a nice digital scanner to try to pick up anything that is going on in the area? I'm a newbie to the entire scanning/am radio hobby so forgive me for not knowing everything!

Also, you might want to ask this question in the Virgina forum where perhaps someone who is familiar with the system in question could answer more accurately as to what is encrypted.

Dave

 

[scannerfreak]

Moved

 

[michaelmaxim]

Sorry about that.

 

[scannerfreak]

Sorry about that.

No, it's OK

You were fine posting it where you did, I just moved it so you could get more "local" help on whether or not the Fire comm's were encrypted or not

 

[beastieboy101]

I live in Prince William County, VA and one of the local fire chiefs told me that they use a digital system and the its encrypted for the Occoquan, Woodbridge, Lorton fire dept... Does that mean that it's a waste of money to purchase a nice digital scanner to try to pick up anything that is going on in the area? I'm a newbie to the entire scanning/am radio hobby so forgive me for not knowing everything!

The PWC system is NOT encrypted for the fire department, however very few of the police talkgroups are encrypted.

 

[michaelmaxim]

Yep. I'm slowly learning how to read the database and what everything means. I see the D is digital and E is for encrpyted now...

Looks like only a few talk groups and the SWAT one is encrypted at this point.

Thanks guys!

 

[gcgrotz]

FWIW: Over here in Charlottesville, some of the rare encrypted comms I've heard on the city/county system were on the Fire Marshall's talk group.

Welcome to the group!