Fire Department Encrypted

[rr60]

A particular fire department here in Jersey has been encrypted for some time. I never made the effort to listen to them.

After observing social media reporting near real time on a multiple alarm fire, this got my curiosity.

Set up Unitrunker, and verified all was still encrypted. How could this be?

Headed over to a streaming service, and low and behold there the department was. Someone has a subscriber radio (I assume) that was clearly the source of information. The activity was streaming loud and clear, all of it.

Interesting to me, me say never, don’t assume anything, check all sources. It may be in plain sight.

 

[hiegtx]

A particular fire department here in Jersey has been encrypted for some time. I never made the effort to listen to them.

After observing social media reporting near real time on a multiple alarm fire, this got my curiosity.

Set up Unitrunker, and verified all was still encrypted. How could this be?

Headed over to a streaming service, and low and behold there the department was. Someone has a subscriber radio (I assume) that was clearly the source of information. The activity was streaming loud and clear, all of it.

Interesting to me, me say never, don’t assume anything, check all sources. It may be in plain sight.

Without knowing which specific county and system you are referring to, some agencies provide a field, rather than a listener using a scanner to handle the feed. Those 'official' fields are marked with a star in the genre field. This is an example in my area:

 

[fredva]

One might wonder what the point of encryption would be then. I know police departments can have delays on official feeds so the info is less useful to bad actors. With a fire department allowing near real-time streaming, I'm not sure what encryption buys.

 

[mmckenna]

With a fire department allowing near real-time streaming, I'm not sure what encryption buys.

The feed can be easily turned off if the situation warrants. It's a good way to have the best of both worlds. Encrypt the system, but stream it so the public can have access. Kill the feed if they need to restrict access if a specific incident requires it.

 

[rr60]

I have intentionally omitted the name. I do not know the circumstances of why/how and would not want someone to get a knock. Also I do not know the terms of service of the streaming provider The purpose is to suggest not overlooking streaming feeds as I had done.

 

[Giddyuptd]

If they are using applications such as edispatch or others it's possible in this package a online rebroadcast is done. If the owners of system aren't aware then they'd have to contact edispatches or such themself but would be pointless to have it as it's part of those applications packages for users to use phones for alerting or listening of that entity. Unless edipatches or others offers private feeds
Im not aware of.

 

[RadioChief55]

If it's Jersey City, the FD in encrypted on the TRS but in the clear on the analog FG channels. I hear that eventually the two FG channels will be getting an equipment upgrade and go encryption as will. The JCPD is in the clear except for the ESU and tac channels.

 

[APX8000]

FD encrypted but PD in the clear. Those false alarm runs must be super sensitive.

 

[RadioChief55]

FD encrypted but PD in the clear. Those false alarm runs must be super sensitive.

What would you expect from a fire chief that carries a gun and has a police shaped gold fire chief badge on his belt.

 

[richee2000]

FD encrypted but PD in the clear. Those false alarm runs must be super sensitive.

This from the year 2020: "From a good source inside Jersey City, the UHF TRS will be going full encryption soon. PD and FD radios have been programmed, as well as mutual aid radios for JC that are in other cities. I'm told that the two analog UHF channels (460-550 and 460-600) will be in the clear"

 

[APX8000]

Yeah well I can't wait until they get their upgrade just to run their FG ENC. They'll have to go P25 unless we are going back to DES-XL on some Sabers. So a digital FG....interesting....🙄

 

[rr60]

If it matters, I was not referring to Jersey City.

 

[spencerwww]

Well jeresy city dint shoudent incase I say this God for bid nother 911 happen im sure they metuail aid with city and vis versions with jersey city can are good and 911 citenter but u need radios for tacs and o n scene even fire depts need hear dispatch along with cad but lot times then 9q1 and cads go down and it will happen. If there ever was nother tragic event God for bid hope don't but we had tornso hear alll cads and phones went down because tower was hit or jamming by people they need to more rely.on radios and cads as second hand because relying on e 911 and cads as full would be disaster

 

[ff026]

Well jeresy city dint shoudent incase I say this God for bid nother 911 happen im sure they metuail aid with city and vis versions with jersey city can are good and 911 citenter but u need radios for tacs and o n scene even fire depts need hear dispatch along with cad but lot times then 9q1 and cads go down and it will happen. If there ever was nother tragic event God for bid hope don't but we had tornso hear alll cads and phones went down because tower was hit or jamming by people they need to more rely.on radios and cads as second hand because relying on e 911 and cads as full would be disaster

Dude. Lay off the booze.

 

[spencerwww]

Well jeresy city dint shoudent incase I say this God for bid nother 911 happen im sure they metuail aid with city and vis versions with jersey city can are good and 911 citenter but u need radios for tacs and o n scene even fire depts need hear dispatch along with cad but lot times then 9q1 and cads go down and it will happen. If there ever was nother tragic event God for bid hope don't but we had tornso hear alll cads and phones went down because tower was hit or jamming by people they need to more rely.on radios and cads as second hand because relying on e 911 and cads as full would be disaster

What think is funny im saying they need radios and shoudent encrypt them . Dee no reason during bjg events here or.bad weather hell.the cads go.down all.time