Fort Drum, NY

[WatnNY]

Fort Drum's new 380MHz trunked system by M/A Com is up and running at this time. No major problems noted so far and they are still simulcasting on their VHF freqs while they transition all old equipment out of vehicles and such.

Mike

 

[d_strong]

Fort drum

what are the new frequencies used on the new system? 73's d_strong

 

[WatnNY]

specific freqs I don't know -- just that they're in the 380MHz range, sorry.

Mike

 

[ColoradoRedlands]

Nice Avatar Mate. BZ

Chris

 

[WatnNY]

Thanks Chris

Mike

 

[DaveNF2G]

I'm confused. How do you know the system is online if you don't know what frequencies it transmits on?

 

[Coastie127]

also is this system wireless, since MA/COM loves to use wireless or maybe encrypted?.

 

[WatnNY]

Dave - because I know a couple of the people who helped install the system, AND I have personally seen the Police carrying the new handheld radios. I don't know the specific freqs, but do know it's in the 380MHz range.

Mike

 

[WatnNY]

Actually I'm told no one is encrypted yet, but Fort Drum did purchase the keys to do so, and plans to encrypt all public safety users (police/ems/fire).

Mike

 

[DaveNF2G]

That explains it. :-D

 

[WatnNY]

Glad I could help explain things Dave! They are still currently simulcasting on their VHF freqs. I'm told that won't be for very long though.

 

[kc8kek]

Most Army installations are using the macom systems now, and yes, they are all encrypted. FT Drum mighe be using 380 MHz for some reason, but most other bases are in the low 400, digital and trunked. MaCom makes radios in several bands, so just because someone owns one in the 380s, others may be in different bands even though the chassis of the radio looks identical. As far as I know, you also can't scan a digital trunked macom system, which is the primary reason the Army went with them.

 

[Stephen]

You can scan the Army systems even though they are purchase by M/A Com, but they are P25 9600 bauds, but at Fort Sill they are implementing 256 AES Encryption on some talk groups. The only reason why they went with M/A COM on a P25 system is cost. Motorola quoted almost a million more for our system here that is the sole reason if Motorola goes down in price you will see the Army purchase from them. The Army requires the systems be P25 digital.