Frederick County going p-25?

[davelufkin]

Hey all...does anyone have a definitive answer to whether or not the FCSO TRS is going digital any time soon? I've heard "the facts" from two different sources recently, but haven't been able to confirm or deny. Any help here greatly appreciated, as will determine next scanner purchase!@!

 

[ka3jjz]

Dave, while I can't answer about Frederick County (Jason, you here?) I want to point out that if you want to listen to your southeast neighbor - Howard county - you will need digital capability. Also if you'd like to poke around the milair stuff, stick with the Unidens.

I know, I know....OUCH! that hurts the wallet.....73s Mike

 

[davelufkin]

thanks...

Mike:

Thanks for the info. I know that Howard and Mont. counties are both p-25, so it won't go to waste if I get a digital scanner. Still, cash is cash, and Frederick County is my main scanning target these days.

 

[aristotle73]

FCPD has already gone digital. However, haven't heard any news yet about any of the firestations or EMS units going digital. I hope that they don't go digital for awhile as I just spent money on one scanner (Pro-95) and don't want to shell out $500 for another scanner (though the new 2096 looks super sweet).

 

[4909]

Digital?

No, Frederick County has no plans that I've heard of to go digital anytime in the near future (say, 5 years). There is always talk of it, but that's about it. There are also some in Frederick County who believe the 800 trunk system we currently use is "digital" and incapable of being monitored by the public. I've heard them say that, and then, of course, word gets around that we either already "are" digital, or are going that way.

FYI, the county just upgraded all of it's police and fire radios within the past 2 years. That includes new towers in various locations. I don't see them footing the $$$ right now to upgrade the system yet again to digital.

As for Frederick City, they are NOT digital, merely encrypted APCO 25 on the old channels they'd previously used. They may switch back to plain, or they may not, it just depends on high level type decisions there.

So, the answer is, no, unless you want to spend the money on the digital scanner to listen outside the county, Frederick is safe for now. As is, by the way, Carroll County, which between the 2, keeps me plenty busy. I can get both, for the most part (Carroll can get spotty in places) with my rubber duckie antenna on my RS PRO 94.

Best Regards,

Jason

 

[JoeyC]

Re: Digital?

As for Frederick City, they are NOT digital, merely encrypted APCO 25 on the old channels they'd previously used. They may switch back to plain, or they may not, it just depends on high level type decisions there.

APCO Project 25 standards dictate digital, so how can Frederick City be APCO25 and not digital?

 

[4909]

Digital

All I can tell you is what the officers/dispatchers have told me, as well as what I've heard and seen. The freq's are listed as APCO25, BUT, the officers have to manually 'flip the switch' on the individual radios to encrypt them. The frequencies they use have not changed. Occassionally, an officer will accidentally move the switch on the radio and transmit in the clear, whereupon the dispatcher will advise them to "turn the switch back to encryption".

 

[JoeyC]

There is a difference between digital and encryption. Flipping of the switch maybe turning the encryption on/off, but otherwise would be in digital mode in the clear. Don't know, am not there.

 

[4909]

Digital

Nor am I. It could be either one, esp. since most officers aren't familiar with the kind of radio system they use. Since I only have very limited access to FCPD, I can't be sure either.

Jason

 

[dcfdjim]

Frederick City Police are P25 digital and ENC. This is based on what I see on my 250D when someone transmits on their non-trucked 490 MHz frequencies. Also, my sources tell me that Frederick County may begin upgrading to digital as early as in two years.