Harford County to Maryland FIRST

[1977addis]

This is currently speculatory, but it seems like Harford County is aiming to transition to the FIRST radio system. I have heard that they have been strapped for funding for a while and have been trying to sell their Freq licenses to the state. Additionally, a LEO acquaintance of mine has noted that his carry radio now has two zones in it... one labeled Harford Law and the other named Old Harford Law. Both Zone's talk groups are laid out identically.

 

[jkahn]

This is currently speculatory, but it seems like Harford County is aiming to transition to the FIRST radio system. I have heard that they have been strapped for funding for a while and have been trying to sell their Freq licenses to the state. Additionally, a LEO acquaintance of mine has noted that his carry radio now has two zones in it... one labeled Harford Law and the other named Old Harford Law. Both Zone's talk groups are laid out identically.

How can a brick layer lay bricks but a plumber cant lay plums?
Why is a mechanics assistant called a helper, but a plumbers friend is a suction cup?

 

[ThePhotoGuy]

I thought I read (not on here) a couple months ago that Harford Sheriffs were planning on encrypting their talkgroups so they might be staying on CMARC and switching over to a new encrypted zone.

I do know that there are alot of encrypted talkgroups active on CMARC for Harford Law Enforcement that aren't in the database.

Also I don't believe that there has been any indication with the FiRST Radio Control Board agendas/minutes that they have applied to be a Primary User.

 

[1977addis]

I thought I read (not on here) a couple months ago that Harford Sheriffs were planning on encrypting their talkgroups so they might be staying on CMARC and switching over to a new encrypted zone.

I do know that there are alot of encrypted talkgroups active on CMARC for Harford Law Enforcement that aren't in the database.

Also I don't believe that there has been any indication with the FiRST Radio Control Board agendas/minutes that they have applied to be a Primary User.

That does seem plausible. I am a tech in the area and will keep my ears "on" my shop hasn't had any word on the matter as of now.

 

[1977addis]

I thought I read (not on here) a couple months ago that Harford Sheriffs were planning on encrypting their talkgroups so they might be staying on CMARC and switching over to a new encrypted zone.

I do know that there are alot of encrypted talkgroups active on CMARC for Harford Law Enforcement that aren't in the database.

Also I don't believe that there has been any indication with the FiRST Radio Control Board agendas/minutes that they have applied to be a Primary User.

Official word. Harford PD to go encrypted on August 1st of this year.

 

[Mowerjocke]

This is currently speculatory, but it seems like Harford County is aiming to transition to the FIRST radio system. I have heard that they have been strapped for funding for a while and have been trying to sell their Freq licenses to the state. Additionally, a LEO acquaintance of mine has noted that his carry radio now has two zones in it... one labeled Harford Law and the other named Old Harford Law. Both Zone's talk groups are laid out identically.

Because one zone has the encryption and the other doesn't...and when Harford flips the switch, the radios are ready to go and the "old" zone will just go by the wayside on the next programming update

 

[maus92]

Official word. Harford PD to go encrypted on August 1st of this year.

When an agency transitions to encrypted talk groups, it's common practice to flash the subscriber radios with two zones of more or less identical talk groups. When D-Day comes, the users simply switch to the new zone, and viola! - everything is encrypted. There are always the luddites who forget to switch zones and remain unencrypted for a few hours.