LASD radio question and help requested

[AIRDRIVERUSA]

Hello all…

I apologize in advance if I posted this in the incorrect area of this forum but I am seeking some knowledge about LASD (Los Angeles Sheriff's department) radio’s in the mid 2000’s—mainly 2005…any help/ knowledge/wisdom would be greatly appreciated!

Here are my questions…

What band and what brand of radio was LASD using back then? I know LAPD switched to the Astro spectra in 1995…did LASD do the same thing for inter agency comm’s?

The only thing I could find on the internet is that LASD was using UHF 480…that is all I could find.

If ANYONE can help me, I will give you my lunch money for a week. 🤣

Regards,

 

[mikegilbert]

For portables, they were using UHF2 GE M-RKs with GE-Star signaling.

I've got an ex-LASD radio, albeit with the wrong antenna on it. These radios were always odd to me.

 

[prcguy]

In late 2014 early 2015 they bought some APX4000 UHF R2 dual knob radios then eventually went with something else.

 

[pewpew45]

In the early 2000 the department was running GE-MRK portables and some stations like Transit services were lucky to get the Motorola XTS-3000, then most stations transitioned to the XTS-3000 shortly thereafter with a few MRK's still out there. Then they moved to the newer XTS-5000. In 2016-2017 the department bought something like 10,000 APX-8000 radios and transitioned to those and that's their current radio.

 

[mikegilbert]

In the early 2000 the department was running GE-MRK portables and some stations like Transit services were lucky to get the Motorola XTS-3000, then most stations transitioned to the XTS-3000 shortly thereafter with a few MRK's still out there. Then they moved to the newer XTS-5000. In 2016-2017 the department bought something like 10,000 APX-8000 radios and transitioned to those and that's their current radio.

When I first moved to LA in 2013, I still heard quite a bit of GE-Star on the portables when they'd turn on the patch or jump to L-TAC.

 

[pewpew45]

When I first moved to LA in 2013, I still heard quite a bit of GE-Star on the portables when they'd turn on the patch or jump to L-TAC.

Those would have been the last of the mohican mobile radios... They were getting swapped out for XTL5000, then APX7500 and now APX8500 all band mobiles

 

[prcguy]

This is one of the LASD UHF R2 dual knob AXP4000s they used or tested around 2015 before going to the APX8000. I've talked to a number of people who got these surplus. They are engraved LASD with a unit number.

 

[AIRDRIVERUSA]

Hey…thanks to all whom have replied…I am still left with questions…All i am really needing info on is what radio was being used in 2005…what were in the cars and in the motorcycles? What band? Was it UHF T-band—480?

What were on/in the vehicles—Motorola astro/astro spectra?

Thanks so much!

 

[Engine104]

I don't know the answer to your question about what radio was used in cars, etc, but I can confirm it was UHF in the 480 MHz range. Some of the frequencies are still being as today as they shift to the LA-RICs TRS and, sadly, encryption. Most of the former UHF LASD frequencies are now being used by the LACoFD and are in the clear after they decided not to move most operations to LA-RICS. Thank goodness!

 

[CaptHamster]

Most of their mobile (in car) radios were GE/Ericsson Orion radios, in the UHF T-Band, 480MHz area. They were using GE-Star signaling just like the MR-K portable. Some of the older radio cars (like the few remaining 9C1 Caprices at that time) still had the GE Rangr mobile radios with the GE S825 control heads, all were in the 480MHz range though.

 

[strandbiker1]

In late 2014 early 2015 they bought some APX4000 UHF R2 dual knob radios then eventually went with something else.

In the early 2000's LASD used XTS 5000 R2 radios. Currently, they still have many in storage for use as tactical radios. They switched to APX 8000 portables in December 2016, purchasing 16,000. They also purchased 250 brown APX 8000 radios for use by SEB. APX 4000 radios are used by the crafts employees including Facility Service Bureau. They are single band UHF R2.

Skip

 

[strandbiker1]

I don't know the answer to your question about what radio was used in cars, etc, but I can confirm it was UHF in the 480 MHz range. Some of the frequencies are still being as today as they shift to the LA-RICs TRS and, sadly, encryption. Most of the former UHF LASD frequencies are now being used by the LACoFD and are in the clear after they decided not to move most operations to LA-RICS. Thank goodness!

The LACoFD is indeed using the LA-RICS system. They had RICS build analog conventional repeated countywide system, using many of the former LASD 480 channels. Lifeguards are the only LACoFD personnel using the digital trunked RICS system in the clear.

Skip

 

[strandbiker1]

I don't know the answer to your question about what radio was used in cars, etc, but I can confirm it was UHF in the 480 MHz range. Some of the frequencies are still being as today as they shift to the LA-RICs TRS and, sadly, encryption. Most of the former UHF LASD frequencies are now being used by the LACoFD and are in the clear after they decided not to move most operations to LA-RICS. Thank goodness!

Most of their mobile (in car) radios were GE/Ericsson Orion radios, in the UHF T-Band, 480MHz area. They were using GE-Star signaling just like the MR-K portable. Some of the older radio cars (like the few remaining 9C1 Caprices at that time) still had the GE Rangr mobile radios with the GE S825 control heads, all were in the 480MHz range though.

Remember, the existing LASD dispatch channels are not part of the LARICS system and still use the same dispatch channels albeit with new GTR 8000 repeaters. They needed to go narrow band and the older GE Master radios were unable to be narrow banded. All of the tactical channels are part of the LARICS system and digital and encrypted. The dispatch channels can decode either GE or Motorola AID.

Skip

 

[Engine104]

The LACoFD is indeed using the LA-RICS system. They had RICS build analog conventional repeated countywide system, using many of the former LASD 480 channels. Lifeguards are the only LACoFD personnel using the digital trunked RICS system in the clear.

Skip

Thanks, Skip. I probably should have clarified that the LACoFD wasn't moving to the LA-RICS digital TRS except for a few talk groups. I didn't know that the new conventional frequencies were still part of the system? In any case, I am glad they decided to do what they did.

 

[strandbiker1]

In the early 2000's LASD used XTS 5000 R2 radios. Currently, they still have many in storage for use as tactical radios. They switched to APX 8000 portables in December 2016, purchasing 16,000. They also purchased 250 brown APX 8000 radios for use by SEB. APX 4000 radios are used by the crafts employees including Facility Service Bureau. They are single band UHF R2.

Skip

Regarding the question on what radio the motors used, initially, they used MCR 100s. Now, the motors use their APX 8000 portables with a charger in the rear box. Motor deputies use headsets integrated into their helmets and the portable radio antennas.

 

[AIRDRIVERUSA]

Regarding the question on what radio the motors used, initially, they used MCR 100s. Now, the motors use their APX 8000 portables with a charger in the rear box. Motor deputies use headsets integrated into their helmets and the portable radio antennas.

Hey Skip…thanks for the reply…when you write “initially,” what time frame?? I am only interested in 2004-2005 time fram…your previous post, you wrote that in the early 2000’s, LASD used XTS5000’s…would the motor/car units have had the XLT5000? MCR 100–what year range were they—2005? Thanks for the help…

Regards…

 

[strandbiker1]

Hey Skip…thanks for the reply…when you write “initially,” what time frame?? I am only interested in 2004-2005 time fram…your previous post, you wrote that in the early 2000’s, LASD used XTS5000’s…would the motor/car units have had the XLT5000? MCR 100–what year range were they—2005? Thanks for the help…

Regards…

The radio cars in that timeframe used XTS 5000 radios. I can not help on the motor info.

 

[prcguy]

The radio cars in that timeframe used XTS 5000 radios. I can not help on the motor info.

XTS 5000 handhelds? In a convertacom in the vehicle or used as a handheld inside the vehicle? Or was it XTL 5000 mobile radios?