MontCo upgrades

[radio3353]

Bucks is in the clear on routine channels but have encrypted channels they can switch to

Philly is in the clear on routine channels but has encryption on the special channels (narcotics, etc)

Chester is in the clear on routine channels but I believe they also have other channels that are encrypted that can be used if needed (I think)

Delco is analog conventional channels and no encryption that I know of. Even the one P25 conventional channel they have is in the clear.

Burlington is in the clear as of now. A new system is in the works and it is not yet known if that will change.

Camden is in the clear for fire only. ALL police are encrypted.

Gloucester is in the clear for fire only. ALL police are encrypted.

Salem is analog conventional channels and no encrypted that I know of.

I cannot speak for Lehigh, Berks or Northampton Counties.

I think New Castle County runs encryption on some police channels but not on fire. I am pretty sure the encryption is based on whether the particular agency wanted it, so it's not system-wide.

Nice summary. Thanks. As a former firefighter I mostly follow fire so it is good to see most fire comms continue to be in the clear. Now if we could just get the LSM issues cleaned up in a cost effective way.

 

[whsbuss]

FWIW, I just looked up commisioners' meetings....

The next meeting is TODAY in 30 minutes. Don't think I'll be able to make that one. The next two meetings are June 2nd and June 16th at 10am. No mention if they are open to the public, but the agenda for today's meeting specifically has an allotment for "general public comment".

I plan to attend at least one of the June meetings.

Has anyone tweeted or FB this issue and the upcoming meetings? Maybe 6ABC or others could be present to hear the concerns.

EDIT: tweeted latest Montco newsletter to local TV and news agencies. Lets see if there's any reaction.

 

[bballdawg84]

Anyone get any responses to any inquires about the total encryption/total secrecy of all this.

 

[phillydjdan]

See below:

 

[whsbuss]

Anyone get any responses to any inquires about the total encryption/total secrecy of all this.

Not a peep

 

[radio3353]

Not a peep

You actually expected a response? Do you think they care what a scanner user thinks?

 

[cavmedic]

You actually expected a response? Do you think they care what a scanner user thinks?

They ( PD Chiefs association who pushed for the encryption ) hardly gave a rats *** at what the rest of the end users thought...


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[Stormfax]

If the public is prohibited from filming "Police Activity," it follows that the public would be prohibited from listening to "Police Activity."

 

[bballdawg84]

If the public is prohibited from filming "Police Activity," it follows that the public would be prohibited from listening to "Police Activity."

The ban on filming will likely be ruled unconstitutional on appeal.

 

[bballdawg84]

I was inquiring more about responses from Montco Commissioners and the media as people on here had contacted those parties than the naïve police chiefs.

 

[whsbuss]

July meeting of county commissioners. Maybe someone would like to go and give comments about PD encryption.

http://www.montcopa.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/06162016-632

 

[phillydjdan]

It's like having your wang out wizzin in the wind, fellas. But feel free to waste your time

 

[Stormfax]

"Defeat is certain only with surrender."

 

[HM1529]

Montco's Commissioners publish the following email addresses on their website for public correspondence:

josh@montcopa.org - Josh Shapiro, Chairman
val@montcopa.org - Valerie Arkoosh, Vice Chair
joe@montcopa.org - Joseph Gale

I don't see why they shouldn't know that between Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks tens of millions of dollars have been or are being spent on radio upgrades and what Montco is doing flies in the face of the interoperability that was touted as a major reason for upgrading all these systems. They would probably even be interested in seeing the letter from the Bucks Commissioners on the matter.

If you do correspond, be civil. Rude, threatening, or otherwise uncivil correspondence is rarely taken seriously.

 

[Stormfax]

Thank you

Good advice.

 

[cavmedic]

Montco's Commissioners publish the following email addresses on their website for public correspondence:



josh@montcopa.org - Josh Shapiro, Chairman

val@montcopa.org - Valerie Arkoosh, Vice Chair

joe@montcopa.org - Joseph Gale



I don't see why they shouldn't know that between Chester, Montgomery, and Bucks tens of millions of dollars have been or are being spent on radio upgrades and what Montco is doing flies in the face of the interoperability that was touted as a major reason for upgrading all these systems. They would probably even be interested in seeing the letter from the Bucks Commissioners on the matter.



If you do correspond, be civil. Rude, threatening, or otherwise uncivil correspondence is rarely taken seriously.

The response will be " 8 call/Tacs are the interop frequencies to use"


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[HM1529]

The response will be " 8 call/Tacs are the interop frequencies to use"


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Oh, I know. Doesn't means citizens can't voice their opinions. If that's gonna be the case, it would be nice if all five counties finally got their **** together and programmed all the radios correctly. Almost very single regional drill I have ever attended has included an impromptu session of a group of responders from various counties standing in a circle doing the following:

1. hopelessly trying to find these channels
2. trying to talk to somebody
3. finding out that someone's programming is wrong or incomplete
4. cursing and grumbling


In reference to 3, it has previously been discovered that some radios in the region (I won't name counties, the know who they are, hopefully) had the 8Tacs backwards in the radios. So, 1 was 4, 2 was 3, 3 was 2, 4 was 1. Then, there is still the issue that some counties are not programming in the 8Tac direct (non-repeated) channels. That sort of ruins interop abilities if/when you can't hit the local tower. What, that can't happen? Funny, I stood in a parking lot a while back with that exact scenario.

It's not like I have never voiced these opinions privately...just that the issues never actually seem to get addressed. Depressing, really.

 

[whsbuss]

Oh, I know. Doesn't means citizens can't voice their opinions. If that's gonna be the case, it would be nice if all five counties finally got their **** together and programmed all the radios correctly. Almost very single regional drill I have ever attended has included an impromptu session of a group of responders from various counties standing in a circle doing the following:

1. hopelessly trying to find these channels
2. trying to talk to somebody
3. finding out that someone's programming is wrong or incomplete
4. cursing and grumbling


In reference to 3, it has previously been discovered that some radios in the region (I won't name counties, the know who they are, hopefully) had the 8Tacs backwards in the radios. So, 1 was 4, 2 was 3, 3 was 2, 4 was 1. Then, there is still the issue that some counties are not programming in the 8Tac direct (non-repeated) channels. That sort of ruins interop abilities if/when you can't hit the local tower. What, that can't happen? Funny, I stood in a parking lot a while back with that exact scenario.

It's not like I have never voiced these opinions privately...just that the issues never actually seem to get addressed. Depressing, really.

Unfortunately it will take a disaster that is hampered by interactivity before things would change. Sad isn't it?

 

[cavmedic]

Unfortunately it will take a disaster that is hampered by interactivity before things would change. Sad isn't it?

Funny, that what started the " interoperability " push and yet , everyone is still back to doing different things. What did they learn? Obviously nothing.

What did we learn? Someone made a shot ton of money pushing and selling these new systems.


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[bballdawg84]

Commissioners Meeting tomorrow July 7. Open general public comments.