Montgomery PD digital talkgroup goes analog!

[wwhitby]

This afternoon, talkgroup 1331 "went analog" and I could hear MPD activity. It sounded like they were looking for individuals that had warrants out on them. I've heard this TG before and the last time they were looking for an individual on Alabama street that they had warrents on.

The digital audio sounded "muddy" on my BC245. There was also a high pitched beep at the end of each transmission, which is different from the way analog talkgroups sound.

I also noticed that the radio discipline was more relaxed than on the analog talkgroups. They were using last names, except for their lieutenant and sergeant.

BTW, does anyone know why the digital talkgroups suddenly will go into analog mode?

Warren

 

[GlacierClipper]

Sounds like they might be conducting radio equipment test.

 

[Ptroy]

I've heard this a few times also. No real explanation I know of as to why its happening, but this past weekend when I monitored 1331 in analog, I heard someone (the lieutenant I believe) tell someone to "goto special ops 2, we're all on there" or something like that. Maybe they knew the channel was not digital??

Oh well, always something fun going on with this system!

 

[wwhitby]

Hmmm. I wonder if 1331 is Special Ops 1?

 

[Ptroy]

Not sure, but I know the unit designation's I heard were 700-series units, so that could make them candidates for Narcotics/Special Ops.

Also seemed like they had their own dispatcher for records checks, or something. Sounded like it may have even been an officer doing the 29's. Maybe they take turns doing that?

 

[wwhitby]

I wish we could see a list of the talkgroups, even though we can't listen to them. I'm just very curious as to how the laid out this system.

 

[RadioJonD]

Could the digital to analog change be something similar to cellular phones that switch to analog for a better signal when the digital signal is weak? As always there is a better than fair chance I don't know what I'm talking about.

 

[ka3jjz]

I wish we could see a list of the talkgroups, even though we can't listen to them. I'm just very curious as to how the laid out this system.

If by that you mean the usual digital tgs, this site has them in great detail. Are you talking about the 'special ops' tgs?

73s Mike

 

[Ptroy]

I've heard from a few users of the system that the digital has been somewhat unreliable for them, not sounding good and whatnot. They've said sometimes it will "drop out" of digital for a few transmissions. I've got no clue if thats something that actually happens, or if thats just what the users think happens. Opinions?

 

[wwhitby]

I don't know what they sound like on a ProVoice radio, but on my 245, the PD digital talkgroups that have "gone analog" have sounded really bad. In fact, it was hard to understand one officer. However, when Fire A and Fire B "went analog" they sounded great.

I tend to believe what the officers are saying.