Mobile radios not permitted to use in POV vehicles
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Need Help with 700mhz Radios / Purchase Portable
- Thread starter TedWCM
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
There are no commercial (non-military) portable radios that will do low band, VHF and 700MHz Phase 2 P25.
If you just want to listen, the scanner is the correct approach.
If your agency wants you to have a portable radio that you can transmit with, then they will need to work through the system admin to get you a radio, and get that radio properly programmed, to use on the system.
You will not be able to add a radio to the trunking system on your own. It requires a system key, which they are not going to give you, and it will require proper programming. There is no 'cheap' solution, and buying random radios off e-Bay is an exceedingly bad idea since used radios may be out of alignment and may not have the correct feature set/flash code for the features the 700MHz trunked system needs. The trunked system administrator will be able to provide specific radios that they have programming capabilities for.
Do —NOT— buy random radios off e-Bay thinking you'll make it work. You'll just be throwing away money. Get. A. Scanner.
Why is this not an option for someone who obviously needs an all band radio on the cheap. All this reminds of is if you truly need help in the communications industry don't ask here because all you'll get is a bunch of people who don't know a thing but think they've seen it all and know it all. What a sad society the radio community has become. Especially on this forum. He's a first responder but a shiny new SCANNER will fix his issues. Lololol
The new trunking systems are designed so not any tom or joe can just plug in some freqs and pl tones and go to town. The programming for subscriber units is very elaborate just for a basic setup
At least once a week someone comes on this forum as a first responder and says hey i want to buy this etc and don't know jack on how these fancy trunk systems work. Obviously his county is not permitting mobiles in POV and that's their decision as its their system.
For those who keep on the harris xg-100p obviously the county is going with Motorola subscribers and probably will not have the hardware to program the unity portable.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Why?
Because adding a radio to a trunked system requires a system key and a valid radio ID.
FCC also requires that the licensee be responsible for all radios on their system.
A first responder relying on Non-Affiliate Scan as part of their job is as dangerous as it is stupid.
And there's no hand held radios out there that can be set up to work on a low band system plus a 700MHz phase 2 trunked system.
So, the options are:
1. A scanner.
2. A properly programmed/authorized radio.
Maybe we keep saying this because it's actually true, safe and the right solution for public safety. You know, some of us actually do this stuff as a career.
Someone is attempting to revamp an existing radio system using bandaids and poor ideas.
Expecting someone to carry a VHF low band radio, a VHF hi band radio, and a 700 MHz radio is a massively dumb idea. Either dispatch is going to have to take up relaying of information or there's going to be a new position of radio operator who is going to have to ride around with every command official. The other worse option is to expect every command position to over eat to the point where they grow enough belt 'real estate' to wear three big radios on his/her waist - then wait for the cardiac issues.
They honestly expect you to pay for your own multi-thousand dollar radio? Who's going to repair it and indemnify it if it doesn't work at a critical time and someone gets injured ot killed?
Expecting someone to carry a VHF low band radio, a VHF hi band radio, and a 700 MHz radio is a massively dumb idea. Either dispatch is going to have to take up relaying of information or there's going to be a new position of radio operator who is going to have to ride around with every command official. The other worse option is to expect every command position to over eat to the point where they grow enough belt 'real estate' to wear three big radios on his/her waist - then wait for the cardiac issues.
They honestly expect you to pay for your own multi-thousand dollar radio? Who's going to repair it and indemnify it if it doesn't work at a critical time and someone gets injured ot killed?
In the Department I retired from it was done like this.
1. All Radios were approved by the Chief of the Department.
2. All Radios were Programmed by me.
3. All Radios were Programmed the same so if I picked up your Radio it was the same Channels Department wide.
4. The current Department Chief bought every member a Department Radio so no more use for Personal Radios.
5. To this very day I still do the Programming and give advice to the current Chief.
The reason for this is simple. Department Members put their life on the line and every Radio needs to be the same so that in less than better conditions where you have little or no visibility limited air in your SCBA and are in a high stress event your life line is the same for every Radio you come across.
Controlling Radios in Public Service maintains the integrity of the System and the safety of the users and if you do not understand that then you have never put your life on the line or in the hands of others.
1. All Radios were approved by the Chief of the Department.
2. All Radios were Programmed by me.
3. All Radios were Programmed the same so if I picked up your Radio it was the same Channels Department wide.
4. The current Department Chief bought every member a Department Radio so no more use for Personal Radios.
5. To this very day I still do the Programming and give advice to the current Chief.
The reason for this is simple. Department Members put their life on the line and every Radio needs to be the same so that in less than better conditions where you have little or no visibility limited air in your SCBA and are in a high stress event your life line is the same for every Radio you come across.
Controlling Radios in Public Service maintains the integrity of the System and the safety of the users and if you do not understand that then you have never put your life on the line or in the hands of others.
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
What he said. On the system I manage:
-NO personally owned radios. No Ebay trash. Every subscriber must have verified provenance, legit serial number, not molested with "hacked" software/firmware, and pass a PM or come from a shop that did a proper PM/alignment with documentation
-All radios are either programmed by our shop, or one with a signed system key authorization
-All codeplugs are password protected to prevent "teknishuns" with stolen software, bootleg system keys, etc from changing anything. Firmware kept up to date so no one can bypass codeplug security
-We regularly audit radios, and use GenWatch 3 with CloneWatch to keep an eye on the network and identify suspect radios for further forensic investigation
Radios used in IDLH and public safety settings need to be from legit, documented and authorized sources. If your "No Affiliate Scan" Ebay APX stops working for Joe Scanner, no one cares, no one dies, no one gets hurt except Joe Scanner who's radio stops blaring CopSounds™ in the McDonald's and his ego bruised.
If a duty radio goes out or misses traffic like an evac order, it's a life changing event.
-NO personally owned radios. No Ebay trash. Every subscriber must have verified provenance, legit serial number, not molested with "hacked" software/firmware, and pass a PM or come from a shop that did a proper PM/alignment with documentation
-All radios are either programmed by our shop, or one with a signed system key authorization
-All codeplugs are password protected to prevent "teknishuns" with stolen software, bootleg system keys, etc from changing anything. Firmware kept up to date so no one can bypass codeplug security
-We regularly audit radios, and use GenWatch 3 with CloneWatch to keep an eye on the network and identify suspect radios for further forensic investigation
Radios used in IDLH and public safety settings need to be from legit, documented and authorized sources. If your "No Affiliate Scan" Ebay APX stops working for Joe Scanner, no one cares, no one dies, no one gets hurt except Joe Scanner who's radio stops blaring CopSounds™ in the McDonald's and his ego bruised.
If a duty radio goes out or misses traffic like an evac order, it's a life changing event.
Wow, this went downhill fast......
I know many first responders with scanners (sometimes multiple) to listen to the action "off duty"—no shame in that. Frankly, all this *****ing and whining here is only going to make the OP even more confused. Many of the responses are from people here who have no idea how this county operates.
The system is Motorola infrastructure. There is no Harris involvement. And suggesting that a person get a Harris radio in a Motorola Forum—that's a first for me.
I know many first responders with scanners (sometimes multiple) to listen to the action "off duty"—no shame in that. Frankly, all this *****ing and whining here is only going to make the OP even more confused. Many of the responses are from people here who have no idea how this county operates.
The system is Motorola infrastructure. There is no Harris involvement. And suggesting that a person get a Harris radio in a Motorola Forum—that's a first for me.
MTS2000des
5B2_BEE00 Czar
Harris P25 radios work just fine on MSI P25 systems. It doesn't matter what posters on a hobbyist forum think. What matters is those who run the system and that's who the OP should be reaching out to anyway.
So you whinners and crybabies about radio control would you be willing to take 100% liability for a system and the lives of the users with you not having 100% control. If you say yes then you have no idea of what you are setting yourself up for. If you would read the entire thread you will see that the OP is wanting a working radio on a county or state owned trunking system.
I am well aware of that.
Im one of the only ones who suggested useful information to the OP. I have read the entire thread front and back again. This is a county owned system, if the OP wants a working radio on the system he should reach out to the county like he said he would. And if the county says no, He can allways buy a scanner. Its not that complicated.
Are these radios above your personal radios? Or department issued?
Im assuming the Lowband Radios are for County Communications, and the VHF radios are for you departments local internal communications?
Im not sure if the local VHFs owned by local FDs are going to be decommissioned and moved over to talkgroups on the new system so the whole county will be on one P25 Trunked.
That was the very first info he was given by me long before you showed up and wanted to have a measuring contest. Per your own tag you are a hobbyist. Where actual First Responders and Radio People told him to involve his local Department and the System Administrator.
We also tried to discourage the OP from using a hacked Radio and getting in all kinds of trouble. As I am sure you know The FIRE/EMS World has way too many wannabes that want to stand and watch and not enough people wanting to become members giving back to the community to loose one because he was given bad advice or no advice at all.
We also tried to discourage the OP from using a hacked Radio and getting in all kinds of trouble. As I am sure you know The FIRE/EMS World has way too many wannabes that want to stand and watch and not enough people wanting to become members giving back to the community to loose one because he was given bad advice or no advice at all.
No one is trying to "revamp" an existing radio system using bandaids and poor ideas, nor is anyone expecting someone to carry three radios. In fact, it is sometimes a problem now that no one can communicate effectively because everyone in the county is on a different "system," and they are trying to mitigate this with everyone on the new P25 system.
Which is the correct thing to do it is just going to take time and people will have to do some multitasking until this is finished.
The other option if Dispatch is using a good Dispatch Console they could be taught to patch Conventional to Trunking during emergencies and help the different users in the field.
The other option if Dispatch is using a good Dispatch Console they could be taught to patch Conventional to Trunking during emergencies and help the different users in the field.
I see you have a personal problem with me good luck being the way you choose to be. You are now on IGNORE because of your foolish ways.
Enough already please. It doesn’t matter what my tag says. Your the only one having a “Measuring Contest”. I don’t have a personal problem with you, i don’t even know you. You are getting way to worked up about this. Im allowed to disagree so are you. Im alowed to have my own opinions, same as you. You clearly are taking this way to personally when all my intentions here are to help the OP and understand his situation. Get over yourself.
Oh, Congrats on putting me on ignore…..I. DONT. CARE… 🤡
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You could just stop replying in the thread. You made your point in post #14. Leave it lay.
Yes, I made my point, and I should stop replying. But, I'm one of the only ones in this thread who has been actively suggesting things to the OP and engaging with him. The OP asked follow-up questions about SDRs, which I answered. I also asked some other questions that have not yet been answered. I am only replying to members who have no idea how this county operates and helping them understand.
Instead of addressing the others in this thread who have been whining and crying about the advice I gave the OP and saying I am "personally attacking them" because I dislike their post, you decided to tell me that I should stop replying. I see where your priorities are. Thank you for taking my report so seriously.
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