No more analog voice on OCFD Alert?

[dstew67]

Anyone else notice that the FD dispatchers are no longer being broadcast in analog? You still hear the tones if you're listening to a non-ProVoice radio, but you can't hear any voice. I noticed this yesterday or the day before, but I thought it was just a fluke. I confirmed it today.

Anyone have any insight as to why?

 

[nd5y]

I have seen that on another system. I don't know the reason but I suspect it is because the A/D and D/A conversion distorts the tones too much.

 

[dstew67]

I was actually asking why they stopped transmitting their VOICE in analog. The tones are still both analog and PV. The VOICE is now PV only.

 

[freqscout]

Getting the same thing here d-stew. Unknown as to reason.

 

[TowerPower]

I too noticed it and posted similar on 05-04. After speaking with the local FD station, they stated they cut it off because they no longer need it and that it was left open on analog during the conversion. We can only hope they build a rolling dispatch site like San Antonio that’s also on ProVoice. http://epay.sanantonio.gov/activefire/
I heard somewhere that cities are mandated to do so if they have a certain population, but I don’t have all the details.

 

[plaws]

I too noticed it and posted similar on 05-04. After speaking with the local FD station, they stated they cut it off because they no longer need it and that it was left open on analog during the conversion.

Are you saying there is no more voice dispatch at all?

 

[dstew67]

1. There is voice dispatch.
2. The dispatcher's voice WAS in analog AND digital, but is now only in digital.
3. The tones are still in analog and digital.

 

[oktex88]

So this means I have to spend $400 on a digital scanner? :-(

 

[car2back]

So this means I have to spend $400 on a digital scanner? :-(

Nope, you'll have to spend even more for a pro-voice radio!

 

[fireant]

Provoice radios used run around $700 and up.

fireant

 

[mam1081]

That's aftermarket price. (if you can find one)

Don't forget to contact the city to program it for you (yeah right), or try to buy your own software, cables, & programming equipment for more $$$.

There are ways around it, but it's pretty much a lost cause - just go become a firefighter and get a radio issued to you!

 

[plaws]

So this means I have to spend $400 on a digital scanner? :-(

OKC's EDACS system uses ProVoice digital audio. That's not the same as P25 digital audio that the digital scanners can demodulate.

 

[oSutrooper]

So this means I have to spend $400 on a digital scanner? :-(

Or get a job with OKC 911 we hear them loud and clear

 

[mam1081]

FD is being dispatched in analog on TG 530 (FD Alert).

Wonder why they swapped back...

 

[Radio_Cowboy]

Probably because they realized the audio quality of provoice really sucks in a high noise environment.

Out here in Albuquerque, they went to a Provoice system about 5 years ago or so, and they ended up putting the Dispatch side of Police/Fire in analog. All FD/FD field units are in provoice, but the dispatch side is in analog so you can monitor all the dispatch transmissions on a regular edacs capable scanner.


On another note...I was out in OKC last week and to me, the audio quality of the OKC system sounds better then our ABQ system here. I was staying down by the Airport, and had absolutely no issue monitoring the outer and inner ring systems.



-RC-