As an infrequent poster, but following the long overdue transition to MPSCS from OpenSkam, which has led me to this thread. I've been finding it to be interesting and puzzling all at the same time.
I have my radio set to monitor all groups on the system that aren't encrypted, so what I am missing out on, I will never know. But aside from "test 1, 2, 3" etc of the programmers testing the radios amongst the various technician groups which will all eventually be renamed to their proper jurisdiction/user names. I've found it interesting that a DPD group is almost always active, but everything else which may be active with dispatch and user IDs popping up on the display (indicating active users, no patches), all die off around 8PM, not to be heard from again until the next day. I can't believe that it's just one shift testing out the new equipment... I would think the dispatch console side would still be active even if the mobile or portable radio wasn't active on any system.
I am not surprised that the PD side would be completely encrypted. It would seem that the new setup is much like the old arrangement with the police being on the Opensky system and while the FDs are as well, the analog paging channels leave the door open to monitoring- and that is remaining.
I listen to Auburn Hill's UHF patch frequently as well as most of the VHF ones from my home, they're all still active. It is interesting to hear some of the departments I usually don't hear or monitor on the MPSCS as they move over.
-Josh
