Province of Nova Scotia Invests in New Trunked Mobile Radios for Volunteer Public Safety Organizations

[fordman2006]

Friday November 22 at 12:01am is what we were told. Old radios won't work anymore and new encrypted ones will be fully active. We'll have to see if the time is exact or if they'll leave the patches from old talkgroups to new ones for a bit longer!

This week I brought my scanner to Halifax and monitored the new Central A and B talkgroup id. Not once did I hear anything on it so I don't know if they're not using those or what. I can't see they're gonna switch all the fire radios in HRM on Thursday night.

Maybe HRM has a different time line from the Nov 22 than the rest of the province has?

 

[west5alpha]

HRFES isnt going encrypted only the vol fire depts

 

[Jason_wyler]

That’s great. So I can still listen to all of HRM Fire etc

 

[west5alpha]

On Nov 22 the hammer drops on Volunteer Fire dept's provincewide. No more listening to my brother in law’s fire dept United Communities FD in Lunenburg County.
No word yet if HRFES are being encrypted as well.

 

[Deziel0495]

I'm told HRFE will stay in the clear for the time being (that may change later). Only Provincial volunteer depts will be encrypted.

 

[Deziel0495]

Provincial Fire Depts. began using their new encrypted radios today at 12:01am. Patches may still be in place between the new and old talkgroups, but those will come down soon.

As of now, HRFES can still be heard on their own talkgroups. Unknown if this is also a patch or if they're staying put.

The database listing has been updated to reflect the changes. Any errors/omission, please submit corrections.

Thanks!

 

[Jason_wyler]

How long will the patch last as I am still hearing fire depts?

 

[Deziel0495]

How long will the patch last as I am still hearing fire depts

Probably not long. I wouldn't expect it to be up for more than a few days at most.

Depts. were required to begin using their new radios at 12:01am.

 

[west5alpha]

Looks like they didn't get the encryption memo along the South Shore. Listening to the fire comms in Blockhouse garage on fire.

 

[ve1sef]

Any department that was using VHF radios for operations prior to TMR will likely continue doing so.

It was only the provincially owned TMR fire radios that were switched out. It occurs to me that HRM and DND own their radios and why they are still in the clear, for now.
Since it would have to be approved in a future budget to purchase new radios ,that will determine when they'll switch to new radios and talkgroups.

 

[ve1sef]

Although not listed in the database anymore HFX-IES 3 (533) is active. Still being used by East Hants units dispatched by HRM.
Once on scene; then operations switch to the "new" ops tg's.

 

[Deziel0495]

Although not listed in the database anymore HFX-IES 3 (533) is active. Still being used by East Hants units dispatched by HRM.
Once on scene; then operations switch to the "new" ops tg's.

I wonder if East Hants was not part of the re-programming? Because the new provincial fire fleetmap does not have the HFX-IES talkgroups.

Make a submission and we'll get it re-added.

 

[ve1sef]

Re-submitted. As a talk group "controlled" by HRFE (IES) it will likely remain active, depending when or if HRFE switches out their current radios. Those near the Halifax Airport might want to monitor the HIAA talkgroup (30009) just in case it still exists.

 

[Deziel0495]

Hearing calls on 12030, the old East Dispatch B. Units are then switching to the new encrypted ops channels.

I'm assuming these are the users whose mobile radios had a programming error and a patch is in place until re-programming can be done.

 

[ve1sef]

As with HRM perhaps not all the radio's in that region belonged to the province. I believe East Disp-B was assigned to CBRF Disp, therefore they likely own the radio console.
It's possible that any of the "old" fire ops (fd-7, 24,39-40 or 51) are still active in HRFE radios. and maybe used as mutual aid links to the "new" enc talkgroups. For example STN-40 borders Elmsdale/Lantz, a patch could in theory be set up between old Ops-39 and new OPS-56.