San Francisco Public Safety going Digital June 2021

[officer_415]

I’m debating on getting the BCD325P2. How does it work on simulcast? Are you out and about and able to pick up the broadcasts clearly? Otherwise it’s going to be an SDS-100, but that’s twice as much and I’m not sure how much I want to shell out if PD is going to be mostly encrypted.

The BCD325P2 works fine on the SF P25 system. I have simulcast distortion issues on other systems in the area like EBRCS, but I have no problem with SF.

 

[KD6JEK]

The BCD325P2 works fine on the SF P25 system. I have simulcast distortion issues on other systems in the area like EBRCS, but I have no problem with SF.

Thanks for the quick response. Are you using the stock antenna that comes with the scanner? I’ve heard the 325p2 doesn’t do well with simulcast and that’s why I am also considering the SDS-100. But I’m not sure I want to spend that much for a scanner that has some quality control issues and the number of agencies going to encryption.

 

[officer_415]

Yes, the stock antenna works fine (you can always upgrade to a 700/800 MHz one too). Some P25 simulcast systems are harder for scanners to receive, but SF is not one of them. Go with the BCD325P2.

 

[KD6JEK]

Sounds good. Thanks for the info. I was thinking of ordering from Bearcat Warehouse because they have a good price and good customer service. Did you program it yourself? I know they offer to program it for you at a cost, but I think I can do it myself.

 

[officer_415]

Yeah, I programmed it myself with ARC-XT.

 

[sffire]

KD6JEK, let me know ho w it works with with Bearcat Warehouse. BCD325P2 seems like a good option. I need to replace my scanner was well. How are their prices?

 

[KD6JEK]

Will do. The prices seem very reasonable. $649 seems to be the going rate for an SDS-100 without the extras. Fire has already transitioned to the new system. My buddy tells me that SFPD will be transitioning over next month, but they still have to flash all those radios first. My only concern is whether or not PD will unencrypt like they said they would. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see…

 

[sffire]

Right, the SDS100 also requires a battery pack. BCD325P2 I can use anytime and anywhere because it takes regular off the shelf batteries if I am on the road.

 

[officer_415]

This thread has gotten way off topic; if you'd like to discuss scanner options please take it to another forum or private messages. Thanks

 

[kg6nlw]

To bring this back on topic...I've noted TG36117 (2 radios) and TG35124 (1 radio) on the system today with SFO PD Dispatch (TG6002) and 12 radios.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[kg6nlw]

TG35120 and TG6003 have also popped up today with one radio each.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[officer_415]

SFO has been on the system for years (on site 26), and SFO PD is often carried on the city site as well.

 

[kg6nlw]

I figured but figured it was worth noting they were still active on the system, in case anyone had a doubt.

Regards,

-Frank C.

 

[rooivalk]

As of this week, Allied Agencies and sfpd's Golden Gate Division have started the re-programming.

 

[officer_415]

As of this week, Allied Agencies and sfpd's Golden Gate Division have started the re-programming.

Any word on the cutover date?

 

[nokoa3116]

Any word on the cutover date?

Haven't quite received an update yet.

"As timelines for cutover to digital/encryption are finalized, the Department will provide an
update to our media partners."

 

[sffire]

We did some radio testing the other day. Even with the real radios, the voices sound a bit distorted. It's hard to recognized who's voice it is on the radio.

 

[nokoa3116]

We did some radio testing the other day. Even with the real radios, the voices sound a bit distorted. It's hard to recognized who's voice it is on the radio.

That's just how the vocoder used in P25 TDMA sounds. Most male voices sound the same, and most female voices sound the same. It takes time to recognize specific voices.

 

[rooivalk]

Any word on the cutover date?

First week of November....

 

[officer_415]

Lots of activity today on the encrypted PD talkgroups.