TOPOFF 3

[jmm346]

Some of the mutual aid and lesser used channels around New Jersey should see a little more activity this week...

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0588.xml

http://www.nj.gov/cgi-bin/governor/njnewsline/view_article.pl?id=2438

John

 

[elk2370bruce]

See NJ Terror Drill thread above. Lots of hints and tips are all there for the listening.

 

[cop3979]

Very busy radio traffic today, EMS took over a police channel and multiple others here in Hunterdon for the drill. SPEN 4 was a mess everywhere I went, and repeaters that I never heard on the air before were coming to life. It was funny as some units had to be reminded to end every transmission with: "This is only a drill"

 

[elk2370bruce]

SPEN/JEMS Four has deteriorated over the years to, in some areas, to a high price CB chit chat channel. We no longer even try to use it for it's intended purpose and refer to it as the State Police Entertainment Network. Poor radio discipline has ruined a good resource for many towns and regional programs. Too bad that there is no way to police this and restore the frequency to its intended use. To those dispatchers that do shut down the chit chat, you have my thanks. It is also interesting to note that the new statewide LINCS computer-based system was used heavily and was quite useful for the policy, operations, and some state-wide mutual aid coordination. I had that resource, among many others, in use at our POD at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

The best outcome of all of this week-long effort was the increased partnerships that were created and the strengthening of the already close ties within the public safety community. As a planner and operations officer for the event, there were lots of lessons learned and friendships cemented. :!:

 

[SCPD]

SPEN 4 is used as a chit chat channel by Hopatcong PD.

 

[Joseph11]

About a week or two ago, I heard someone playing around on SPEN 1. Some guy was trying to sing or something.

 

[erikTromatowski]

I never hear anything on SPEN. I guess Middlesex County just doesn't use it, hell, my town isn't even licenced for it (some other Middlesex County towns are, but just never use it).

 

[hulka]

Some times it is really bad. You hear people cursing and yelling at each other, music playing on the radio, and all sorts of stuff that is a big No-No.

 

[cassidy1190]

The last time I heard any real police activity on SPEN 1 was when troopers assisted the local police when they were chasing some guy down route 18. They used it as a common channel that the local police troopers and dispatchers could all be on one frequency. It was probably the most exiting thing I ever heard on a scanner around here, but lately its just some people goofing off. Occasionally someone will yell at the culprits but now it’s like a lost cause. A shame really.

 

[Joseph11]

The last time I heard any real police activity on SPEN 1 was when troopers assisted the local police when they were chasing some guy down route 18. They used it as a common channel that the local police troopers and dispatchers could all be on one frequency. It was probably the most exiting thing I ever heard on a scanner around here, but lately its just some people goofing off. Occasionally someone will yell at the culprits but now it’s like a lost cause. A shame really.

Up in Union County, I would hear alot of stuff on SPEN. Usually people talking in code, they would just say numbers. Same thing in August when I first moved to Ocean County. I hear pretty much nothing now.

 

[HarleyDave]

I once heard Roxbury and Hopatcong trying to co-ordinate a north star LZ, and some guy was playing full mettle jacket clips on the air. Sent everyone involved into a tail spin, for good reason. You think the guys screwing around would AT LEAST stop for such an emergency.

 

[elk2370bruce]

Most of these jerks don't bother to listen before they hit the transmit key. Others don't care unless someone else steps on their crap chat. What's an emergency got to do with me having my little ha-ha? :roll: How dare they intrude on my semi-orgasmic fun?The intended use for SPEN was a noble one. With no control, the minority of response individuals with no radio discipline have ruined it for everyone. If this junk was attempted on normal fire, ems, and pd channels, the fan would hit the bananas and there would be a list of fewer members (paid and volunteer).