TransLink switches over to E-COMM

[XVCham]

As of yesterday, BCRTC switched over to ECOMM

NEWS RELEASE: All aboard: E-Comm welcomes TransLink on the Wide-Area Radio Network - E-Comm 9-1-1

Vancouver, B.C.—TransLink operating companies—Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) and BC Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC)—are now communicating …

www.ecomm911.ca

Appears that the talk groups are encrypted. I'm trying to figure out which talk group ID's they are using to make a submission.

Just my personal opinion, but isn't this slowly putting a lot of pressure on NGRP?

 

[dwc]

Not sure what you mean by pressure, but they are welcoming more users to pay for the system from what I understand. Adding more capacity is not very difficult, so I don't see what the issue is.

It is unfortunate to see yet another organization unnecessarily migrate over with 100% encryption. The bullies at the RCMP forced E-COMM's hand in demanding all users on the system also be encrypted, which is just ridiculous.

 

[EWC_BDN]

Same in Manitoba. All the secret snow plowing and road grading communication seems silly. Even stranger is that Municipal public works seems to be allowed to operate clear. It's just the MB Gov that is all secure. Always felt like the vendor was pleased to sell all those radios onto the system with the encryption option. They weren't going to talk themselves out of a sale there.

 

[XVCham]

but they are welcoming more users to pay for the system from what I understand. Adding more capacity is not very difficult, so I don't see what the issue is.

That's very true, TransLink has usually been a heavy radio user (with there being two heavy use channels). I also meant "pressure" as in the general public and scanner enthusiasts (especially now that TransLink fan base/community who also used to monitor radios have lost that access). Agencies should be pushing for transparency and if TransLink truly upgraded for the "security and safety benefits", why can we not be notified of the "security announcements" they send out over the radio regarding robbery suspects and potentially dangerous people. It's not harming the public but providing information that could keep people away from a certain station/train.

E-COMM in general should maybe look at other provinces and even states just south and consider the impacts that really had against the general public by not using encryption.