TRENTON — They’re not on the same wavelength.

[Skypilot007]

So it does appear that they are contemplating going to the county system. Best bet for now is to pay up whats due to MPS and then get new radios and move to the county system. Better than what they have thats for sure.

"Keeping the MPS system running is only a temporary fix. The Gusciora Administration has proposed a resolution allocating $4 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to replace the police radio equipment and 911 dispatch center so they are compatible with the Mercer County radio system, which Trenton can use at no additional cost."

Trenton Mayor and First Responders Ask City Council to Advance Proposals to Keep Trenton’s Emergency Communications Online – MidJersey.News

Yep, there was a brief story on CH 6 news this morning related to this. What a fiasco. One would think they would have just switched to one of the two existing public safety systems already in place that has coverage of their area.

 

[Mopar392]

Its been years since I was big into the scanner world but im planning on getting back into the game. So if I could ask for assistance is Ewing, Trenton and hamilton programmable into a scanner and if so which scanner would be best to use.

 

[trentbob]

All three are encrypted and that's not going to change. Ewing has been encrypted for many years on their own p25 system, Hamilton kept their old 400 megahertz frequencies but went to p25 conventional and encrypted. Trenton is in the process of moving from nxdn encrypted to perhaps the county t-band but will be encrypted. Princeton Township and Borough are encrypted.

As of now you can pick up Lawrence, Hopewell, on the county t-band in the clear. West Windsor is on the New Jersey interop system in the clear and Robbinsville and Hightstown are still on UHF in the clear. County Sheriff's Department is encrypted on the county t-band. Burlington and Bucks County police are also encrypted. All fire and EMS in Mercer County are still in the clear.

 

[Mopar392]

All three are encrypted and that's not going to change. Ewing has been encrypted for many years on their own p25 system, Hamilton kept their old 400 megahertz frequencies but went to p25 conventional and encrypted. Trenton is in the process of moving from nxdn encrypted to perhaps the county t-band but will be encrypted. Princeton Township and Borough are encrypted.

As of now you can pick up Lawrence, Hopewell, on the county t-band in the clear. West Windsor is on the New Jersey interop system in the clear and Robbinsville and Hightstown are still on UHF in the clear. County Sheriff's Department is encrypted on the county t-band. Burlington and Bucks County police are also encrypted. All fire and EMS in Mercer County are still in the clear.

Darn so basically ewing hamilton and Lawrence are impossible to hear??

 

[Mopar392]

Ment Trenton not Lawrence

 

[trentbob]

Darn so basically ewing hamilton and Lawrence are impossible to hear??

Yes that is correct, the police anyway. I see that you meant Trenton, Ewing and Hamilton, not Lawrence, they are in the clear. Trenton fire is rebroadcast on 460.575 pl 103.5 for well over twenty years now. County Fire dispatch remains on 154.43 pl 103.5... County Fire response channels are on the T band County system. It's all in the database.

Whether you want to buy an expensive scanner just to pick up fire and EMS is up to you but with the state being on a phase ll interop system, the county being on a phase l system you will need a good quality Uniden radio preferably one of the SDS series that can handle simulcast distortion secondary to LSM. The state police can be heard on the new Phase ll system but they also can be heard on the old 800 megahertz state police system until mid 2022.

 

[Mopar392]

Yes that is correct, the police anyway. Trenton fire is rebroadcast on 460.575 pl 103.5 for well over twenty years now. County Fire dispatch remains on 154.43 pl 103.5... County Fire response channels are on the T band County system. It's all in the database.

Whether you want to buy an expensive scanner just to pick up fire and EMS is up to you but with the state being on a phase ll interop system, the county being on a phase l system you will need a good quality Uniden radio preferably one of the SDS series that can handle simulcast distortion secondary to LSM. The state police can be heard on the new Phase ll system but they also can be heard on the old 800 megahertz state police system until mid 2022.

That stinks. After 2022 state police won't be able to be heard ?

 

[trentbob]

That stinks. After 2022 state police won't be able to be heard ?

You will be able to hear them on the new state interop phase 2 system if you have a radio capable of picking them up. So far there has not been any talk about them going encrypted. The old system will be phased out.

 

[Mopar392]

You will be able to hear them on the new state interop phase 2 system if you have a radio capable of picking them up. So far there has not been any talk about them going encrypted. The old system will be phased out.

What radio would you recommend im out of date on these the last scanner I had was a radio shack pro 74. And I stopped after I couldn't hear Ewing or Trenton anymore at that time

 

[KC3ECJ]

Lol!

 

[kd2pm]

Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes Brokers Solution To Temporarily Solve Trenton’s Ongoing Radio System Crisis – MidJersey.News

Well...a small reprieve...but the County to the rescue!.

 

[RadioDitch]

Well...a small reprieve...but the County to the rescue!.

Bets on how long until they owe the county money?

Jokes aside, this is good news. But this whole thing could have been avoided if competent city leadership existed, and if those leaders were fully informed.

 

[kd2pm]

Bets on how long until they owe the county money?

Jokes aside, this is good news. But this whole thing could have been avoided if competent city leadership existed, and if those leaders were fully informed.

So many counties are losing their technical staff that some decisions are being left to those politicians that have no clue. And not that MPS did anything wrong..but it should have been made clear what is and what is not public safety grade communications and what the plus and minus would be of using their system as it relates to reliability, coverage, etc.

I see this as means to convince Trenton to move to the county system. If they like what they hear and the coverage is what it should be...why would they opt to go anywhere else?

 

[trentbob]

What radio would you recommend im out of date on these the last scanner I had was a radio shack pro 74. And I stopped after I couldn't hear Ewing or Trenton anymore at that time

This is off topic for this particular thread. Remember all the key players you want to listen to are encrypted, so we're talking about just being able to listen to Fire and EMS.

Do your reading and research here on radio reference. You need a radio that is Phase 2 capable but also can handle simulcast distortion secondary to LSM.

Use your favorite search engine to ask any question you want and it'll refer you right to threads on radio reference that discuss all the different radio types.

Again, this is not the thread to discuss this, this thread deals with Trenton's radio difficulties with their vendor who provides service.

 

[magic_lantern]

"Bets on how long until they owe the county money?

Jokes aside, this is good news. But this whole thing could have been avoided if competent city leadership existed, and if those leaders were fully informed. "

There is no competence at any level of government.

 

[nosoup4u]

New twist to this, 4 Trenton radio ID's showed up on NJICS today. Looks like they are testing on one of the test talkgroups.

 

[trentbob]

New twist to this, 4 Trenton radio ID's showed up on NJICS today. Looks like they are testing on one of the test talkgroups.

Wow, makes sense, take the County's temporary help, including help with equipment if possible. Aim for the Statewide interop for the long-term.

 

[magic_lantern]

"So many counties are losing their technical staff that some decisions are being left to those politicians that have no clue."

Not just counties, I think the state is going through this brain drain at multiple agencies as we speak. Next year is going to be very interesting.

 

[statewidehq]

"Not just counties, I think the state is going through this brain drain at multiple agencies as we speak. Next year is going to be very interesting."

Agree 1000%, It's going to get very interesting.

 

[kd2pm]

Some good news. While we thought they might go to the county system....seems they have decided to go with the state system instead

City of Trenton Approves Critical $10 Million Emergency Radio System Overhaul – MidJersey.News