radioman2001
Member
Wow, some memories. I got started in radio in 1964 at around 11 when my father bought a Heathkit radio for me to build for SWL. Then in 1968 or 9 my parents bought me an AM/FM PS portable radio. I mean portable in the sense that it was smaller than a bread box (11" x 9" x 6") and ran on batteries. It was good enough to get West Co PD in 155.55. Sheriff was on 155.310 and on a good day I could pick up some NYPD and FDNY from our home some 30mi North of NYC. When I go my first job (working for Westchester County in the old age home) one of my first checks went towards a low band and then a VHF-HI Lafayett tunables with 2 crystal positions radios. It could be used in a car as a mobile and portable (again size mattered) in a carry case that held 10 "C" or "D" batteries (can't remember which) and a telescopic antenna. The low band was for Westchester County Fire Dispatch 46.26 and Mutual aid 46.14. Mt Pleasant PD were on 37.10 along with White Plains, Croton on Hudson, Briarcliff Manor and Ossining. Now that's what I call real inter-op frequency. Any agency that required assistance just called the neighboring town. New Castle and North Castle were on 39.10 so again easy to call for help. There were some VHF-HI agencies locally along with County PD, there was Pleasntville, Mt Kisco, Bedford. The same frequency was also used down county by Mamaroneck that had voice inverse scrambling and then there was Yonkers on UHF. A real PIA to monitor, they had strange brew HT-200 that transmitted on VHF and received on UHF. They still use the same frequencies today in P-25.
It was much easier back then and the local PD's really weren't concerned if you were listening as long as you didn't interfere at scenes.
I suspect and this is my personal opinion that PS radio will go dark nationwide as it is in the EU and most other countries in the world within the next 10-15 years or at the most 20. A lot has to do with the hysteria that was created after 911 (I know I was there) and the other is technology. There are already predictions that we are running out of frequencies for PS and Cell Phones. PS is a problem but Cell Phones should stay with connecting people not trying to compete with cable companies for TV broadcast.
I long for those days pre 911 when most anything could be heard on radio and there was little harm in doing so. It even in some cases actually helped PS do there job. Now we have paranoid elected officials calling for military style anti-missle technology on aircraft. That may not have much to do with radio but it sure goes a long way on how this county views it's citizens.A great big piggy bank.
It was much easier back then and the local PD's really weren't concerned if you were listening as long as you didn't interfere at scenes.
I suspect and this is my personal opinion that PS radio will go dark nationwide as it is in the EU and most other countries in the world within the next 10-15 years or at the most 20. A lot has to do with the hysteria that was created after 911 (I know I was there) and the other is technology. There are already predictions that we are running out of frequencies for PS and Cell Phones. PS is a problem but Cell Phones should stay with connecting people not trying to compete with cable companies for TV broadcast.
I long for those days pre 911 when most anything could be heard on radio and there was little harm in doing so. It even in some cases actually helped PS do there job. Now we have paranoid elected officials calling for military style anti-missle technology on aircraft. That may not have much to do with radio but it sure goes a long way on how this county views it's citizens.A great big piggy bank.