[Scan-DC] PGPD -TDMA

[Wally Frank]

Joel,
 
I spoke to a PG County officer about the new TDMA system.  His comments were the same as I've heard from some other jurisdictions around the country.....he doesn't like it.  My guess is that, in time, they'll adapt to the slight change in voice quality. However I think the biggest problem
is in the coverage of the new radio network.  With an analog system the signal can be marginal but you can still communicate.  It's like watching an analog TV broadcast.  There may be some snow or sparklies in the picture, but you can still watch the program.  With the new digital radios and the new digital TV broadcasts, you either get a good signal or you get nothing at all.  That said, isn't it interesting that the fire department is content to remain on the analog radio system.
 
The County is trying to provide good signal coverage by installing 300 ft. towers.  These towers are the ones you see springing up in most of the County parks with the three vertical monopole antennas mounted in a staggered fashion along the side and top of the tower.
 
Like you, I'm not holding my breath for a TDMA solution to be implemented for scanners.   
 
Wally
      
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joel Kahn" <jrkahn at att.net>
To: <Scan-DC at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Friday, September 17, 2010 10:11 AM
Subject: [Scan-DC] PGPD -TDMA

> It isn't gon'na happen anytime soon!  TDMA is too costly to
> decipher right now, even if Motorola were to license the rights
> to scanner manufacturers.  I keep asking my buddies on the city
> forces using PGPD radios to keep "forgetting" and leave their
> radios in FDMA mode.  That way if they are on the air, the whole
> system stays in FDMA!!  The dispatchers don't like that.
> 
> Last I heard, PGFD will continue using FDMA when they have
> completed the switch-over.
> 
> Joel

> ----- Original Message -----
> 
> Amazing!  It only seems like a few days ago when they were still
> using both uhf and 700.  But, I guess all good things must come
> to an end.  I know greenbelt and riverdale are still on uhf and
> vhf but I'm sure they will go over very soon as well.  I hope
> they come out with a scanner solution soon.
> 
> John