[Scan-DC] D.C. Fire/EMS: Planning for ENCRYPTION !!!

[Jonathan Binstock]

Alan:

It appears that Chief Lanier set the precedent.  I sure hope there will be
some channels that will simulcast.  We are all aware of the homeland
security issues, but why can't they just keep the systems as is and encrypt
only the sensitive information?  If the concern is with criminals evading
the police via iPhone apps. or scanners, history shows that criminals evaded
police WAY before scanners and iPhones.  Their cohorts can just as easily
text them the location of officers.  Lone criminals can always scope out
potential crime scenes themselves and figure ways to stay ahead of the law.


So why deprive the scanner community of a hobby and those who would use it
for beneficial purposes i.e. hearing a fire/ems call while in your car and
avoiding that area so that the apparatus can arrive safely or hearing the
description of a criminal suspect and protecting yourself and/or reporting
someone matching that description to law enforcement, thereby aiding in the
apprehension.  

New York, the city hit hardest (no pun intended by any means) on that
fateful day in 2011, still operates on their VHF channels for fire and UHF
for police.  No trunking, encryption, etc. and whatever city and suburban
systems are trunked, they are not encrypted and the only monitoring problems
deal with reception issues i.e. steel buildings, RF, etc.  


End of soapbox.

Jonathan Binstock
NK3D



-----Original Message-----
From: scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:scan-dc-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Alan Henney
Sent: Sunday, November 17, 2013 11:24 PM
To: Scan DC
Subject: [Scan-DC] D.C. Fire/EMS: Planning for ENCRYPTION !!!


We have heard from a couple different sources who are telling us that when
D.C. Fire/EMS switches to its new Motorola APX radios in early 2014, the
radio system will be encrypted!

This will be another tremendous loss for the scanner community and another
horrible precedent.

No doubt the embattled fire chief has taken some hard knocks the past year
and perhaps a few of those incidents could be attributed to what was
monitored on the radio.

Specifically cited by one source was the Navy Yard shooting.  Audio
recordings from that incident were downloaded by the local media from
RadioReference, much to the anguish of fire/EMS officials.  

While I don't think it made the department look bad at all, it demonstrated
how they have lost control of who monitors and shares what is broadcast from
FEMS radio channels --- but not for long?

I'm frustrated by the continuing erosion of our hobby and the inability of
the public -- and especially the once mighty D.C. press corps -- to make
change.

If anybody has the ability to change things in the D.C. government, now is
the time!

Alan
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