[ScanIndiana] Re:Question on MECA System 1,Marion County

[Matthew C. Payne]

Hello.

When I was at Wishard over the summer, I noticed that some of the
paramedics were carrying brand new Motorola XTS3000 handheld radios. 
These are the same that we are using here in Johnson County, and are
digital CAPABLE.  My guess is that they are choosing to replace the older
radios with digital capable ones as they wear out.  I would imagine that
this serves 2 purposes.

They may be using these new digital radios to do mutual aid runs into
Johnson County, and they also might be planning a possible migration into
digital on the MECA system.

As Andrew has reported several times on Indy Scan, digital on MECA is
inevitable.  The question is simply when they choose to make the
transition.  I believe that they are probably still a way away from going
digital, but that is just a guess.

If my guess is correct, you will start to see some of the detective and
narcotics talkgroups go digital first, and the ones with many many users
(MCS-EAST, MCS-WEST, IFD-DISP, etc.) will be some of the last to be
transitioned.  Here in Johnson County, they are leaving the fire
talkgroups analog for now.  But since I saw a paramedic with one of the
new radios, this may not be the plan for Marion County.

I'm not a betting man, but I think it would be safe to wager that digital
scanners will be WELL into the market by the time the first group goes
digital.

It might be a good idea for users in Marion County to take a listen to the
Johnson County system, to get a feel for what APCO-25 modulation sounds
like on a conventional.  It is an intermittent data pulse, that sounds
remarkably like a control channel.  The intermittent factor is due to the
compression used in APCO-25.  IT takes less time overall to send a voice
message digitally than via analog means.

Hope this helps.

Matt


DeLong said:
> Hello, I have a question , while listening to MECA System 1, Marion
> County Sheriff's Dispatch on the west talk group 4848 overnight SAT
> night early Sun. AM they were asking the third shift Deputies if anyone
> had a battery for a Dightal Radio,Does anyone know after hearing this,
> are we in Marion County going dightal on MECA System 1, If anyone has
> any infomation on this please e-mail me .Thanks Tim DeLong, Weekend
> Freelance Assignment Editor,WRTV Channel 6
>
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