GWN UPDATE/QFES Radios

[CrazyCessna]

Listen to the emergency services while you can guys. I was talking to a contractor who came into work today who confirmed that Telstra and Motorola are making it a P25 Encrypted service for everyone.Also, Firies also came into work today, one of them was holding a portable that I didn't recognice. Bright yellow in colour, with a rather large hand mic, the only thing I saw distingishable was that it was Motorola. Anyone know about the new ones? I assume they're digital ready based off the other information. :/

[alinco21]

apx6000

http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/ ... s/APX_6000

[CrazyCessna]

Looks similar to that, but a bit longer, perhaps the 7000?
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/US-EN/ ... APX_7000XE

[CrazyCessna]

This particular image is the best.
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Bu ... 20copy.jpg

[brisescannerdude]

This particular image is the best.
http://www.motorolasolutions.com/web/Bu ... 20copy.jpg

QFRS meet at the local coffee shop almost every morning and they look to be intrinsicly safe 6000 series with after market mics

http://www.guardian.innotech.com.au/Ima ... 092010.pdf

The mics they are using still look to be colour coded and work correctly with the othersaftey hardware they have.

As for encryption - welcome to the new world order for qld, it will be interesting to see if other states follow qld floored lead around encryption for fireman or we have the sitution where we have an accident with an officer due to radios not working correctly in a fire sitution due to encryption not decrypting correctly due to lack of recovery of the data stream!

[mysteriousbrad]

Have not been able to hear QFRS in Rockhampton all week... maybe the change over has already started?

[blacktown]

There is a Fire Rescue NSW demonstration video on the use of the APX6000 at

http://vimeopro.com/livestreamaustralia/frnswapx6000

[Comint]

Have not been able to hear QFRS in Rockhampton all week... maybe the change over has already started?

Highly unlikely that is the cause of your problem.

At this point in time, Telstra/Motorola is working furiously to have the Government Wireless Network (GWN) installed, and operating (key word, that), in time for the G20 Conference, which is to be held in the Cairns area, and the South East corner of the State, in October/November 2014. I doubt they would be wasting valuable resources installing equipment outside those areas, before those dates.

Anyway, have a scan between 420.0125 and 424.7875 MHz, in 12.5 kHz steps, and see what you find.

--
Comint

Edit: Fixed typo.

[Vkfour]

QFES, (it's QFES now), still analogue on the Sunshine Coast so I can't see Rocky being digital yet.

[mysteriousbrad]

Yep all good today... not sure what was going on.

[Comint]

Listen to the emergency services while you can guys. I was talking to a contractor who came into work today who confirmed that Telstra and Motorola are making it a P25 Encrypted service for everyone.:/

It is NOT up to Telstra / Motorola as to whether the Network is encrypted, or not.
That is solely the decision of the Queensland Government.

--
Comint

[brisescannerdude]

With the change of state govt, it will be interesting if there is a change of direction with ambo/fire on the question of encryption.

[fire_rescue]

I been told 3 Months QFES south east region will switch over training on RFSQ vols is being done atm once that is complete switchover will happen

[Sprocketz]

A meeting was held with the Gold Coast media about the switch off of the old network the other week. Going to be lean times for those guys… Also all the twitter feeds and Facebook pages will also die… I understand the cops being encrypted but the others why bother. I'm sure as soon as a radio doesn't work in an area the old system did they may have to rethink the encryption as that reduces range and reliability …

I was also told the whole system will be online by Sept 2015 Sunshine Coast inc. Does anyone have a coverage map of the new GWN ?

[Phantom]

How does encryption reduce the range?

[Radio_Australia]

There was a Gov white paper done when Brisbane QPS went ENC , (it's on the net ) from what I read was media wanted to have a basic Job text feed that's delayed by 30 mins , not sure if QPS Followed the recommendation ?
Media are always tipped off by QPS media liaisons and individual officers (without approval ) so I don't think much will change personally .

[peteramjet]

How does encryption reduce the range?

It doesn't, but I'm guessing your question was more rhetorical

Data is data - regardless of whether it is encrypted or not. The only possible adverse effect encryption would have is a 'possible' minor reduction in battery life. Not much else.

[Sprocketz]

From what I've been told from users about 25% less … happy to be corrected but will be interesting to see how and if it all works in the hills of the Sunshine coast

[Phantom]

Yes, it was rhetorical... Glad someone was on the same wavelength!

[Phantom]

I would love to see where they are getting their 25% loss from.... That's an interesting number