It is with regret, that I inform you all of Ambulance Victoria's (AV) new Digital Radio Upgrade Program (DRUP2). After a successful 'soft launch' of some AV units trialling the new digital radios in the Geelong area, the official launch of the project will begin on the 20th of January 2025.
New, digital encrypted UIDs on the RMR as well as digital voice audio piped onto the SMR are the clear indicators that have been inevitable for some time. AV will soon become digitally encrypted across the state of Victoria. Rollout dates are as follows:
Barwon SW: Jan 2025
Grampians: March 2025
Loddon Mallee: May 2025
Hume: July 2025
Gippsland: October 2025
Unfortunately, the upgrade is neccessary, due to several issues with interference on the SMR. Jump on the SMR and give AV a good listen to, before it's all over.
A good friend has been keeping me in the loop. His town has been under the scrutiny of a number ACMA vehicles. Wondering if this may have been the interference source.
Sounds a bit dodgy! Pirates ruining it for everyone...
The SMR, in my listening experience, is renowned for interference from crossover channels and prone to droputs. Heard some commercial SMR users (apparently they still exist!), cut over an AV dispatcher giving case details. No fault of their own, just an issue the SMR sometimes has.
As per project points: Today's RavNET Network
20YO analogue technology
Many blackspots
Rural and Metro channels are disconnected
Portables rely on being cloned to vehicle radio
Portable duress function relies on cloning
Future RMR Network
One statewide common network with improved coverage
Digital audio quality is noticeably better
Cloning portables is not required
Able to communicate with Dispatchers, DMs, Clinicians and ED Hospital staff,
across both metro and rural
Rural crews will be required to carry portable radios at all times
Duress function more reliable with improved features i.e. displays location of user
and automatic audio from scene
Triple Zero Vic will have improved features to ensure dispatch is streamlined and menial
tasks are reduced i.e. Selcall, duress process, resource location visibility
Further to my last post: There is also the Mobile data Network into Rural (MDNR) project that is planned, giving rural AV units the same capabilities as metro AV units.
I cannot see the EAS being superseeded by this project, since 3G has been switched off. 4G coverage will not allow the EAS to be superseded
I'm on the border in Albury so lucky I have NSW as well. I rarely listen to AV because it often sounds like a 'dog's breakfast' compared to NSW. The 164 Mhz narrow band FM transmissions are mostly S3 and have been for 10 years. As an ex NSW ambo I take my hat off to the controllers who do a sterling job under difficult conditions.
Is the radio scanning hobby slowly becoming obsolete in the age of digital communication and streaming services? With the rise of online platforms and apps replacing traditional radio, what can enthusiasts do to rejuvenate interest in this once-thriving pastime? Are there innovative approaches or technologies that could attract a new generation of hobbyists?
@GregorySab, I certainly wouldn't say its becoming obsolete. There's still plenty out there to listen to. Data decoding, satellites, airband, etc.
Software Defined Radio (SDR) has been an absolute game changer in making scanning more user friendly and widening the possibilities.
Even in Amateur radio, the digital modes are a lot of fun to play with, on different bands too. Depending on your license class, you can even transmit data packets via microwave links.
Whilst scanning emergency services, in Victoria, has diminished in the last 10 years; radio scanning itself is still very much alive and arguably even more accessible and interesting with SDR
GregorySab wrote: ↑Wed Jun 18, 2025 4:44 am
Is the radio scanning hobby slowly becoming obsolete in the age of digital communication and streaming services? With the rise of online platforms and apps replacing traditional radio, what can enthusiasts do to rejuvenate interest in this once-thriving pastime? Are there innovative approaches or technologies that could attract a new generation of hobbyists?
There are many different platforms one can "scan" as such it all depends if you wish to be left behind or upskill and continue in with an amazing adventure.
Be thankful we don't live in Tasmania where 90% of all radio communications are encrypted.
Unfortunately Aviation is probably next to move away from analogue radio systems with the implementation of both Onesky & Skykraft systems.
