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[cntryboy0531]

Through High School in the late 70's I had a Realistic brand Multiband Radio on which I had my local Hiway Patrol dialed in at 33.10 Mhz. sitting on my desk beside my Johnson 250 CB radio set on channel 9.

It wasn't until I think 1980 when Bearcat came out with a programmable line, and I bought my BC 250, a 50 channel "powerhouse" that also scanned the Airplane freq's. On patrol in 1984, I bought a handheld crystal type that I wedged into my passenger door so I could hear what my ladjoining S.O. was doing while I worked. They didn't allow us to have the S.O.'s channel in our cars, and there was no scanning police radios back then.

A few years later I got a programmable handheld, then a vehicle mounted programmable. Still have my latest handheld programmable 800 mhz here in my office, and all of the others in my garage... about 6 or so in all.

Ahh, memories...

Growing up I used to have a bearcat scanner next to a CB Base station in my bedroom. I could pick up my closest city's PD frequency, heard some funny stuff on there, as well as some good stuff. Also had FHP's teletype frequency in.

Only thing I had for the county was their Dispatch channel where dispatch would contact surrounding agencies for important stuff. It was pretty cool. :D

[pmfc]

When I was 18 I bought a multiband portable radio for $5 at a flea market. It tuned in the local PD on 159 MHz. That broke a few months later so I bought a Uniden BC50XL 10 channel programmable handheld scanner. I've bought and sold many scanners since then and I now have 4 digital trunktracking scanners and a bunch of analog trunktrackers and conventional scanners, plus 4 CB's. Why do I have all this? Because I can't stand most of the crap on TV. Too many stupid commercials and too much stupid programming. Now I get to hear people on the scanner being stupid (criminals), but I also get to hear local law enforcement do a damn good job catching them. :D

Hearing LE doing their jobs, and the crap they have to put up with, is one reason why I have so much respect for LE.

[Oldbillplod]

I used to have a scanner but sold it on ebay when we went over to a digitally encripted system.

[pmfc]

I used to have a scanner but sold it on ebay when we went over to a digitally encripted system.

I think I remember reading something about England switching to a TETRA radio system last year or the year before. TETRA is fully encrypted, so I'm wondering why it isn't used here in the US.

[Oldbillplod]

I think I remember reading something about England switching to a TETRA radio system last year or the year before. TETRA is fully encrypted, so I'm wondering why it isn't used here in the US.

Probably because it costs an absolute fortune to run

[RO56]

I had a Realistic brand Multiband Radio ... sitting on my desk beside my Johnson

Not to get personal or anything, Creek, but what was your Johnson doing on your desk ?? :eek:

[RO56]

I think I remember reading something about England switching to a TETRA radio system last year or the year before. TETRA is fully encrypted, so I'm wondering why it isn't used here in the US.

Our statewide 800 mHz trunked system (operated by the MPSCS), on which most agencies in MI - ~304 at the present time - are on, supports full encyrption, but it's optional. If your dept wants it, you have to have the circuitry installed on your radios AND flip the switch to encrypt.

[pmfc]

Our statewide 800 mHz trunked system (operated by the MPSCS), on which most agencies in MI - ~304 at the present time - are on, supports full encyrption, but it's optional. If your dept wants it, you have to have the circuitry installed on your radios AND flip the switch to encrypt.

From what I have heard, our county 800 MHz analog Motorola trunking system will be going to mixed-mode analog/digital by spring, with encryption capability that will most likely be used for special ops, not regular dispatch channels. The system will be fully digital in about 7 years.

[RO56]

From what I have heard, our county 800 MHz analog Motorola trunking system will be going to mixed-mode analog/digital by spring, with encryption capability that will most likely be used for special ops, not regular dispatch channels. The system will be fully digital in about 7 years.

Most of our communication is done on the digital talkgroups, but we have an analog channel (frequency) that works pretty much in-county only.

[Creeker]

Not to get personal or anything, Creek, but what was your Johnson doing on your desk ?? :eek:

The same thing its doing now hanging in my garage, still connected to my Turner EX500 power mic, but alas my 3/4 wave ground plane and Moonraker beams are outlawed by my Homeowners Association.:cool: The rotor burnt out eons ago...

[RO56]

The same thing its doing now hanging in my garage, still connected to my Turner EX500 power mic ...

It must be pretty painful to have your JOHNSON hanging in your garage ... connected to ANYTHING that is electrically powered ... :D

[Creeker]

It must be pretty painful to have your JOHNSON hanging in your garage ... connected to ANYTHING that is electrically powered ... :D

Try it ...you might like it!! :D