What is the most commonly used radio used by the Public Safe

MT2000 man · Post by **MT2000 man** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 10:47 am

Hi I was just wondering what you all think is the mostly used radio among the police, etc. (I would say the Saber, but now-a-days times have changed.)

Doc · Post by **Doc** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 12:32 pm

On 2001-10-15 14:47, MT2000 man wrote:
Hi I was just wondering what you all think is the mostly used radio among the police, etc. (I would say the Saber, but now-a-days times have changed.)

Around here I see cops with Astro Saber II's and xts3000 or 3500 model II's... The Sherrifs here in los angeles, california have just started moving to Xts3500's.. looks like erricson lost out here.......

Post by **alex** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 12:59 pm

In the county I live in NY, the Sherrif's dept uses MT1000's, but they are slowly getting replaced by HT1000's as needed. They have Spectra's for 800 or 900mhz with Coded 9600 baud modems for the County MDT System... The MT1000's are all on a repeaterized UHF system.

Most EMS Agencies have mixes of Genesis radios, and Jedi radios for portables. A few people have radios like JT1000's, MT/S2000's, a few with astros, but most of them probably have some inkling as to what they are doing with them. As the local corps buy new rigs most are sticking with the Spectra series radios, and buying Astro.

As far as fire goes, i've seen both Genesis/Jedi series radios being used. Nothing digital. CDM, Radius, and Maxtracs seem to be used more in the trucks... I also know of one or two that still have Maratrac's as well. Both Fire and EMS are VHF here.

Hope that helps...

-Alex

Tom in D.C. · Post by **Tom in D.C.** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:03 pm

Speaking of which (who uses what?), has anyone in NYC yet seen the NYPD using the Vertex UHF VX radios?

Tom in D.C.

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:08 pm

I wouldn't even think that Saber would have big numbers at this question as they are big $$$$$$$$ radios and only big cities use them for the most part (I know I'll spark comments on this one. Yes, I know that some smaller towns use them!). The thousands and thousands of smaller communities are where the numbers will add up. I personally see many HT/MT 1000's, GP300's and am now starting to see MANY of the new HT series.

john6458 · Post by **john6458** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 1:35 pm

nypd is using sabersI and saberII only.
for a police radio all you need to do is find out what there feq range is and get a radio that will work. NY is 450-490 uhf.

i use a saberIII or mtx2000

Gman · Post by **Gman** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 2:49 pm

Hello again all. I live in a town where there is nothing but ericsson EDACS crap radios. Your question I do not believe can be answered because as some people stated, it depends on what the town wants to spend. The town next to me where I work use a mix of ht1000, MT1000(16 AND 9 chan.) GP300, and there are a few saber III floating around for the upper brass even though I know not one knows how to use them, or does not use them to there potential. I know Atlantic City is going to an all digital mot trunking system, and the county I live in are going to set up a county wide dispatch system in the future with nothing but ericsson equipment. It will be interesting to see the conflics with this one.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 3:23 pm

In my County, the Genesis series is also still predominant in the Public Safety arena. The Sheriff's Department still uses mostly VHF MT1000s for their portables. They have a stash of HT1000s that they are using for replacement and new issue. They still have some HT90s for the Jail division and as spare radios. As far as Fire and EMS are concerned, it's really a mixed bag. The EMS agency I used to run with is all Motorola, with about an even balance between the HT1000 and the GP300. Most of the other agencies use a mix of Vertex, Kenwood, and Motorola, in that order. The fire radios are different yet again. The MT500s are still around, as are the HT100s and P200s. As those are retired for one reason or another, the departments are switching to Kenwood of Vertex. The main reason is that Motorola no longer makes a low-band portable that is durable enough for Fire Service. I wouldn't even think of dropping a Pro series radio 75 feet off the top of a ladder truck onto pavement. You could do those with a Genesis and still use the radio. You may not be able to do that with a Kenwood, but in the absence of durability, replaceability is definitely the next highest criteria.

jim · Post by **jim** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 6:57 pm

NYPD is dumping Motorola. They recently purchased 35,000 Verex VX series radios.
They are already phasing them in.

Post by **vcaruso** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 7:01 pm

Yes NYC is using Vertex for certain areas of the PD but that is Temporary as I understand due to an immediate shortage of radios I have seen a few fire figters with Kenwoods as well, maybe a special OEM thing or who knows????

UsuallyRight · Post by **UsuallyRight** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 8:09 pm

We are a public safety VHF system in a rurual area. Most of the fleet is MT1000 and HT1000.

Dale Earnhardt · Post by **Dale Earnhardt** » Mon Oct 15, 2001 10:38 pm

With these days, I say Astro Saber III and the new xts, like he said, the sheriff's out here, recently starting to replace the ericision radios. I think most PD use those GE, HT1000, MT2000, and Sabers, for mobiles I say spectra, GE, and motorola Maxtrac.

USPSS · Post by **USPSS** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:21 am

I am from Los Angeles, where the sheriff's dept is switching to XTS3000 & 3500 radios, I know live in the e-tennessee area Kni=oxville and the Large dept's use STX trunking and are now buying MTS2000 for replacement, the small depts, use Vertex, Icom, Kenwood for both mobile & portable (the cheap models). A few counties have even gone to Relm and guess what they fall apart. I cannot believe that any public safety agency would not buy at least a durable radio for the people, one lawsuit for a dead officer or firefighter would be more than the cost of a fleet of XTS3500's. Im not saying that vertex, icom and kenwood are not good radio's but public safety radio's need to be bought based on the uses for them not cost.

Stan

JAYMZ · Post by **JAYMZ** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 10:11 am

In my county on both Fire and EMS side everything is predominatly Kenwood except one squad that will using nothing but Motorola. They are also replacing those radios fairly regularly due to the lack of durability. The Sheriff's used to use Saber II's and are starting to switch to Kenwoods. 2 PDs use HT1000's quite religiously and issue each officer their own portable. State Police use Saber IIs and Spectra A9s. Anyone who has a Motorola radio will not use anything but that. But for the most part here a lot of depts have very low budgets(some in the area of $25k to $40k a year or less), and cannot afford anything else.

Sniper · Post by **Sniper** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 11:15 am

My sheriff department uses the HT1000 radios for just about everyone except SWAT, which uses the Astros.

fireradio · Post by **fireradio** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 12:36 pm

Police and Fire use XTS-3000's on our Astro system. The two departments next to us also use XTS-3000's on analog trunking systems.

Dauphin911 · Post by **Dauphin911** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 6:26 pm

Checking in from the land of Oz, aka Topeka, Kansas, here's our breakdown here. Topeka Police use MTX8000 B5's & B7's here on portables. The police cars use Motorola MCS2000 mobile Radios. AMR ambulances use GP300's, but i have seen some Motorola 1225's as well. I have seen Motorola MTX8000's as well as the higher end Motorola Trunked portables for the fire departments. All of Shawnee County public safety here in on Moto. Type II 800mHz. Nearby, in Kansas City, Mo.(?), they use GE Edacs. (lots's of problems lately). Best wishes to one & all. God Bless the USA.

Julian · Post by **Julian** » Tue Oct 16, 2001 7:26 pm

Phoenix Police department is about 4,000 strong and use the VHF Saber 1 However they are going to begin using XTS portables soon.
Astro Lover

AngelFire_91 · Post by **AngelFire_91** » Thu Oct 18, 2001 8:43 pm

Here in Colorado Springs, CO We have been using Spectra UHF and Mostly GTX, HT1000 for our portables. We have just recently gone to 800MHZ Astro Spectra's.

10-95 · Post by **10-95** » Fri Oct 19, 2001 4:59 pm

Here in Raleigh N.C. the police department went from Saber 2's to GE Mpa's and some MRK'S for high ranking officers. They gave all the Sabers to the street department!!!
They are always having problems with the MPA's and the emargency buttons going off for no reason!! I think they made a big mistake buying the ge radios!

MT2000 man · Post by **MT2000 man** » Fri Oct 19, 2001 5:28 pm

Well, I live in a fairly small town in Connecticut, and the police here use MTS2000 model I, and some HT1000’s and the high ranking officers use Saber I with securenet. Also, my surrounding town just switched from the old P200’s to the new HT750. (16-channel model) , and obviously the state police uses XTS3000’s Model III. Oh, and I forgot to mention, our fire dept. here uses GP350's (mostly)

RLS3106 · Post by **RLS3106** » Sat Oct 20, 2001 7:20 am

Here in Austin, our police dept. uses regular Sabers, and Spectra A7 & A9 heads on units. They're on a UHF system. I work for the Sheriff's Department (Oh-Yeah), and we use a variation of radios. We're still on a VHF system, HT1000 are used by all Corrections staff in the jails. I just bought a Saber III, and I'm looking forward to see how it orks out. (I'll be the only one in the Department with one). Patrol has some HT1000, and I've seen tons of Visars come in. The vehicles are equipped with GE mobile (like the rotary Motorola Syntors).
The word is that the City and County is planning a "Combined Communications" building to open in late 2004. Shortly after, we'll go to a Trunked system (Police, Sheriff, and Corrections). Word on the street is, we're also planning on going METRO.

techie · Post by **techie** » Fri Nov 02, 2001 12:24 am

Our local agencies use a mix of Saber's, HT1000's, a vew Visar's for brass, and even
a few HT220's, and MX300's, and MT500's.
Also some older GE radios.
I have also seen some Kenwood radios for the
sheriff's office, although it has been a few
years since I looked..

kens · Post by **kens** » Mon Nov 05, 2001 10:15 pm

In rural areas of the west the most popular handheld is probably the Bendix King. Although I have seen MT 1000's and HT 1000's along with some JT's also. This is because the BK radio is standard with the Calif. Dept. of Forestry and US Forest Service. It is the only radio they are easily able to program for large wildland fires. USFS uses BK mobiles (vhf) and Ca. Dept. of Forestry is using Midland and Kenwood mobiles.

KD6MHO · Post by **KD6MHO** » Tue Nov 06, 2001 11:23 am

Souther Cal.
Lots of agencies on 800 use STX HT's (old) and are moving to MTS2000's. Specrtas for mobile.

Agencies on UHF generally use Sabers (Long Beach, Riverside, Los Angeles) or HT1000, with XTS3000's being phased in.

Smaller departments often use GP300's, P200's (old)

Cal. Highway partol uses GE Ranger Mobiles and mostly Motorola HT1000's for their VHF mobile extenders.

AFong · Post by **AFong** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 1:43 am

NYC PD still using saber 1s. don't know when they will go to the vertex. EMS utilizes Astro Saber 3s but for the most part only monitor 1 frequency so that is a waste. There are alos a few saber 3s and even the old bricks (MX 350s) floating around in NYC EMS. FDNY for the most part still using VHF Saber 1s as teh new digital radios still had a few bugs to be worked out.

MT2000 man · Post by **MT2000 man** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 9:54 am

Just an interesting point, when I was in New York (about 10 weeks ago) I saw some cops with Saber I's, and (amazingly) some cops were carrying P1225's as well.
Just another comment

radioEd · Post by **radioEd** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 11:23 am

Maricopa county now has full service on 800 (type 2)..were now issued XTS3000...Ed

CHEFA2001 · Post by **CHEFA2001** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 12:45 pm

P1225's as well?????????

oH GOD, I hope that they don't drop them.....

Why (if anyone knows) Does EMS use Astro radios when the PD would be better suited for the radio. (Like ESU and such)

My 2 cents..........

Astro_Saber · Post by **Astro_Saber** » Sat Nov 24, 2001 1:08 pm

Seattle has Astro Saber 2's
the county uses MTS2000's

all are 800 trunked

County Transit also uses ericsons and MPA, MPD's UHF

I myself loved my MPA VHF durable and scan was better, I would class it in regards to a Saber 2r due to the fact it had no keypad but has features even motorola doesnt have

State uses HT1000's, kenwoods pretty much any VHF radio they can get

MT2000 man · Post by **MT2000 man** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 5:47 pm

Sorry to bring this issue "back from the dead" but I was wondering if anyone knew if the NYPD switched to the new vertex portables or not yet?

And any other comments about the original post is welcome as well:)

Thanks in advance

dfc2 · Post by **dfc2** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 6:00 pm

in 1984/85 my MP unit In Germany used HT500's (Low Band)

in 1986/87/88 we used MX300-R's and (173.xxx )Syntor's at Ft. Bragg

in 1988/89/90 a Small Town in Ohio I was at used a mix of Junk, Wilson, kind of stuff (155.xxx)

in 1990/91 at a Housing Police in Ohio we used old GE PE's and in 92 through 1994 we used both PCS and HT1000's on 458.xxx, Radius in the cars. a few GE MVX

in 1994 when I moved to another town we used Spectra's with DES and SAber 1's on VHF, after one year the County switched over to an 800 type 2 system and switched to MTX8000's and Spectra's.

Just my $0.02

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 6:24 pm

Which VX is NYPD using? VX-160?
Their future plans include narrow band and the VX-160 has that capability.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 6:27 pm

Seeing where this topic is about (or has gone to) here's my little addition.

Before the summer, my community of Wyandotte MI saw use of VHF HT600s by police and fire deparments, VHF GP350s for the ambulances and aging trunk mounted, crystal controlled radios (I don't know what models) in the cars. Motorcycle cops had compact VHF mobiles (possibly GM300s).

During the summer, the entire works was switched over to Astro Spectras in the vehicles and XTS-3000s for portable use by all of the 'Downriver' cities into what is now known as "Downriver Mutual Aid" an 800Mhz digital, trunked simulcast radio network with 5 towers, one being the central controller with control channel. Some XTS3000s are black (for the cops), others are yellow (for the FD and ambulances). I am still wondering if they're encrypted or not before I throw $600 into buying the digital scanner.

Besides this, the Wayne Co. Sheriff still uses a TypeI 800Mhz system, which is also simulcasted into a typeII system which is also shared by Metro Airport (Midfield Terminal). The Airport workers use MTS2000 portables. They are supposed to be going digital before long, though.

3-41 · Post by **3-41** » Sun Apr 07, 2002 7:24 pm

Here in Miami-Dade;

PD uses GE/Ericsson MR-K's for their EDACS system, I don't know what the use for mobiles--as I haven't been in any police squads as of late

Fire Rescue uses UHF Saber 2 handhelds, and Motorola Maxtrac or Spectra (A9 Head) mobiles. The newer trucks are coming in with the Maxtracs, and they seem to be getting rid of the Spectras.

A few years back, the county tried to switch fire over to the trunked system, and they spent god knows how much on equipping every FD vehicle with an Orion. They used the system for less then a week before switching back to analog UHF. Now we just use them to brief hospitals on incoming patients. Rescues have M-RK radios that are supposed to be used for briefing hospitals during Mass Casualty Incidents, but I've never seen them used, and all the ones that I've seen are dead (broken antennae, cracked case, missing buttons).

Later this year or early next year they will replacing the Sabers and phasing in MT2000's.

Florida Highway Patrol uses Astro Saber's, but I think they're dumping Motorola and going to Ericsson.

cdh586 · Post by **cdh586** » Tue Apr 09, 2002 1:40 pm

Here in Montgomery, AL we use a mix of Motorola and GE. HT1000, M-PD, M-PA, and M/A-Com's Orion mobile for Police(UHF). MT1000, HT1000, HT600, and MT500 portables and Orion mobiles for Fire(VHF). We're about to start on a 17 channel 4 site simulcast M/A-COM system.

oh2lak · Post by **oh2lak** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 2:10 pm

Just to add some salt to the conversation...

The Finnish law enforcement uses old VHF-network with finnish made radios, but in metropolitan areas and for highway patrols a mixed trunking/conventional securenet network was built on top of the old network. In Helsinki area a secure trunked network is used and in the surrounding counties just conventional base stations, but still secure.

Radios are Spectra C7 and SysSaber III, have also seen some MT1000 or similar radios replacing the Saber's

Presidential security uses Astro radios for my best knowledge, no clue what type of radios though.

All above and also conventional VHF-networks for FD and EMS are going to be replaced with TETRA (Terrestial Trunked Radio) digital nationwide network built for authorities in few years run.

Erik

Renamon · Post by **Renamon** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 3:49 pm

Where i am located, the police use 48 channel MT2000 A4 radios On VHF. The Fire uses 16 channel Kenwood radios also on VHF.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: renamon on 2002-04-10 19:50 ]</font>

10-95 · Post by **10-95** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 5:25 pm

The city of Raleigh is switching to Vertex radios from MPA'S and MRK'S. They went from Saber 2's to MPA'S which I thought was a bad move and now they are going to Vertex, which I also think is bad! The county is now on the State Smartzone trunking system, which is probably what the city should do, but no, they continue to waste money.

Astro_Saber · Post by **Astro_Saber** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 6:32 pm

if given the chance I would say the MPA's are more duable then the Sabers.

the saber has it ups and down while so does the MPA

but you have to admit saber scan sucks when a MPA can scan alot

fubb26 · Post by **fubb26** » Wed Apr 10, 2002 9:18 pm

no nypd patrol units in the bronx are using the vertex radios. the guys with the 1225's were not nypd they were probally ny state court officers or some other police agency.

thgiz · Post by **thgiz** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 8:49 pm

As long as it says Motorola....

Post by **/\/\y 2 cents** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 1:03 pm

I disagree with the post above this one.....any radio that is reliable and electronically up to spec that performs properly should and can be used......I havent seen that much impressive stuff from ANY company these days......motorola has gone DOWNHILL if anything.....vertex, kenwood has gotten better, but not good enough. I would love to build my own radio because we know exactly what they want. If all of us at batlabs got together we could create a line of public saftey equipment that would blow any other radio company away....SERIOUSLY. Lets be honest....good radios dont come from companies that have lost touch with the true essence of 2 way radio (//), or companies that came up serving businesses and are looking to find a place in the market by offering lower priced unit with compromising durability. I think that some of us could get together and come up with some good ideas that we could implement and even license or offer (for a price) to those companies (kwood (vtex) so that they can compete a lot more. fellas, I dont know what you think, but I think we can all put our heads together and make some type of impact on the industry that we spend most of our time in. Sort of like a "team" of individuals that could "advise" or design units specifically for the secondary manufacturers....I dont think they would have any argument with more profits and market share...its a business right? I'll go to bat for the idea...anyone with me?

RADIO_MAN · Post by **RADIO_MAN** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 6:20 pm

Here in Northern Arizona, Lake Havasu, Bullhead City, The public safety folks use Saber I & Saber II with DVP Securenet, Spectra Mobiles, MTS2000, MCS2000 with DES Securenet. Quantar,MSR2000, and MSF5000 Repeaters all with Securenet.

The low end users Sheriffs Department and Kingman PD use EF Johnson, and GE Orion Mobiles with HT1000 Portables, No securenet.

R

RADIO_MAN · Post by **RADIO_MAN** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 6:27 pm

After reading the post above my last reply, I have to ask what planet are you from. Face the Facts Motorola Radios are far more superior than almost any of the competition. Just look at the extensive research and construction of all Motorola Radios. If anything Motorola Radios are getting better not worse. No other radio MFG with the acception of THALES builds such a dependable, durable two way radio. Just my personal experience and 2 cents.

R

JohnDo · Post by **JohnDo** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 6:32 am

Here in Australia our police dept used saber III's , some bike patrols used MT 500, all Patrol cars used Philips FM91 radios,

Now they are going XTS, I guess you gatta keep with times !

JOhn

Plague Of Rats · Post by **Plague Of Rats** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 1:44 pm

I work for a small PD and.. talk about no money. Here's a laugh; When I first started, we actually had 2 or 3 YEASU FT-23 portables! Seems the Chief has a Ham buddy, and this guy offered him these Yeasus as an affordable alternative. Can you believe that? A plastic, non type-accepted radio, that didn't fit into any available radio holster. Luckily, they finally got some surplus MT-1000s and recently we have HT-1000s. However, this not being enough for me, a few of us have obtained GE M-PA radios from some unused surplus of another agency. Been great. A note to the post above me - your Emergency GE-Star problem is probably in the shoulder-mic. I had one mic do that to me. Aside from that, no problems.

Jonathan KC8RYW · Post by **Jonathan KC8RYW** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 10:02 pm

On 2002-04-13 17:44, Plague Of Rats wrote:
I work for a small PD and.. talk about no money. Here's a laugh; When I first started, we actually had 2 or 3 YEASU FT-23 portables! Seems the Chief has a Ham buddy, and this guy offered him these Yeasus as an affordable alternative. Can you believe that?

No WAY!?!

A mod'ed ham HT?
Holy $hit!

What type of console are your dispatchers using?

Or, are they using an HT in a charging cradle, like my campus police dispatch office does. Check it out:
<img src="http://www.police.cmich.edu/dispatch.jpg" alt="[CMU Police Dispatch Office picture]">
See it next to the phone?

oh2lak · Post by **oh2lak** » Sun Apr 14, 2002 12:26 pm

Are you sure they are FT-23? A look-a-like commercial version is FTH-2008, and same with different front buttons is FTH2010.

Have fooled me couple of times

But if they really are FT-23's they should be shamed. Around here it would not even be legal to use such radio in public safety as it is not CE approved for commercial usage.