Comments on: Cops should take a cue from kids http://www.markturner.net/2007/11/30/cops-should-take-a-cue-from-kids/ Perspectives from a Raleigh geek Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:58:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: magnus http://www.markturner.net/2007/11/30/cops-should-take-a-cue-from-kids/#comment-2973 magnus Sat, 01 Dec 2007 15:48:56 +0000 http://www.markturner.net/2007/11/30/cops-should-take-a-cue-from-kids/#comment-2973 Actually I think this system does make a lot of sense. In the past, getting police and firemen on the same frequencies has been troublesome, and add disaster agencies to that mix and you literally need a giant bus filled with radios and radio operators to pass messages between agencies. Under normal circumstances, you wouldn't want police and fireman and EMS on the same radios. Did you notice this bit from TFA? "If needed, a state trooper on the Outer Banks could talk to one in Charlotte by selecting the appropriate channel." The amount of radio bandwidth that was previously allocated to all of these agencies is staggering. The newer radio systems are much more bandwidth-efficient and as the older systems are completely phased out, the recovered bandwidth can be reallocated for other uses (amateur radio, wireless networking, some other yet-to-be-invented consumer electronics, etc) It wouldn't be legally appropriate for these guys to use FRS radios. Those are intended for civilian use. Further, imagine a local teenager pretending to be a cop on the scene and sending falsified transmissions just for shits & giggles. The diversion of resources that could cause could end up costing lives. I think this system makes a lot of sense at the state & local level. My real opposition is all the money that is being spent at the federal level on law enforcement, way outside the boundaries of the US Constitution. Actually I think this system does make a lot of sense. In the past, getting police and firemen on the same frequencies has been troublesome, and add disaster agencies to that mix and you literally need a giant bus filled with radios and radio operators to pass messages between agencies.

Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t want police and fireman and EMS on the same radios.

Did you notice this bit from TFA? “If needed, a state trooper on the Outer Banks could talk to one in Charlotte by selecting the appropriate channel.”

The amount of radio bandwidth that was previously allocated to all of these agencies is staggering. The newer radio systems are much more bandwidth-efficient and as the older systems are completely phased out, the recovered bandwidth can be reallocated for other uses (amateur radio, wireless networking, some other yet-to-be-invented consumer electronics, etc)

It wouldn’t be legally appropriate for these guys to use FRS radios. Those are intended for civilian use. Further, imagine a local teenager pretending to be a cop on the scene and sending falsified transmissions just for shits & giggles. The diversion of resources that could cause could end up costing lives.

I think this system makes a lot of sense at the state & local level. My real opposition is all the money that is being spent at the federal level on law enforcement, way outside the boundaries of the US Constitution.

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