[FedCom] Where Has Customs Gone?

[*Bill]

Also, having Visited the Custom "Sector" in Orlando this past year, I did
not see "one nextel" on site, other than the one I carried.


The Customs NLECC is an impressive complex, with roving Guards, Dogs and
plenty of Phone lines out to the Remote Sites throught the country.

Ps....
found some Customs activity on 464.500/464.5500
in Boston using Commercial Radios, while performing X-Rays of Shipping
Containers...



 ----- Original Message -----
From: <RadioScan@aol.com>
To: <fedcom@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, December 28, 2002 11:47
Subject: Re: [FedCom] Where Has Customs Gone?


> I totally agree with Bill on the Nextel topic.  Feds are still continuing
to
> pour millions into VHF & UHF upgrades nationwide, which should indicate to
> most that if Nextel was as widely used by the Feds as many speculate here,
> then the ongoing purchase of equipment, system and digital upgrades would
not
> be as expansive as they currently are.   IN fact, why waste taxpayer
dollars,
> if Nextel is spending their money?  The answer is, because they are not
> moving to Nextel and if Nextel did not have the direct connect feature,
> chances are, they would still have Nextel units because of the price of
the
> service contract.  Nextel does provide an attractive pricing scheme for
> government and large corp. users.
>
> Also, like Bill,  I too have some co-mingling with the Feds in my FTJ and
SEE
> the use of the Nextels.  That use is for cellphone use "primarily".  I am
not
> saying that at times, guys don't communicate with each other off the Fed
> system for the informal discussions that we all used to like to listen
too.
> Likewise, I am not saying that Nextel has never been used in the unit to
unit
> (direct) mode to conduct a surveillance, but I am stating that the Feds
have
> not "moved" to Nextel like many have been reporting for years now.   This
> topic comes up from time to time because someone sees a fed on a Nextel or
> watches something on TV and sees a Nextel.
>
> Depending on the agency, radio use varies.  Just because you watch the
> evening news and see a Bank Robbery and a shot of an agent using a nextel
is
> seen and he is not lugging around the HT, does not mean they went to
Nextel.
>   Oh, and the topic was where have USCS gone?  Customs was using Nextel
prior
> to them restructuring the Nationwide ComSystem and making the Sector comms
> from Florida.  Also prior to the OTAR system even, so if Nextel was the
item
> of choice, wouldn't they have just saved all that effort and used Nextel.
> Hey, what if Nextel was the next big corporate giant  like WorldCom to go
> under>  Then what, the feds wouldn't have communications?  Think about it,
I
> think the superficial use in the direct mode is not going to replace the
> normal lines of communications.  Any good investigator is going to look
for
> additional tools to do his job.  Nextel direct mode provides an alternate
> means at times to communicate.
> Just my two cents...
>
>
>
> >  >>>>>As someone who deals with many of these Federal agencies from
> > time-time in
> > my F/T job, I have only seen the migration to Nextel as an Alternative
to
> > Verizon and CellularOne in the Major Metro Areas.
> >
> > The agencies are still maintaining and using their Normal VHF and UHF
Radio
> > equipment, however the Nextel does make it a little easier for the
Cellular
> > as well as the Direct Connect features at times, but Alas we have no
fear
> > (atleast in Boston, from my perspective) of loosing the ability to
monitor
> > our Favorite Alphabet Soups. >>>>>
> >
>
>
>
>
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