[FedCom] DHS FPS to P25 in Toledo OH / IRS P25 / CBP P25

[Jeffrey Pryor]

Thanks to Chris Parris for his "mt fed files" blog entry regarding the
FPS (Federal Protective Service) Chicago findings.  I hadn't been
hearing any traffic on the normal 415.2000 MHz analog frequency for a
month or so here in Toledo, but had neglected to seach out to see if
they'd moved.  I turned on the 406-420 MHz seach bank the past day on
my unattended logging scanner, and sure enough they're now on 407.0000
MHz and P25.  It looks like we'll need to do an investigation and
inventory of the other legacy 415.2000 MHz sites from here in the Mid
West (and probably across the Battle Creek Mega Center region).  I
know Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, Columbus, Dayton and Indianapolis
were all 415.2000 MHz (PL 103.5) analog sites in the past.  So they're
either all probably upgraded now or in the process.  I still also hear
the Dispatch side simulcast when doing role calls for units not on the
Toledo repeater.  Also at this point everything that I've heard from
today has been in the clear.

Oh, and the IRS was playing with their new P25 repeater on 165.9500
MHz here in Toledo as of today.  This is the same frequency as Detroit
Base and some other locations previously identified as IRS, so pretty
much sure of that user.

And for reference, DHS CBP (Customs and Border Protection) repeaters
in the NW Ohio area had been upgraded to P25 this summer as well.  Was
interesting listening to Operation North Guard activities on the
western basin of Lake Erie.  All of the repeaters (Monroe 163.6750
MHz, Toledo 165.6875 MHz and Sandusky 171.2875 MHz) were linked and
providing pretty good coverage.

FBI (CV at least), still analog/DES . . . and just about the last ones left.

Jeff KC8NNO
Toledo OH