The Chicago Area Radio Monitoring Association (CARMA) has recently taken action to voice their worries to Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council. While the transition to digital encryption has sparked debate due to transparency concerns, some members of CARMA are particularly concerned about the impact of this switch on reception quality.
One member of CARMA, George Bliss, has been a licensed HAM radio operator for over 50 years. He is able to pick up signals from various channels and monitor police radios on a daily basis. Bliss has noticed a problem with the sound quality since the city shifted safety radios from clear analog dispatch channels to secure and encrypted digital channels in 2022. According to Eric Tendian from CrimeisDown.com, the sound quality resembles that of a poor phone connection.
Bliss’s concern heightened when he heard a distorted police signal reporting that an officer had been shot in the Gold Coast district. The communication during the incident was unclear, causing confusion and misinformation for about seven minutes. Bliss emphasized the importance of reliable communication for police officers, stating that their guns, police cars, and radios should work flawlessly to ensure their safety in vulnerable situations.
CARMA members have reached out to the Mayor’s office with letters and emails, expressing their concerns and seeking answers. However, they have yet to receive a response. Bliss is particularly eager to discuss the situation with someone from the Mayor’s office and understand the progress on Mayor Johnson’s campaign promise to restore partial real-time access to delayed police radio transmissions.
CBS 2 contacted the Mayor’s office regarding the sound distortion issues and concerns related to encrypted digital police radios, but received no response as of Friday.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is digital encryption?
A: Digital encryption is a method of encoding information to prevent unauthorized access and ensure data security.
Q: What is a HAM radio operator?
A: A HAM radio operator is an amateur radio enthusiast who holds a license from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate a HAM radio for personal, non-commercial use.
Q: What is an IFB switching system?
A: An IFB (interruptible foldback) switching system is a communication tool that allows individuals to monitor and control audio feeds during broadcasts.
Sources:
CrimeisDown.com (crimeisdown.com)
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