Radio communication system to go digital for Bhubaneswar and Cuttack cops

BHUBANESWAR: The commissionerate police in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack are all set to replace the existing analogue radio communication system with digital mobile radio (DMR). The DMR sets are known to have better voice quality and the messages can be encrypted so that the only designated authorities receive the content.
“We have proposed to the government to procure some digital radio handsets that can have a much greater calling range, better voice quality, increase in reliable coverage and advanced software availability.Most security forces in the country are using the digital radio frequency,” said Satyajit Mohanty, commissioner of police.
Police said that the existing traditional two-way radio with an analogue signal is obsolete. Under the present analogue system, one's talk is transmitted to all the sets used by officers. “If I pass an instruction on the existing radio set (VHF) now, it’s being heard by all (group conversation). Unlike mobile phones, the person on the other side cannot participate in the conversation unless I press a button. The digital set has simultaneous multi-channel talking facility. In the digital networking system, one-to-one talk on wireless can be possible and confidentiality of talks is maintained,” Mohanty added.
Personnel using the traditional radio sets said at times they found difficult to hear the callers. “We often hear humming and jarring sounds from the background. The signal often decreases if you go out of maximum range (around 20km). But the digital conversion of a user’s voice reduces external background noises. A digital radio offers quality sound regardless of distance to or from the maximum range,” an inspector said.
Police said though mobile phones and WhatsApp groups are being largely used these days for advanced communication, radio sets are believed to be more secured and handy for passing on classified messages among officers.
Recently, the commissionerate police procured some man-pack communication sets with microphones attached to their collars for their personnel, who are assigned on VVIP duties. These personnel do not carry radio sets to interact with officers as the small microphones help them communicate with officers.